Cajun Shrimp and Rice made in one pan on your table in just over 30 minutes!
Thisย Cajun Shrimp and Riceย is a symphony of flavors and textures all cooked in ONE POT for the ultimate easy weeknight dinner! It can be on your table in 30 minutes with whatever veggies you have on hand and perfectly al dente rice (thanks to my tricks!). Best of all, this recipe features homemade Cajun seasoning for optimal, not too salty, zippy, smoky, customizable Cajun heat.
PIN THIS RECIPEย TO SAVE FOR LATER


Why youโll this comforting
One Pot Cajun Shrimp
This Cajun Shrimp and Rice not only hits all the comforting, satisfying, dizzyingly delicious notes but leaves you with only one pan to clean!ย Hereโs more reasons to love this recipe:

WHAT IS CAJUN Shrimp?
Cajun seasoning is one of my go-to favorite spices for jazzing up everything from chicken to seafood, steak, pork, veggies,ย deviled eggs, soups and dips.ย Itโs one of those spices that adds a blast of zesty, spicy, savory flavors and that instant โYUMโ factor.
So, what is this magical Cajun seasoning? Cajun seasoning is a robust blend of herbs and spices that originated from Louisiana, the home of delicious Cajun cuisine.ย There are many variations of Cajun seasoning but in general, itโs a smoky, spicy, earthy, spicy blend comprised of smoked paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, pepper and oregano.ย Iโve also included salt and thyme in my blend, so it seasons the shrimp independently and perfectly.ย
Cajun Shrimp is shrimp coated in Cajun seasoning then seared on the stove. The seasonings char, deepening in flavor and mingle with the butter to create an irresistible dark, smoky, spicy crust giving way to juicy shrimp.


Cajun Shrimp and Rice Ingredients
This Cajun Shrimp recipe is seasoned with DIY Cajun seasoning made with easy-to-find, pantry friendly seasonings.ย Youโll whisk the spice blend together and use some it on the shrimp and the rest of it with the rice.ย If you donโt already own all of the Cajun seasonings, I highly suggest you add them to your pantry โ they are staples you will useย allย the time! ย Hereโs what youโll need for this recipe:
What is Cajun seasoning made of?


What shrimp should I buy?
The star of this recipe is the shrimp, so make sure to choose the best.ย Hereโs what to look for:
โขPurchase raw, deveined shrimp.ย Look for shrimp that is raw (not precooked), peeled and deveined.ย Buying prepared shrimp saves you TONS of time and makes your job a snap because all you have to do is thaw the shrimp.ย
โขPurchase wild-caught shrimp.ย ย ย Look for wild caught shrimp verses farm-raised for the best flavor and texture.
โขUse large shrimp, 21-25 count (which means there are 21-25 shrimp in a pound).ย Large shrimp stay super juicy and boast a more appealing texture.ย They also allow you to cook them a little longer to achieve the coveted crust without overcooking. You can still make this recipe with larger (jumbo) shrimp or medium shrimp if thatโs all you have on hand.
โขFrozen shrimp is awesome!ย Frozen shrimp is frozen shortly after itโs caught which means itโs frozen at peak freshness.ย So, unless you live coastal (and even then), it is even more fresh than the seafood counter by the time itโs purchased and you actually use it.ย Frozen shrimp is also more economical than fresh which means you can keep it stocked and read to use any time

HOW TO THAW FROZEN SHRIMP
There are two options for thawing your frozen shrimp:
โขEasy Thaw Method:ย the most hands-off method is to transfer your bag of shrimp to the refrigerator and let it thaw overnight.
โขQuick Thaw Method:ย is super convenient, and honestly what I use the most. To quickly thaw your shrimp, transfer the shrimp to a freezer size bag and tightly seal. Add the bag to a large bowl and submerge with cold tap water; place a heavy bowl (you can fill it with cans) over the shrimp so it doesnโt float and stays completely submerged. Let the shrimp sit for 10-20 minutes.ย ย After 10 minutes, replace the water with new cold tap water and submerge the shrimp again. ย Let shrimp sit an additional 10- 20 minutes.ย If the shrimp isnโt completely thawed, repeat.ย


WHAT RICE IS BEST?
For this Cajun Shrimp and Rice, you will want to use long-grained basmati rice.ย The type of rice is important because it affects the texture and consistency and ratio of ingredients. Other types of rice can have too much starch and are destined to become mushy.
ย
Basmati, on the other hand, not only boasts a light nutty flavor but basmati grains are longer than traditional white rice and cook up lighter and fluffier.ย The individual grains remain distinct when cooked instead of sticking together which means no more clumpy or mushy rice! ย I also prefer basmati rice because it reheats beautiful thanks to the distinctive grains.ย
Now that we have the shrimp and rice squared away, letโs talk everything else.ย The Cajun Shrimp recipe ingredients may look a bit lengthy, but remember, the spices are just whisked together and most of the ingredients are either dumped into the pot and sautรฉed a couple minutes or dumped in and left to simmer. ย Hereโs everything youโll need:
โขSausage:ย I prefer andouille sausage for that authentic Cajun flavor.ย The sausage is juicy and spicy and definitely a highlight in the dish, so I donโt recommend skipping!
โขAromatics:ย ย onions and garlic are the building blocks of flavor.ย Feel free to use more garlic depending on your garlic love.
โขOlive oil:ย use extra virgin olive oil for the best flavor.
โขFire roasted diced tomatoes:ย are tomatoes that have been roasted which gives them a complex sweet smokiness and are far less acidic than traditional tomatoes.ย Fire roasted tomatoesย are located next to the traditional diced tomatoes โ just make sure you purchase the ones without any added seasonings. You can use plain diced tomatoes if you canโt locate fire roasted.
โขTomato paste:ย adds rich, concentrated tomato flavor. I store unused tomato paste by the tablespoon wrapped in parchment paper sealed in a plastic bag in the freezer for easy use.
โขChicken broth:ย is more flavorful than just water. Make sure you use low sodium broth so your dish isnโt too salty.
โขCelery and bell pepper:ย one chopped red bell pepper adds sweetness that really make the dish pop and celery adds an earthy freshness. ย
โขLemon juice:ย the kick of acidity brightens the whole dish.ย Fresh or bottled both work here.

How to make Cajun Rice and Shrimp
Letโs take a closer look at how to make this recipe with step-by-step photos (full recipe in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post):
- Step 1: Season shrimp.ย Mix Cajun seasonings together and add part of the blend to the raw shrimp; reserve the rest.ย

- Step 2: Cook sausage and shrimp.ย Add sausage and brown on each side, about 5 minutes.ย Remove sausage to a plate using a slotted spoon.ย Add the shrimp to the drippings and cook until opaque on each side.

- Step 3:ย Sautรฉ rice and veggies.ย Sautรฉ rice, onions and all remaining Cajun seasoning for 3 minutes, then add the bell pepper and celery and sautรฉ 3 additional minutes.ย Add garlic and sautรฉ 30 seconds.ย Sautรฉing the rice with the veggies develops a protective outer shell that helps the grains keep some of its texture after they are cooked.

- Step 4:ย Cook.ย Add the diced tomatoes and sausage. Bring the pot to a simmer, cover, and reduce heat to LOW. Simmer for 6-10 minutes, until the rice is tender.

- Step 5:ย Combine. ย Stir in the shrimp, cover, and remove from heat.ย Let the pot rest undisturbed for 10 minutes.ย Drizzle in lemon juice and fluff with a fork. Dig in!


How to know when my Shrimp is done cooking:
โขColor:ย ย raw shrimp starts offย translucent gray and as it cooks, it turns pink and opaque withย some pink and bright red accents.ย You will want to remove the shrimp from the skillet as soon as it is fully opaque without any gray left.ย Look at the crevice in the back of the shrimp where the vein was removed.ย When the base of this crevice becomes opaque, the shrimp is done.
โขShape:ย you can also check the shape of your shrimp but this is not as good of an indicator as color.ย As shrimp cook, their muscles contract which cause them to curl.ย As soon as the shrimp begin to curl, they are usually done cooking.ย Some claim that perfectly cooked shrimp have โCโ shape while over cooked shrimp have an โOโ shape.ย I think youโll find that almost all shrimp, maybe with the exception of jumbo shrimp, still have an โOโ shape without being overcooked.

Prepping this Shrimp and Rice Recipe in advance
This Cajun Shrimp and Rice can be pepped ahead for an even quicker dinner! ย Hereโs how:ย
โขMake Cajun seasoning:ย whisk all of the Cajun seasonings together and store in an airtight container.
โขPrep shrimp:ย ย if you are using frozen shrimp, thaw it the night before.ย Peel and devein the shrimp if needed.
โขSeason shrimp: season shrimp and store in in a single layer in the refrigerator.ย Bring to room temperature before cooking.
โขChop vegetables and aromatics:ย chop the onions, celery, bell peppers and mince the garlic. Store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
โขRinse rice:ย thoroughly rinse rice until clear, drain and store.

Tips for making Cajun Shrimp and Rice

Cajun shrimp VARIATIONS:
This Cajun Shrimp recipe is delicious as written or feel free to customize it with different protein, veggies, etc.ย Here are a few ideas:
- Spice it up: as written with ยผ teaspoon cayenne pepper, the recipe is mild-medium spicy but still boasts tons of flavor.ย If youโre looking for more of a kick, increase the cayenne pepper to ยฝ teaspoon cayenne. You can also sprinkle individual servings with cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes so everyone can customize the heat. ย ย ย
- Skip the sausage:ย the andouille sausage is a spicy, flavor explosion.ย If you skip it, you will likely want to increase the cayenne pepper or else the Cajun Shrimp and Rice will taste pretty tame.
- Add veggies:ย add additional chopped vegetables such as asparagus, broccoli, zucchini, green beans, peas etc.
- Swap protein.ย ย I know this is Cajun SHRIMP, but the recipe will also work with chicken as well.ย Make sure to not chop the chicken too small, about 1-inch cubes and sear it, donโt cook it all the way through before simmering because it will finish cooking with the rice. You can also use ground beef, ground turkey, etc.
- Add cheese:ย stir mozzarella, Gouda, cheddar etc. into the shrimp and rice or add a layer on top to melt.
Cajun Shrimp Recipe storage

HOW LONG IS Cajun SHRIMP GOOD FOR?
Cajun Shrimp should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.ย When properly stored, it is good for up to three days.
Can Shrimp and Rice be frozen?
This Cajun Shrimp and Rice is best served fresh, but it can be frozen. To freeze:
โขLet the shrimp and rice cool completely.
โขTransfer to a freezer-safe container.
โขLabel and freeze for up to 3 months.
โขAllow to thaw completely in the refrigerator overnight.
โขReheat per instructions.

How to reheat Shrimp and Rice:
This Cajun Shrimp recipe reheats well so you can enjoy leftovers for days!ย Take care to not overcook the shrimp, especially if you are going to be reheating.
โขMicrowave:ย microwave for one minute, stir, then continue to heat at 30 second intervals until warmed through. Donโt overcook or the shrimp will become rubbery.
โขStove:ย reheat gently on the stove over medium-low heat just until warmed through.ย

What to serve with Cajun Shrimp and Rice
We love this Cajun Shrimp recipe with a big salad andย cornbread.ย It is also delicious with:
Cajun Rice and Shrimp FAQs
I like to purchase shrimp that is already peeled and deveined so all the work is done for me!ย ย If you purchase shrimp that is not deveined, it will still have the dark, sandy intestinal tract running along the back of the shrimp just beneath the surface.ย Sometimes it will be very dark and sometimes it will be harder to spot depending on when the shrimp ate last.
While eating the shrimp with the veins wonโt harm you, it can add grittiness and distract from the clean shrimp taste so I highly recommended removing it.ย To devein shrimp:
1. Locate the vein in the shrimp running along its back.
2. Make a shallow cut and use the tip of the knife to lift it out.
3. The veins and shells can then be thrown away.
4. Rinse the shrimp pat with paper towels to dry.
You may notice a second dark tract running along the shrimpโs belly even if you have purchased โdeveinedโ shrimp. This tract is NOT another digestive tract but the nerve cord and does not need to be removed.
Yes, this Cajun Shrimp recipe gluten free!ย No substitutions needed.

Looking for more Shrimp recipes?
Shrimp recipesย are one of my favorite dinners to make because theyโre so quick and easy.ย Some of my favorite shrimp pasta dinners include:
Cajun Shrimp Pasta
Lemon Garlic Butter Shrimp Fettuccine
Sun-Driedย Tomato Basil Shrimp Pasta
Roasted Shrimp and Broccoli Alfredo
Shrimp Scampiย
One Pot Lemon Garlic Cream Ravioli with Shrimpย
and of course this new Cajun Shrimp recipe!
ย

Cajun recipes are always a favorite at our house, exploding with flavor in every bite! Donโt miss these other Cajun winners: Cajun Chicken in Bell Pepper Sauce, Blackened Chicken Alfredo, Cajun Salmon with Mango Salsa,ย Cajun Chicken Alfredo Bake,ย Cajun Steak with Apricot Glaze,ย Cajun Pork with Pineapple Glazeย andย Cajun Shrimp Pasta.
WANT TO TRY THIS cajun shrimp RECIPE?
PIN ITย TO YOUR dinner, shrimp or one pot BOARD TO SAVE FOR LATER!
FIND ME ON PINTERESTย FOR MORE GREAT RECIPES!ย I AM ALWAYS PINNING :)!
ยฉCarlsbad Cravingsย by CarlsbadCravings.com
Tools Used in This Recipe
See Favorite Tools
One Pot Shrimp and Rice
Save This Recipe To Your Recipe Box
You can now create an account on our site and save your favorite recipes all in one place!
Ingredients
Shrimp and Rice
- 1 pound raw large shrimp, shelled, deveined, patted dry
- 12 ounces Cajun/andouille sausage sliced ยฝ-inch thick (pork or chicken)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 1/2 cups long grain basmati rice, thoroughly rinsed and drained
- 1/2 onion, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 2 stalks celery, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 3/4 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1 15 oz. can fire roasted diced tomatoes, not drained
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Green onions or parsley for garnish (optional)
Cajun Spice Mix
- 1 1/2 tsp EACH smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder
- 1/2 tsp EACH dried oregano, dried thyme, pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- ยผ-1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Mix Cajun seasonings together. Add 1 ยฝ tablespoons to the raw shrimp in a bowl and stir to coat; set aside.
- Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a 3.5 qt (or larger) braiser or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add sausage and brown on each side, about 5 minutes. Remove sausage to a plate using a slotted spoon; set aside.
- Add 1 tablespoon oil to the drippings in the skillet and heat over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp in an even layer and cook just until opaque, about 2-3 minutes per side. Remove shrimp to a plate using tongs. You can chop the tails off of the shrimp once cool enough to handle if desired.
- Heat 1 tablespoon oil in the now empty skillet over medium-high heat. Add rice, onions and all remaining Cajun seasoning and sautรฉ for 3 minutes. Add the bell pepper and celery and sautรฉ 3 additional minutes (onions should be softened). Add garlic and sautรฉ 30 seconds.
- Stir in the chicken broth, diced tomatoes, tomato paste and the cooked sausage.
- Bring the pot to a simmer, uncovered โ the bubbles should reach to the center of the skillet (this can take up to 5 minutes, so be patient). Give everything a stir, cover, and reduce heat to LOW. Simmer for 5-10 minutes, checking and stirring at 5 minutes and replacing the lid. The rice is done when most of the liquid is evaporated and the rice is tender but slightly al dente. Add additional water or broth if the liquid has evaporated and the rice is not cooked yet.
- Once the rice is al dente, stir in the shrimp, cover, and remove from heat. Let the pot rest undisturbed for 10 minutes.
- Drizzle in lemon juice and fluff with a fork. Taste and season with additional salt or cayenne pepper to taste (I like more of both).
Notes
cooking Tips
- Cayenne pepper:ย ยผ teaspoon is mild-medium and definitely mild if you omit the sausage.ย
- Sausage:ย the sausage is juicy and spicy and definitely a highlight in the dish, so I donโt recommend skipping!ย If you skip it, you will likely want to increase the cayenne pepper or else the dish will taste pretty tame.ย Also be prepared to add salt to taste.ย
- Use the correct rice: set yourself up for success and use long grain basmati rice. The type of rice is important because it affects the texture and consistency and ratio of ingredients. Other types of rice can have too much starch and are destined to become mushy.ย
- If the liquid evaporates before rice is done: ย add just a little water, keeping in mind that the rice will continue to steam for 10 minutes once itโs removed from heat, so it doesnโt need to be 100% cooked once the liquid is gone.
- If the rice is still wet once itโs done: donโt worry, it will continue to absorb the liquid the last 10 minutes while steaming. When you remove the lid after 10 minutes, you can let the rice sit an additional 5-10 minutes to dry out.
How to Store and Reheat
- To store: store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
- To freeze: let the shrimp and rice cool completely. Transfer to a freezer safe container, label and freeze for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw completely in the refrigerator overnight.
- Microwave:ย microwave for one minute, stir, then continue to heat at 30 second intervals until warmed through. Donโt overcook or the shrimp will become rubbery.
- Stove:ย reheat gently on the stove over medium-low heat just until warmed through.ย
Did You Make This Recipe?
Tag @CarlsbadCravings and Use #CarlsbadCravngs
Leave a Review, I Always Love Hearing From You!

























Susan Jackson says
When do you add the cooked sausage? With the shrimp?
Jen says
Thanks for pointing that out! I had it in the step by step photos but missed it in the recipe card. You add it with the chicken broth and diced tomatoes in step 5. Just corrected, enjoy!
lucien auger says
I didnโt see where you add n the sausage. I assume it is along with the shrimp at the end of cooking.
Jen says
Thanks for pointing that out! I had it in the step by step photos but missed it in the recipe card. You add it with the chicken broth and diced tomatoes in step 5. Just corrected, enjoy!
Jason says
Hi Jen,
Could you please clarify Step 6? Did you mean removing the lid instead of โreplacing the lidโ?
Jen says
Hi Jason, it means to replace the lid after stirring, so you continue to simmer with the lid on, stir, then replace the lid. Hope this helps!
Janet Bradley says
Love love love the sound of this recipe, J=Have one question, can I replace to diced tomatoes with tomato sauce?
THank yiu, Janet
Jen says
Hi Janet, you can replace the fire roasted diced tomatoes with regular diced tomatoes but not tomato sauce because it has a lot more liquid. Good luck!
KAY UP says
This recipe was so good and not complicated at all. I used one pot, one cutting board and maybe 2 bowls. It does have a zip to it which is fine by me
Jen says
Thanks so much Kay, Iโm so pleased you found it easy and delicious! The less dishes the better!
Hilary says
This is so good! Thank you for sharing it!
Jen says
Iโm so please you loved, it, thanks Hilary!
Sandra Stewart says
Jan, this is my first time leaving a remark about your recipes I have tried many and enjoyed all of them. Your Cajun Rice And Shrimp is to die for very flavorful.
Thanks for all the great recipes I have tried, keep them coming.
Sandra in Louisiana
Jen says
Hello Sandra in Louisiana! Thank you so much for your kind words! I am thrilled that you loved this dishโs flavors and that youโve enjoyed exploring my other recipes! I will definitely keep them coming!