Here’s a flavorful garlic shrimp pasta recipe with a Cajun twist, perfect if you want it spicy and garlicky. You can think of it as a Cajun shrimp scampi.
Cajun Garlic Shrimp Pasta
Ingredients (Serves 2–3)
- 8 oz pasta (linguine, spaghetti, or fettuccine)
- 1 lb (450 g) large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 3 tablespoons olive oil or butter
- 4–5 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½–1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning (adjust to taste)
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
- ¼ cup dry white wine or chicken broth
- Juice of ½ lemon
- ¼ cup chopped parsley
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta
- Boil pasta according to package directions until al dente.
- Drain and reserve ½ cup of pasta water.
- Prepare the Shrimp
- Pat shrimp dry and season with salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and Cajun seasoning.
- Cook the Shrimp
- Heat olive oil or butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add shrimp and cook 2–3 minutes per side, until pink and opaque.
- Remove shrimp from skillet and set aside.
- Make the Sauce
- In the same skillet, add minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Sauté 30–60 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in white wine or chicken broth, scrape up browned bits, and simmer 1–2 minutes.
- Add lemon juice.
- Combine Pasta and Shrimp
- Add cooked pasta and shrimp to the skillet.
- Toss everything together, adding reserved pasta water a little at a time to reach desired sauce consistency.
- Stir in chopped parsley.
- Serve
- Plate the pasta, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese if desired, and serve immediately.
Tips for Best Results
- Don’t overcook the shrimp—they cook very quickly and become rubbery.
- Use fresh garlic for the most flavor.
- Adjust Cajun seasoning and red pepper flakes to your spice tolerance.
💡 Variation: For a creamier Cajun shrimp scampi, add ¼ cup heavy cream to the sauce before tossing with pasta.
If you want, I can also give a 5-minute “weeknight shrimp pasta” version that’s super quick but still packs Cajun flavor.
Do you want me to do that?
