Name: Shrimp and Pasta with Spicy Cajun Garlic Cream Sauce
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Ingredients: 8 oz grilled shrimp (or cooked chicken breast, cubed); 16 oz linguine (or your favorite pasta); 1/2 medium onion (diced); 8 oz fresh mushrooms (sliced); 3 strips cooked bacon (drained and chopped in smaller pieces); 3 scallions (chopped); 1/4 cup fresh parsley (minced); 1 tsp Cajun seasoning; 2 tbsp garlic (minced); 2 tbsp bacon grease (or butter); 2 tbsp flour (or more, as needed); 1/4 cup half and half; 1/2 cup dry white wine; 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese; salt and pepper (to taste)

Shrimp and Pasta with Spicy Cajun Garlic Cream Sauce

Course: Appetizer, Dinner

Cuisine: Cajun

Keyword: cajun, chicken, pasta, shrimp

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 20

Servings:

Bam! Add a little Cajun seasoning to a classic garlic cream sauce for a quick weeknight dinner.

Print Recipe

Ingredients

8 oz grilled shrimp or cooked chicken breast, cubed
16 oz linguine or your favorite pasta
1/2 medium onion diced
8 oz fresh mushrooms sliced
3 strips cooked bacon drained and chopped in smaller pieces
3 scallions chopped
1/4 cup fresh parsley minced

Spicy Cajun Cream Sauce

1 tsp Cajun seasoning
2 tbsp garlic minced
2 tbsp bacon grease or butter
2 tbsp flour or more, as needed
1/4 cup half and half
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Prepare the pasta according to directions on the package.

Meanwhile, to make the sauce

Over low heat, melt bacon grease or butter in medium sauce pan. Add minced garlic and stir until fragrant (be careful not to let it burn).
Whisk in flour to form a smooth paste. Cook, stirring constantly for 1 minute.
Slowly add white wine and continue whisking and cooking to make sure it remains smooth. If the sauce is too thick, add a little more wine or water. Cook until the sauce thickens and is bubbly.
Remove from heat and add cheese, cajun seasoning, salt and pepper to taste. Stir until cheese is fully melted and incorporated. Set aside.

Cook shrimp, onions, and mushrooms

Saute onions and mushrooms in bacon grease or olive oil until cooked through and fragrant.
Add shrimp and saute until warmed through.

Serve

Plate a serving of pasta. Top with a scoop of sauce and bacon, chopped green onions, and parsley.

Turbo Method, Tips, and Substitutions

Turbo MethodTipsSubstitutions

Make a bacon grease and flour roux. Thin with white wine and a little cream. Season with salt, pepper, and Cajun seasoning. Add to sauted onions, mushrooms, and shrimp (or chicken). Serve over cooked pasta with green onions, parsley, and bacon bits.

Use pre-cooked onions and mushrooms to make this super speedy on a weeknight.

Substitute cooked chicken for shrimp if preferred.

Shrimp and Pasta with Spicy Cajun Garlic Cream Sauce