Description
This Cajun Shrimp Pasta is a creamy, flavorful dish with tender shrimp, colorful vegetables, and a light Cajun-spiced sauce tossed with whole wheat pasta. It’s quick to make and perfect for a comforting yet wholesome meal.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces whole wheat linguine or pasta of choice
- 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 3 teaspoons Cajun seasoning, divided
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder, divided
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, divided, plus more to taste
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, divided
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- 1 medium red bell pepper, thinly sliced and halved
- 1 medium orange or yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced and halved
- 1 medium green bell pepper, thinly sliced and halved
- 8 ounces baby bella mushrooms, sliced
- 1 small bunch green onions, thinly sliced and divided
- 14 ounces fire-roasted diced tomatoes, drained
- 1¼ cups nonfat milk
- 1½ tablespoons cornstarch
- 4 ounces light cream cheese, softened
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a bowl, toss shrimp with 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ⅛ teaspoon pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook shrimp for 3–5 minutes until pink. Transfer to a plate.
- Reduce heat to medium. Melt 1 tablespoon butter and add bell peppers. Cook 3 minutes.
- Add mushrooms, 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning, remaining ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon salt, and ⅛ teaspoon pepper. Sauté until tender.
- Stir in tomatoes and cook until most liquid evaporates. Add two-thirds of green onions and transfer veggies to the plate with shrimp.
- In a measuring cup, whisk milk and cornstarch until smooth. Melt remaining butter in skillet and pour in milk mixture.
- Add cream cheese in small pieces, whisking constantly until smooth and slightly thickened. Stir in remaining 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning.
- Return shrimp and vegetables to the skillet along with the cooked pasta. Toss to coat everything evenly in the sauce.
- Adjust seasoning if needed and sprinkle with remaining green onions before serving.
Notes
- Add fresh spinach at the end for extra greens.
- Swap pasta with zucchini noodles for a low-carb option.
- Use regular or gluten-free pasta based on preference.
- Reheat with a splash of milk to loosen the sauce.
- Adjust Cajun seasoning to control spice level.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (1/5 of recipe)
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 145mg
