This beautifully smoky-spicy Cajun Shrimp Pasta folds juicy shrimp and tender pasta into a creamy sauce that’s rich with tomato flavor. An easy homemade Cajun spice mix infuses the dish with a kick of irresistible earthy heat, and my modern, fusion-style riffs of Parmesan and basil add fresh and savory flavor!
This flavor-first Cajun Shrimp and Pasta recipe pays homage to robust Cajun cooking. I use a quick & easy DIY spice mix that features the bold and smoky heat that Cajun dishes are known for. Heavy cream in the sauce adds rich comfort, and the juicy shrimp make it into a filling, satisfying meal. If your tastebuds lean milder, check out my Creamy Shrimp Pasta recipe or simply reduce the amount of Cajun seasoning in this recipe.
My Modern, Fusion-Style Cajun Shrimp Pasta Recipe “Jazzes Up” Our Menu!
I love wordplay. Which was undoubtedly fostered by growing up playing Scrabble and crossword puzzles with Mom and tuning into Dad’s favorite game show, Wheel of Fortune. (So in this case, my mind did this equation: Cajun = Louisiana = jazz music!)
Now that Blake and I are 90% empty nesters, most of the meals around here are just the two of us. And I always aim to make something a little extra fun and delicious for Friday supper, to celebrate the end of the work week. Here’s why we’re jazzed up by this Cajun shrimp pasta dish!
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT:
- A fun, modern, fusion-style riff. Just like I love to play with words, I also love to play with ingredients. While traditional Cajun cooking does not include basil or Parmesan, both of these ingredients have become increasingly popular and acceptable in modern Cajun recipes. They are especially prevalent in tomato-based and cream-based sauces, where basil offers a fresh, bright note and Parmesan adds thickening power and savory flavor.
- Easy and reliable. In about 40 minutes, you’ll have a filling and flavor-forward dinner ready to set on the table. This is real-life home cooking at its best!
- Adaptable. This recipe is also easy to customize – you can adjust the spice level, add more vegetables, even try it with chicken instead of shrimp. I share some variation ideas under “Brenda’s Recipe Tips & Variations” if you scroll down.
Enjoy!
What You’ll Need
I’m outlining here the ingredients needed to make this Cajun shrimp and pasta. Scroll down to the printable recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredient amounts.
For the Cajun Spice Mix
- Smoked paprika – Paprika can vary in heat level from mild to hot. I always keep a smoked paprika on hand that has a mild to medium heat, and that is what I use in this recipe.
- Cayenne pepper – You can add more or less cayenne as you prefer; this is where most of the heat comes from in this Cajun spice mix.
- Other spice drawer ingredients – Garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, salt, and pepper.
For the Cajun Shrimp Pasta
- Penne – I prefer penne’s size and shape for this recipe, although ziti or another tube-shaped pasta would be just fine.
- Shrimp – For this recipe, I use large raw shrimp that is peeled and deveined.
- Olive oil – Olive oil helps the spice mix stick to the shrimp, adds flavor, and aids in cooking the shrimp, onion, and garlic.
- Cajun spice mix – Stir together your own DIY mix with the ingredients above or grab your favorite mix at the store.
- Butter – This adds rich flavor and texture to the sauce.
- Onion and garlic – These add a tremendous amount of flavor to the sauce.
- Tomato paste – Concentrated tomato paste adds a sweet-tangy-earthy note to the sauce.
- White wine – Reach for a dry, un-oaked white. I most often use Sauvignon Blanc, as I usually have this hand.
- Chicken broth – Use a low-sodium variety. You can always add more salt if you prefer.
- Heavy cream – This gives gorgeous rich flavor and texture.
- Parmesan cheese – Again, this is an acceptable ingredient in this Cajun fusion dish, simply because the recipe includes a creamy, tomato-based sauce. The Parmesan adds savory depth.
- Fresh basil and parsley – To garnish.
How To Make Cajun Shrimp Pasta
First, get the water boiling and make the easy Cajun spice mix so you have it ready to stir into the sauce. Then, follow along with the rest of my method below. Scroll down to the printable recipe card to find the exaxt ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.
- Cook pasta. Get the water boiling right away, and then cook the pasta according to the package instructions (while you’re making your way through the rest of the recipe).
- Make seasoning mix. Combine the smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, and cayenne pepper.
- Season shrimp. Coat the shrimp in a little olive oil, followed by the spice mix.
- Cook shrimp. Add olive oil to a skillet and cook the shrimp until pink and opaque. Then remove shrimp from skillet, to a plate, and set aside.
- Melt the butter. In the same skillet, melt the butter and olive oil.
- Cook aromatics. Add onion and garlic and sauté until softened.
- Add tomato paste. Stir in the tomato paste.
- Deglaze skillet. Add the wine and stir to deglaze. This is simply scraping up any bits from the bottom of the skillet, which adds lots of flavor.
- Add cream and chicken broth; let simmer. Stir in the heavy cream and chicken broth, then simmer for 5 minutes.
- Add pasta and Parmesan. Add the cooked pasta and Parmesan cheese to the sauce; toss to combine.
- Add shrimp + garnish, then serve! Fold in the shrimp and garnish with freshly chopped basil and parsley. Serve it hot.
Brenda’s Tips & Variations
- Get that pasta water boiling. This tip might waste a little stove energy, but it’s what I choose to do, so everything’s done about the same time. Get the pasta water heating, then make the Cajun spice mix, season the shrimp, and start cooking the shrimp. When the water comes to a boil, turn down the heat, so it’s ready for quick action. Then turn up the heat when you’re ready to cook the pasta; it’s just a matter of seconds before it’s boiling!
- Do not overcook the shrimp. Overcooking shrimp makes it dry, rubbery, and dull in flavor. The goal is always succulent and sweet-from-the-sea flavor.
- Choose a dry white wine. Just a half cup of wine adds a little acidic, sweetened flavor. Sauvignon Blanc or un-oaked Chardonnay complement the rich cream sauce nicely. Choose a wine that you like to drink, so the rest doesn’t go to waste.
- Or just omit the wine. Use a half cup more of chicken broth instead.
- Buy the spice mix. Substitute my DIY spice mix with 1 tablespoon of store-bought mix if desired.
- Adjust the spice level. Customize the heat by adding more or less cayenne pepper, paprika, and black pepper to the spice mix. Or just use more or less of the mix.
- Use chicken instead. Just pound about 1 pound of boneless skinless chicken breast into an even thickness (about 1/2″ to 3/4″). Coat lightly in olive oil, then season with Cajun spice mix. Cook in olive oil and butter over medium heat, about 5-6 minutes per side, or until it registers 165°F with an instant-read thermometer. Remove from heat, let rest 5 minutes, then chop or shred.
- Lighten up! Substitute heavy cream with half-and-half. Just know that the sauce will not have the same creaminess and richness as intended.
- Add vegetables. Try adding bell peppers (add with the onion and garlic) or spinach (fold in right before adding the shrimp at the end).
Serving Suggestions
Just add a salad and/or a side of vegetables and you have a balanced dinner. Here are a few ideas of what to serve with Cajun shrimp and pasta:
- Salad. A crisp, fresh salad is a natural choice to serve with a rich main dish. My Roasted Beet Salad or Winter Apple Salad recipes are great options.
- Bread. Pick up a loaf of fresh, crusty bread. Or make a batch of honey-sweetened Cornbread Muffins.
- Vegetables. Roasted Asparagus or some simply roasted or sautéed green beans would be perfect.
- Pickled vegetables. You know I love pickled vegetables, and I especially appreciate their clean, puckery bite with a creamy main dish. A little bowl of Quick Pickled Asparagus or Quick Pickled Red Onions is always welcome on our table!
How To Store & Reheat Leftovers
The beauty of this Cajun shrimp pasta dish is that the flavors develop the longer it rests in the fridge, making for an even more nuanced dish the next time you enjoy it. Here’s how to keep any leftovers:
- Fridge – Place cooled portions of Cajun shrimp pasta in an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- To Reheat – Place the leftover shrimp pasta in a microwave-safe bowl or on a plate, then heat it in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until heated through. If needed, add a splash of chicken broth, water, or cream to loosen it up and make it saucy.
More Easy Shrimp Recipes
Cajun Shrimp Pasta
Yield: 4 servings
This smoky-spicy dish folds juicy shrimp and tender pasta into a creamy sauce that's rich with tomato flavor. The Cajun spice mix infuses every bite with a kick of irresistible earthy heat!
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Ingredients
Cajun Spice Mix
- 1½ teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Cajun Shrimp Pasta
- 1 pound uncooked Penne pasta
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 pound large fresh shrimp with tails on, peeled and deveined
- 1 tablespoon Cajun Spice Mix
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 4 large cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- ½ cup dry white wine
- ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1½ cups heavy cream
- ½ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese (grate it fresh off the block, for the best creamy texture)
- finely chopped fresh basil leaves, for garnish
- finely chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Before you start: Set a large pot of salted water on the stovetop over high heat, to boil right away, to make this meal come together faster. Continue with the recipe while the water comes to a boil. If needed, reduce heat to just keep it hot, until you're ready to cook the pasta.
- Cajun Spice Mix: In a small bowl, combine smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, and cayenne pepper. Set aside.
- Cajun Shrimp Pasta: Once water is boiling (or turn heat back up, to boil), cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- (While pasta is cooking…) In a large skillet over medium/medium-high heat, warm 2 tablespoons of the olive oil.
- Season shrimp with Cajun Spice Mix. Then add shrimp to the skillet and cook until pink and opaque, about 2-3 minutes per side (depending on actual size of shrimp). Remove shrimp from skillet, to a plate, and set aside. Reduce heat to medium/medium-low.
- Using the same skillet, prepare the creamy sauce. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil and the butter.
- Add diced onion and sauté until just softened, stirring regularly, about 3 minutes. Stir in garlic, and sauté 1 more minute.
- Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1-2 minutes more, stirring regularly.
- Slowly pour in wine, scraping and deglazIng bottom of the skillet to loosen up any browned bits – this adds flavor to the sauce!
- Add chicken broth and cream, and stir to combine. Bring to a simmer and cook until the sauce thickens slightly, about 5-7 minutes. It should be at a lively simmer, not boiling crazily.
- Add cooked pasta to the skillet with the sauce, and toss to coat evenly. Then stir in Parmesan until it's fully melted and incorporated.
- Add cooked shrimp back to the skillet, and gently toss to combine with the pasta and sauce.
- Garnish with fresh basil and parsley. Serve hot and enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
Calories: 1094kcal Carbohydrates: 100g Protein: 39g Fat: 58g Saturated Fat: 30g Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g Monounsaturated Fat: 19g Trans Fat: 0.4g Cholesterol: 277mg Sodium: 1618mg Potassium: 827mg Fiber: 6g Sugar: 9g Vitamin A: 3482IU Vitamin C: 7mg Calcium: 294mg Iron: 3mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated by Spoonacular. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee accuracy. If your health depends on nutrition information, please calculate again with your own favorite calculator.
Did you make this recipe?Please leave a comment below. And share a photo on Instagram with the hashtag #afarmgirlsdabbles or tag @farmgirlsdabble!
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