This Cajun Shrimp Alfredo Pasta features tender shrimp bathed in a rich, creamy Cajun Alfredo sauce. It’s simple to prepare and on the table in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for weeknights or a quick dinner that feels special.
I always keep a jar of homemade Cajun seasoning in the pantry to boost flavor for dishes like this one as well as other favorites.
✔️ Cajun Shrimp Alfredo
This Cajun Shrimp Alfredo delivers bold Louisiana-inspired flavors balanced by a silky cream sauce. The shrimp are seasoned with Cajun spice and cooked just until opaque and tender, then combined with pasta and a Parmesan-enriched cream sauce for a satisfying, restaurant-style meal at home.
Cajun Seasoning Mix
🔎 Why You should Make This Recipe
- Big, bold flavor: Cajun spices give the dish a bright, smoky kick that pairs perfectly with creamy Parmesan sauce.
- Fast and simple: Ready in about 25 minutes, ideal for busy evenings.
- Versatile: Swap shrimp for chicken, sausage, scallops, crawfish or use vegetables for a vegetarian version—bell peppers, onions and mushrooms all work well.
Cajun Shrimp Alfredo Pasta Ingredients
- Pasta: Any shape works—fettuccine, linguine, spaghetti or shorter shapes like penne or farfalle.
- Shrimp: Peeled and deveined large or medium shrimp (fresh or thawed frozen shrimp).
- Olive oil
- Butter: Unsalted or salted.
- Cajun seasoning: Use store-bought low-sodium or your own homemade blend. Add more for extra heat.
- Heavy cream: Can substitute half-and-half if preferred.
- Parmesan cheese: Freshly grated for best texture and flavor.
- Garlic powder and ground black pepper
- Green onions and chopped parsley: Optional garnishes that add color and freshness.
How To Make Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta
- Cook the pasta in generously salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve about 1/2–1 cup of the pasta cooking water before draining.
- Meanwhile, toss the shrimp with Cajun seasoning so they’re evenly coated.
- Heat butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook shrimp 1–2 minutes per side until pink and opaque; remove and set aside.
- Reduce heat to low and add the cream, garlic powder and black pepper to the skillet. Simmer gently for 4–5 minutes—do not boil.
- Stir in the Parmesan until the sauce thickens slightly. If it becomes too thick, thin with a splash of heavy cream or reserved pasta water.
- Add the drained pasta and cooked shrimp to the skillet. Toss gently to combine, adding reserved pasta water as needed to reach the desired consistency.
- Adjust seasoning with additional Cajun spice if desired and garnish with green onions and parsley. Serve immediately.
Choose The Right Cajun Seasoning Mix
Cajun seasoning typically includes paprika, cayenne, garlic and onion powders plus other spices. Opt for a low-salt or no-salt blend if using store-bought seasoning to avoid oversalting. Making your own allows you to control heat and salt.
How To Store And Reheat CreamY Cajun Shrimp Pasta (Does it Freeze Well?)
This dish is best eaten fresh. Leftovers keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop over low heat, stirring in a little extra cream or pasta water to loosen the sauce, or reheat in short intervals in the microwave. Freezing is not recommended—the sauce can separate and shrimp may become rubbery after thawing and reheating.
Can This Shrimp Alfredo Pasta Be Made Gluten Free?
Yes. The Cajun Alfredo sauce is naturally gluten-free. Confirm any store-bought Cajun seasoning is gluten-free, then use your preferred gluten-free pasta to make a fully gluten-free meal.
Can Frozen Shrimp Be Used?
Yes. Thaw frozen shrimp before cooking—place them in a colander and run cold water over them for a few minutes for a quick thaw. Pat dry before seasoning and cooking.
Cajun Shrimp Alfredo Tips
- Reserve pasta water before draining—starchy water helps loosen and bind the sauce.
- Adjust heat by adding more Cajun seasoning or cayenne if you prefer spicier dishes.
- If your Cajun mix is salty, reduce the amount added to prevent over-salting.
- Homemade seasoning is economical and customizable.
- Shrimp cook very quickly—when they turn pink and opaque, they’re done.
- Heavy cream yields the richest sauce; half-and-half or milk will make a lighter version.
Related Cajun recipe ideas to try:
- Cajun chicken meatballs in creamy sauce
- Cajun grilled shrimp skewers
- The ultimate Cajun burger
- Blackened fish tacos
More quick seafood recipes:
- Tom Yum Soup (Thai hot and sour soup)
- Creamy Tuscan Shrimp
- Shrimp Ceviche
- Baked salmon
This post was first published in 2018 and has been updated to provide additional information. The recipe remains the same.
Creamy Cajun Shrimp Alfredo Pasta
Kathy McDaniel
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Ingredients
- 12 ounces linguine or your favorite pasta
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 ½ pound large or medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning, (plus more to taste)
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup green onions, sliced (optional)
- 2 tablespoons flat leaf parsley, chopped (optional)
- Cajun seasoning to taste, (optional)
Instructions
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In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the pasta according to package directions. Reserve about ½–1 cup pasta water before draining.
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Toss the shrimp in a bowl with the Cajun seasoning until evenly coated.
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Heat butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp and cook about 1–2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp and set aside.
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Reduce heat to low and add the heavy cream, garlic powder and black pepper to the skillet. Simmer gently for 4–5 minutes, then stir in Parmesan until the sauce thickens slightly. If too thick, thin with cream or reserved pasta water.
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Drain the pasta and add it to the skillet with the sauce, then return the shrimp to the pan. Toss to combine, adding reserved pasta water as needed for a silky consistency.
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Season to taste with additional Cajun seasoning, garnish with green onions and parsley if desired, and serve immediately.
Notes
- Save pasta cooking water before draining to loosen the sauce if needed.
- Adjust the Cajun seasoning to control the spice level. Add cayenne for extra heat.
- Reduce added seasoning if your Cajun mix is high in salt.
- Homemade Cajun seasoning lets you tailor salt and spice to taste.
- Check shrimp doneness: when pink and opaque, they are cooked; if unsure, cut one to confirm the center is white.
- Heavy cream yields the creamiest sauce; half-and-half or milk will make it lighter.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days; reheat gently on the stovetop.