Cajun Shrimp And Rice Skillet Recipe

When you are looking for a delicious dinner recipe, but are short on time or don’t want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen making dinner, make this Cajun Shrimp and Rice Skillet recipe. The whole meal is cooked entirely in one skillet and is ready to eat in only 30 minutes!

It is the perfect recipe to make on a busy weeknight when you have no energy to make dinner. Best of all, this recipe requires very time and effort to prepare.

In fact after the first 5 minutes of preparing dinner, you can walk away from the stove and attend to other tasks. Come back after 10 minutes, give the mixture a stir and you can walk away again.

Then in another 10 minutes, add the shrimp to the rice mixture and in minutes you are ready to serve dinner! It doesn’t get much easier than that!

However, don’t think that just because you aren’t spending a lot of time that this will be a bland, boring meal. On the contrary, this dish is full of Cajun spices which produce bold and spicy flavors.

The Cajun spices compliment the mild buttery, salty, and sweet flavor of shrimp and seasons the rice perfectly. What you end up with a flavorful, easy to make and nutritious dish that’s perfect for any occasion.

What Type of Shrimp To Use

When making a skillet rice dinner with shrimp, it’s best to use medium size shrimp, which are often labeled as 31-40. This numerical label refers to how many shrimp you can expect per pound.

Medium shrimp are ideal because they are just the right size to cook in the skillet without being too large. Yet, they are large enough to provide a satisfying bite without having to cut the shrimp.

However, smaller shrimp can also work if you prefer smaller shrimp bites. Although I would not recommend jumbo or extra-large shrimp as they would be too big for the skillet and be more difficult to eat.

How To Peel and Devein Shrimp

So now that you know what size of shrimp to purchase, it is time to prepare the shrimp for the skillet. Although I typically purchase frozen, peeled and deveined shrimp, you might have purchased shrimp with the shell still attached.

If so you must remove the peel the shell and remove the vein. Although this task may seem intimidating at first, once you get the hang of it, it quickly becomes a quick and easy task.

Peel the shell: Flip the shrimp over so that the legs are facing upward. Then separate the shell where the legs are located and pull the shell off.

However, another method to remove the shell is to use a small knife to make a shallow cut along the back of the shrimp to help release the shell.

Remove the tail: As you remove the shell, go ahead and remove the tail as well. Although you can keep the tail on in certain recipes like Sweet and Spicy Bacon Wrapped Shrimp, it is best to remove the tail for this recipe.

Devein the shrimp: The vein is the dark line that runs along the back side of the shrimp. This vein is actually the shrimps digestive tract and when eaten provides a gritty and unpleasant taste.

To remove it use a small sharp knife to make a shallow incision along the back of the shrimp. Then use the tip of the knife to lift out the vein and discard it.

Rinse the shrimp: Rinse the shrimp under cold running water to remove any remaining shell or vein. Then pat it dry before continuing with the recipe.

Homemade Salt Free Cajun Seasoning Recipe

Although you can use store bought Cajun seasoning for Shrimp and Rice skillet recipe it is easy to make your own homemade seasoning mix. It is also much healthier because most Cajun seasonings contain a significant amount of salt.

Therefore, if you are looking for a salt free Cajun seasoning to add to your recipes follow the recipe below.

INGREDIENTS

• 3 tbsp paprika regular
• 1 1/2 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 1/2 tbsp onion powder
• 2 tsp oregano
• 2 tsp thyme
• 2 tsp black pepper
• 2 tsp parsley flakes
• 1 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper use anywhere from 3/4 tsp to 1 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper depending on the amount of heat that you like.
• 1 tsp chili powder

INSTRUCTIONS

Place all of the spices in a bowl and mix until well blended. This recipe will produce 1/2 cup of seasoning. Store the remaining seasoning in an air tight container.

Possible Recipe Additions For Cajun Shrimp and Rice Skillet

Although this quick and easy Cajun Shrimp and Rice Skillet recipe doesn’t include any vegetables, you can certainly add some to make it a complete meal. It is a great way to use up any vegetables that you may have on hand, and there are plenty of options that can work well in this dish.

Bell peppers: Red, green, or yellow bell peppers can add a sweet flavor, as well as adding a pop of color to the dish.

Onions: Yellow, white or sweet can add a savory flavor to the dish. For added flavor sauté them in the butter before you add the garlic.

Carrots: Diced carrots add an earthy flavor, as well as a crunchy texture to the dish.

Mushrooms: Saute sliced mushrooms with the onions to provide an earthy flavor that will compliment the sweetness of the shrimp.

Spinach: Baby spinach leaves will add both nutrition and color to the dish. Stir the leaves in right before you add the shrimp so the leaves have time to wilt.

Feel free to mix and match these vegetables according to your taste preferences and what’s available in your refrigerator.

Cajun Shrimp And Rice Skillet Recipe

*Specific measurements and complete recipe instructions are located in a printable recipe card at the bottom of this article. However, be sure to continue to read the tips and tricks to making this recipe below.

INGREDIENTS

• 6 tablespoons butter – melted, divided
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup Cajun seasoning, divided (more or less per taste)
• 2 cups uncooked long grain white rice
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined

*Cajun seasoning – The heat level in cajun seasoning can vary greatly on the brand that you use. Therefore, adjust the amount of seasoning per your taste preferences.

Garnish Ingredients

• chopped fresh parsley

INSTRUCTIONS

Before beginning this Cajun Shrimp and Rice Skillet recipe be sure to have all the ingredients ready and measured as this recipe comes together quickly. Once you have the ingredients ready, place a large skillet over medium heat.

Then add 3 tablespoons butter to the skillet. Once the butter melts stir in the minced garlic, half of the Cajun seasoning, and the uncooked long grain white rice and saute for 1 minute, stirring constantly.

Stir in the chicken broth and then bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cover. Cook for 20 minutes, stirring half way through.

While the rice cooks stir the remaining melted butter and remaining cajun seasoning together. Place the shrimp in a medium size bowl and pour the butter mixture over top. Toss to coat.

Stir the seasoned shrimp into the rice. Cover and cook 3-4 minutes longer until shrimp turns pink in color.

Serve warm and garnish with chopped parsley if desired.

Enjoy! Mary

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