Enjoy this Louisiana-inspired Cajun shrimp that is a bold and flavorful dish featuring tender, juicy shrimp coated in a spicy buttery sauce. Enjoy it over a quick side like cauliflower rice mixed with chopped spinach, hearts of palm pasta, or over a nice salad of mixed greens with a creamy dressing like Caesar or Creamy Dill. We love a good shrimp dish! If you do to try some of our others like this Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas or Steak and Shrimp Kabobs or Sesame Ginger Shrimp.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Highly Versatile: Whether you want a light meal over a salad or a hearty dish with pasta, cauliflower rice or mashed potatoes, Cajun shrimp pairs perfectly with almost anything.
Customizable Heat: Because the seasoning is homemade, you are in total control of how much “kick” the dish has. Try our Cajun Seasoning blend.
Speed & Convenience: This recipes take only 5–10 minutes to cook, making it an ideal choice for busy weeknight dinners.
It’s Paleo and Whole30: Having no gluten, grains, or dairy, it is the perfect dish if you need to keep it Paleo or Whole30 friendly.
Ingredients You Will Need
Shrimp: is very nutritious and fairly low in calories while providing a high amount of protein and healthy fats as well as vitamins and minerals. It has a sweet and succulent mild flavor.
Ghee: adds a rich, nutty flavor. I love Fourth and Heart ghee.
Cajun seasoning: is a blend of spices, typically made with smoked paprika, garlic powder, kosher salt, onion powder, oregano, thyme, cayenne pepper, and black pepper. Make your own with our recipe! Cajun Seasoning.
Lime: are a small, green citrus fruit know for its sour taste and high vitamin C content.
Instructions
Clean the shrimp: remove the shells, and devein the shrimp.
Pat the shrimp dry: with paper towels.
Melt the ghee: in a large fry pan over medium-high heat.
Add the Cajun spice blend: and stir constantly for 30 seconds.
Place the shrimp in the pan: cooking 2 minutes per side.
Garnish: your Cajun shrimp with lime wedges.
Enjoy!
Recipe Tips and Tricks
Buy shrimp: Look for shrimp that is already shelled and deveined to save time.
Prepare the rest of your meal ahead: whether it be a salad or cauliflower rice as the Cajun shrimp takes minutes to cook.
Make your own Cajun spice: so you can adjust the heat level of the cayenne pepper. Try our recipe for Cajun Seasoning!
Recipe Variations
Butter: is a great option instead of the ghee especially if you are not concerned with keeping the recipe Paleo or Whole30 friendly.
Rice: is also a delicious choice for serving the Cajun shrimp over and spooning the extra sauce over top!
Hearts of Palm Pasta: is our favorite for keeping the dish Paleo and Whole30 friendly. I add a little almond milk to the buttery Cajun sauce to make it a little creamy for serving over the “pasta”.
Storage Tips
You can store this Cajun shrimp in the fridge for 2-3 udays when placed in an airtight glass container.
FAQ’s About Cajun Shrimp
How do I know when shrimp is done?
They should be pink, opaque, and curled into a “C” shape. If they curl into an “O,” they are overcooked.
Should I use frozen or fresh?
Either works, but frozen shrimp must be fully thawed and patted dry to ensure they sear rather than steam.
What is the difference between Cajun and Creole seasoning?
Cajun seasoning is typically spicier and emphasizes paprika, while Creole seasoning includes more herbs and has a milder heat.
Cajun Shrimp
Ingredients
Method
- Clean the shrimp by removing the shells and deveining them. I leave the tails on but you can remove them as well.
- Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels.
- Melt the ghee in a large fry pan over medium-high heat.
- Add the Cajun spice blend and stir constantly for 30 seconds.
- Place the shrimp in the pan and cook for 2 minutes per side.
- Garnish with lime wedges.
- Enjoy!
