Here’s a zesty and flavorful Cajun Shrimp Scampi—a quick, garlicky, buttery shrimp dish with a Cajun kick. 🍤🧄🧈
Ingredients
- 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 8 oz linguine or spaghetti
- 3 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Cajun seasoning (adjust to taste)
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional for extra heat)
- ½ cup chicken broth or dry white wine
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp chopped parsley
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
1. Cook the pasta
- Boil pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside, reserving ½ cup pasta water.
2. Cook the shrimp
- Heat olive oil and 1 tbsp butter in a skillet over medium-high heat.
- Sprinkle shrimp with Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Sear shrimp 2–3 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove from skillet.
3. Make the sauce
- In the same skillet, melt the remaining butter.
- Sauté garlic and red pepper flakes for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add chicken broth (or wine) and lemon juice, simmer 2–3 minutes.
- Return shrimp to the skillet, toss to coat in the sauce.
4. Combine with pasta
- Add cooked pasta to the skillet.
- Toss to combine, adding reserved pasta water as needed for a silky sauce.
5. Serve
- Sprinkle with chopped parsley and extra lemon wedges if desired.
- Serve immediately.
💡 Tips
- Adjust Cajun seasoning for more or less spice. 🌶️
- Add cherry tomatoes or spinach for color and freshness. 🍅🥬
- For extra richness, stir in a splash of heavy cream to make a creamy Cajun scampi.
If you want, I can also give you a one-pan Cajun shrimp scampi recipe that cooks the pasta directly in the sauce with the shrimp—less cleanup and super flavorful.
