Cajun Shrimp and Rice Skillet
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Cajun Shrimp and Rice Skillet is a one-pot wonder full of flavorful shrimp and rice with a Cajun seasoning that the entire family will enjoy!
If you are looking for more scrumptious, simple shrimp recipes, then you should also try this Easy Lemon Garlic Butter Shrimp, these Shrimp, Sausage, and Veggie Foil Packs, or this Baked Crispy Honey Lime Shrimp.
Isn’t it so much fun to watch the changing of the seasons? I think this has to be one of my most favorite times of the year. (Well, fall is great too, feeling that first crisp breeze and pulling out all the soup recipes is just delightful, right?)
Seeing all that green pop up everywhere and watching all the buds on the trees grow and the flowers bloom…it just feels like a renewal in so many ways…I even start to change the way I think about recipes and the meals I plan for the week.
Take this Cajun Shrimp and Rice Skillet for example. This isn’t something I generally would make in the winter. Not that you couldn’t — but I guess when I think of shrimp, I think of times spent at the beach growing up, eating fresh seafood at the local restaurants. My whole family loved seafood and we ate it for as many meals as possible.
Seafood is so versatile. As much as I love tuna, salmon, and seafood combos, I’m sure you’ve come to realize, I *might* just like shrimp the most. (But if you want some other great seafood recipes you can try my Sheet Pan Lemon Herb Tuna Steaks and Potatoes, Dill Cream Sauce for Salmon, and/or Sheet Pan Clambake.) I’m happy to eat shrimp in just about any form, from savory to sweet, in tacos and on the grill, on salads, and in one-pan meals like this one. I even love it on pasta like this Creamy Garlic Shrimp Pasta, so good! Since I love shrimp, but also love the ease of one meal completely cooked in a skillet, this recipe just did it for me. And as my empty pan can attest — it seemed to have satisfied every member of the family as well.
HOW DO YOU MAKE CAJUN SHRIMP AND RICE?
Although this might contain just a few more ingredients than my 5-ingredient recipes (like my Sweet Paprika Chicken), don’t let that scare you off. This Cajun shrimp comes together in just 30 quick minutes and leaves plenty of room for a little kitchen dancing here and there with your significant other or little ones. (I’m not the only one that dances while she cooks, right?)
First, I whisked together all the spices for the Cajun seasoning in a bowl, then set that aside. Next, I melted the butter in a skillet (you can use a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven as well, or whatever you have on hand), then added the garlic, half the spice mixture, and the rice to the butter. I like to stir that all around a bit and make sure the rice gets good and coated with the spices and butter before adding in the chicken broth.
After adding the broth to the rice and spices, I let that come to a boil and then reduce it to a simmer and cook, as I would if I were making any old, plain rice. While the rice is doing its thing, I start the shrimp by adding to it the rest of the melted butter and Cajun spices. I shake this all together in a baggie or stir it up in a bowl. The last step is to add the shrimp to the rice at the 15-minute point, and cover the whole dish and let the shrimp steam with the rice.
Once the shrimp is nice and pink and opaque, it’s all good to go! I spoon it into serving dishes and sprinkle with a little chopped parsley, and dive in!
WHAT IS CAJUN SEASONING MADE OF?
“Cajun” is a word used to describe the Acadians, who were the French colonists who first settled in a region of Canada known as Acadia. Eventually, the Acadians were moved out of Canada by the British in the early 1700s and they migrated waaay down south to Louisiana. Because they didn’t have refrigerators, Cajuns learned to use every part of their animals for food and also used smoking and splicing techniques for preserving their foods. Cajun food is basically interpreted to mean “heavily seasoned” — which doesn’t always mean spicy, but often is anyway because of the heavy use of cayenne pepper in a lot of recipes.
To make your own Cajun spices, combine paprika, salt, garlic powder, cracked black pepper, onion powder, dried oregano (or other Italian herbs), cayenne, and crushed red pepper flakes in the measurement increments listed in the recipe. Double or triple the amount to fill a whole spice jar. Happy seasoning!
Cajun Shrimp and Rice Skillet
Ingredients
- 1 ⅓ cups uncooked long grain white rice
- 2 ⅔ cup chicken broth
- 1 pound large or jumbo shrimp, peeled and de-veined
- 4 tablespoons butter, melted, divided
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- cajun seasoning , see below
cajun seasoning
- 1 ½ teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon cracked black pepper
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano, may sub an Italian herb blend or Herbs de Provence
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Whisk together all of the ingredients for the cajun seasoning. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in garlic, half of the cajun seasoning, and the rice.
- Stir in chicken broth, bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cover. Cook for 15 minutes, stirring 1-2 times throughout.
- While rice is cooking, prepare the shrimp by stirring together remaining 2 tablespoons melted butter and remaining cajun seasoning. Pour over shrimp and toss to coat.
- Stir shrimp into the rice, cover and cook 3-5 minutes longer until shrimp is pink and opaque. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I think we can all agree that Michael is a dick. this is divine. I went to school in new Orleans and, though I don’t remember this dish, the flavoring is definitely cajun. yum!
This comment made my day! 😉 Thrilled to hear you enjoyed this recipe so much!
It Was very bland the taste was alright but No color
YUM! Making this recipe for the second time Tonight. I’m suBbing quinoa for the ricE, which im Cooking separately With 2 TBs of butter, chicken stock, and half of the cajun seasoning. Currently SAUTÉING a diced Onion and pepper in a skillet with 1 tSp of cajun seasoning and i may or may not have deglazed the pan with my wine. Hoping it turns out delish!
It definitely sounds delicious!!
My husband and I can’t get enough of this recipe. Seriously delicious! Thank you so much!
In step one we added onions and green bell pepper and then sliced white mushrooms in the last step. Turned out great!
Sounds fantastic!! I might have to try that next time I make this recipe.
How would i make chicken broth
Hi Bella! There are a few ways to make chicken broth if you don’t have it on hand. A quick google search pulls up some good recipes!
Wow Michael Is kind of a dick. I just made your skillet chicken and rice. excited to try this one next.
This recipe made me want to do a cartwheel! And at 280 pounds, that is saying something!
That is too funny! 😉 I’m happy to hear that you enjoyed this recipe so much!
Just made this for lunch for myself and my hUsband. I always know when he likes something i made. He will Go back for seconds! He went back for thirds! It’s a keeper! I doubled the cayenne and red pepper Flakes and made some steamed broccoli on the sIde.
Sounds delicious! I love a little extra heat in this dish!
Lots of time to try new things – made this yesterday and it was a hit! It makes the regular rotation.
Way to go trying new recipes, Kim! I’m glad you enjoyed this recipe!
My husband and i enjoyed this dish. It wAs extremely delicIous i made it a bit spicy,just the way we lIke it.
Thanks, Louisa!
THis was so delicious made it with ny roommate, i squeezed some lemon over all of it and it was beautiful!
I love adding lemon when I can!! yummm!