Cajun Shrimp Pasta – Gluten Free!
Cajun Shrimp Pasta is savory and spicy, made with gluten free penne and fresh shrimp in a creamy parmesan sauce, and ready in under 45 minutes!
Pasta dishes are perfect for weeknights after you get home from work because they’re quick and easy, like my Shrimp Mac and Cheese, Gluten Free Pasta and Veggies Skillet, One Pot Chicken Parmesan & Pasta, and One Pot Easy Chicken Alfredo!
Cajun Shrimp Pasta – Gluten Free!
Cajun Shrimp Pasta is quick and easy, using my homemade Cajun blackened seasoning for a kick of heat in a creamy sauce with gluten free penne pasta and juicy shrimp. You can make this more or less spicy by adding an additional tablespoon of cajun seasoning (or cut it by half) depending on your personal preference. You can also try adding more vegetables, or make this with zoodles (zucchini noodles) to cut the carbs!
What type of pasta for cajun shrimp pasta?
I recommend using a gluten free penne pasta for cajun shrimp pasta, because it holds up better. If you’re going to use a gluten free spaghetti noodle, add a drizzle of oil over the noodles as soon as they are done cooking and toss them. This will help prevent them from sticking together. Then add to the sauce at the very last minute. The important thing to remember, no matter what pasta you’re using, is to only cook it to al dente, so it can finish cooking in the sauce.
Tips for How to Make Cajun Shrimp Pasta
- I use my homemade cajun blackened seasoning for this dish, but you can use your own favorite blend. Add more or less, depending on your taste.
- Swap the cajun blackened seasoning for my homemade taco seasoning for a taco shrimp pasta!
- Make this cajun shrimp pasta even spicier with a teaspoon of red pepper flakes, or 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper.
- You can make this recipe with whatever meat you’d like. Try using cooked chicken or Italian sausage.
- If you want this to be even cheesier, add 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese to the sauce.
- The gluten free all-purpose flour is what thickens the sauce. You can make it more thin by adding a tablespoon less of flour.
- I used colossal shrimp to make this dish. I like having the bigger pieces, and I think they taste better. But you can use whatever shrimp you have access to, as long as they are peeled, deveined, and no tails.
Can you make cajun shrimp pasta ahead of time?
I don’t recommend making cajun shrimp pasta ahead of time, because the shrimp can easily overcook when you go to reheat it. But this dish is really quick to make. If you need to cut some time off, I would suggest measuring and chopping your ingredients ahead of time.
What else can you add to cajun shrimp pasta?
- Zucchini
- Corn kernels
- Sausage
- Mozzarella
- Onion
- White beans
- Spinach
What to Serve With Cajun Shrimp Pasta
Cajun Shrimp Pasta
Ingredients
- 16 oz gluten free penne, cooked al dente
- 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails removed
- ½ cup parmesan cheese
- 2 cups half and half
- 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
- 5 tbsp butter
- 3 tbsp gluten free cup-for-cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp Cajun blackened seasoning
- 1 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- In a large pot, melt 1 tbsp of butter. Add shrimp, bell pepper, and garlic powder over medium heat until shrimp are cooked through, about 1-2 minutes on each side. Remove shrimp from the pot and set aside.
- Add remaining butter. Once melted, whisk in flour and cajun seasoning. Cook flour for about 1 minute, then add half and half, stirring. When sauce starts to thicken, stir in parmesan cheese, pasta, and shrimp. Cook for an additional 1 minute to warm up pasta and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
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