Charred Cajun-Spiced Shrimp with Creole Tomato Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-18 · Updated 2026-06-18

Spicy Cajun-seasoned shrimp pan-seared and served in a rich, aromatic Creole tomato sauce with bell peppers and onions. This Cajun-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 40 minutes, pairs large shrimp, peeled and deveined, Cajun seasoning, olive oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 220 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 1 medium green bell pepper, diced
• 1 celery stalk, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 14 oz can crushed tomatoes
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp hot sauce
• to taste salt
• to taste black pepper
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Toss 1 lb peeled and deveined shrimp with 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning until evenly coated and let rest for 10 minutes.
2. Step 2: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp and sear for 2 minutes per side until charred and just cooked through; remove shrimp and set aside.
3. Step 3: In the same skillet, add 1 tbsp olive oil, then sauté 1 diced medium yellow onion, 1 diced medium green bell pepper, and 1 diced celery stalk over medium heat for 5 minutes until softened.
4. Step 4: Add 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp smoked paprika, and 1/2 tsp dried thyme, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant.
5. Step 5: Stir in 14 oz crushed tomatoes, 2 tbsp tomato paste, and 1 tsp hot sauce. Simmer over low heat for 10 minutes until sauce thickens slightly.
6. Step 6: Season sauce with salt and black pepper to taste, then return shrimp to the pan, stirring to coat with sauce and warming through for 2 minutes.
7. Step 7: Garnish with 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley before serving.