Cajun Shrimp Pasta Dinner (Print Format)
Creamy Cajun shrimp tossed with pasta, fire-roasted tomatoes, and parmesan for a lively, easy dinner.
# Ingredients:
01 -
8 oz (226 g) pasta, such as linguine or spaghetti
02 -
1 ½ teaspoons smoked paprika
03 -
¾ teaspoons dried oregano
04 -
¾ teaspoon dried thyme
05 -
½ teaspoon dried basil
06 -
½ teaspoon garlic powder
07 -
½ teaspoon onion powder
08 -
⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust for spice preference)
09 -
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
10 -
½ teaspoon table salt, plus more to taste
11 -
1 lb extra-large shrimp, peeled, deveined, thawed, and patted dry (tails on or off)
12 -
2 Tablespoons olive oil
13 -
2 Tablespoons butter, salted or unsalted
14 -
1 medium yellow onion, diced (about 140 g or 1 cup)
15 -
2 teaspoons minced garlic (2-3 cloves)
16 -
1 Tablespoon all-purpose flour
17 -
⅔ cup (157 ml) chicken broth
18 -
14.5 oz (411 g) can fire-roasted tomatoes, drained
19 -
¾ cups heavy cream
20 -
½ cup (50 g) freshly grated parmesan cheese, plus additional for serving
# Steps:
01 -
Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil and cook pasta according to package instructions. Once cooked, drain and keep warm until ready to use. Toss with a teaspoon of olive oil to prevent sticking if needed.
02 -
In a small dish, whisk together smoked paprika, oregano, thyme, basil, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, black pepper, and salt. Reserve 1 teaspoon of the spice mix for the sauce.
03 -
Place shrimp in a large plastic bag and toss with the remaining Cajun seasoning until fully coated.
04 -
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, sear shrimp in batches, cooking through before transferring to a plate.
05 -
Reduce heat to medium and add butter to the skillet. Once melted, add diced onion and cook until softened, about 3-5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
06 -
Sprinkle flour and reserved Cajun seasoning over the onion and garlic, stirring until the flour is fully absorbed.
07 -
While stirring, slowly drizzle in chicken broth, scraping the browned bits from the skillet's bottom. Cook until the broth is reduced by half.
08 -
Stir in the fire-roasted tomatoes, followed by the heavy cream until the mixture is well combined.
09 -
Add the cooked pasta and grated parmesan cheese to the skillet. Toss until the pasta is coated and the cheese is melted. Return shrimp to the skillet and cook until warmed through. Serve immediately, topped with additional parmesan cheese if desired.
# Tips:
01 -
For a spicier dish, double the amount of cayenne pepper in the spice mix.