I'm a sucker for a creamy, dreamy, seafood pasta dish. This creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta recipe has everything you could possibly want. Tender and succulent shrimp is coated with cajun seasoning, which adds just the right amount of spice and a deliciously blackened crust. The cream sauce only takes a few minutes to come together, plus I use a secret pantry staple, so you don't need to head out to buy fresh cream!
My husband loves pasta, but he's not big into creamy pasta recipes, he's more of a tomato sauce kind of guy. But the cajun seasoning in this recipe adds an awesome flavor and a kick of spice that had him coming back for seconds! Since cajun seasoning can have different levels of spice, make sure you use one that your family loves, or make your own!
How To Make Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta
I love making seafood dishes for quick weeknight dinners. I always keep frozen shrimp on hand, because it lasts a while, defrosts quickly, and cooks up perfectly in no time. This recipe is super quick to make with just a few pantry staples. In fact, you can make assemble this recipe in about 15 minutes.
I like dropping the pasta into the boiling water, and then cooking the shrimp and making the cream sauce while the pasta is cooking. Then once the pasta is done, you can drain it and combine everything! The cajun cream sauce is simply a mixture of evaporated milk and parmesan cheese that melts in creamy smooth. I also add fresh garlic to the sauce, it gives it great flavor that compliments the shrimp. I use evaporated milk instead of cream, because I usually never have heavy cream in the fridge, but I always have a can or two of evaporated milk. It's great for cooking and baking!
What to Serve with Cajun Shrimp Pasta
Since this dish is rich and decadent, I like serving it with a side salad. You also have the option of tossing in some frozen or fresh veggies for some extra color and nutrition. Frozen broccoli or peas would be a great addition, just add them to the sauce to warm up for a minute or two, before adding in the pasta and shrimp.
Other fresh veggies that would be great in this recipe are blanched asparagus or sauteed strips of colorful bell peppers. You can also wilt some fresh spinach or arugula into the pasta while it's warm, like I did in my Creamy Shrimp Pasta with Tomatoes & Arugula!
What type of shrimp is best for Cajun Shrimp Pasta?
I'm lucky enough to live in Florida, where wild caught shrimp is fresh and local, so I always go with wild caught shrimp when it's an option. There is definitely a huge difference in quality, taste and texture and it's worth it to eat wild caught.
For this recipe, I definitely recommend going with large or even jumbo sized shrimp. The great part of about this recipe is that the pasta helps stretch your budget, so you can splurge on larger shrimp and still feed 4-6 people with just a pound! I buy frozen shrimp by the pound so that I always have some in the freezer for quick dinner recipes.