Cajun Shrimp Etouffee is a traditional New Orleans recipes that combines the delicious flavors of Cajun cuisine and seafood seasoning. This savory meal includes shrimp, flavorful spices, and veggies in a creamy sauce served over rice. It’s great for a cozy family dinner or to impress guests at a dinner party or for Mardi Gras.
❤️ Why you’ll love Cajun Shrimp étouffée
- Flavorful Adventure: Bold spices and seasonings, perfect for creole cuisine
- Comfort in a Bowl: The creamy flavorful sauce and succulent shrimp combine for a comforting dish
- Customizable Heat: You can easily adjust the spiciness to suit your preference.
If shrimp is one of your go-to proteins, you will also love Shrimp Wonton Cup, Lemon Garlic Shrimp, Cajun Shrimp Mac and Cheese, Roasted Asian Shrimp and Garlic Parmesan Shrimp
Simple Ingredient List
- Medium shrimp- I prefer fresh shrimp but frozen work too
- Butter
- All-purpose flour
- The holy trinity of cajun cooking: Onion, green bell peppers, and celery ribs
- Garlic
- Cajun seasoning or creole seasoning
- Cayenne pepper
- Chicken broth
- Diced tomatoes
- Tomato paste
- Bay leaves
- Heavy cream
- Salt and black pepper
🍳 How to Make
Get the full list of ingredients, with measurements, and step-by-step instructions at the bottom of the post in the printable recipe card.
In a large pan, melt butter over medium heat.
Add the holy trinity of vegetables: diced onion, green bell pepper, and celery to the pan. Cook for 3-4 minutes until veggies are soft.
Add minced garlic and cook for another minute.
Sprinkle Cajun seasoning and cayenne pepper over the veggies and stir.
Add flour and stir until veggies are coated. Cook for 1-2 minutes to remove raw flour taste.
Slowly pour in chicken broth, stirring constantly to avoid lumps.
Add diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and bay leaves to the pan, and let it simmer.
Reduce heat to low and simmer for about 10 minutes.
Add shrimp and cook for another 5-6 minutes until fully cooked and pink.
Remove bay leaves before serving.
Stir in heavy cream and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Serve over rice, garnished with chopped parsley or green onions.
Hint: For a thick sauce, mix 1 tsp of cornstarch with 2 tbsp of cold water and add it to the pan during step 11. Let it simmer for an additional 2-3 minutes until desired consistency is reached.
🥄 Variations to the Best Shrimp Etoufee
- For a twist on the classic, consider incorporating different proteins such as chicken, andouille sausage, or even tofu for a vegetarian option.
- You can also experiment with a variety of vegetables like okra, diced sweet potatoes, or spinach to add both flavor and nutritional value.
- For those with dietary restrictions, gluten-free flour can be substituted for all-purpose flour, and coconut milk can serve as an excellent alternative to heavy cream for a dairy-free version.
🍶 Storage for Shrimp Creole
To keep your Cajun shrimp skillet fresh and safe, store leftovers in a sealed airtight container in the fridge. They’ll stay good for up to three days. When reheating, use medium heat on the stove, stirring occasionally. If the sauce thickens too much in the fridge, add a splash of chicken broth or water. Avoid freezing once heavy cream is added, as dairy can separate and change texture when thawed.
💭Tip for Making the Perfect Cajun Shrimp Etouffee
Remember to taste your dish as you cook! The recipe gives you seasoning guidelines, but spices can vary in strength and personal preference matters. This way, your final dish will be just the way you like it and won’t be under or over-seasoned. Adjust spices gradually and feel free to be creative with extra herbs and spices that go well with the Cajun flavor.
❔FAQs
Can I make this Cajun shrimp skillet ahead of time?
Is this Cajun Shrimp Etouffee spicy?
Can I use frozen shrimp?
Is there a substitute for shrimp in this dish?
📖More Creole Recipes
- Cajun Recipes for Christmas
- The Best Spicy Cajun Snapper with Mango Avocado Salsa
- Garlic Butter Steak Bites with Cajun Seasoning
- Cajun Shrimp Mac and Cheese Recipe
Need to change the number of servings? You can click on the number of servings and change the number. This will adjust the ingredient measurements to what you need.
If you love this recipe, come back and give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Best Cajun Shrimp Etouffee Recipe Ever
Ingredients
- 1 lb shrimp medium, peeled and deveined
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 onion diced
- 1 green bell pepper diced
- 2 celery ribs diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp Cajun seasoning
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 can diced tomatoes drained
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 bay leaves
- ½ cup heavy cream
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
- In a large pan, melt butter over medium heat.
- Add the diced onion, green bell pepper, and celery to the pan. Saute for 3-4 minutes until vegetables are soft.
- Add minced garlic to the pan and cook for an additional minute.
- Sprinkle Cajun seasoning and cayenne pepper over the vegetables and stir to combine.
- Add flour to the pan and stir until all the vegetables are coated. Cook for 1-2 minutes to cook out the raw flour taste.
- Slowly pour in chicken broth, stirring constantly to avoid lumps.
- Add diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and bay leaves to the pan, and bring to a simmer.
- Reduce heat to low and let it simmer for about 10 minutes.
- Add shrimp to the pan and continue cooking for another 5-6 minutes until shrimp is fully cooked and pink.
- Remove bay leaves from the pan before serving.
- Stir in heavy cream and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve over rice, garnished with chopped parsley or green onions.
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