Description
A rich and spicy weeknight dinner featuring blackened shrimp tossed in a creamy Cajun butter sauce with fettuccine. Ready in under 30 minutes with minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2–3 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 1/2 cup white wine (optional)
- 12 oz fettuccine or linguine
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- Lemon wedges
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Thaw frozen shrimp if necessary and pat them completely dry with paper towels. Toss dried shrimp with 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Cook fettuccine until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons butter. Once foaming, add shrimp in a single layer. Cook 1-2 minutes per side until pink and blackened. Remove shrimp and set aside.
- In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium. Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Pour in white wine (or extra broth) and scrape up browned bits. Simmer for 1 minute.
- Reduce heat to low. Add heavy cream and chicken broth. Simmer gently for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened. Whisk in Parmesan cheese until smooth.
- Return shrimp and any juices to the skillet. Add drained pasta and toss to coat. Add reserved pasta water if needed to reach desired consistency.
- Remove from heat. Garnish with fresh parsley and lemon juice. Serve immediately.
Notes
Pat shrimp dry to ensure proper blackening. Do not crowd the pan when cooking shrimp. Keep heat low when adding cream to prevent curdling. Reserve pasta water to help bind the sauce. This dish is best made fresh; freezing is not recommended as the dairy sauce may separate.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 800
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 16
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 35
Keywords: Cajun shrimp pasta, blackened butter sauce, creamy shrimp pasta, weeknight dinner, one-pan meal, easy seafood recipe