This Easy Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta recipe is made with andouille sausage, red and green peppers, and covered in a decadent heavy whipping cream sauce, a little similar to Alfredo. If you enjoy spicy, this seafood dish definitely has the kick!
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Do you miss a similar pasta from TGI Fridays? Or maybe you are looking for something BETTER! This dish really takes me back to New Orleans. You will absolutely love the cream sauce! Coupled with flavor from the sausage, this is definitely something to add to your dinner menu.
Table of Contents
What Type of Shrimp to Use
Shrimp can be found at the grocery store in a few different ways. There is raw, pre-cooked, raw and frozen, deveined, tails on, tails off, etc.
I never use pre-cooked shrimp. There is an obvious difference in taste due to the lack of quality. The shrimp is cooked and then frozen and you have to cook it/warm it up again. This usually overcooks the shrimp. Raw shrimp only takes minutes to make, just buy it raw.
Always look for deveined, that's my preference. The black vein that runs along the back of the shrimp is the digestive intestinal tract. Is this shrimp poop, yes.
You can buy it with the vein and remove it using a sharp paring knife to make a slit along the back and lift out the vein with the tip of the knife.
Buy large shrimp. No one likes those baby shrimp and they are harder to cook with.
How to Thaw Frozen Shrimp
Place the frozen shrimp in a large bowl of cold water. The shrimp will thaw within minutes and will be ready to peel.
What Type of Pasta to Use
- Linguine
- Fettucini
- Farfalle (Bow Tie Pasta)
- Penne
Low Carb Pasta Options
- Palmini Hearts of Palm Linguine - This is what I use in the recipe and it's fantastic. Prior to trying this I have always used zucchini noodles before. These work better than zucchini noodles in my opinion.
- Zucchini Noodles - Use a spiralizer to create these.
- Spaghetti Squash - Check out my post, How to Make Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash.
- Miracle Noodles - These are shirataki noodles. I have tried them once and they are ok. I'm not a huge fan.
How to Make Cajun Shrimp Pasta
- Boil the pasta in accordance with package instructions.
- Saute the shrimp in a pan on medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes on each side. Remove and set aside.
- Saute andouille sausage, green peppers, red peppers, and onions in the pan for 3-4 minutes. Remove and set aside.
- Melt butter in the pan on medium heat. Add heavy whipping cream, almond milk, Parmesan reggiano cheese, Cajun Seasoning, and cream cheese.
- Add the cooked shrimp, roasted tomatoes, sauteed vegetables, sausage, and pasta. Stir.
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Sausage Substitutions
You can omit the sausage completely or substitute it if you wish. Andouille sausage is very traditional. The smoked flavor adds tremendous flavor to the dish. You can use any of the following:
- Chicken Sausage
- Turkey Sausage
- Bacon
- Turkey Bacon
Shrimp Substitutions
You can substitute shrimp for just about anything.
- Chicken (Shred or cut into 1-inch chunks)
- Lobster
- Crab
How Long Will it Last in the Fridge
Pasta dishes usually last in the fridge 3-4 days. I always find that they taste better the next day. All of the ingredients have commingled for a while together in the fridge. When you reheat it, it's pretty magical!
How to Freeze the Dish
I like to use these soup molds for all of my freezing. They are super convenient. You can freeze the dish for up to a few months. You will likely notice some separation in the sauce when you reheat it. This is normal for cream sauces when frozen.
The Difference Between Cajun and Creole Seasoning
I have used both Cajun and Creole Seasoning in this recipe and I enjoy them both. It's totally up to you with what you use. Do you want something spicy? Opt for Cajun. Do you want something well seasoned? Opt for Creole.
Cajun seasoning is often spicy with an emphasis on peppers, white pepper, black peppers, cayenne pepper, and bell peppers. It also has hints of paprika and garlic.
Creole Seasoning has more emphasis on herbs such as basil, oregano and thyme. It is milder than Cajun Seasoning. If you want to substitute Creole Seasoning, and you still want the added heat, add in a teaspoon or more of red cayenne pepper.
If you are looking for an option that's less spicy Creole Seasoning may work better for you than Cajun.
You may also enjoy our Cajun Dirty Rice.
What Type of Pan To Use
You will need a large pot to boil the water and pasta. To prepare the shrimp, vegetables, and cream sauce, you can use any skillet you wish. I prefer to use a cast-iron skillet. It adds a blackened layer to the shrimp that I love.
More Pasta Recipes
Seafood Lasagna
Southern Soul Food Baked Mac and Cheese
Keto Shrimp Alfredo
Keto Chicken Alfredo
Keto Spaghetti and Meatballs
Zucchini Lasagna Roll-Ups
Lobster Mac and Cheese
Seafood Stuffed Pasta Shells
Southern Chicken Spaghetti
Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta
Cheesy Taco Pasta
More Shrimp and Seafood Recipes
Shrimp Egg Rolls
Shrimp Avocado Salad
Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp
Seafood Shrimp Pho Soup
Tuna Poke Bowls
Blackened Fish Tacos
Baked Crab Legs
Air Fryer Frozen Shrimp
Jerk Shrimp Recipe
Shrimp Parmesan (Parmigiana)
Easy Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta
Ingredients
Standard Pasta Noodles
- 8 oz linguine pasta
Low Carb Pasta Noodles
- 2 12 oz cans Palmini linguine You can also used the packaged version.
Pasta Recipe
- 2 teaspoons olive oil Divided into 1 teaspoon servings.
- 1 pound raw shrimp Deveined and shells removed.
- 1 tablespoon Cajun Seasoning Divided into ½ tablespoon servings. You can also use Creole Seasoning.
- 4 oz andouille sausage Sliced into 1 inch pieces. You can use more if you like.
- ½ cup chopped red peppers
- ½ cup chopped green peppers
- ½ cup chopped yellow or white onions
- 1 cup fire roasted diced tomatoes Drained from a can.
- 1 tablespoon butter
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- ½ cup unsweetened almond milk
- 4 oz cream cheese Cut into chunks.
- ½ cup shredded Parmesan Reggiano Cheese
Instructions
Standard Noodles
- Follow the instructions on the packaging for how to cook the pasta.
Low Carb Noodles
- Rinse the noodles. The packaging states you can boil the noodles to get them softer or you can use them immediately after rinsing. I like to boil the noodles.
Pasta Instructions
- Place the shrimp in a bowl along with ½ tablespoon of Cajun or Creole Seasoning. Mix to ensure the shrimp is fully coated.
- Heat a skillet or pan on medium high heat. I use a cast iron skillet. Add 1 teaspoon of olive oil to the pan.
- When hot, add the shrimp to the pan. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until it turns bright pink. Remove the shrimp and set aside.
- Add an additional teaspoon of olive oil to the pan along with the chopped sausage, onions, green peppers, and red peppers.
- Saute for 3-4 minutes until the vegetables are soft and the onions are translucent and fragrant. Remove the vegetables from the pan and set aside.
- Reduce the heat on the pan to medium. Add the butter to the pan and allow it to melt.
- Add in the heavy cream, almond milk, cream cheese, the remaining ½ tablespoon of Cajun or Creole Seasoning, and Parmesan Reggiano Cheese.
- Continue to stir the sauce until all of the cheese has fully melted. The cream cheese may take some time to melt. Add in the fire roasted tomatoes and stir. Allow the mixture to cook for 2 minutes.
- Add the shrimp, sausage, vegetables, and pasta to the pan and stir. Allow the pasta to cook for 4-5 minutes until combined.
- Serve.
Video
Notes
- Macros noted above are for the low carb option. Here are the macros if regular pasta is used: Cals: 501 Fat:29G Net Carbs:32G Protein: 25G
- If you are looking for an option that's less spicy Creole Seasoning may work better for you than Cajun.
- You can omit the andouille sausage if you want (it is the source of a lot of flavor in the recipe) or substitute it for chicken sausage, turkey sausage, bacon, or turkey bacon.
- To prepare the shrimp, vegetables, and cream sauce, you can use any skillet you wish. I prefer to use a cast-iron skillet. It adds a blackened layer to the shrimp that I love.
- You can substitute almond milk for whatever you prefer.
- You can omit the tomatoes if you wish, this will reduce the carbs in the recipe.
Keri says
THIS IS DELICIOUS! Didn’t have shrimp, so I chopped up a rotisserie chicken breast with the sausage. So easy! So satisfying!! Thank you!!
staysnatched says
Yay! Wonderful! I'm so glad you were able to substitute.
Lee E Ellis says
WINNER!!!
This was easy to make and absolutely delicious. We loved it! Will definitely be making this again.
staysnatched says
Glad to hear it was a win!
Shannon Schoultz says
Super easy & so so very good.
staysnatched says
Yay! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Dee Dee says
I made this recipe and it was soooo good. I felt like I was eating in a restaurant! The whole family loved it!
staysnatched says
Wonderful! I love that!
Mary says
This recipe was so good!! So quick and easy and it hit the Cajun food craving we’ve had for a while. Definitely making this one again!
staysnatched says
I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Sandie says
Quick, easy, and delicious! We used brown rice penne because we aren’t low carb, and we subbed the almond milk for oatmilk creamer that we had on hand. Even our two year old was a fan, and asked for seconds!
staysnatched says
I love when I can impress a kiddo!
Jasmine says
Yasss!! This is soo good!! I used bow tie pasta since it was all I had...but it was still really good!!
staysnatched says
That's a good pasta to use!
Tenedra says
Love love love! This is so good! I will definitely remake this again.
staysnatched says
I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Debra says
This was amazing! It will definitely go into my rotation to make again and again. The entire family loved it (all 6 of us which is hard to please everyone). Two people instantly commented after their first bite, mentioning how flavorful it was. And, even better, it was so fast and easy to make! Win/win!
staysnatched says
I love when I can impress everyone!
Beth says
Love this! Was looking for a recipe to try the palmini noodles. This was so delicious, made a ton!
staysnatched says
I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Elvira says
So good! I used Banza chickpea pasta. I added a teeny bit of habanero pepper to the vegetable stack because I wanted the extra kick! Loved this recipe.
staysnatched says
That sounds so good!
Sheyla Lima says
Holy. Cow. THIS IS SO DANG DELICIOUS!! The two picky eaters I cook for absolutely loved this recipe! I will definitely making this on the regular.
staysnatched says
Glad I could please a picky eater!
Ann says
This is an amazing dish. It’s simple enough to make on a weeknight and has restaurant level flavor. Thumbs up from hubby and kiddos. Perfection!
staysnatched says
So glad you enjoyed it!
Kaitlin says
This was fantastic ! Recipe was easy to follow and the shrimp turned out perfect. Felt like a really special meal without hours of work. Thank you!
staysnatched says
Easy recipes are my specialty!
Shunta says
This was BOMB!!!!!!! Not only was it a hit for me, my seven year old talked about the dish the next day multiple times. So creamy and delicious. I'll be adding this to our rotation.
staysnatched says
Glad you can add it to your rotation.
Carissa says
Made this a week or two ago and it was excellent. Kids even went to their grandparents and told them about it and I have picky eaters. Will definitely be making again.
staysnatched says
haha I love that they bragged about it.
Terri says
My daughter made this and it was amazing! Used Palmini noodles too
staysnatched says
So glad you enjoyed it!
Tami says
This dish is absolutely delicious! Huge flavors, but incredibly easy. I had never heard of the Palmini pasta before, but used it for the first time in this dish and the whole family was sold! This recipe is definitely a keeper and will be on repeat around here. Thank you!
staysnatched says
I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Christina says
This one is definitely making it into the rotation. So delicious and easy!
staysnatched says
I'm glad you enjoyed it! Such an easy recipe.
Jasmin Elizondo says
This is so goooood!!! Easy to make and did I mention how good it was!!!! I made half serving for my husband and myself and once we were done we were really upset we didn't make the full recipe for left overs lol.
staysnatched says
Lol lesson learned the hard way.
Jessica says
I'll be using this sauce for all my creamy pasta dishes moving forward!!!
staysnatched says
Wonderful! I'm so glad you enjoyed it.
Amanda Hardy says
This recipe is amazing! There is several alternatives in case you don’t like something. I was worried about it being to spicy for me, but it was a perfect amount of creaminess, and spice. I never have my husband ask for seconds on homemade pasta, except for this recipe. Love it! Highly recommend!!
staysnatched says
Yes! Glad I could impress the husband.
Mary Piatt says
So delicious! Hubby said it was perfect! Easy recipe to follow! Great combo of flavors! It wasn’t too spicy and was the perfect amount of creaminess! Will make this again!
staysnatched says
Glad you enjoyed the cajun pasta!
courtney Russell says
New favorite in my house , easy to cook and super delicious !!!! I love your recipes
staysnatched says
Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Kesha says
I am all about quick and easy meals so when I came across this one, I was really excited to try it. I made the pasta and paired it with salmon. I have to say I was a little skeptical about the cream cheese being added to the pasta but I absolutely loved it! This will be definitely be added to my "go to" quick and easy meals. Thank you!
staysnatched says
I'm so glad you enjoyed the pasta!
Kimberly says
One of the best pasta dishes I have made! Thanks for sharing!
staysnatched says
Yay! That is such an honor.
Adriana says
This is Soo Soo good!! Made this and my husband was really hesitant but he loved it!! Fantastic recipe! I opted for the creole spice and it was the perfect heat!
staysnatched says
Yay! That's such a great combination!
Sabrina says
Made this last night and could not love it more! I used the suggested heart of palm pasta and it truly is a great substitute. Such a easy delicious pasta recipe!
staysnatched says
Yay! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Sarah says
So good! I didn’t have andouille so I used some left over chorizo and it was still delicious. I love that most of your recipes are pretty laidback and easy to swap out for what we have on hand. Keep ‘em coming!
staysnatched says
Oh chorizo sounds like a great substitute!
Sam says
I’ve made this twice now and it’s literally the most amazing dish!!!
staysnatched says
That's so good to hear. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Tiffany J. says
Listennnnn! This pasta dish is so, so, so good! I made this to take for lunch a few days this week and let me tell you, I couldn't wait for my lunch time! I enjoy eating pasta, but it is not good for my waistline. Honey, you are coming through with these pasta alternatives! I don't even know what hearts of palm is, but I will be buying more when I go to the store this week. Thanks so much for the time and love you put into your recipes. I have yet to make a recipe of yours that I did not like. I just keep coming back!!!
staysnatched says
I love to hear that!
Natascha says
Just made this using the healthy noodles from Costco. Hubby cannot stop talking about it! So easy and delicious ?
staysnatched says
I love to hear it. I'm glad you enjoyed the recipe.
Ashley says
This is so so good! I substituted the shrimp for chicken and it came out bomb! Definitely should try it!
staysnatched says
Yay! Yes this works wonderfully with chicken.
Cara says
OMGGGGGG Y’ALL. I made this tonight with chicken instead of shrimp (husband is allergic). Added some cayenne for extra spice. It took maaaaybe 20 minutes and we ate all of it, no leftovers - a pretty rare occurrence for us. Don’t skip this one, it is SO good! Thanks Brandi for another slam dunk recipe as usual!! Next up is the Keto Philly Cheesesteak Casserole and we can’t wait!
staysnatched says
I hope you enjoy that recipe, too!
Sabrina Boucher says
I've made this recipe a few times now and it never disappoints! Thank you Brandi for another great recipe and a healthier version.
staysnatched says
You're welcome! I'm so glad you enjoyed the recipe.
Malika says
First review, but not my first Stay Snatched recipe (I know SO sorry!), but I HAD to for this. Best Cajun Pasta recipe ever and so easy to make! I decided to use the cold cracked lobster from Butcher Box in addition to the shrimp and sausage and it was delicious. Another excellent recipe. Everything I’ve tried has been good. Don’t remember how I found your site and IG, but I am never leaving.
staysnatched says
Yay! I would love for you to share the other reviews as well lol!
Janele says
This sauce is so freaking amazing, better than any restaurant. We prefer spicy and use cajun with some extra red pepper. I use lobster instead of shrimp when feeling fancy.
staysnatched says
I love the lobster idea!
Mimi says
This dish was soooo easy and was simply delicious!! My husband was eating the sauce out of the pot before I was even done! When I tell you this one hits different! Will definitely be one of my favorites!
staysnatched says
I'm glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Erica Martinez says
This recipe is amazing!! SO GOOD! The flavors of all the different ingredients just mix together so well. I made this on Saturday and made it again the next Thursday because it was that good. My boyfriend had the leftovers for lunch and he said it was even better! We love andouille sausage so the second time I made it I double the sausage amount.
staysnatched says
Awesome! I'm glad you both enjoy it.
Brooke says
Two VERY enthusiastic thumbs up! Super simple and the flavors came together so well. I'm a big fan of a spicier cajun dish so I added some red pepper flakes. I also used turkey kielbasa instead of andouille. Fantastic and will definitely make it again - my husband went back for seconds!
staysnatched says
That's what I like to hear!
Liz says
Omg Brandi, this recipe is AMAZINGG! Wouldn’t change a thing, I used creole seasoning and it had just the right amount of spice & the flavors were SO GOOD. I swapped out linguine with the palmini noodles and didn’t even miss the linguine it was was so satisfying! I have a feeling this one is going to be in my monthly rotation 🙂
staysnatched says
Yes! Those noodles are good.
Stephanie Ives says
Was going to make red beans & rice with my andouille sausage but discovered I was out of rice but had mini bow tie pasta and leftover buttered shrimp from last night- perfect addition! Used 1% milk instead of the almond milk and adding this to our monthly rotation, winner!
staysnatched says
This is perfect to use for it!
Erin Marks says
This is my new favorite recipe!! On top of it being super flavorful and the most delicious thing I've made it a loooong time, it was also sooo easy to make with minimal dishes/cleanup AND leftovers tasted amazing all week long. And I am NOT a leftovers kinda gal. If I hadn't made it myself you definitely could have convinced me it was some takeout from an amazing restaurant and that is a testament to the recipe and creator much more than to my own cooking skills!
staysnatched says
Wonderful! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Leslie says
This is everything! I have made this recipe 3 times this year alone! My 15 year request it every time and that says A LOT! It is literally a flavor party! I use regular pasta but love ALL the recommendations in this post to make it low carb. This right here is a staple in our house oookkk!! You did that Brandi!!
Leslie says
This is everything! I have made this recipe 3 times this year alone! My 15 year request it every time and that says A LOT! It is literally a flavor party! I use regular pasta but love ALL the recommendations in this post to make it low carb. This right here is a staple in our house oookkk!! You did that Brandi!! Thank you for this!
staysnatched says
Thank you! Glad to hear it's a staple.
Tiffany Taylor says
Sooooooooo so so good! Amazing flavor! 5 stars Brandi!! 👌🏽😌
staysnatched says
Thank you! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Rochelle says
Wow! This is an amazing dish. It has become a weekly staple in my home. My kids love it! It's so versatile. I sometimes use penne or bowtie pasta and even switch up the kind of sausage I use. You can add in whatever veggies you like. I double the recipe now, hoping it'll last 2 nights, but they always eat it up. Thank you Brandi!
staysnatched says
You're welcome! Glad the family loves it.
Sherrie says
Does anyone know how many net carbs this has per serving and what a serving size is? I saw what the carb count would be if you used regular noodles, but I can't find anything about the total net carbs. Can anyone point me to that info? Looks yummy though!
staysnatched says
This information is in the recipe card.
Tiffani says
I’m so glad I still had this pulled up, I had run out of ideas of what to cook. This was sooooooo good and very easy!!!!! I hadn’t even thought about freezing some, but, I definitely will.
staysnatched says
Yay! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Ashley says
This pasta dish turned out great!! I loved the palmini noodles! I had never used them before, but when I saw your recipe video and noticed how substantial they looked, I ordered a case. The directions were also really easy to follow, as well as the video and tips before!
staysnatched says
I'm so glad it turned out great!