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Cajun Butter Shrimp Pasta Recipe Easy Homemade Dinner with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

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A quick and easy Cajun butter shrimp pasta with sun-dried tomatoes, featuring a rich, buttery sauce with a spicy kick and tangy bursts of sun-dried tomato. Perfect for weeknight dinners or cozy gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound medium-sized shrimp, peeled and deveined (fresh or thawed frozen)
  • 8 ounces fettuccine or linguine pasta
  • 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning (homemade or store-bought)
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped (oil-packed)
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • ½ cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
  • Small handful fresh parsley, chopped
  • Juice of half a lemon
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 ounces of fettuccine and cook according to package instructions until al dente (usually 10-12 minutes). Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining.
  2. Toss the peeled and deveined shrimp with 2 tablespoons of Cajun seasoning, making sure each piece is evenly coated. Set aside.
  3. Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp in a single layer and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until pink and just cooked through. Remove shrimp and set aside.
  4. Lower heat to medium and add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter to the skillet. Stir in minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
  5. Add chopped sun-dried tomatoes and cook for 1-2 minutes to warm and release flavor.
  6. Slowly add heavy cream, stirring constantly. Let it simmer gently for 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened.
  7. Stir in grated Parmesan cheese. Add lemon juice and season with salt and pepper to taste. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time until silky consistency is reached.
  8. Return cooked shrimp to the skillet along with drained pasta. Toss gently to coat pasta evenly with sauce. Heat together for 1-2 minutes to meld flavors.
  9. Sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley before serving. Serve hot with extra Parmesan on the side if desired.

Notes

Do not overcook shrimp to avoid rubbery texture. Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. Add cayenne or hot sauce for extra heat. For dairy-free, substitute coconut cream and dairy-free butter, and use nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan. Leftovers reheat well with a splash of cream or water.

Nutrition

Keywords: Cajun shrimp pasta, butter shrimp pasta, sun-dried tomatoes pasta, easy shrimp dinner, creamy shrimp pasta, Cajun seasoning recipe

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