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Home » Recipes » Dinner

Cajun Shrimp Alfredo

By Erin · June 4, 2022 · 3 Comments

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shrimp pasta in a bowl with text overlay

Cajun Shrimp Alfredo is a foolproof recipe that you can have on the table in minutes. Each bite showcases andouille sausage, Cajun blackened shrimp, and pasta tossed in a healthy homemade Alfredo sauce. Yum!

skillet with fettuccine, shrimp and chicken sausage

If there’s one perfect creamy comfort food out there, it has to be fettuccine Alfredo. Tossing long pasta noodles in a creamy and well-seasoned sauce is everything you want in a cozy and easy weeknight meal… until now.

This Cajun Shrimp Alfredo is a step above the classic fettuccine alfredo recipe. It swaps the heavy cream-based sauce for my healthy alfredo sauce and packs in the flavor with Cajun-spiced shrimp and juicy andouille sausage in every bite. It’s like comfort food for spice lovers.

This may sound like a lot to put together, but the entire meal is ready to eat in less than 45 minutes. It’s the ultimate quick and comforting weeknight dinner the whole family will love!

Recipe features

  • It’s a step above your other quick and easy weeknight meals.
  • The minimal ingredients result in maximum flavor.
  • You can enjoy Cajun alfredo pasta as-is or add in more veggies, meat, or flavor-boosters.
close up photo of pasta, cajun shrimp and chicken sausage

Ingredient notes:

  • Pasta - I used fettuccine noodles but feel free to swap them for linguine, tagliatelle, pappardelle, or gluten free pasta.
  • Andouille chicken sausage - Andouille sausage is made from chopped meat rather than ground and has a distinct smoky flavor. Chicken or pork andouille sausage is a classic choice in Cajun cuisine, especially sausage gumbo.
  • Shrimp - Use large or extra-large fresh or frozen shrimp (peeled and deveined). You can leave the tail on or off - it’s up to you! Just be sure to let frozen shrimp thaw in the fridge before cooking.
  • Cajun seasoning - This bold blend of rustic spices captures the smoky and spicy flavors that are true to the south. If you don’t have Cajun seasoning at home, you can use creole or blackened seasoning instead.
  • Alfredo sauce - This creamy and comforting dish is made with my healthy alfredo sauce. It only takes 5 minutes to put together and tastes so much better than store-bought! 

Step-by-step instructions

Step 1: Cook the pasta. Cook your pasta according to the package directions. Reserve some of the pasta water, then drain the rest.

Step 2: Marinate the shrimp. Place the shrimp in a mesh strainer over a bowl. Sprinkle the Cajun seasoning over top and leave them to marinate for 10 minutes.

shrimp marinating in a strainer on the left and shrimp cooked in a skillet on the right

Step 3: Cook the andouille sausage. Sauté the sliced andouille sausage in an oiled skillet until golden brown. Transfer it to a bowl.

Step 4: Cook the shrimp and garlic. Add the marinated shrimp to the same skillet and cook. Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant. Transfer the cooked shrimp and garlic to the bowl with the sausage. 

Step 5: Combine the pasta and sauce. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and stir in the healthy alfredo sauce. Pour in some of the reserved pasta water if the sauce is too thick. 

skillet with fettuccine alfredo

Step 6: Toss together, then serve. Stir the shrimp and chicken sausage in with the alfredo pasta and gently toss everything together. Scoop into bowls, garnish with fresh parsley, and enjoy!

Tips and FAQs

  • Be very gentle when tossing the shrimp and sausage with the alfredo pasta. This will keep the crisp coating of spices intact on the shrimp.
  • Intensify the heat and Cajun flavors with extra cayenne or Louisiana hot sauce.
  • I recommend marinating the shrimp for at least 10 minutes, but you can season and marinate them in the fridge overnight.
  • If you don’t want to pan-fry the shrimp, I recommend making my just-as-crispy air fryer shrimp instead.

How can I make my own Cajun seasoning?

Making your own Cajun seasoning at home is easy! All you need are common spices, like paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, pepper, and oregano.

What else can you add to this?

Cajun shrimp and sausage pasta is truly perfect just the way it is, but you can easily make a few adjustments to fit your taste buds:

  • Add veggies - Like sliced bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, spinach, and peas.
  • Switch up the sausage - In a pinch, you can use kielbasa, German bratwurst, or chorizo links instead of andouille.
  • Load up on seafood - Make Cajun seafood pasta with extra blackened shrimp and add-ins like Cajun salmon, crab meat, scallops, or squid. 
  • Instead of shrimp - Feel free to make this with blackened chicken or steak. 

What goes with shrimp alfredo pasta?

This dish is super filling, so you won’t need too many side dishes. If you’re serving a crowd, make the meal complete with crusty Italian bread, soft breadsticks, mixed greens, or a caesar salad on the side.

Storing

If you plan on storing the leftovers, keep the sauce and noodles separate from the shrimp. The crisped seasoning is more likely to fall off the shrimp if all three are stored together.

Refrigerator: After cooling, store the leftover pasta in an airtight glass container in the fridge and enjoy within 3 days.

a bowl of alfredo pasta with shrimp and sausage

More creamy pasta dinners

  • Italian Chicken Sausage Pasta
  • Skinny Shrimp Alfredo Bake
  • Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta

If you made this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and star rating below. Thanks!

skillet with fettuccine, shrimp and chicken sausage

Cajun Shrimp Alfredo

Cajun Shrimp Alfredo is a foolproof recipe that you can have on the table in minutes. Each bite showcases andouille sausage, Cajun blackened shrimp, and pasta tossed in a healthy homemade alfredo sauce. Yum!
5 from 3 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Author: Erin

Ingredients

  • 8 oz. fettuccine or pasta of choice
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ⅓ cup salted pasta water reserved
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 chicken sausage links andouille; or regular andouille sausage
  • 1 lb. large raw shrimp thawed; peeled with tails off
  • 2 tablespoon cajun seasoning
  • 1 garlic clove minced
  • 1 cup healthy alfredo sauce or use store-bought
  • 2 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped

Instructions

  • If you haven't already, make the healthy alfredo sauce -- it only takes 5 minutes!
  • Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling water with 1 teaspoon salt; drain, but reserve ⅓ cup of the salted pasta water.
  • Next, season the shrimp with cajun seasoning and allow it to marinate at room temperature for 10 minutes. I like to add the shrimp to a mesh strainer so any excess moisture is removed (simply place it over a bowl while the shrimp is marinating).
  • Next, cook the chicken sausage: add chicken sausage and oil to a large skillet and cook over medium heat until golden brown; remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.
  • Add the shrimp to the same skillet and cook it for 2 minutes undisturbed, then flip it over and cook for 1-2 more minutes until pink. Add the garlic and sauté for 1 minute, then pour the shrimp and garlic into the same bowl as the chicken sausage and set aside.
  • Add the cooked pasta to the skillet, then pour in the alfredo sauce and stir to combine. If it seems too thick, pour in the reserved pasta water. Add the shrimp and chicken sausage back in the skillet and GENTLY toss (don't over-toss or some of the cajun seasoning may come off).
  • Sprinkle with fresh parsley and enjoy!

Notes

*Calories are per serving and are an estimation
*Though I recommend my healthy alfredo sauce recipe, you can use store-bought if you prefer 
*Storage: store leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days

Nutrition

Calories: 425kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 118mg | Sodium: 866mg | Potassium: 221mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1909IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 2mg
Did you Make this Recipe? Tag me Today!Leave a comment below and tag @thealmondeater on Instagram!
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Air Fryer Shrimp »

About Erin

Erin is the recipe developer, writer and photographer behind the healthy food blog, The Almond Eater. She's been blogging since 2014 and loves to create food for many different diets, including vegan, gluten free and/or Whole30 recipes.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Monique says

    June 05, 2022 at 9:57 pm

    5 stars
    Wow! This was a complete hit here! Thank you SO MUCH Erin for all your amazing recipes! I’ve already shared your recipes with my friends and family and now I need to share this one too! Thanks so much for an easy but brilliant meal! 😋❤️🤗

    Reply
    • Erin says

      June 06, 2022 at 2:39 pm

      This is the sweetest comment!! I'm so glad you like this pasta, and many of my other recipes 🙂 Truly appreciate the support!

      Reply
    • Janet says

      August 23, 2022 at 11:27 pm

      5 stars
      Loved your recipe and can't wait to try more! Always looking for dinner shortcuts that still have a load of flavor. Thank you so much!

      Reply

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