Delicious spicy cajun shrimp served with sauteed vegetables. It’s a quick and healthy skillet meal ready in under 30 minutes!
Table of Contents
This cajun shrimp recipe is a quick and easy solution if you’re looking to break out of a boring dinner rut. Delicate crustaceans 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 briefly saute 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.
Cajun seasoning
To make a homemade cajun seasoning, 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, use a trio of ground cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, and black pepper. You can easily adjust the heat level to your liking or make it even more intense by adding fresh, minced hot peppers. The recipe has a pleasant lingering heat but not burning hot.
Recipe Resources
Shrimp selection
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. 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.
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.
Sear 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, undistributed. After about 2 minutes, flip and cook them until opaque and pink in appearance. This process ensures even cooking and prevents overcooking.
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.
What to serve this with
- Cauliflower grits
- Angel hair or spaghetti pasta
- Steamed white rice or brown rice
Recipe Science
Use two types of dried red peppers
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 it needs 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.
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 in a bowl and fill with room temperature water until defrosted. Thoroughly drain and pat dry using paper towels.
- 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, saute for 90 seconds. Add the red and green bell peppers, 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, 1 minute, then turn off the heat. Transfer to a serving platter. Garnish with parsley and serve with lemon wedges.
Equipment
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.