This easy & spicy Cajun shrimp recipe is packed with delicious Cajun spices, and requires only 4 ingredients and 5 minutes, making it a perfect weeknight meal. Serve this spicy shrimp recipe as an appetizer or side dish over noodles or fried rice for a quick and satisfying family dinner.
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Shrimp recipes are lifesavers for busy weekdays thanks to their quick cook time. This Cajun shrimp recipe is no exception – you'll be enjoying a delicious meal in no time!
Love Cajun flavors and Shrimp? You'll love this easy Cajun Shrimp recipe. If you're looking for more yummy options, try our Cajun Shrimp and Rice or Chicken Jambalaya with Shrimp – both bursting with Cajun flavor!
Spicy Cajun Shrimp Recipe
Believe it or not, this flavorful New Orleans-inspired shrimp recipe comes together with just 4 ingredients! Shrimp, cajun seasoning, butter, and olive oil, are all you need to make a restaurant-worthy dish at home in minutes. Marinate the shrimp with Cajun seasoning, and then pan-fry them to juicy perfection.
I love making my own Cajun seasoning at home. It uses pantry staples and allows you to customize the spice level to your family's preference. You can use it to make any Cajun delicacy like this Cajun Chicken Sandwich, Cajun Chicken Pasta, or Cajun Chicken and Rice.
These Blackened Shrimp are bursting with savory, smoky depth and mild spicy flavor. You can adjust the heat by increasing or decreasing the quantity of cayenne pepper and paprika as per your family preference. Here’s a quick and easy Cajun Shrimp recipe.
Top Tip
This Cajun Shrimp strikes the perfect balance between mild heat and bold flavor. Want it spicier? Increase the quantity of the cayenne pepper in the cajun seasoning! For a subtle kick? Adjust the paprika to your preference.
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Scroll down the recipe card for step by step instructions with photos.
How to make Cajun Shrimp with Step By Step Photos
1) Prep and marinate the shrimp: Peel and devein the shrimp. Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels. In a medium-sized bowl, combine shrimp with Cajun seasoning and olive oil.
2) Melt butter and oil: Heat oil over medium heat in a skillet or pan and then add butter. Let the butter melt.
3) Cook Shrimp: Add the shrimp to the pan in a single layer, leaving space between each piece. Don't overcrowd the pan! If necessary, cook the shrimp in batches to ensure they sear properly. This will give you crispy, delicious shrimp instead of steamed ones. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until the shrimp turn opaque, curl slightly into a C-shape, and are cooked through. Serve immediately.
Tips To Cook Shrimp Perfectly
Due to the delicate nature of shrimp, it requires minimal cooking time. Here are a few tips to know how long to cook shrimp.
- Color Change: Initially while cooking the shrimp it is translucent and grayish, the flesh will slowly become opaque, developing a white color with accents of pink and red. This color change signifies the shrimp is nearing completion.
- Shape Change: Once the shrimp is cooked the body will be curled to "C" shape. This is your sign that it's delicious and ready to eat! Never consume shrimp that remains gray or translucent after cooking.
- Overcooking the shrimp even by a few minutes can result in a tough, rubbery texture. Once the shrimp turn opaque and pink, it's best to remove them from heat immediately to prevent them from drying out or becoming tough.
Storing and Reheating Shrimp
- Store these leftover blackened shrimp within 2 hours of cooking. Transfer them to an airtight container and refrigerate. It stays good for 2 days in the refrigerator. Do not forget to label it with the date.
- Before consuming check for any signs of spoilage like foul smell, bad taste, or black spots. If there are any discard them immediately.
- They are freezer-friendly. Stays good for a month. Thaw them overnight in the refrigerator, reheat, and enjoy.
- To reheat - add some butter to the skillet and melt it over low heat, add the shrimp to the pan, and cook until the shrimp are heated through. Do not overcook as they may turn rubbery.
Ingredients & Substitutions
It’s a 4-ingredient recipe and the most amazing thing about this Southern shrimp recipe is that you have all the ingredients in your kitchen pantry.
- Large/Jumbo shrimp: start with fresh, peeled, and deveined shrimp.
- Cajun Seasoning: Use store-bought or make your own. It requires easy everyday ingredients to make Cajun seasoning and is ready within 5 minutes. The recipe is given in recipe card notes.
- Butter: I love to add butter while cooking the shrimp. It brings the best flavors.
Recipe Card
Spicy Cajun Shrimp Recipe
Equipment
- 1 A deep bottom pan or skillet
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds large or jumbo shrimp peeled and de-veined
- 2 tablespoon Cajun seasoning (recipe given in notes below)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoon oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
Instructions
- Prep and marinate the shrimp: Peel and devein the shrimp. Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels. In a medium sized bowl, combine shrimp with Cajun seasoning and olive oil.
- Prepare the pan: Heat oil over medium heat in a skillet or pan, then add butter. Let the butter melt.
- Cook Shrimp: Add the shrimp to the pan in a single layer, leaving space between each piece. Don't overcrowd the pan! If necessary, cook the shrimp in batches to ensure they sear properly. This will give you crispy, delicious shrimp instead of steamed ones. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until the shrimp turn opaque, curl slightly into a C-shape, and are cooked through.
Video
Notes
- During cooking, shrimp undergo a visual transformation. Initially translucent and grayish, the flesh will slowly become opaque, developing a white color with accents of pink and red. This color change signifies the shrimp is nearing completion.
- Additionally, the body will be a "C" shape.
- Never consume shrimp that remains gray or translucent after cooking.
- Due to the delicate nature of shrimp, it requires minimal cooking time. Overcooking even by a few minutes can result in a tough, rubbery texture. Once the shrimp turn opaque and pink, it's best to remove them from heat immediately to prevent them from drying out or becoming tough.
- This Cajun Shrimp strikes the perfect balance between mild heat and bold flavor. Want it spicier? Simply crank up the cayenne pepper! Craving a more subtle kick? Adjust the paprika to your preference.
- For Cajun seasoning - In a small mixing bowl combine 2 tablespoon paprika, 2 tablespoon garlic powder, 2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 2 tablespoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1 tablespoon onion powder, 1 tablespoon salt, and 2 teaspoon ground balck pepper
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Vaishu
Love this Cajun shrimp, easy and quick. Saving the recipe.
Preeti
Glad you liked it. Thanks.