Description
A rich and creamy pasta dish featuring succulent shrimp coated in a flavorful Cajun-spiced sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound linguine or fettuccine
- 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 bell peppers (any color), chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain, reserving about 1/2 cup of pasta water.
- While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp and cook for 2-3 minutes per side, until pink and cooked through. Remove shrimp from skillet and set aside.
- Add onion and bell peppers to the skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
- Stir in Cajun seasoning, thyme, and cayenne pepper (if using). Cook for 30 seconds, stirring.
- Pour in heavy cream and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and cook for 3-5 minutes, until sauce thickens slightly.
- Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth.
- Return shrimp to the skillet. Add cooked pasta and toss to coat. If the sauce is too thick, add a little reserved pasta water until desired consistency is reached.
- Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
- Adjust cayenne pepper for desired spice level.
- For a lighter sauce, you can use half-and-half instead of heavy cream, but the sauce will be less rich.
- Add other vegetables like mushrooms or spinach for extra flavor and nutrients.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 750
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 45g
- Saturated Fat: 25g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 200mg
Keywords: Cajun shrimp pasta, creamy shrimp pasta, spicy pasta, shrimp recipe, easy pasta