Cajun Garlic Butter Shrimp

Name: Cajun Garlic Butter Shrimp
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 3 tbsp low sodium soy sauce; 2 tbsp brown sugar; 3 tbsp olive oil; 1 tbsp whole grain mustard; ¼ tsp paprika; ¼-½ tsp cayenne pepper; ⅛ tsp dried oregano; ⅛ tsp dried thyme; ⅛ tsp onion powder; ⅛ tsp kosher salt; ⅛ tsp freshly ground black pepper; 2 cloves of garlic (minced); 2 tbsp butter; 1 lb shrimp (peeled and deveined); sliced green onions

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This most delicious and super easy cajun garlic butter shrimp recipe only takes 20 minutes to make, and best of all, it comes together in only one skillet. If you love shrimp then you will definitely enjoy spicy garlic shrimp.

Cajun shrimp are a perfect weeknight dinner and can be served with crusty bread, over rice or egg noodles and with a side of roasted or steamed vegetables. We have also included instructions on how to make this easy shrimp recipe in the air fryer.

You can easily adjust the level of hotness in this dish by adding more or less cayenne pepper, to make sure you can enjoy all the scrumptious flavor while still feeling the heat.

❤️ WHY YOU'LL LOVE THIS SHRIMP RECIPE

✔️ Tender shrimp smothered in rich, flavorful sauce with just the right amount of heat.

✔️ This easy shrimp recipe comes together in only 20 minutes. It's quick and delicious.

✔️ Can be served over rice, noodles or with crusty bread.

✔️ Does not use any pre-packaged seasoning blends.

Cajun garlic butter shrimp on a bed of rice.

INGREDIENTS

This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for spicy garlic shrimp, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.

You may have all of these easy shrimp ingredients in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store. See recipe card below for ingredient amounts.

Low Sodium Soy Sauce
Brown Sugar: Light brown or dark brown sugar work well in this recipe. They balance out the tanginess and acidity of the soy sauce.
Olive Oil
Whole Grain Mustard Powder
Paprika
Cayenne Pepper
Dried Oregano
Dried Thyme
Onion Powder
Salt and Pepper: Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper.
Garlic: You can mince it yourself or use minced garlic in the jar.
Butter: Use unsalted butter.
Shrimp: Fresh is best but you can use frozen raw deveined shrimp with stems. Just thaw completely and pat dry.
Green Onions

INSTRUCTIONS

This section shows how to cook easy cajun shrimp in a skillet, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full instructions, nutritional information, to print the recipe or to have the recipe scaled to double or triple, see the recipe card below.

PREPARE: Combine all the ingredients, except butter and shrimp, and whisk together. Add to a skillet together with the butter over medium-high heat. Stir for 2 minutes.

COOK: Add shrimp, and stir to coat. Flip until the shrimp are pink and curled on both sides.

🔴 TIP: Do not overcook your shrimp. Allow the shrimp to cook, undisturbed, until the side on the skillet is turning pink and curling. Shrimp are cooked through when they are pink all over and curled up. If you overcook shrimp they will be tough and not as good.

SERVE: Serve with crusty bread, over rice or noodles and with a side of vegetables.

HOW TO MAKE CAJUN SHRIMP IN THE AIR FRYER

Prepare the sauce according to the main instructions. Add shrimp to sauce and marinate for 15-30 minutes.
Spray air fryer basket/tray with non-stick cooking spray.
Place shrimp in a single layer on the air fryer basket.
Cook for 8 minutes at 400°F. Do not turn over while cooking.

TIPS FOR THE BEST SPICY SHRIMP

Follow these tips to make the best cajun shrimp.

✔️ Preheat your skillet. Heat the pan over medium-high heat before adding the shrimp.

✔️ Adjust the spice level of your shrimp. Add ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper for mild spiciness and ½ teaspoon for medium spiciness.

✔️ Don't turn the shrimp too quickly. Allow the shrimp to cook, undisturbed, until the side on the skillet is turning pink and curling.

✔️ Do not overcook your shrimp. Remove shrimp from heat once it’s all pink and curled. If your pan retains heat, remove from the pan. Overcooked shrimp are tough and not as good.

STORAGE TIPS

Refrigerate: Store leftover cajun shrimp in an airtight container or ziploc bag for up to 4 days.

Freeze: Freeze shrimp in a freezer safe container or freezer bag for 10-12 months. We do not recommend refreezing cooked shrimp that was previously frozen raw.

Defrosting: Thaw cooked shrimp in the refrigerator overnight.

shrimp on a bed of rice topped with green onions

WHAT TO SERVE WITH SHRIMP

Serve spicy shrimp over Instant Pot Jasmin Rice, Cilantro Lime Rice, egg noodles or with a side of crusty white bread. Cajun shrimp also pairs really well with roasted or steamed vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus or green beans.

We also love serving them with a crunchy and nutritious salad. Have you tried our Italian Salad, Raw Asparagus Salad or Andrea's irresistible Greek Salad.

MORE SHRIMP RECIPES

If you love shrimp you'll enjoy our yummy Shrimp Fettuccine or Lemon Garlic Butter Shrimp. Have you tried Stef's amazingly delicious Shrimp Skewers, Shrimp Ceviche or Shrimp Pad Thai?

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

For perfect results every time, here are answers to the most common questions about cooking spicy shrimp.

Can you cook raw shrimp on a pan?

Cooking shrimp in a skillet or pan is one of the easiest ways to do it. Once your butter has melted and the garlic has softened in the pan, simply add your shrimp and they will cook in 5-10 minutes (depending on size and number of shrimp you cook at once).

How do you know when shrimp is done?

A perfectly cooked shrimp has an opaque pink color with a sheen and is firm enough to curl into a nice C shape.