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Cajun Shrimp Alfredo Pasta – Shrimp Alfredo Pasta Recipes

I make this on nights when I want rich comfort and fast cleanup. Warm spice kisses cream. Shrimp stay plump. Noodles carry sauce like they were born for it. I twirl a fork. I grin. The bowl goes quiet in minutes. We lean into smoky Cajun heat and mellow it with Parmesan. Garlic lifts the sauce. Lemon wakes it up. That balance feels right. The pan sizzles. The room smells like butter and black pepper. I taste a strand and nod. Dinner is ready. This works on busy weeks and lazy weekends. Grab shrimp from the fridge. Grab pasta from the shelf. Stir. Toss. Serve. Friends ask for the recipe. We pretend it took work. It did not. It just asks for care and a wooden spoon.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Cajun-American
Keywords: Alfredo Pasta Recipes, alfredo recipes, best shrimp alfredo recipe, cajun alfredo sauce recipe, creamy cajun pasta, easy weeknight pasta, family dinner, lobster alfredo recipe, seafood alfredo recipe, shrimp alfredo pasta recipes
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Kathy

Ingredients

For the Cajun Alfredo Sauce

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning, plus more to taste
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 3/4 cup whole milk
  • 1 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

For the Shrimp

  • 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined, patted dry
  • 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

For the Pasta

  • 12 ounces fettuccine or linguine
  • 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
  • Extra grated Parmesan for serving

Instructions

Cook the Pasta

  1. Boil a large pot of salted water. Cook pasta until just tender. Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain.

Sear the Shrimp

  1. Toss shrimp with Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, and salt.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high. Sear shrimp 1 to 2 minutes per side until pink. Transfer to a plate.

Make the Cajun Alfredo Sauce

  1. Lower heat to medium. Add butter and olive oil to the same skillet. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
  2. Stir in Cajun seasoning, heavy cream, and milk. Simmer gently, stirring, until slightly thick.
  3. Add Parmesan in small handfuls, stirring until smooth. Season with lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.

Bring It Together

  1. Add pasta to the sauce and toss. Splash in reserved pasta water as needed for a silky coat.
  2. Fold in shrimp and parsley. Taste and adjust Cajun seasoning and lemon.
  3. Serve hot with more Parmesan.

Notes

Use fresh shrimp for snap and sweet flavor. If sauce gets too thick, loosen with warm pasta water. For extra heat, add a pinch of cayenne. For a lighter sauce, swap half the cream with evaporated milk. Leftovers reheat well over low heat with a splash of milk.