Cajun shrimp is the easiest dinner recipe that’s big on flavor. The key is to generously coat the shrimp with my homemade Cajun seasoning, then pan-fry for 5 minutes until perfectly cooked. And to complete your meal, I’ve got delicious options listed below!

This cajun shrimp recipe is a staple quick-and-easy dinner. Especially when you’ve got a bottle of my homemade Cajun seasoning on hand. The beauty of shrimp is that in general, it’s very easy to cook, like this shrimp scampi or honey garlic shrimp. A quick pan fry is all you need! So it all comes down to how you flavor the shrimp, and this specific seasoning blend will bring you to the heart of Louisiana spice and comfort food.

If you’ve made my Cajun chicken or jambalaya recipe, you know just how delicious this Cajun seasoning is. It’s earthy, zesty, and slightly spicy with lots of bold flavors, which is the perfect way to jazz up shrimp and take a break from the usual garlic butter shrimp for dinner!

Cajun Shrimp Recipe Ingredients

• Shrimp: You’ll want to grab a bag of jumbo shrimp for this recipe. But if you can’t get fresh shrimp from a local fishmonger, opt for a bag of frozen wild-caught shrimp. They’re guaranteed to be much fresher than the shrimp sitting on the ice at the market.
• Cajun Seasoning: My homemade version includes spices and herbs, which lends a bunch of flavor to anything you use it on. If you’re using a store-bought Cajun seasoning and notice it’s missing a few ingredients (like dried herbs) from my recipe, you can add those back in individually when tossing the shrimp.

Find the printable recipe with measurements below

How To Make Cajun Shrimp

You really can’t beat a two-ingredient 10-minute meal! Here’s how you make it:

Season the shrimp. Pat the shrimp dry with a paper towel. Then, add them to a mixing bowl along with the cajun seasoning and toss to evenly coat.

Cook the shrimp. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, flipping and tossing to cook both sides, until the shrimp is opaque and cooked through. And that’s it – you’re done!

Ways To Serve Cajun Shrimp

• Serve with side dishes. Complete a comforting meal with green beans, creamy mashed potatoes, roasted potatoes, rice, or sauteed cabbage.
• Make Cajun shrimp pasta. Toss any pasta (of your choice) with freshly minced garlic and butter, then mix in the cajun shrimp — the results are magical. For a gluten-free option, zucchini noodles are my go-to!
• Add to a salad or bowl. Whether making a macro bowl or salad, use this Cajun shrimp as the main protein. It’ll taste great with avocado, grilled corn, and beans!

Common Questions

More Shrimp Recipes

• Shrimp Fried Rice: Nail your favorite Chinese takeout with this recipe!
• Shrimp Fajitas: Give shrimp a Mexican spin with my homemade fajita seasoning.
• Garlic Grilled Shrimp Skewers: This is a staple summertime grilling recipe.
• Shrimp Cocktail: The best holiday appetizer that tastes much better homemade.
• Or try these other tasty shrimp recipes!