Tender linguine and juicy Cajun-crusted shrimp tossed in a mouth-watering Cajun butter sauce will be your new favorite weeknight dinner recipe! This quick and easy Cajun Shrimp Pasta recipe takes only 20 minutes!
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Why you'll love this recipe
Cajun Shrimp Pasta combines several favorite comfort foods: tender pasta, a savory butter sauce, and a rustic Cajun seasoning blend (let's not forget the Cajun-crusted and juicy colossal shrimp!). Not much compares to the carb-y goodness of pasta, that's why this recipe is in my biweekly rotations!
I honestly love this recipe because it's so easy to throw together and it's perfect for chilly fall nights or date nights.
Ingredients
Here's what you'll need for Cajun buttered noodles with pan-fried shrimp:
- Shrimp
- Cajun seasoning
- Butter (and lots of it!)
- Garlic
- Shallots
- Gluten-free linguine
Step-by-step instructions
Begin this recipe by shelling and deveining your thawed, uncooked shrimp. Pat each shrimp dry with paper towels and toss them with 2 tablespoons of melted butter. The butter may harden back up, and that's okay.
Arrange the shrimp on a plate and sprinkle them with half of the Cajun seasoning. Flip the shrimp and sprinkle on the remaining seasoning.
Add more or less Cajun seasoning to adjust the level of heat in this recipe.
Make the shrimp
Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter and add the seasoned shrimp in a single layer. Saute the shrimp for two to three minutes, flip, and cook them for an additional two to three minutes. The shrimp should be pink and opaque.
Remove the shrimp from the skillet and set them aside for now.
Make the Cajun butter sauce
Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in the skillet. Add the minced garlic and shallots and cook them for 1 minute, or until fragrant. Add the cooked noodles and shrimp. Toss to combine and it's ready to serve!
Best shrimp to use
For this recipe (as well as Cajun Shrimp Alfredo), I like to use colossal-size, tail-on, deveined shrimp. These big guys are easy to peel and super meaty. I think these shrimp work best for this recipe because they stay juicy and they won't get lost in the sea of noodles!
I prefer colossal size, but any size of shrimp will work for this recipe.
Serving ideas
Wondering what delicious side dish you can serve with sauteed shrimp and Cajun buttered noodles? Basically anything!
Whenever I make this recipe, I like to serve it with a simple green salad, Creamy Honey Butter Skillet Corn, or Garlic Butter Green Beans.
Tips & tricks
Preheat the cast iron skillet. Putting food in a cold cast iron skillet will make your food stick. I like to let mine heat up for at least 10 minutes before I use it.
Don't overcook the shrimp. Cook the shrimp for 2 to 3 minutes on each side over medium-high heat. Perfectly cooked shrimp will be pink in the middle. Overcooked shrimp will be white or grey.
Use Homemade Cajun Seasoning. For this recipe, I use my super-duper delicious Homemade Cajun Seasoning blend. It's not too spicy, but it gives this dish a definite kick! Feel free to sub in your favorite Cajun seasoning blend.
Recommended tools
- 12-inch Cast Iron Skillet. My cast irons are definitely one of my favorite ways to cook food! You can make pizza, breadsticks, and even desserts! Needless to say, it's one of my most used pans (especially the 12-inch).
Storing and reheating
Refrigerator: Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to three days.
Freezer: Freeze this pasta in an airtight container for up to three months. Let thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
Reheating: Warm up leftovers on the stovetop or in the microwave. Add an additional tablespoon of butter if the noodles dry out.
More main courses
- Iowa Pork Tenderloin Sandwich
- Steak Fingers with Country Gravy
- One-Pan Meatloaf & Potatoes
- Mom’s Lasagna
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Recipe
Cajun Shrimp Pasta
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoon cajun seasoning
- 1 lb large or colossal shrimp shelled and deveined
- 2 tablespoon butter melted
- 6 tablespoon butter divided
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 2 shallots minced
- 12 oz gluten free linguine cooked and set aside
Instructions
- Pat each shrimp dry and toss them with 2 tablespoon melted butter. Arrange shrimp on a plate and sprinkle with half of the Cajun seasoning. Flip the shrimp and season the other side with the remaining seasoning.
- Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Melt 2 tablespoon butter and add the seasoned shrimp in a single layer.
- Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, flip, and cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes. The shrimp should be pink and opaque.
- Remove the shrimp from the skillet and set aside.
- Melt 4 tablespoon butter in the skillet. Add the minced garlic and shallots and cook for 1 minute or until fragrant.
- Add the cooked noodles and shrimp. Toss to combine and serve!
Nutritional Information
Nutritional Disclaimer
The nutritional information provided is only an estimate. For accurate results, we recommend calculating the nutritional information based on the ingredients and brands you use.
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