Creamy Cajun shrimp pasta Recipe (delicious with orzo)

Craving a quick, flavorful dinner that’s both creamy and comforting? This one-pan Cajun shrimp orzo hits all the notes—spicy, garlicky, and perfectly cheesy. Bonus: cleanup is a breeze!

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Prep Time 5

Cook Time 25

Total Time 30

Servings: 4 servings

Course: dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: American, Italian

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

For the Shrimp

1 lb raw shrimp peeled and deveined
Salt and black pepper to taste
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 tablespoon oil high smoke point, for greasing the pan

For the Orzo

6 cloves garlic minced
1 ½ cups cherry tomatoes halved
2 tablespoon butter for deglazing
1 cup dry orzo pasta
3 cups chicken broth or seasoned water
¼ cup heavy cream
Parmesan cheese optional
Fresh parsley optional

Equipment

Method

Season the Shrimp: Toss shrimp with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. (watch video below)
Cook the Shrimp: Heat a splash of oil in a large pan over medium heat. Sear shrimp 1–2 minutes per side until just cooked. Remove and set aside.
Build the Base: In the same pan, sauté garlic and cherry tomatoes with butter for 5–7 minutes, letting the tomatoes soften and release their juices.
Cook the Orzo: Add dry orzo to the pan, stirring to coat in the garlicky tomato butter. Pour in the chicken broth and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the orzo is tender and the liquid is mostly absorbed, about 8 minutes.
Finish it Off: Stir in the heavy cream, then fold in parmesan, parsley, and the cooked shrimp. Serve immediately and savor every creamy, flavorful bite! (watch video below)

Notes

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