Our cajun shrimp recipe is a family favorite thanks to its simplicity and mouthwatering flavor. The shrimp are quickly cooked in a hot skillet, then we swirl in delicious garlicky cajun butter. This recipe is designed to be quick and hassle-free, making it perfect for busy nights.
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How to Make Cajun Shrimp
Since sharing our homemade cajun seasoning, we’ve been experimenting with it in various ways. One of our favorite creations is this recipe for cajun shrimp, which has become a go-to for our family thanks to its simplicity and delicious flavor. We also love this garlic shrimp with cilantro!
Thanks to a fantastic cajun spiced butter, this easy shrimp recipe takes less than 10 minutes to prepare. It pairs wonderfully with rice, can be used to fill tacos, or even transformed into a delightful cajun shrimp pasta (tips for turning this into pasta are below). We also use this cajun butter to make our grilled corn in foil!
Remember when we shared our homemade cajun seasoning? We absolutely love it! It’s easy to adjust the quantities based on your needs, and you probably already have all the necessary ingredients in your spice cabinet.
Cajun seasoning stems from Louisiana and is a vibrant and bold blend of spices popular in Creole and Cajun cuisine.
It combines influences from Native American, West African, Caribbean, and French cooking styles, resulting in a unique and flavorful seasoning. Our blend contains the following spices:
- Hot paprika or cayenne pepper
- Sweet paprika (not spicy)
- Chili powder
- Dried thyme
- Sugar
- Sea salt
For this shrimp recipe, we use our trusty spice blend and combine it with butter, fresh garlic, and cilantro (although parsley works well too). The shrimp are quickly cooked in a hot skillet, and just before they’re done, we add a swirl of our cajun butter.
The cooking process is fast, making it perfect for busy nights. Additionally, you can prepare the cajun spiced butter ahead of time and keep it in the fridge for up to 5 days, or freeze it, making this recipe even more convenient.
How to Serve the Shrimp
When it comes to serving the shrimp, you have several delicious options. They pair wonderfully with creamy grits or rice, I especially enjoy them with this homemade cilantro lime rice. Additionally, they are delicious with noodles or pasta. The sauce in this recipe is easy to transform into a pasta sauce.
For cajun shrimp pasta, after cooking the shrimp, remove them from the skillet, and add cooked pasta to the remaining butter sauce. Add a bit of starchy pasta water, then cook the pasta over low heat while stirring until the butter sauce evenly coats the pasta. Then, return the shrimp to the skillet, give it a good toss, and it’s ready to be served!
Cajun Shrimp with Garlic Butter Sauce
- PREP
- COOK
- TOTAL
Our cajun shrimp recipe is a family favorite thanks to its simplicity and mouthwatering flavor. The shrimp are quickly cooked in a hot skillet, then we swirl in delicious homemade cajun butter.
Watch Us Make the Recipe
You Will Need
1 pound medium-to-large shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/2 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons room temperature butter
1 clove garlic, finely minced or grated
1 tablespoon cilantro or parsley leaves, minced
1 ½ teaspoons homemade cajun seasoning; see notes
Directions
1Use a paper towel to pat the shrimp dry.
2Create the flavorful butter by combining the butter, garlic, cilantro (or parsley), and cajun seasoning. Mix well and set aside.
3Heat olive oil in a wide skillet over medium heat. Carefully add the shrimp to the pan, arranging them in a single layer. It’s okay if a few shrimp are stacked on each other. Cook for about 1 minute until the shrimp begin to turn pink.
4Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the cajun butter to the skillet. Stir well to coat the shrimp evenly. Continue cooking and stirring until the shrimp are firm and opaque throughout, which should take approximately 1 to 2 minutes.
Adam and Joanne's Tips
- Cajun seasoning: For the best results, we recommend using our homemade cajun blend. However, if you prefer to use a store-bought brand, feel free to do so. Just keep in mind that different brands may vary in their salt content, so you might need to adjust the seasoning accordingly to suit your taste preferences.
- Nutrition facts: The nutrition facts provided below are estimates. We have used the USDA database to calculate approximate values.
If you make this recipe, snap a photo and hashtag it #inspiredtaste — We love to see your creations on Instagram and Facebook! Find us: @inspiredtaste
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This is the second time I’ve made this, so much more flavorful than shrimp scampi! Use the homemade Cajun spice. This is a quick and easy dish.
For the Cajun Shrimp with Garlic Butter Sauce recipe, was raw shrimp or cooked shrimp used or can either one be used for the recipe? Thank you!
Hi Maria, We use raw shrimp, but they cook quickly in the pan with the sauce.