Description
Easy Cajun Seafood Pasta is a quick and flavorful dish combining shrimp, scallops, and crab with bold Cajun spices in a creamy sauce. Ready in under 30 minutes, it offers a perfect balance of spicy warmth, rich creaminess, and fresh herbs to create an irresistible and comforting seafood pasta experience.
Ingredients
Scale
Seafood Medley
- 8 oz shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 8 oz scallops
- 6 oz crab meat
Cajun Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Sauce and Base
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Pasta
- 8 oz fettuccine or linguine
Finishing Touches
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Juice of 1 lemon
Instructions
- Prep the Seafood: Rinse and pat dry the shrimp, scallops, and crab meat. Lightly season them with salt and a little Cajun seasoning to infuse early flavor before cooking.
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the fettuccine or linguine according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving one cup of pasta water.
- Sauté Garlic and Onions: In a large skillet, heat butter and olive oil over medium heat. Add diced onions and minced garlic. Sauté until fragrant and soft, building a flavorful base.
- Cook the Seafood: Add the seasoned shrimp and scallops to the skillet, cooking 2-3 minutes per side until opaque. Stir in the crab meat at the last minute just to warm through gently.
- Make the Sauce: Pour in chicken broth and heavy cream, stirring to combine. Add the remaining Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper. Let the sauce simmer a few minutes until slightly thickened, stirring occasionally.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet. Toss well to coat all noodles in the creamy, spicy sauce. Use reserved pasta water to adjust sauce consistency if needed.
- Finish with Fresh Herbs and Lemon: Remove from heat. Stir in chopped parsley and squeeze fresh lemon juice over the dish to brighten flavors before serving.
Notes
- Use fresh seafood for best taste and texture.
- Do not overcook seafood; cook until just opaque to keep it tender and juicy.
- Season seafood first, then layer spices again in the sauce for depth of flavor.
- Reserve some pasta water to help sauce cling better and improve texture.
- Adjust the heat level by modifying the amount of cayenne and Cajun seasoning.
- Heavy cream creates the rich, velvety texture balancing the spices perfectly.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 190 mg