This simple and easy-to-make Cajun shrimp recipe is perfect for a quick lunch or dinner when you are pressed for time. A healthy shrimp recipe that can be prepared in less than 15 minutes and ready to serve.
Shrimp is one of my favorite proteins to prepare simply because they are perfect for when you don’t have much time on your hands to make a decent meal. They take less than 10 minutes to season and cook. Before you know it you have a meal in just 15 minutes. This easy cajun shrimp recipe will be perfect for those days that you just can’t be bothered. Some may argue that shrimp doesn’t have the best quality of protein but we think of it as chicken of the sea! They are indeed still high in lean protein, low in carbs, and they are low in fat. We think they are perfect! Serve this cajun shrimp over cauliflower rice to keep your meal low carb and keto-friendly.
Why you will love this shrimp recipe
- Meal prep freindly: If you meal prep, this easy shrimp recipe should be perfcet for you. Make like batches of this recipe. It stores well too!
- Healthy and low in carbs: Shrimp is low in carb and fat! So this cajun shrimp recipe is a perfectly healthy meal thats made with clean and healthy ingredients. If you are on the keto-diet, this recipe is for you!
- Easy and delcious: It is really easy to make this cajun shrimp and they are quite tasty too! Enjoy tender and juicy shrimp with each bite.
Ingredients you will need and susbtitutes
- Oil: You may use any neutral tasting oil of choice. We used olive oil.
- Shrimp: Use raw shrimp. Get already peeled and deveined shrimp to save on time. We do not recommend you use pre-cooked shrimp.
- Seasonings: Cajun seasoning is the main seasoning for this recipe. Unless you dont like cajun, you may use smoked paprika.
- Salt and pepper: We sprinkle salt and pepper and ajust to amount to taste. Start with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 tsp of pepper.
- Lime: The lime wedges are used to garnish at the end if uou like a hint of lime or lemons over your seasfood or meal. This is optional but recommened.
- Fresh parsley to serve is also optional. You may garnish with fresh cilantro too.
- Optional side dishes: cooked rice, cooked quinoa, or cauliflower rice.
How to make this Cajun shrimp recipe
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Season the shrimp: To a large bowl, add the shrimp, salt, pepper, and Cajun seasoning. Toss well to evenly coat.
- Cook the shrimp: Next, cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until pink and opaque.
- Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with lime wedges. Serve over cooked rice, if desired.
frequently asked questions
One thing we like about preparing shrimp is playing around with the flavor! You can use any seasoning you like to prepare your shrimp. Simple salt and lemon pepper will do. Other seasoning options that pair well with shrimp are onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, cajun seasoning, lemons with garlic, or some hot sauce.
Overcooked shrimps always tend to get chewy and rubbery. So if your shrimp comes out rubbery then you cooked it too much. Shrimp cooks fast and doesn’t need much time to cook. It only needs about 2-3 minutes per side. As soon as the shrimp curls up and turns pink they are cooked and ready.
The quick answer is yes. You can cook pre-cooked shrimp that’s store-bought. They usually come frozen so make sure you thaw them first. We do recommend using raw shrimp since they turn out to be more juicy and tasty. You will be running the risk and rubbery shrimp when you cook cooked shrimp.
To store leftover cajun shrimp, place them in a tightly sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can freeze your cooked cajun shrimp for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge ahead or reheat in the microwave when ready to serve.
More easy shrimp recipes to check out
- Healthy Shrimp Salad
- Shrimp Burrito Bowl
- Cajun Shrimp Pasta
- Shrimp Curry Recipe
- Crispy Baked Coconut Shrimp
- Garlic Shrimp Spaghetti
Other healthy recipes you may like
- Crockpot Creamy Vegetarian Tortilla Soup
- Baked Honey Lemon Chicken and Potatoes
- Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Zucchini Boats
- Parmesan Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower
- Creamy Chicken Mushroom Soup
- Honey Garlic Chicken Breast
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Easy Cajun Shrimp Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb large shrimp peeled and deveined
- Kosher salt and ground pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning
- Lime wedges to serve
- For garnish: fresh parsley finely chopped
- Optional: cooked jasmine rice
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- To a large bowl, add the shrimp, salt, pepper, and Cajun seasoning. Toss well to evenly coat.
- Cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until pink and opaque.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with lime wedges. Serve over cooked rice, if desired.
Notes
- Serving size: half the amount of the shrimp, about half a pound.
- This recipe can easily be doubled to serve 4
- Nutrition facts do not include the rice.
- Use any oil of choice
- You may use lemons if you don’t have lime.
- We prefer that you use raw shrimp instead of pre-cooked
- Serve over rice, cauliflower rice, or quinoa.
Lety says
Great taste. I used around 1 tablespoon paprika and added a dash garlic powder and 1 tablespoon of lemon and pepper seasoning. Ate it with instant white rice. Great recipe. Definitely will be making it again.
Rena says
Nice. Thank you!
Tricia Cotman says
I doubled the shrimp, not the oil or seasoning. Even with half the Cajun seasoning, it has a kick. Pretty good, though.
D.D. says
Calls for way too much seasoning. Shrimp turned out so incredibly spicy that my husband, who can eat the spiciest foods, couldn’t eat it. My teenager son who loves spicy food had hiccups after just a couple bites. We tried to eat it along with bites of plain jasmine rice and that didn’t help. Definitely need to dial down the amount of Cajun seasoning on this one if you try it.