Description
A lightning-fast, budget-friendly weeknight dinner that tastes like New Orleans comfort food. This creamy Cajun shrimp pasta is kid-approved, pantry-friendly, and ready in just 15 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound penne or rigatoni pasta
- 1.5 pounds frozen shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 3 tablespoons salted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
- 1.5 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 medium red bell pepper, diced (optional)
- 3 stalks green onions, sliced (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prep ingredients: Chop bell pepper, slice green onions, and mince garlic. Thaw shrimp under cold water and pat them completely dry with paper towels. Season shrimp with half of the Cajun seasoning.
- Cook pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of pasta water. Drain pasta and set aside.
- Sear shrimp: While pasta cooks, heat butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp in a single layer and cook for 1-2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp from pan and set aside.
- Build sauce: Reduce heat to medium. Add diced bell pepper to the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and remaining Cajun seasoning; stir for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Deglaze and simmer: Pour in chicken broth and simmer for 1 minute, scraping up browned bits. Add heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Combine: Let cream simmer for 2-3 minutes to thicken slightly. Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted. If sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water. Return shrimp to the pan and toss with drained pasta until coated.
- Serve: Serve immediately topped with green onions and extra Cajun seasoning if desired.
Notes
Pat shrimp dry thoroughly to ensure they sear rather than steam. Save pasta water to help thicken the sauce. Do not overcook shrimp or they will become rubbery. Add cheese off high heat to prevent graininess. This dish does not freeze well due to the dairy sauce.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 52
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 22
Keywords: creamy cajun shrimp pasta, quick dinner, weeknight meals, family dinner, easy pasta recipe, cajun food, shrimp pasta