Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta
Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta features tender Cajun-seasoned shrimp tossed with linguine in a rich Parmesan cream sauce.Ready in just 40 minutes.A flavorful restaurant-style dinner that's easy to make at home.
Ingredients
Cajun Shrimp
- 1 pound large shrimp peeled, deveined, and tails removed
- 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
- 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil divided
- Kosher salt to taste
Creamy Pasta
- 1 small yellow onion coarsely chopped
- 1 red bell pepper coarsely chopped
- 4 garlic cloves
- 12 ounces linguine
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3 ounces finely grated Parmesan cheese plus extra for serving
- ½ cup fresh parsley finely chopped
- ½ cup fresh chives thinly sliced
Instructions
- Toss the shrimp with Cajun seasoning, 2 tablespoons olive oil, and a pinch of salt until evenly coated.
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Cook the shrimp in batches for about 1 minute per side until lightly browned and cooked through. Transfer to a plate.
- Wipe the skillet clean.
- In a food processor, blend the onion, bell pepper, and garlic until a smooth puree forms.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the linguine until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Heat the remaining olive oil in the same skillet over medium heat.
- Cook the vegetable puree for 7–10 minutes, stirring frequently, until thickened and most of the liquid has evaporated.
- Pour in the heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Remove from the heat and whisk in the Parmesan until smooth and creamy.
- Add the cooked shrimp, drained linguine, parsley, chives, and about ¾ cup reserved pasta water.
- Toss everything together until the Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta is coated in a silky, glossy sauce. Add more pasta water if needed.
- Serve immediately with extra Parmesan and fresh herbs.
Notes
- Fettuccine or penne can replace linguine.
- Half-and-half may be substituted for a lighter sauce.
- Add spinach or mushrooms for extra vegetables.
- Fresh shrimp provides the best flavor, but frozen shrimp work well when thawed.