There is no other shrimp recipe like this cajun shrimp scampi! This cajun shrimp scampi brings shrimp scampi to a whole new level. The succulent shrimp are packed with flavor from spicy cajun seasoning and drenched in a rich cream sauce with lemon. This elegant dish is perfect for any holiday or celebration!
This post is sponsored by Lemi Shine. All opinions are my own. Thank you for continuing to support the brands that help make Essence Eats possible!
This cajun shrimp scampi is seriously a must-try dish! There are various ways to make shrimp scampi but this delicious twist that adds cajun seasoning is the ultimate cajun cuisine recipe. It has a spicy kick that compliments the buttery shrimp flavor. And five cloves garlic really gives this recipe that extra oomph!
Other than how delectable it is, it is the easiest recipe to make. Of all the easy meals, this one definitely takes the cake for the most delicious & quickest. The entire recipe from start to finish takes about 15 minutes. Next time you're craving shrimp scampi, give this cajun shrimp scampi a try!
If you love this garlicky recipe, you must try my black garlic bread, lawrys creamed corn, and brown butter garlic knots!
Jump to:
ingredients 🧾
Olive oil: ¼ cup of good quality olive oil is used to saute. I choose a blend of both olive oil and butter to enhance the flavor of the other ingredients.
Butter: You will need 4 tablespoons of high-quality unsalted butter. My favorite is Kerrygold. 3 tablespoons of the butter will go towards sauteeing and the remaining 1 tablespoon butter will top the sauce to add richness.
Garlic: You can't have shrimp scampi without fresh garlic! We do not hold back in this recipe. You will need 5 cloves of garlic.
Shrimp: You will need 1 pound of large shrimp. Be sure the raw shrimps are tail off and deveined. My favorite shrimp for this recipe is Argentinian shrimp. Argentinian shrimp are such juicy shrimp and are known to be the sweetest.
Salt & Pepper: ½ a teaspoon of sea salt and ¼ teaspoon of black pepper are added for seasoning. You can add more or less depending on your personal preference.
Citric acid: Citric acid is added to this recipe to add a zesty lemon flavor similar to lemon zest. If you don't have citric acid, you can substitute with lemon zest. I use Lemi Shine's 100% food-grade citric acid. This recipe calls for only ¼ teaspoon of citric acid. To learn more about citric acid, check out this page. To purchase this kitchen staple for your home, check it out on Amazon.
Lemon juice: Lemon juice is the perfect way to cut the richness in the sauce. It adds just the right amount of kick of acidity.
White wine: Like the traditional recipe of shrimp scampi, this recipe uses dry white wine to deglaze the pan. Some of my favorite wines to use are Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, or Chardonnay. The alcohol content cooks out during the cooking process, but if you prefer without wine, you can also use chicken broth.
Heavy cream: ¼ cup of heavy cream is added to make the sauce luscious and creamy. Just a touch of cream goes a long way in this sauce. If looking for a buttery sauce rather than creamy, you can omit the cream.
Cajun seasoning: You will need 1 ½ tablespoons of cajun spices. My favorite cajun seasoning is McCormick but you also use homemade cajun seasoning. Cajun spice blend is a mixture of cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, kosher salt, pepper, and dried herbs.
Parsley: Chopped fresh parsley is used as a garnish for the dish.
Parmesan cheese: Adding freshly grated parmesan cheese once finished adds an extra sharpness to the cajun scampi.
Noodles: Linguine noodles are an optional ingredient in this recipe because the cajun shrimp recipe is so delicious on its own!
Find the full ingredient measurements and instructions in the recipe card below!
variations & substitutions 📖
If you prefer to not include wine in your shrimp scampi, you can substitute it with chicken broth or veggie broth. This will serve the same purpose and deglaze the pan to get all the flavorful ingredients incorporated.
For creamy cajun shrimp pasta, add this cajun shrimp scampi on top of a bed of pasta. Adding al dente cooked pasta to the shrimp can make this a complete and easy dinner recipe. You can use so many different types of pasta like penne pasta, linguine, rigatoni, or bowtie pasta!
To turn this delicious dish into a low-carb meal, add the shrimp to a bed of vegetables. Adding this easy cajun shrimp scampi recipe to a plate of colorful veggies is a great way to get lots of nutrients in a low-carb way. My favorite veggies to enjoy with this recipe are green bell peppers or broccoli! Oh, and topping with fresh green onion adds a burst of flavor.
tips & tricks 👩🏻🍳
If adding the shrimp to pasta, loosen the sauce a little. Adding just a tablespoon or two of the pasta water will loosen up the creamy sauce and allow it to coat the noodles.
Don't overcook the shrimp. Other than the step in which the shrimp are sauteed, they are also simmered in the sauce for a short period. Be sure to just cook for about 2 minutes on the front and back of the shrimp. This ensures they are perfectly cooked without getting chewy or rubbery.
If you purchase lemons in bulk or have a gorgeous lemon tree in your yard, along with this recipe, make more lemony recipes like my hot honey lemon pepper wings or lemon cranberry bars.
step by step instructions 🔪
Step 1 - Season the shrimp. In a large bowl, toss shrimp in the cajun seasoning, salt, pepper, and citric acid. Toss until thoroughly coated.
Step 2 - Melt the butter and oil. In a large skillet or large saucepan, melt 3 tablespoons of the butter and drizzle of olive oil over medium heat.
Step 3 - Saute the garlic. Add the minced garlic to the pan and saute for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
Step 4 - Deglaze the pan with wine & add the shrimp. Add a dash of white wine into the pan to deglaze the pan and get all the garlicky buttery bits off the bottom of the pan. In the large saucepan, add the seasoned shrimp and saute for 2-3 minutes on each side. When shrimp are finished cooking they should curl into a C shape and the color should be pink to orange depending on the variety.
Step 5 - Pour in the cream and butter. Pour in the cream and add the last 1 tablespoon of butter. Swirl around the pan to coat the shrimp in the sauce.
Step 6 - Simmer. Lower heat to simmer the sauce for an additional minute to meld all the flavors.
Step 7 - Turn off the heat and add the lemon juice. Remove the pan from the heat and add the fresh lemon juice.
Step 8 - Top with parsley and parmesan. This can be enjoyed on its own or poured over a bed of pasta. Place the shrimp on a serving platter and top with fresh chopped parsley and parmesan cheese.
serving suggestions 🍽️
Serve this cajun shrimp scampi topped with fresh chopped parsley and parmesan. Add crusty bread on the side to soak up all that cajun creamy sauce.
To complete your meal and dining experience, add some sides like mac and cheese with brie, rosemary focaccia bread, and grilled zucchini with garlic lemon aioli.
storage & reheating ⏲️
Leftover shrimp scampi can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can also freeze cooked shrimp scampi for up to 4 months.
Reheat leftover shrimp scampi covered in a casserole dish at 275F for 10-15 minutes. If the consistency has dried out, add a splash of broth or water before baking to loosen up the sauce.
faq's ❓
If your shrimp scampi is dry, that means the shrimp probably got overcooked. Be sure to cook the shrimp for about 2 minutes on each side until just cooked through. Shrimp will begin to curl into a C shape when cooking. You will tell that they are done when they are lightly pink or orange depending on the variety. Keep in mind, that most shrimp scampi recipes also have the shrimp simmer in the sauce for a minute or two to absorb all the flavor so you don't want to cook the shrimp too much in the saute step.
If you want your shrimp scampi sauce to be thicker, more like an alfredo rather than a glaze, simply add a slurry of a couple sprinkles of flour or cornstarch to water and add that to the sauce. Simmer the sauce on low heat to ensure everything is well incorporated.
The best wine to drink with shrimp scampi is a dry white wine. Some classic choices are a sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio, or chardonnay. The best part about cooking shrimp scampi is that you typically have to use the wine in cooking so you can use the remaining wine to enjoy while eating.
Yes! Shrimp scampi is so delicious over so many different foods. Rice is a great choice to serve shrimp scampi over since it absorbs all of the sauce! More great ways to serve shrimp scampi are over pasta, roasted vegetables, or on crusty bread.
other dinner recipes
Creamy Cajun Shrimp Scampi
This cajun shrimp scampi has succulent shrimp that are packed with flavor from cajun seasoning and drenched in a rich cream sauce with lemon.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 4 tablespoon unsalted high-quality butter (divided)
- 5 cloves garlic (finely minced)
- 1 pound raw tail-off large shrimp (deveined)
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon citric acid or lemon zest
- 1 lemon (juiced)
- ¼ cup dry white wine
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1 ½ tablespoon cajun seasoning
- Fresh parsley (chopped, for garnish)
- Parmesan cheese (finely grated, for topping)
- Optional: Linguine noodles (for serving, cooked al dente)
Instructions
- Toss the shrimp in the cajun seasoning, salt, pepper, and citric acid or lemon zest.
- Heat 3 tablespoons of butter and olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.
- Add the minced garlic and saute until fragrant.
- Add the white wine to deglaze the pan.Add the shrimp to the sauce pan and saute for about 2 minutes on each side. You will know the shrimp are cooked on that side when they turn a pink color and curl to a C shape
- Add the cream and last tablespoon of butter. Swirl the pan around to coat the shrimp.
- Let simmer for one minute until all the flavors are combined.
- Remove from heat and squeeze in the lemon juice.
- This can be enjoyed on its own or pour over a bed of pasta. Top with fresh chopped parsley and parmesan cheese.
Notes
Serving Instructions:
Serve this cajun shrimp scampi topped with fresh chopped parsley and parmesan. Add crusty bread on the side to soak up all that cajun creamy sauce.
Storage Instructions:
Leftover shrimp scampi can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can also freeze cooked shrimp scampi for up to 4 months.
Reheating Instructions:
Reheat leftover shrimp scampi covered in a casserole dish at 275F for 10-15 minutes. If the consistency has dried out, add a splash of broth or water before baking to loosen up the sauce.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 222Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 19mgSodium: 1033mgCarbohydrates: 17gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 4g
All nutrition facts are estimations. Please see a physician for any health-related inquiries.
Lauren says
This was incredibly easy, came together quickly and it was on the table in 30 minutes! My family loved it and I'll be making it again. I'm going to check the other recipes out and I can bet they are as good as this one.
Emma Essence says
Hi Lauren,
Thank you so much for your kind review. Literally made my day! I love how quick and easy it is to make too. If you try any more of my recipes, please let me know! Can't wait to hear what you think.