Spicy Cajun Shrimp Pasta Recipe for Quick Weeknight Dinner

This simple 30-minute Spicy Cajun Shrimp Pasta is an easy way to add bold, restaurant-style flavor to weeknight dinners.

Cajun Shrimp Pasta Gives You Restaurant Vibes on Any Given Weeknight

Spicy, tomato-forward, and perfect for slurping, this dish is light on sauce but heavy on flavor. Cajun seasoning brings a lively heat and depth rooted in a blend of West African, French, and Spanish influences. The result is a satisfying pasta that feels special without being fussy.

We Keep the Ingredients Simple

Many Cajun pasta recipes use cream and chicken, which are delicious, but this version is lighter while still packing plenty of taste. A quick simmered vegetable-tomato sauce lightly coats long pasta, and the seasoned shrimp add a welcomed spicy bite. You’ll need:

• Spaghetti or linguine
• Raw shrimp (shelled and deveined or shell-on if you prefer to peel)
• Olive oil
• Garlic
• Onion (red, yellow, or white)
• Green bell pepper
• Grape (cherry) tomatoes
• Canned diced tomatoes
• Cajun seasoning
• Red pepper flakes
• Fresh basil
• Sea salt and cracked black pepper

How to Make Spicy Cajun Shrimp Pasta

With a few straightforward steps you’ll transform pantry staples into a bright, spicy pasta in about 30 minutes. If you buy shrimp already shelled and deveined, prep is faster, but doing it yourself works fine too. Overview:

1. Clean and season the shrimp. If needed, remove shells and devein. Pat shrimp dry, toss with a little olive oil and some Cajun seasoning, and set aside.
2. Make the sauce. Heat olive oil in a skillet, sauté garlic and onion for 2–3 minutes. Add diced tomatoes, halved grape tomatoes, and diced bell pepper. Stir in remaining Cajun seasoning and red pepper flakes, then simmer 10–15 minutes until the grape tomatoes soften and burst.
3. Cook the pasta. Meanwhile, cook and drain the spaghetti or linguine; return it to the pot.
4. Combine pasta and sauce. Stir fresh basil into the sauce, then pour the sauce over the drained pasta and toss to coat.
5. Cook the shrimp. In the skillet used for the sauce, add a bit more oil and cook seasoned shrimp 3–4 minutes, flipping once, until opaque and pink.
6. Serve. Plate the pasta and top with shrimp, or toss the shrimp into the pasta before serving. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.

Equipment You’ll Need

• Sharp knife and cutting board
• Mixing bowl
• Large pot for pasta
• Skillet (cast-iron or non-stick)
• Wooden spoon or spatula
• Colander

Recipe Tips & Tricks

1. Buy shrimp shelled and deveined to save time.
2. For a more classic Cajun base, add diced celery along with the onion and bell pepper.
3. If you prefer more sauce, swap diced canned tomatoes for crushed tomatoes.

More Easy Recipes for Shrimp Lovers

• Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas
• Lemon Garlic Butter Shrimp with Chilies
• Spicy Instant Pot Shrimp Scampi
• Sesame Shrimp Stir-Fry with Ramen Noodles

Have You Made This Recipe?

If you try it, please consider leaving a star rating and a comment with feedback. Share your photos on Instagram by tagging @killing__thyme.

Spicy Cajun Shrimp Pasta

This simple 30-minute Spicy Cajun Shrimp Pasta is the perfect way to kick things up on mundane weeknights.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 2 TBSP olive oil
• 1/2 lb spaghetti
• 2 cups halved grape tomatoes
• 15 oz can diced tomatoes
• 1/2 onion, minced (red, yellow, or white)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 3 tsp Cajun seasoning
• 2 tsp red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
• 1 lb raw shrimp, shelled and deveined
• 1/4 cup ribboned fresh basil
• Sea salt and cracked black pepper, to taste

Instructions

Preparing the shrimp

1. If using shell-on shrimp, remove shells and devein with a paring knife. Pat shrimp dry, place in a bowl, drizzle with 1 TBSP olive oil, and toss with 2 tsp Cajun seasoning. Set aside.

Sauce and pasta

1. Heat 1 TBSP olive oil in a skillet. Add garlic and onion and cook 2–3 minutes until soft.
2. Add canned diced tomatoes, halved grape tomatoes, and diced bell pepper. Stir in remaining Cajun seasoning and red pepper flakes. Simmer 10–15 minutes until tomatoes soften and meld.
3. While the sauce simmers, cook pasta according to package directions, drain, and return to the pot.
4. Stir chopped basil into the sauce, then pour the sauce over the pasta and toss to coat.

Cooking the shrimp

1. In the same skillet, add a little more oil and cook the seasoned shrimp 3–4 minutes, flipping once, until opaque and pink. Watch closely to avoid overcooking.
2. Plate the pasta and top with shrimp, or toss the shrimp into the pasta and serve. Adjust seasoning as needed.