Go Back
spiced shrimp in a cast-iron skillet with hunks of bread, lemon wedges and chopped parsley

Best Cajun Shrimp Recipe

Print Recipe Pin
5 from 3 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Yield 4 –6 people
Category Appetizer, Dinner, Lunch/Dinner
Cuisine Cajun
Author Lauren Grant

Description

Buttery, bright, tangy, and spicy. Like New Orleans BBQ shrimp with extra Cajun flair.

Save This Recipe!

We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later.

Ingredients

Cajun Shrimp

  • 1 ½ pounds large (21/25) white shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 2 tablespoons homemade Cajun Seasoning, recipe below
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced (about 2 tablespoons)
  • 3 fresh or dried bay leaves
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
  • crusty bread, for serving

Homemade Cajun Seasoning

  • ¼ cup paprika
  • 1 tablespoon coarse kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 2 teaspoons dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon celery salt

Instructions

Cajun Shrimp

  • In a medium bowl, toss 1 ½ pounds shrimp with 2 tablespoons Cajun Seasoning until evenly coated.
  • Melt 4 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and add 4 cloves sliced garlic and 3 bay leaves. Sauté gently until garlic is fragrant and begins to brown lightly, about 1–2 minutes.
  • Add shrimp to skillet and stir to coat in butter. Cook for 3–4 minutes, gently turning shrimp, until pink and just cooked through.
  • Remove from heat, add 1 tablespoon lemon juice and 2 teaspoons Worcestershire and toss to coat shrimp in sauce.
  • Sprinkle shrimp with 1 tablespoon chopped parsley and serve hot with crusty bread for dipping.

Homemade Cajun Seasoning

  • Combine 1/4 cup paprika, 1 tablespoon kosher salt, 1 tablespoon black pepper, 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 2 teaspoons cayenne, 2 teaspoons dried oregano, 2 teaspoons dried thyme, and 1 teaspoon celery salt in a medium-small bowl. Use as desired.
  • Store in an airtight container in a cool, dark place, for up to 2 months.

Equipment

large skillet

Notes

Store cooked Cajun Shrimp in a glass airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat the shrimp gently over low heat on the stove top just until warmed through. 
For longer storage, you can freeze Cajun Shrimp in an airtight container for up to 1 month. Allow the shrimp to thaw overnight in the refrigerator before gently reheating on the stovetop over low heat. 
Turn leftover Cajun Shrimp into a Cajun shrimp pasta by tossing the reheated shrimp with your favorite cooked pasta, a bit of tomato paste and a splash of cream.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/4 recipe (6 ounces)Calories: 273kcalCarbohydrates: 0.5gProtein: 36gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 362mgSodium: 497mgSugar: 0.5g
Like this? Leave a comment below!I love hearing from you and I want to hear how it went with this recipe! Leave a comment and rating below, then share on social media @zestfulkitchen and #zestfulkitchen!