Sauteed Cajun Shrimp | Best recipe with garlic butter sauce

This sautéed Cajun shrimp will be perfect for you if you enjoy seafood. With its bold flavors, it’s bound to be a favorite with your family. Furthermore, its simple preparation will make it a breeze, even on your busiest weekdays.

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my privacy policy for more info. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

🛒Ingredients needed for sauteed Cajun shrimp

Below are the key ingredients required to prepare sauteed Cajun shrimp.

• Shrimp. I recommend using fresh shrimp from the market. Avoid the smaller shrimp, as they are not good for presentation, and take more time to clean and remove the shell and head. You can, of course, use frozen shrimp, but the taste may not be as good.
• Garlic. If you’re sautéing shrimp, you can use freshly sliced or minced garlic, which works just as well. Garlic powder is the second best option, as it does not provide the same fresh garlic flavor as the fresh one.
• Butter: Butter can help bring out a rich and deep flavor, which complements garlic well. Olive oil is a healthier substitute for butter. I often use a mix of olive oil and butter.
• Cajun seasoning. You can use Cajun seasoning to add a fantastic and delicious homemade taste to your dish. Since simplicity is essential, especially in home cooking, I suggest using store-bought Cajun seasoning. If you want to make your own Cajun seasoning, please refer to the recipe in the following section.

👉 How to make Sauteed Cajun Shrimp

1. Peel and devein the shrimp, rinse them under water, and pat them dry.

2. Season the shrimp in a large bowl with Cajun seasoning and salt, coating them evenly. Allow the shrimp to marinate for about 15 minutes.

3. Melt butter in a frying pan or large skillet over low heat and sauté the chopped garlic until fragrant. Be careful not to let the butter brown or the garlic burn.

4. After that, add the marinated shrimp to the pan and toss them in the garlic-infused butter.

5. Pan-fry the shrimp in a single layer over medium-high heat for 2 to 3 minutes on one side until they develop a nice color, then flip them over to cook the other side.

6. Once the shrimp are fully cooked and have turned opaque, sprinkle some chopped fresh parsley over them and stir well. Do not overcook to ensure you will get juicy shrimp. Finally, serve the delicious shrimp over a bed of plain rice or pasta. Enjoy!

💡Tips and notes for the best sauteed Cajun shrimp

• When it comes to the type of shrimp to use in this recipe, any variety of shrimp is suitable. You can also use other types of seafood instead of shrimp and prepare it similarly. I use medium to large shrimp for this recipe, approximately 30 per kg. 
• You can choose to use tail-on or peeled shrimp. While tail-on shrimp looks better out of the pan, peeled shrimp is easier to eat. For this recipe, I use freshly purchased shrimp that have been deveined, peeled and left the tail on. 
• It is recommended to marinate shrimp to enhance its flavor. While shrimp is naturally tender and juicy, marination can give it an additional burst of flavor. It is best to use raw shrimp for marinating, but pre-cooked shrimp can also be used. However, pre-cooked shrimp does not absorb the marinade’s flavor as effectively as raw shrimp.
• If you use an acidic marinade, such as lemon juice, lime juice, or vinegar, the marinating time should be 30 minutes or less. This is because acids can break down the shrimp and make it mushy. Using a non-acidic marinade, you can marinate raw shrimp in the refrigerator for half a day.
• Instant Pot or Crockpot will make the process even easier. Set the multicooker to the sauté mode, which will function like a non-stick stove pan. The entire process remains the same.
• Add more red chili flakes if you like spicy shrimp based on your preferred heat level.
• Another suggestion is cutting some lemon wedges and squeezing the juice on the shrimp just before eating.

🧂 What is Cajun seasoning?

This Cajun shrimp recipe is inspired by the flavors of Cajun cuisine, a cooking style developed by the Acadians, French colonists living in Canada who were deported to Louisiana in the 1700s. Over the centuries, this style evolved into a classic.

Typical Cajun spices include black pepper, white pepper, cayenne pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika. Some spice mixes also include salt, mustard powder, chile peppers, and cumin for different flavors.

Ingredients for homemade Cajun seasoning:

Consider preparing the Cajun seasoning yourself. However, you can always use store-bought seasoning to save time. Here’s a composition for making your own Cajun seasoning. 

1 teaspoon paprika. ¾ teaspoon dried thyme, ¾ teaspoon dried oregano, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

🍽 How to serve Cajun sauteed shrimp?

The sautéed Cajun shrimp is so easy to make that it will surely become a regular item on your menu. You can serve it with pasta today and with other egg noodles next time. It is also good with white rice or just as a side dish. It is also ideal to pair this dish with French bread and a salad for a fantastic dinner that can be prepared in 15 minutes or less.

❄️ What is the best way to store and reheat Cajun Shrimp?

Shrimp is best served fresh. However, you can follow the steps below if you have any leftovers.

• To refrigerate: Store leftover cajun shrimp in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
• To freeze: You can freeze cooked/leftover cajun shrimp for up to 3 months.
• To reheat: Thaw the shrimp completely and pan-fry it with olive oil or butter. Be careful not to overcook the shrimp, as it can become rubbery.

📜 Other simple recipes complement Sauteed Cajun Shrimp

If you like this easy Cajun shrimp recipe, I would love to suggest other recipes on this blog and our sister blog, Taste of Asian Food.

• Panko shrimp
• Soy sauce shrimp
• Easy cheesy cauliflower soup