Description
This creamy Cajun shrimp pasta is a delightful blend of succulent shrimp, perfectly cooked penne, and a rich, spicy Cajun cream sauce. Easy to prepare in just 25 minutes, this dish offers a balanced combination of bold flavors with the richness of parmesan and a hint of fresh parsley, making it a perfect weeknight dinner to impress your family or guests.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 oz penne pasta
Shrimp
- 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning, divided
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ cup diced tomatoes
- 1 ½ cups heavy whipping cream
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese, plus more to serve
Garnish (optional)
- 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Cook pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the penne pasta until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve some pasta water before draining, then keep the pasta covered and warm.
- Sauté shrimp: Toss shrimp with 1 tablespoon of Cajun seasoning. Heat olive oil in a deep skillet over medium heat. Add shrimp in a single layer and cook for 1-2 minutes per side until they turn opaque. Remove shrimp and cover to keep warm.
- Prepare base of sauce: In the same skillet, melt butter and add minced garlic. Cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant, then add diced tomatoes and sauté for 2-3 minutes to slightly soften and meld flavors.
- Make creamy sauce: Pour in heavy whipping cream along with the remaining 1 tablespoon of Cajun seasoning and grated parmesan cheese. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens nicely.
- Combine and finish: Return shrimp and cooked pasta to the skillet. Stir to coat everything evenly with the sauce and heat through. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to loosen it. Serve garnished with additional parmesan cheese and chopped parsley if desired.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of Cajun seasoning to your spice preference.
- Use fresh shrimp for best flavor, but frozen shrimp thawed properly works well.
- Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency easily.
- Garnish with parsley and extra parmesan for enhanced flavor and presentation.
- This dish is best served fresh but leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated gently.
