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This Cajun Butter Shrimp is buttery, flavorful, and delicious. Vibrant Cajun spices in a simple garlic butter sauce. So easy and so yummy!
Featured with this recipe
I am addicted to all things New Orleans and this Cajun Butter Shrimp recipe made me feel like we were right back there! The spicy Cajun seasoning melted with buttery sauce seeps into the plump, juicy shrimp. My favorite! We love eating the shrimp over rice, with more sauce drizzled over the top. Add a side of sourdough bread and a green salad, and this Cajun shrimp recipe makes one of the best dinners around. My family requests this meal again and again.
Ingredients in Cajun Butter Shrimp
For this Cajun Garlic Butter Shrimp, all you need are a few easy to find spices and just the right shrimp:
- Large, uncooked shrimp – I like to buy the bag of frozen, tail-on shrimp that you can get at Costco. They’re always juicy and flavorful. Use about 32 of them, or more if desired.
- Butter – half a cup, or one cube. Melt in a dish in the microwave before adding the rest of the ingredients.
- Minced garlic – one tablespoon, or about three garlic cloves, finely chopped.
- Lemon juice – two tablespoons, or the juice of one lemon.
- Fresh thyme – one tablespoon, finely chopped. You can use dried thyme if that’s what you have on hand.
- Paprika – one tablespoon for garnish and beautiful vibrant color.
- Kosher salt – one teaspoon or more to taste.
- Cayenne pepper – just half a teaspoon, or less if you don’t like it super spicy.
- Turmeric – half a teaspoon of this woodsy, peppery spice.
Best Kind of Shrimp for this Recipe
Fresh juicy shrimp isn’t always easy to find, but check the seafood counter at your local grocery store. Of course, my favorite is the bag of uncooked tail-on shrimp from Costco in the frozen section. They’re really tasty and the shells and veins are already removed. They’re super easy to cook with!
The Secret’s in the Sauce
This sauce is the very best I’ve ever had on shrimp! The combination of thyme, turmeric, garlic and cayenne, mingled with the lemon juice makes for such an array of flavors your mouth will definitely be thanking you. You can also add a dash of onion powder, oregano, old bay seasoning, or a little parsley or diced green onions as a garnish. One reader suggested slicing up pinwheel lemon slices and using those for flavor and aesthetic appeal in the sauce. Once you spoon it over the shrimp, look out. You’re in for a real treat!
What to Serve with this Easy Cajun Butter Shrimp Recipe
- Serve shrimp with some sweet corn on the cob, grilled asparagus, green beans or broccoli.
- Top a bed of rice or angel hair pasta with the spicy shrimp.
- Add a side green salad or plate of your favorite fruit.
- Serve with some crusty sourdough bread, a basket of biscuits or our mom’s homemade rolls.
Flavors from the South
If you’re into New Orleans flavor like we are, you might try pairing this Cajun Butter Shrimp with a glass of Mint Julep (Disneyland copycat). Serve the meal with a New Orleans style mini beignet for dessert. Delicious! If you’re looking for shrimp but cooked in another way, the Cajun Shrimp Foil Packets will work out great! If you love pasta, our Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta is one of the most requested shrimp dinners in our family. More of a sandwich person? Our Shrimp Po’ Boys are also very popular. So many delicious choices!
Frequently Asked Questions about Cajun Butter Shrimp
Pasta, potatoes, and rice are all great carb options to serve with shrimp. Add some veggies or a side salad for a balanced supper.
Cajun seasoning has a bold and spicy flavor that comes from the paprika and cayenne pepper, with a earthy, woodsy flavor from the garlic and herbs. It all blends together perfectly with citrus lemon juice.
Shrimp is full of omega-3 fatty acids that supports brain health and thyroid function. So yes, it’s a good source of protein and nutrition.
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More Shrimp Recipes
For a shrimp recipe from the other side of the map, try our Shrimp Tempura Sushi Rolls! Or try these shrimp favorites:
How to Make Cajun Butter Shrimp
Cajun Butter Shrimp
Equipment
- Outdoor BBQ Grill
Ingredients
- 32 large, uncooked shrimp we like the bag of frozen tail-on shrimp that you can get at Costco
For The Butter Sauce:
- 1/2 cup butter melted
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh thyme
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne less if you don’t like it spicy
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
Instructions
- Combine all the sauce ingredients in a medium size bowl and add the uncooked shrimp (leave the tail on). Cover the bowl and marinade for 1 hour in the fridge.
- Remove bowl from fridge and let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
- Use tongs to place marinated shrimp on a plate. Do not discard the sauce!
- Pour sauce into a small sauce pan and bring to a boil for 1 minute, then remove from heat.
- Grill shrimp over high heat about 2 minutes on each side or until cooked through. Remove from grill and place in a serving bowl. Pour the butter sauce over the top. Remove tails as you eat.
Notes
- Serve shrimp with some sweet corn on the cob, grilled asparagus, green beans or broccoli.
- Top a bed of rice or angel hair pasta with the spicy shrimp.
- Add a side green salad or plate of your favorite fruit.
- Serve with some crusty sourdough bread, a basket of biscuits or our mom’s homemade rolls.
Loved, loved, loved this recipe! I love shrimp but that spice blend was next level.
Oh man, these look simply delicious! Now I am really wishing the snow would go away so we could pull out the grill! Dang winter.
Amazing, easy shrimp dinner recipe. Hit with the whole family!
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I also cut up a small lemon in wheel slices and add to the marinade.
WONDERFUL!!!!! So yummy. I think we will make dirty rice next time because we didn’t care for the sauce on the rice. But so good!!!!