Description
Lemon Cajun Shrimp Dinner brings zesty, spicy seafood magic straight to your table with minimal effort. Grab some fresh shrimp, sprinkle Cajun seasoning, and prepare for a quick, delicious meal that’ll make your taste buds dance.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
- ¼ cup chicken broth or white wine
- ¼ cup heavy cream
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lemon, juiced and zested
- Salt and pepper to taste
Garnishes and Accompaniments:
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ¼ cup green onions, chopped
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Cooked rice or pasta
Instructions
- Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of Cajun seasoning evenly over your shrimp, ensuring each piece gets a generous coating.
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat at 375°F. The oil should shimmer but not smoke.
- Add the seasoned shrimp to the hot skillet. Cook for 2-3 minutes on the first side until they turn pink and slightly golden.
- Flip the shrimp and immediately add 4 minced garlic cloves. Sauté for another 1-2 minutes until the shrimp are completely opaque.
- Pour in ¼ cup chicken broth and the fresh lemon juice. Scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and stir in ¼ cup heavy cream. Simmer for 1 minute until the sauce slightly thickens.
- Toss in ½ cup halved cherry tomatoes and cook for 30 seconds to warm them through.
- Season the sauce with salt and pepper to your taste preference.
- Garnish with ¼ cup chopped green onions and sprinkle fresh parsley on top.
- Serve immediately over hot rice or pasta, drizzling any remaining pan sauce over the dish.
Notes
- Use fresh, large shrimp for the best flavor and texture in this dish.
- Adjust the Cajun seasoning to match your preferred spice level, starting with less and adding more to taste.
- Pat shrimp completely dry before seasoning to ensure they develop a nice golden sear instead of steaming.
- When cooking shrimp, watch carefully and remove from heat the moment they turn pink and curl – overcooking makes them tough and rubbery.
- Prep Time: 3 minutes
- Cook Time: 4-5 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 230 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 180 mg