Skinny cajun shrimp alfredo pasta for #30MinuteThursday can be on the table in 20 minutes and everyone will love it! Alfredo pasta, but healthier!
I needed to give you a great recipe to use that homemade cajun seasoning in. Obviously. You knew this was coming next.
Skinny cajun shrimp alfredo pasta. This one will be made often around here I think. So tasty, so easy, and so fast. Plus, it was super easy to make some plain shrimp and pasta (so boring right?) for the kids that don’t really like sauce or spice. Usually I just make them eat whatever we’re having because I’m really not one for making multiple meals every night.
But, every once in a while, when it’s easy to modify stuff so I know they’ll like it, I do. Leaving some of the pasta and shrimp plain is no extra effort and everyone is happy.
For the rest of us though, who enjoy some flavour in our food, cajun shrimp alfredo pasta is a fantastic meal. It’s easy to make and is ready in 20 minutes. I even checked the nutritional information on the sauce compared to a regular alfredo sauce (I was curious how skinny it was) and it’s half the calories of regular alfredo sauce, and we enjoyed it just as much, so there’s that. If you’ve got an alfredo pasta craving, this will do the trick but will be much healthier. And you should definitely top it with some cajun shrimp – obviously.
Also – it’s the first Thursday of the month! That means it’s 30 Minute Thursday and there’s a whole list of great 30 minute meals at the bottom of this post, below the recipe.
If you’re new around here, 30 Minute Thursday is where myself and a group of my blogging friends get together to bring our readers some 30 minute meals to get you through those busy nights when you don’t have much time to cook. If you’d like to check out past 30 Minute Thursday posts, you can click here to get to those for more 30 minute meal inspiration!
Tips for perfect skinny cajun shrimp alfredo pasta:
- if you don’t feel like mixing up your own cajun seasoning, you can buy it pre-mixed (I like this cajun seasoning)
- I like to use a non-stick skillet for cooking the cajun shrimp so that I don’t have to use a lot of oil – if you don’t have a non-stick skillet you may need a little more olive oil to prevent them from sticking
- more tasty 30 minute pasta recipes: Mexican One Pan Pasta, Lemon Shrimp One Pot Pasta, and One Pot Sausage and Asparagus Pesto Pasta
Skinny Cajun Shrimp Alfredo Pasta
Skinny cajun shrimp alfredo pasta can be on the table in 20 minutes and everyone will love it! Alfredo pasta, but healthier!
Ingredients
- 8 ounces (225g) pasta (I used linguine, use whatever you like)
- 1 pound shrimp (shelled)
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 3 teaspoons cajun seasoning
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 3/4 cup milk (I used 2%)
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to the package directions in a large pot of boiling water. Drain.
- Meanwhile, heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat.
- Toss the shrimp with the olive oil and the cajun seasoning.
- Add the shrimp to the skillet and cook for about 4 minutes, flipping once, until they are completely pink.
- Set aside and keep warm.
- In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, melt the butter.
- Add the garlic and cook, stirring for about 30 seconds, until fragrant.
- Whisk in the flour, and cook, whisking constantly, until it is lightly browned, about 1 minute.
- Slowly whisk in the milk, stirring until it is incorporated and smooth.
- Add the thyme, oregano, salt, pepper and parmesan and whisk continuously for 3-4 minutes until the sauce has thickened slightly.
- Reduce the heat to a low simmer until the pasta is ready.
- Toss together the pasta and alfredo sauce and serve with the cajun shrimp on top.
- Garnish with parsley and additional parmesan if desired.
Notes
Source: Adapted from Weight Watcher's New Complete Cookbook.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1/4 recipeAmount Per Serving: Calories: 443Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 267mgSodium: 1620mgCarbohydrates: 39gFiber: 2gSugar: 1gProtein: 37g
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I made this last night for my husband and I… and wow. Seriously so, so good! I did add extra parmesan to the sauce (okay, a good amount of extra parmesan) because why the heck not. I ate the leftovers for lunch, even better than the night before! Thanks for such an easy take on alfredo pasta thats delicious and isn’t heavy with cream! Sending this recipe to my brother who is an alfredo junkie!
So glad you liked it Caroline. And yes to more parmesan! 🙂
The first thing out of my mouth once I took a bite was “this tastes like it came from a restaurant”! Thanks for such an easy and tasty recipe
Thank you Emma! I’m so glad you enjoyed it – it’s one of our favourites!
What’s the nutrition details?
Hi Cindy – I don’t actually calculate nutrition information on my recipes as it can vary greatly depending on brand of ingredients that you are using. If you would like to know the nutrition info, there are lots of online calculators such as My Fitness Pal that you can copy and paste the ingredients into to find out the approximate details for this recipe.
I tried clicking on the link for the Cajun season in the ingredients section and I’m getting a 404 not found error. I’ve made the seasoning before and loved it, but can’t find the recipe anymore 🙁 would you happen to know the recipe?
Hi Brittany – sorry about that, not sure what happened but the link is fixed now! The recipe is here: https://bake-eat-repeat.com/homemade-cajun-seasoning-recipe/.
Very tasty! I used nonfat milk because that’s what we always have in the house and a bit more Parmesan. Alfredo sauce still tasted creamy.
Good to know that non-fat milk works well too! Glad you liked it Shelly!
Has anybody tried it with peeled and deveined shrimp with tail off?
I’ve made this many times with peeled and deveined shrimp with the tails removed – you make it exactly the same way!
I peeled the shrimp first. Family doesn’t like to have to peel and eat them. Came out fine.
I made this last night, substituting gluten free noodles and using GF flour in place of regular flour. It was delicious! Really good as seconds a few hours later after the flavors had time to ‘settle’ 🙂 Thanks for this recipe!
I’m so glad you liked it! Thanks for letting me know! 🙂
I absolutely love cajun pasta, it is so good! This looks fantastic and I love that the alfredo sauce isn’t too heavy too. This would be so perfect for an easy weeknight dinner!
This looks beautiful and sounds so delicious! Alfredo can be kinda bland sometimes but this cajun version sounds so flavorful and amazing! I want a big bite of that so badly right now!
Loving everything about this recipe, and I have a brand new bottle of Cajun seasoning to boot… It’ll be on my dinner list this week for sure! Thanks!
Shrimp Alfredo is one of may favorite meals. I love that you made a skinny version! Those shrimp look to die for! 🙂
This pasta is making me SO hungry! I love the skinny alfredo sauce, and I’ve got to try your cajun seasoning!
Oh my gosh! Living in the South, the Cajun seafood alfredo pastas were my FAVORITE! They were always on every menu. But I haven’t had it since I’ve moved to California, so I DEFINITELY need to make this at home!! Sounds so yummy! And obviously bonus points for being skinny AND quick! 🙂
I love that you can have this delicious pasta within 30 minutes. This is such comfort food on a busy night! Wishing I had some for lunch now. Yum!
Oh man, this is TOTAL comfort food, Stacey! I’m obsessed with how good this pasta looks!
Flavor-packed, lighter AND done in 30 minutes = you are speaking my love language here lady! I want to slurp up all those noodles. This looks delicious. And I have to admit, I alway kind of forget about shrimp. It’s so fast and I love it so I need to remember to buy and make it more often!
This is such a great twist on regular alfredo pasta!! Love that you made it skinny too 😀 yum!
I love that you spiced up this alfredo with cajun seasoning — just brilliant! That shrimp looks so flavorful — this is one alfredo dish I would love!
I’ve been dying to try a cajun alfredo someday — this looks like the perfect reason! I LOVE that it’s skinnified though because December was not so nice to me. Lol.
I love that this pasta contains your homemade seasoning! Such a great idea, Stacey! And I love pretty much anything with shrimp, so this is just calling my name. Looks so warm and comforting!