This creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta recipe makes for the BEST pasta dinner ready in under 30 minutes! Plump and juicy Cajun shrimp in a creamy Cajun sauce mixed with pasta.
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If you love easy pasta dinners in a creamy sauce like our Feta Pasta, creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta, or Chicken Alfredo Pasta, this Cajun Shrimp Pasta is a must-try.
Cajun Shrimp Pasta Recipe
This simple pasta dish is such a great recipe to make, not only for busy weeknights but even a fancy dinner. Cajun Shrimp Pasta is a flavor-packed spin on our Creamy Shrimp Pasta and our Cajun Chicken Pasta. You’ll love the buttery and tender shrimp tossed in a spicy Cajun seasoning and coated in creamy tomato alfredo pasta sauce with penne noodles.
Pro Tip:
Cajun seasoning food is typically spicy, as it includes cayenne pepper in its ingredients. You can add more or less cajun seasoning to adjust the level of spice in this dish. Different brands can be more or less spicy as well (see FAQ section). If you want it even spicier, you can add a pinch of red pepper flakes.
How to Make Cajun Shrimp Pasta
- Pasta– Cook the pasta in salted water until al dente according to package instructions. Keep some of the pasta water for the sauce then drain the pasta in a colander.
- Shrimp– Peel and devein the shrimp. Toss the shrimp into the cajun seasoning and saute in oil over medium heat until opaque, about 1 to 2 minutes per side. Remove the shrimp from the skillet and cover to keep warm.
- Sauce– Saute garlic with butter until fragrant, add the tomatoes. Add heavy cream, cajun seasoning, and parmesan and bring to a simmer.
- Combine – Add the shrimp back in along with the pasta and stir to coat in sauce. Add the reserved pasta water to thin out the sauce if desired.
- Serve– Top with freshly grated parmesan and fresh parsley to serve.
Serve Cajun Shrimp Pasta With
This hearty pasta dish is perfect to serve on its own, but we love to pair it with a fresh Caesar Salad or any of these easy sides:
- Easy Garlic Bread
- Roasted Cauliflower
- Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad
- Panzanella Salad
- Coleslaw
- Grilled Zucchini
- Corn on the Cob
Frequently Asked Questions
For the best results, you will want to use large fresh shrimp that are peeled and deveined. We love 21-25 count. You may also use frozen shrimp and thaw according to package instructions before using.
We don’t recommend using already-cooked shrimp. If you cook shrimp a second time, it will become tough and rubbery. Also, cooking raw shrimp in the pan infuses the sauce with more flavor than using pre-cooked shrimp.
You can substitute the penne for any other pasta such as rigatoni, ziti, mostaccioli, or elbow pasta.
You can use any of your favorite store-bought Cajun seasoning, but they do vary in spiciness, from spicy cajun to a more mild cajun.
You can definitely add your favorite vegetable to the shrimp pasta. Onion, bell peppers, asparagus or green beans would all work great. Sauteed mushrooms are also a delicious add-in.
If your sauce is runny, then you did not simmer the sauce long enough. Also, make sure to use HEAVY whipping cream which has a higher fat content than regular whipping cream and don’t skip the parmesan cheese which helps thicken the sauce.
I hope this creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta becomes a new family favorite for you. It comes together fast and is perfect for busy weeknights.
More Cajun Recipes
- Grilled Cajun Shrimp Skewers
- Easy Shrimp Boil
- Baked Cajun Shrimp
- Shrimp Fajitas
- Shrimp Cobb Salad
- Chicken and Mushroom Cajun Pasta
- Cajun Beef Fajitas
Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta
Ingredients
- 8 oz penne pasta
- 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 Tbsp cajun seasoning, divided *or added to taste depending on brand used.
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
- 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese, plus more to serve
- 2 Tbsp parsley to garnish, (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the penne pasta in a pot of salted water until al dente according to package instructions. Keep some of the pasta water for the sauce then drain the pasta and cover to keep warm.
- Coat the shrimp with 1 Tbsp of the cajun seasoning. In a deep skillet, heat 1 Tbsp oil over medium heat. Once hot, add the seasoned shrimp in a single layer and saute for about 1-2 minutes per side, or until the shrimp is no longer translucent, remove from skillet and cover to keep warm.
- In the same skillet, melt 2 Tbsp butter with the minced garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant. Add in the diced tomatoes and saute for about 2-3 minutes.
- Pour in the heavy whipping cream, remaining 1 Tbsp cajun seasoning and grated parmesan cheese. Bring to a simmer then reduce to medium/low heat and continue 2-3 minutes or until the sauce thickens.
- Add the shrimp and pasta back into the skillet and stir until the noodles are coated in sauce and everything is heated through. If needed, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to thin the sauce. To serve, garnish with more parmesan and chopped parsley, if desired.
Notes
- Pasta – Substitute the penne for any other pasta such as rigatoni, ziti, mostaccioli, or elbow pasta
- Vegetables – You can add your favorite vegetable to the shrimp pasta such as onion, bell peppers, asparagus, green beans, or even sauteed mushrooms.
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
Hi! I’m Natasha Kravchuk, a New York Times bestselling cookbook author, recipe developer, food photographer, and writer. Here you’ll find delicious, reliable recipes made with simple ingredients, plus easy step-by-step photos and videos to help you cook confidently at home. 
How do I reheat the pasta?
Hi Lynn, I would reheat on a skillet over low heat so the sauce doesn’t separate.
Hi Natasha, I made your Creamy Cajun Pasta with Shrimp tonight for dinner. We found it to be very good the only thing I think I will change next time is instead of 2 TBLSP of Butter, I’ll do one as I found it to be a little oily but, other than that, it was excellent and definitely a keeper. Thank you for another great recipes. HUGS from Canada
That sounds good, Linda. Thanks for sharing your comments with us, glad you liked it!
Just made the recipe. Very good. Definitely making again. I like finding a recipe I don’t need to change to a certain taste. Thank you.
You are very welcome, Jana! Glad you enjoyed it.
I just made the creamy Cajun pasta. I added some leftover spinach. Absolutely delicious! Your recipes are always a crowd pleaser!
Yum! That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Kesh!
Made this yesterday and it was a big hit with the family, they continued to say how good it was.
Thanks Natasha
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!
Made this tonight….its perfect! And such a quick week night dinner! Thank you!!
You’re welcome, Cathy! Thanks for your awesome review and feedback, we appreciate it.
Excellent! Easy and very delicious. Right amount of spice.
Thanks for your great feedback, Nancy! Glad you enjoyed it.
So easy & so good!
this was awesome i just can not belive it well 5 stars I LOVE THIS❤️
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!
I want to make this but wanted to use a pound of pasta… would I just double the recipe for the sauce?
Hi Amber, I would double everything if doubling the pasta or it would be dry.
Do you need to remove the seeds from the tomato? or do you use the whole thing.
Hi Cathy, we used the entire tomato, diced.
Did you boil the tomato, remove the skin and dice it? Or chop fresh tomatoes? Or use canned diced tomatoes?
Hi Susan, we used the entire tomato, diced.
I made this last night for dinner.
Really good and easy to make.
I shared the recipe with my daughter and I will make it again.
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Bonnie!
AMAZING and EASY recipe!!! So glad I tried it. I did not have cajun seasoning but went to the store just so that I could try this recipe and so glad I did. It was done in less than 30 minutes and my husband and son kept raving about it. My husband even said this was a good dish to serve when we have family over.
Love it! I’m so happy to be reading your feedback and review. Thank you for sharing, Nancy!
Can we use a lower fat content cream? like 15 %? would that work too?
Hi Ted, I recommend reading the section in the recipe titled “Why is my cajun sauce runny?”. We recommend cream with a higher fat content than regular whipping cream.
Hi Natasha, why do some recipes have videos others don’t? 😊
Hi Ana, some recipes don’t really have videos. We can only do one video per week as of the moment.
What can I use instead of the Cajun seasoning. I can’t eat spicy.
I haven’t tried anything else to advise, also the substitutes that I know are also spicy it’s usually a mixture of paprika, garlic powder, italian seasoning etc..
Can I substitute chicken Natasha? Would i need to make any major changes?
Hi Lauren, you could totally cut the chicken breast in half into cutlets, season both sides and sautee until cooked through then transfer to a cutting board and cut against the grain into strips and add it to the pasta to make Cajun Chicken Pasta. Yum!
Thanks Natasha! We are going to make it tonight. All of your recipes are always a home run in our house!
This reminds me of one of my favorite dishes at Cheesecake Factory!
Yes! I have always found it’s easier than I think it will be to recreate a restaurant favorite, especially pasta!
Delicious! Love all those flavors, nom nom nom.
Thank you April, the Cajun seasoning really makes this.
This pasta was all the things you want Pasta to be rich, creamy, and so flavorful! A definite remake.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Andrea!