Cajun Pasta with Shrimp
Cajun Pasta with Shrimp is a bold, flavorful dish with creamy sauce, tender shrimp, and a kick of Cajun spice. Ready in the time it takes to cook pasta, it’s perfect for weeknights or impressing guests!
Ingredients
- 10 ounces dried pasta cooked according to the package directions
- 2 tablespoons butter divided; I cook with salted butter
- 1 green bell pepper seeded and diced
- ½ cup red onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning divided; use your favorite Cajun seasoning
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup chicken broth use low or no sodium-added broth or stock
- 1 ½ pound shrimp peeled and deveined
- ½ cup tomato diced; optional garnish
- ¼ cup green onion sliced; optional garnish
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese grated; optional
- fresh parsley optional garnish
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions, but cook it for 2 minutes less than recommended so it’s al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Toss the shrimp with 1 tablespoon of Cajun seasoning and working in batches if needed, saute the shrimp in the hot butter until just barely cooked. Transfer to a plate to keep warm.
- Add the remaining butter to the skillet, then add the green bell pepper, red onion, and garlic. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until the vegetables are tender and fragrant.
- Add 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning to the sautéed vegetables and stir to combine, cooking for another minute to toast the spices and enhance their flavor.
- Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of all-purpose flour.
- Pour in the chicken broth and stir in the tomato paste. Let the mixture come to a simmer, cooking for about 10 minutes or until it has reduced a bit and thickened.
- Reduce the heat to low, and add the heavy cream to the skillet. Simmer for another 5 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken.
- Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the shrimp before adding it back to the skillet for a bright, fresh kick.
- Toss the cooked pasta into the skillet with the creamy sauce and vegetables. Mix to coat the pasta thoroughly.
- Add the cooked shrimp to the pasta then stir to combine.
- Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese over the top (if using), and garnish with diced tomato, green onions, and chopped parsley.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
Chef Jenn’s Tips
- If you love a little extra heat, don’t be shy about adding more Cajun seasoning! You can also sprinkle a bit of cayenne pepper for an added kick.
- Cooking the shrimp separately ensures that they don’t overcook and become rubbery. Once they turn pink and opaque, remove them from the heat right away.
- Make sure the pasta is just al dente, as it will continue to cook a bit once it’s mixed into the sauce.
- You can adjust the thickness of the sauce by adding a bit more chicken broth if you prefer a looser sauce, or let it simmer longer if you want it thicker.
Nutrition
Serving: 1.5cupsCalories: 731kcalCarbohydrates: 65gProtein: 50gFat: 31gSaturated Fat: 19gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 362mgSodium: 624mgPotassium: 960mgFiber: 5gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 3213IUVitamin C: 33mgCalcium: 269mgIron: 3mg
A Note on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for this recipe is provided as a courtesy and is calculated based on available online ingredient information. It is only an approximate value. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site cannot be guaranteed.
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