Creamy Cajun Shrimp Rice Bowl (Printable)

Tender shrimp in spicy Cajun cream sauce served over fragrant jasmine rice. A satisfying, flavorful meal ready in 40 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Shrimp

01 - 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
02 - 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
03 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

→ Rice

04 - 1 cup jasmine rice
05 - 2 cups water
06 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Cajun Cream Sauce

07 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
08 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
09 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
10 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
11 - 1 cup heavy cream
12 - 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
13 - 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
14 - 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
15 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
16 - 1/4 teaspoon salt, adjusted to taste
17 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
18 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped, plus extra for garnish
19 - Juice of 1/2 lemon

# Cooking Steps:

01 - Rinse jasmine rice under cold water until water runs clear. In a medium saucepan, combine rice, water, and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until tender and water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
02 - While rice cooks, toss shrimp with Cajun seasoning in a bowl until evenly coated.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add seasoned shrimp in a single layer and cook for 1 to 2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Transfer shrimp to a plate and set aside.
04 - In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium and melt butter. Add chopped onion and diced bell pepper, sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
05 - Pour in heavy cream and chicken broth. Add Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt. Bring to a gentle simmer, stirring often for 3 to 4 minutes until slightly thickened.
06 - Stir in Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley. Add lemon juice. Return cooked shrimp to the skillet and toss to coat thoroughly in sauce. Simmer for 2 minutes to combine flavors.
07 - Divide cooked jasmine rice among serving bowls. Spoon creamy Cajun shrimp and sauce over rice. Garnish with additional fresh parsley if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes like restaurant quality but comes together in less than 45 minutes on a weeknight.
  • The creamy sauce clings to every grain of rice and coats the shrimp like a warm, spicy hug.
  • You can dial the heat up or down depending on your mood or your dinner guests.
  • It uses one skillet for the sauce and shrimp, which means less cleanup and more time to enjoy your meal.
02 -
  • Pat the shrimp completely dry before seasoning, or they will steam instead of sear and you will lose that beautiful golden crust.
  • Do not walk away from the garlic, it burns in seconds and will turn the whole sauce bitter.
  • Let the sauce simmer gently, not boil, or the cream can break and turn grainy instead of silky.
  • Taste the sauce before adding the shrimp back in, and adjust the salt and spice so it is exactly how you want it.
03 -
  • Use fresh shrimp if you can find it, but frozen works beautifully as long as you thaw it in the fridge overnight and drain off all the excess water.
  • If your sauce is too thick, whisk in a little more broth or a splash of pasta water until it is pourable and silky.
  • For the best flavor, let the shrimp marinate in the Cajun seasoning for 10 to 15 minutes before cooking.
  • Always taste your Cajun seasoning before using it, some brands are much saltier or spicier than others and you may need to adjust.
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