Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta
This creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta is pure comfort food magic! Tender shrimp meets rich cream sauce with just the right kick of spice. Perfect for weeknight dinners when you want something special but don't have all day to cook.
Ingredients
- 1 pound large shrimp peeled and deveined
- 8 ounces penne pasta
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt for pasta water
- ¼ cup fresh parsley chopped
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Season the Shrimp: Toss shrimp with Cajun seasoning and olive oil until every piece is coated with those amazing spices for maximum flavor.
- Cook the Pasta: Boil pasta in salted water for 8-10 minutes until it's got that perfect bite - not mushy, not crunchy, just right for holding sauce.
- Sear Those Beauties: Cook seasoned shrimp in butter over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes per side until they're golden brown and absolutely gorgeous to look at.
- Make Creamy Magic: Pour heavy cream into the same pan, scrape up the good stuff, then whisk in ½ cup Parmesan until it's smooth and dreamy.
- Bring It Together: Add your pasta and shrimp back to the pan, toss with the cream sauce, and add pasta water if it needs thinning out perfectly.
- Final Touches: Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed, then top with fresh parsley and extra cheese because more cheese is always the right answer here.
Notes
- Fresh Parmesan from a block melts so much better than the pre-shredded stuff - it's worth the extra two minutes of grating time, I promise.
- That starchy pasta water is like liquid gold for making your sauce stick to every single noodle - don't forget to save some before draining.
- Shrimp cook super fast, so don't walk away from the stove or you'll end up with little rubber balls instead of tender shrimp.
- Store-bought Cajun seasoning can be really salty, so start with less and add more until it tastes just right for your family's taste buds.
- This tastes best when it's piping hot and fresh, so call everyone to the table as soon as you're done cooking - it's WORTH IT!