Description
A luxurious and flavorful shrimp and crab pasta dish with a creamy, spicy Cajun sauce that balances indulgence and simplicity, perfect for a special dinner or weeknight treat.
Ingredients
8 oz fettuccine or your favorite pasta
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp butter
8 oz shrimp, peeled and deveined
6 oz lump crab meat (fresh or canned, drained)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup heavy cream
½ cup chicken broth
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1–2 tsp Cajun seasoning (adjust to taste)
¼ tsp paprika
Salt & black pepper to taste
Juice of ½ lemon
Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside, reserving about ½ cup of pasta water.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, warm olive oil and butter. Add shrimp seasoned lightly with Cajun seasoning. Cook 1–2 minutes each side until shrimp is pink and opaque. Remove and set aside.
- In the same skillet, add minced garlic and cook about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in heavy cream and chicken broth, then stir in Cajun seasoning, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Simmer gently for 3–4 minutes.
- Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted. Add crab meat and cooked shrimp back to skillet. Squeeze in lemon juice and simmer 2–3 minutes to heat through.
- Toss cooked pasta into sauce, stirring gently to coat. Add reserved pasta water if sauce is too thick.
- Serve immediately, garnished with chopped fresh parsley.
Notes
For extra heat, add cayenne pepper or hot sauce.
Use low-sodium Cajun seasoning for a lighter salt version.
Swap half the heavy cream for milk to lighten the sauce.
Substitute crab with cooked scallops or extra shrimp if desired.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Reheat gently on the stove with a splash of cream or milk to maintain creaminess.
Use gluten-free pasta to make the dish gluten-free.
Drain and rinse canned crab meat before use to remove excess brine.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing, Simmering
- Cuisine: Cajun / Seafood
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: Approx. 450 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg
