Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta (Printable Version)
Succulent shrimp and bell peppers in a creamy, spicy Cajun sauce with perfectly cooked pasta.
# What You Need:
→ Shrimp
01 - 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
02 - 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
03 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
→ Pasta
04 - 12 ounces fettuccine or linguine pasta
→ Vegetables
05 - 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
06 - 1 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
07 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
08 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
→ Sauce
09 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
10 - 1 cup heavy cream
11 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
12 - ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
13 - ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
14 - ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
15 - Salt and black pepper to taste
→ Garnish
16 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
17 - Extra grated Parmesan cheese
# How to Make It:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain, reserving ½ cup pasta water, and set aside.
02 - Toss peeled and deveined shrimp with Cajun seasoning, coating evenly.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Arrange shrimp in a single layer and cook 1–2 minutes per side until just opaque and cooked through. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
04 - Add butter to the same skillet. When melted, add bell peppers and onion. Sauté 3–4 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and cook 1 minute until fragrant.
05 - Reduce heat to medium. Pour in heavy cream and chicken broth, stirring to combine. Add Parmesan, smoked paprika, cayenne, salt, and pepper. Simmer 2–3 minutes until sauce coats the back of a spoon.
06 - Add cooked pasta and shrimp to the skillet. Toss until evenly coated in sauce, adding reserved pasta water as needed for desired consistency. Remove from heat. Garnish with parsley and additional Parmesan.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The sauce clings to every strand of pasta, making each bite impossibly creamy and flavorful
- It comes together in 35 minutes but tastes like a restaurant dish that took hours to perfect
- The heat level is completely customizable, so everyone at your table stays happy
02 -
- Shrimp continue cooking even after you remove them from heat, so pull them slightly before they look completely done
- The sauce thickens rapidly as it cools, so if it looks too thin while simmering, give it another minute or two
- Room temperature cream incorporates more smoothly than cold cream straight from the fridge
03 -
- Grate your Parmesan fresh from a block rather than using pre-grated cheese, the texture difference is remarkable
- Have all ingredients prepped before you start cooking, this dish moves fast once you hit the stove