Easy Cajun Shrimp

Shrimp are one of the simplest ways for a fast and easy dinner, and this recipe makes them taste irresistible in minutes. Try this Cajun Shrimp recipe! Toss the shellfish with little Cajun seasoning and sauté them up in olive oil in a skillet.

The flavor is so savory, garlicky and irresistible, you’ll hardly believe the prep time. It takes only 5 minutes to put together! Pair it with a quick veggie side or salad and you’ve got dinner.

What’s in this Cajun shrimp?

This Cajun shrimp recipe is inspired by the flavors of Cajun cuisine, a style of cooking developed by the Acadians, French colonists living in Canada who were deported to Louisiana in the 1700’s. Over the centuries this developed into a classic cooking style, similar to but distinct from Creole cuisine.

This recipe honors the tradition of Cajun cooking by using the flavors common in this cuisine to make quick and easy pan-fried shrimp. Here’s what you’ll need to make it:

• Shrimp: fresh or frozen, deveined and tail on
• Cajun seasoning: homemade or purchased
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Olive oil

The type of shrimp to buy

There are loads of options when it comes to shopping for shrimp at the grocery. Here’s what to look for in this Cajun shrimp recipe:

• Medium to large shrimp: Look for medium shrimp, also labeled as 41 to 50 count (the number of shrimp per pound). Large shrimp also work, which are 31 to 40 count.
• Wild caught: Fish that is wild caught in your country is usually a sustainable choice. There are also quality options in well-regulated farms (see this Seafood Watch Consumer Guide).
• Tail-on or peeled: Tail-on looks the best out of the pan! But you can use peeled shrimp to make it easier for eating (or, make sure to serve with a bowl for discarded tails).
• Fresh or frozen: Frozen shrimp can be as high quality as fresh if it’s frozen as soon as it’s caught.

How to make Cajun shrimp (basic steps)

This Cajun shrimp recipe is so fast and easy, it will be done in about the time it takes you to read these words! Here’s the basic idea (or jump to the recipe below):

• Season the shrimp: Pat the shrimp dry, then season it with Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Seasoning in advance helps the spices to be evenly distributed, instead of dumping them right into the pan (which can get clumpy).
• Sauté the shrimp: Add olive oil to your largest skillet, and sauté the shrimp about 1 to 2 minutes per side until cooked through.

Cajun seasoning: homemade vs purchased

Here’s the important part of this Cajun shrimp recipe: the seasoning! If you can, mix up a batch of homemade Cajun seasoning. But you can use purchased to make the prep time even quicker! Just keep in mind: purchased Cajun seasonings vary in heat level, and they can come out a bit spicier than you might intend. Here’s what to know:

• Homemade seasoning: This homemade Cajun seasoning has incredible flavor using paprika, garlic and onion powder, thyme, fennel, cumin, and cayenne. You can customize the heat level to your liking. Err on the low side of the cayenne, or use even less if you’re very sensitive to heat.
• Purchased Cajun seasoning: Store-bought seasoning mixes can vary in heat level, so give is a little taste before adding. It really depends on the brand! Because our homemade seasoning is not as hot as most store-bought brands, you can use more of it when you season your shrimp.

Easy side dishes for Cajun shrimp

Once your Cajun shrimp is done, what to serve it with? Because this recipe is so lightening fast, we wanted to find our fastest side dishes that pair with it. Here are a few sides to go with shrimp:

• Quick grains: Add White Rice, Lemon Rice, Easy Couscous, or Easy Orzo. Or, use a pre-cooked rice packet for a seriously quick meal (we like the brand Seeds of Change).
• Fast veggies: Try Peas with Lemon, Sauteed Peppers, Sauteed Mushrooms, Sauteed Broccoli, Sauteed Spinach, Sauteed Chard, or Sauteed Kale.
• Fast salad: Make Easy Arugula Salad or Spinach Apple Salad.

More shrimp recipes

Shrimp is the best go-to for simple, tasty meals! Here are a few more shrimp recipes to try:

• Go for Italian-style shrimp scampi, shrimp fra diavolo, garlic shrimp pasta, shrimp primavera, or shrimp risotto.
• Try simple shrimp marinade, a shrimp and rice recipe, or BBQ shrimp.
• Grab a shrimp stir fry, shrimp bowl, shrimp burger, shrimp nachos, or shrimp fajitas.
• Go for shrimp pasta or honey garlic shrimp.