Easy Creamy Garlic Butter Cajun Shrimp Skillet
Make this easy Cajun shrimp skillet tonight. It features juicy shrimp coated in bold Cajun seasoning and simmered in a rich garlic butter sauce. This quick seafood dinner is ready in under 20 minutes and tastes incredible served over rice or pasta.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 15 min
- Total Time: 25 min
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Skillet Cooking
- Cuisine: Cajun
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning (use your best Cajun spice blend for shrimp)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Cooked rice or pasta, for serving
Instructions
- Pat the shrimp completely dry using paper towels. Toss the dried shrimp with 1 tablespoon of the Cajun seasoning until evenly coated.
- Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the butter and let it melt until it foams slightly.
- Add the seasoned shrimp to the hot skillet in a single layer. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Do not overcrowd the pan; cook in batches if necessary. Remove the cooked shrimp from the skillet and set aside.
- Reduce the heat to medium. Add the minced garlic to the same skillet and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Do not let the garlic burn.
- Pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream. Whisk well, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon of Cajun seasoning and the lemon juice. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, allowing it to thicken slightly.
- Return the cooked shrimp to the skillet. Toss gently to coat the shrimp completely in the creamy garlic butter sauce. Cook for 1 minute to reheat the shrimp.
- Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the fresh parsley. Taste the sauce and add salt and pepper if needed.
- Serve your spicy shrimp skillet immediately over fluffy rice or your favorite pasta for a complete, flavorful shrimp dinner.
Notes
- For an extra kick, add 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper to the sauce mixture.
- If you prefer a low carb Cajun shrimp option, serve this dish over steamed cauliflower rice or low-carb pasta instead of white rice.
- You can substitute half the butter with olive oil if you want a slightly lighter sauce base.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 5 oz shrimp)
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 750
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 14
- Unsaturated Fat: 11
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 5
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 32
- Cholesterol: 280