Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Prep all your ingredients. Start boiling the pasta water around the same time you begin cooking the shrimp.
- Combine the shrimp, Cajun seasoning, and olive oil in a bowl. Toss to coat.
- Add kosher salt to a pot of water and bring to a boil. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the penne pasta to the boiling water and cook until al dente. Reserve at least 1/2 cup of the pasta water before draining. Drain the pasta and set aside.
- Add butter to the hot skillet. Add the seasoned shrimp in a single layer and cook until golden brown on each side, turning only once. Cook in batches if necessary. Transfer the cooked shrimp to a plate. Reduce skillet heat to medium.
- Add heavy cream to the skillet and scrape the bottom to release any stuck seasoning. Let the cream bubble around the edges. Reduce heat to low and stir in the parmesan cheese until melted.
- Add the cooked pasta and shrimp to the sauce. Stir to coat. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water one tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is reached. Taste and add salt if needed.
Nutrition
Notes
Adjust the saltiness of the Cajun seasoning based on whether you use store-bought or homemade. You may need to add extra salt to taste. For less spice, reduce cayenne pepper and red pepper flakes. Chicken breast or scallops can be substituted for shrimp. Grating parmesan cheese from a block ensures it melts smoothly.