Delicious spicy Cajun shrimp recipe served with sautéed vegetables. It’s a quick and healthy skillet meal ready in under 30 minutes!
If you’re a fan of spice, give my Cajun chicken recipe a try next!
Jessica’s Recipe Science
- Coating the shrimp with oil helps the Cajun spices adhere and releases fat-soluble flavor compounds for a bolder taste.
- Cayenne pepper adds an immediate kick of heat, while larger red pepper flakes provide lingering spice.
- Cooking the shrimp in a single layer promotes better searing and even cooking, creating more flavorful bites.
Featured Comment 10
“This Cajun shrimp recipe is great, my grandkids ask for it all the time.”—Zac
Why It Works
This Cajun shrimp recipe is a quick and easy solution if you’re looking to break out of a boring dinner rut. Juicy shrimp cook in a hot skillet with bold seasonings that instantly add intense flavor to each succulent bite. I combine the dried spice blend with olive oil to help the seasonings stick to the surface.
Chopped bell peppers, onions, and garlic add fresh Louisiana-inspired flavors to the dish. The vegetables are briefly sautéed until crisp-tender and then tossed with the seasoned shrimp. To make it a complete meal, serve over grits, pasta, or with a side of steamed rice.
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Ingredients You’ll Need
- Shrimp: I recommend using extra jumbo-sized shrimp that yield two-bite portions. Look for 16 to 20 count, which means the number of pieces per pound.
- Oil: Fruit olive oil coats the seasoned shrimp to coax out the fat-soluble flavor molecules of the spices and is used to cook the vegetables.
- Butter: The shrimp is seared in the rich fat from the melted butter.
- Cajun Seasoning: I make a bold homemade Cajun seasoning with smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, oregano, cayenne, red pepper flakes, and black pepper.
- Vegetables: Minced garlic, white onion, red bell pepper, and green bell peppers are classic ingredients in Cajun cuisine to complement the seafood dish.
- Garnish: Fresh parsley adds a pop of color and freshness, while a squeeze of lemon brightens the flavors of the Cajun shrimp.
See the recipe card below for all ingredients and measurements (US and metric).
Ingredient Substitutions
This spicy Cajun shrimp recipe is easy to customize! Try these delicious ideas:
- Shrimp Options: Try other types of shrimp like white, pink, brown, royal red, Argentinian, or tiger shrimp.
- Seasoning: Add spicy or sweet paprika instead of smoked. Try adding cumin, coriander, curry powder, chili powder, or chipotle powder. Add herbs like thyme, rosemary, or basil.
- Butter Swap: Use margarine, plant-based butter, or coconut oil.
- Vegetables: Add celery, zucchini, mushrooms, tomatoes, or corn.
How to Make Cajun Shrimp
Step 1: Defrost the Shrimp
Defrost the large shrimp in the refrigerator overnight, under cold running water, or in a bowl of water until no longer icy. Dry them well so that they sear instead of steam in the pan.
Tips for Perfect Execution: Peel and devein the shrimp before cooking to remove the digestive tract and make eating easier. I often leave the tails on as insulators so that the smaller sections cook slower, preventing a rubbery texture. If making tacos with the deveined shrimp, take the tails off.
Step 2: Add Cajun Seasoning
To make a homemade Cajun seasoning, I use various concentrated dried seasonings like smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, and oregano. This mix yields a delightful grilled flavor without having to step outdoors. To add a pop of spiciness, I use a trio of ground cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, and black pepper. The recipe has a pleasant lingering heat but is not burning hot.
Experimentation Encouraged: You can easily adjust the heat level to your liking with the dried chilis or make it even more intense by adding fresh, minced hot peppers.
Step 3: Saute the Vegetables
Chopped bell peppers, onions, and garlic add flavorful aromatics and nutrition to the dish. Cut them into small pieces, about ¼-inch in size, so they cook quickly and will cling to the shrimp when serving. The tiny pieces also deliver more flavor in a shorter period due to higher surface area. Thinly sliced zucchini or mushrooms make an excellent addition to add more vegetables.
Step 4: Cook the Shrimp
A cast iron skillet retains heat very well and sears the shrimp in just minutes. Add the pieces in a single layer and let them sizzle, undisturbed. After about 2 minutes, flip and cook them until opaque and pink in appearance. This process ensures even cooking and prevents overcooking.
Step 5: Combine Ingredients
Add the vegetables back to the pan of cooked shrimp to warm, and enjoy immediately garnished with parsley. I like to serve lemon wedges to squeeze on top. The citric acid naturally enhances the flavors in the seasoning with bright citrus notes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cajun dishes often use cayenne peppers to bring heat and a distinctive flavor. Red pepper flakes tend to be a mix of chilies and hot seeds, with a majority composed of cayenne. The fine particles coat the shrimp and deliver an instant kick, while the larger pieces give a lingering heat since they need chewing to release the capsaicin. Cayenne peppers are higher on the heat scale with 35,000 to 50,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU), so a little can pack a fiery bite.
A good Cajun seasoning for shrimp combines smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, kosher salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and red pepper flakes. Smoked paprika adds deep, smoky flavor, while cayenne and red pepper flakes provide a balanced heat that complements the shrimp without overpowering its natural sweetness. It’s easy to customize!
Cajun shrimp pairs well with a variety of sides that balance its bold, spicy flavors. Serve it over creamy grits or cauliflower grits for a Southern-inspired meal, or toss it with angel hair or spaghetti pasta like my Cajun shrimp pasta. Pair it with steamed white or brown rice to soak up the flavorful juices. For a heartier feast, serve it alongside gumbo or jambalaya, or add a slice of sweet cornbread.
More Shrimp Recipes
If you tried this Cajun Shrimp Recipe, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below!
Spicy Cajun Shrimp
Ingredients
- 1 pound shrimp, 16/20 count, peeled and deveined
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, or sweet
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- ½ cup white onion, ¼" dice
- ½ cup red bell pepper, ¼" dice
- ½ cup green bell pepper, ¼" dice
- 2 teaspoons minced parsley
- 4 lemon wedges
Instructions
- Defrost the Shrimp – If using frozen shrimp, place them in a colander and run cold water until no longer icy, about 3 minutes. Alternatively, set them in a bowl and fill with room-temperature water until defrosted. Thoroughly drain and pat dry using paper towels.
- Add the Cajun Seasoning – In a medium bowl, combine shrimp, 1 tablespoon olive oil, paprika, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, oregano, cayenne pepper, and red pepper flakes.
- Saute the Vegetables – Heat a 12-inch skillet or cast iron pan over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil. Once hot, add the garlic and saute until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add the onion and saute for 90 seconds. Add the red and green bell peppers and saute for 1 minute. Transfer vegetables to a clean bowl.
- Cook the Shrimp – Melt the butter in the pan. Add the shrimp in a single layer. Cook without moving until they turn pinkish on the bottom and start to curl, about 2 minutes. Flip and cook until curled into a loose “C” shape, about 1 minute.
- Combine Ingredients – Add the sauteed vegetables and stir to combine for 1 minute, then turn off the heat. Transfer to a serving platter. Garnish with parsley and serve with lemon wedges.
Recipe Video
Notes
- Make it Spicier: Use ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper or ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes.
Nutrition Facts
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000-calorie diet. All nutritional information is based on estimated third-party calculations. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods, and portion sizes per household.
MG says
when do you add the cajun seasoning?
Jessica Gavin says
The cajun seasoning is the blend of seasonings added to the shrimp in step 2. I hope that helps!
Kyle says
Made as instructed with the addition of fresh jalapeños. Very good and easy
Jessica Gavin says
Thanks for your feedback, Kyle! Love that you added extra chilies.
Keisha Sibert says
Making this tonight for dinner! Excited to try it out.
Jessica Gavin says
I can’t wait to hear what you think, Keisha!
Ronald Seto says
I have used frozen, cooked shrimp in similar recipes and they turn out OK. Saves the time to devein, peel and cook raw shrimp. I have seen Vietnamese shrimp vendors here in Mississippi peel $20 worth of shrimp (about 3-1/2 lb) in a minute. It takes me about a 1/2 to 3/4 hour to do it. That is why I prefer frozen, cooked shrimp.
Jessica Gavin says
Thanks for sharing your shrimp prep experience, Ronald! Frozen cooked shrimp definitely saves on time.
jack murphy says
can i add tomatoes to this recipe?
I enjoy your recipes.
Jessica Gavin says
Absolutely! You can stir them in when cooking the sauteed vegetables if you like them softened (cheery tomatoes cut in half would be lovely), or stir them in at the end for a more fresh flavor.