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    Home » Recipes » Main Dishes

    Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta Recipe

    Modified: Mar 29, 2025 · Published: Sep 20, 2024 by Sarah Jenkins. This post may contain affiliate links. See the Privacy Policy at the bottom of this page.

    Jump to Recipe

    Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta is a quick and easy pasta recipe for busy nights that comes together in under 30 minutes! Large succulent shrimp are coated with spicy cajun seasoning, then added to linguine and a rich creamy alfredo sauce that results in a delicious creamy spicy shrimp pasta! 

    pan of cajun shrimp pasta on serving bowl.

    Pasta night is a regular occurrence at our house. I love the ease and variations you can whip up (especially on busy weeknights), like this Creamy Seafood Tetrazzini, this Easy Lemon Salmon Pasta, my totally addictive crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta or this delicious Filipino Spaghetti. If you’re looking for a creamy, slightly spicy, and comforting meal to warm you up this winter, this easy cajun shrimp pasta fits the bill. An easy, warming recipe that has a bit of a kick to it - it’s totally decadent and the best recipe for a cold night! 

    closeup of creamy shrimp pasta.
    In This Post
    • Why I love this recipe
    • Key Ingredients
    • How To This Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta Recipe
    • Variations & Substitutions
    • Frequently Asked Questions & Tips
    • More Easy & Delicious Cold-Weather Meals
    • Recipe
    • Comments

    Why I love this recipe

    My whole family loves this delicious recipe and it's on regular rotation at our house. Here's why:

    • Shrimp and pasta. Is this not the BEST pasta dinner combination ever? Sauteed, juicy shrimp with pasta in a cajun cream sauce; this spicy shrimp alfredo is comfort in a bowl.
    • Spicy cream sauce. The creamy cajun sauce is the ultimate in decadent comfort food. I can’t get enough of this cajun shrimp alfredo!
    • Super easy recipe. This is an easy recipe for shrimp and a super quick and easy dinner. There's very little prep work involved (just a bit of chopping for the onion, pepper, and garlic). Start to finish, this creole dish will be on your table in under half an hour. (Great for busy weeknights!)
    • The Cajun seasoning. If you’ve followed me for long, you’ll know I love spice. This cajun spice (a simple blend of cayenne pepper, paprika, black pepper, garlic and onion powder, and a handful of other herbs) is superb, and mixed with the cream sauce and shrimp it makes for the ultimate spicy shrimp pasta recipe. And don't worry about the heat - you can totally customize it to your liking!
    • Company worthy. Even though this simple shrimp recipe is super simple to make, this meal is also great for a crowd or for a dinner with company. 

    Key Ingredients

    Just a few simple ingredients are needed for this easy weeknight recipe:

    cajun shrimp pasta ingredients.
    • Pasta. I used linguine in this cajun shrimp alfredo recipe, but you could really use any pasta you like. Linguine is great since it’s a bit broader than regular spaghetti and there’s more room to soak up the sauce, but fettuccine, penne, or even bow-tie would work well here.
    • Shrimp. It is a seafood pasta recipe after all! Large shrimp work best for this dish. You can use fresh or frozen. Just be sure to thaw it first if using frozen shrimp. Pro Tip: Buy shrimp that are already peeled and deveined to save some time!
    • Cajun seasoning. A key ingredient that adds such a great burst of flavor! It's easy to make your own homemade cajun seasoning but you can usually find premade jars in the grocery store too (Old Bay, Slap Ya Mama, and Tony Chachere's are all popular brands). Just be mindful that the spice level may differ from one mix to another if you’re using store-bought. You may need to adjust the amount you add depending on the level of heat you’re after. (Err on the side of caution and always add a little, then taste before adding more!)
    • Garlic. It seasons the shrimp well. And who doesn’t love a good garlicky sauce?
    • Sweet onion & red bell peppers. Not only do these colorful veggies add a bit more texture to the dish, but they also help to balance the spiciness of the cajun sauce.
    • Diced tomatoes. We’re making a tomato cream sauce here so diced tomatoes are crucial. 
    • Heavy cream & Parmesan cheese. These ingredients form the creamy sauce for this creamy shrimp pasta dish. Be sure to use freshly shredded parmesan cheese here, not the stuff in the green can!
    • Pasta water. Don’t throw away the water you cooked your pasta in! This starchy cooking water is a great way to thicken your sauce since it’s loaded with the starch from the pasta. It works fabulously to help bind the sauce and the pasta together, and also helps to thicken your sauce. I use this trick for all of my pasta dishes and this recipe is no exception! Reserve about ½ a cup, and just add a little bit at a time to your simmering sauce. (You’ll only need about ¼ cup for this recipe but I always reserve more just in case!) \

    How To This Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta Recipe

    This creamy shrimp pasta is an easy dinner recipe to prepare. Here's how to do it:

    1. Prepare the noodles. Add a good pinch of salt to a big pot of water for flavor and boil the pasta according to the instructions. Reserve about ½ cup of pasta water once the pasta has cooked.
    2. Make the cajun shrimp. While the pasta is boiling, cook the shrimp and veggies. Sautee the sweet onion and red pepper in butter in a large skillet over medium heat until the onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Add some garlic, cook for one minute more, then add in your raw shrimp and the cajun seasoning. Stir everything together well to coat the shrimp with the cajun seasoning. Cook the shrimp until it turns pink and is no longer translucent, about five minutes. 
    sautéed red pepper and onion.
    red pepper, onion, and shrimp with cajun seasoning.
    1. Make the sauce. Add the diced tomatoes and cream to the same skillet. Stir to combine, and cook for about 5 minutes longer. (The cajun seasoning used on the shrimp is enough to season the sauce as well.)  
    creamy cajun pasta sauce with shrimp.
    1. Thicken the sauce. Slowly add a couple of tablespoons, and up to ¼ cup of the reserved pasta water to the sauce and cook for an additional 5-10 minutes, or until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency. 
    1. Combine. Remove everything from the heat, add in the parmesan cheese and the noodles, and stir to combine. 
    spicy shrimp pasta in serving bowl.
    1. Finish and serve. Top the cajun shrimp linguine with additional parmesan cheese, and parsley if desired. Serve immediately.

    Variations & Substitutions

    • Use whatever pasta you have on hand. Fettuccine noodles, penne pasta, whole wheat pasta, or even plain old spaghetti all work great with this recipe.  Use whatever you like or what you have on hand. 
    • Add some extra protein. Sausage anyone? Cajun sausage or andouille sausage would be a great addition to this easy meal. Chicken would also be a great addition. (You all know I LOVE a good chicken pasta recipe!)
    • Lighten up the sauce. I love a heavy cream sauce here, but if you'd like, you could use whole milk, or even half and half to cut back on some of the calories. 
    • Change up the seasoning. Everyone has their own favorite cajun or creole seasoning. Experiment by trying a different brand or cajun spice recipe. 
    cajun shrimp pasta view from top.

    Frequently Asked Questions & Tips

    Be careful when adding the cajun seasoning. 

    The level of heat can differ dramatically from brand to brand, so if you’re not making your own, add just a little bit at a time and taste before adding more.

    What type of cajun seasoning should I use for this cajun pasta recipe? 

    You can make your own cajun seasoning or buy it from the store.

    How can I thicken pasta sauce? 

    Simmer it for a bit longer. You can also add a bit of the reserved pasta water to help thicken the sauce. The starch from the pasta does a great job of adding a bit of creaminess to the sauce.

    What to serve with this creamy cajun shrimp pasta

    This is a rich dish so a light side goes great with it. Try a green salad or a light vegetable. And, a nice crusty loaf bread is always a huge hit!

    cajun shrimp pasta in serving pan.

    Did you try this spicy Cajun Shrimp Pasta recipe? Let me know what you thought of it in the comments below! And please tag me on IG @frontrangefed with a pic - I love to see your creations!

    More Easy & Delicious Cold-Weather Meals

    • Easy Red Chicken Enchiladas
    • Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs With Sausage And Potatoes
    • Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie
    • Hoppin John
    • Weeknight Mushroom Ragout With Quick & Easy Polenta
    • Easy White Bean Pasta
    • Easy Vegetable Lasagna
    • Chickpea Stew With Orzo And Greens
    • Boom Boom Shrimp Recipe
    • BWW Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta

    Recipe

    cajun shrimp pasta

    Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta Recipe

    Author: Sarah Jenkins
    Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta is a quick and easy pasta recipe for busy nights that comes together in under 30 minutes! Large succulent shrimp are coated with spicy cajun seasoning, then added to linguine and a rich creamy alfredo sauce that results in a delicious creamy spicy shrimp pasta! 
    5 from 47 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 3 minutes mins
    Cook Time 25 minutes mins
    Total Time 28 minutes mins
    Course Main Course, Pasta
    Cuisine Cajun, creole
    Servings 6 people
    Calories 588 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 package pasta linguine or fettuccine recommended
    • 3 tablespoon butter
    • 1 red bell pepper, sliced
    • ½ sweet onion, chopped
    • 3 cloves garlic
    • 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
    • 2 tablespoon cajun seasoning (plus more depending on your desired level of heat)
    • ¾ cup diced tomatoes (drained)
    • ¾ cup heavy cream
    • ¼ cup reserved pasta water
    • 1 cup Parmesan cheese
    • 2 tablespoon chopped parsley, for garnish (optional)

    Instructions
     

    • Start by preparing your pasta according to package directions. In a large pot of salted water, boil the past according to the package instructions. When the pasta has finished cooking, drain the water, reserving ½ cup of the pasta water for later.
    • Meanwhile, heat a large saucepan over the stove and sautee the red pepper and chopped onion in the 3 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat.
    • Add the garlic and saute for 1 minute more.
    • Add the shrimp and cajun seasoning and cook until the shrimp is pink and no longer translucent.
    • Add the diced tomatoes and cream and cook for an additional 5 minutes to allow flavors to blend.
    • Add about ¼ cup of the pasta water to the shrimp mixture and cook for an additional 5-10 minutes. This will help thicken the sauce.
    • Remove from heat and stir in parmesan cheese. Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and stir well to combine.
    • Serve in bowls, garnished with chopped parsley and additional parmesan cheese.

    Notes

    1. Err on the side of caution when adding the cajun seasoning. You can always add more if you want but you can’t take it away. And, depending on what type of cajun spice you use, the heat level can vary dramatically.
    2. Save your pasta water for the sauce! The water you cook your pasta in retains a ton of starch from the pasta. It’s great to add to the sauce to help bind it to the noodles and thicken it up a bit. I use this trick for all my pasta dishes. 
    3. Use large shrimp for this recipe. Fresh or frozen will both work!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 588kcalCarbohydrates: 64gProtein: 33gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 14gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 182mgSodium: 463mgPotassium: 610mgFiber: 4gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 2660IUVitamin C: 32mgCalcium: 309mgIron: 3mg
    Keyword creamy cajun sauce, easy dinner, easy pasta, easy weeknight dinner, seafood pasta, shrimp pasta, spicy shrimp pasta
    Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

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    Comments

      5 from 47 votes (46 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Amanda says

      June 03, 2023 at 7:55 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe is so good! I love the Cajun spin on this pasta and the shrimp keeps it healthy. It's a winner.

      Reply
    Sarah Jenkins

    Hi, I'm Sarah! I love creating dishes based on what's in season and using local ingredients as often as I can. I hope you'll find some new to you recipes here that will inspire you to make something delicious!

    More about me →

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