Creamy Cajun Shrimp Rice Bowl (Printer-friendly)

Tender shrimp coated in creamy Cajun sauce atop fluffy jasmine rice. A flavorful, comforting meal ready in under an hour.

# What You'll Need:

→ Shrimp

01 - 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
02 - 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
03 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

→ Rice

04 - 1 cup jasmine rice
05 - 2 cups water
06 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Cajun Cream Sauce

07 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
08 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
09 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
10 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
11 - 1 cup heavy cream
12 - 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
13 - 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
14 - 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
15 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
16 - 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
17 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
18 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
19 - Juice of 1/2 lemon

# How To Make It:

01 - Rinse jasmine rice under cold water until water runs clear. In a medium saucepan, combine rice, water, and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until rice is tender and water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
02 - While rice cooks, toss shrimp with Cajun seasoning in a bowl until evenly coated.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add seasoned shrimp in a single layer and cook for 1-2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Transfer shrimp to a plate and set aside.
04 - In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium and melt butter. Add chopped onion and bell pepper, sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
05 - Pour heavy cream and chicken broth into the skillet. Add Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt. Bring to a gentle simmer, stirring often for 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened.
06 - Stir in Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley. Add lemon juice. Return cooked shrimp to the skillet and toss to coat thoroughly in the sauce. Simmer for 2 minutes to blend flavors.
07 - Divide cooked jasmine rice among serving bowls. Spoon creamy Cajun shrimp and sauce over rice. Garnish with additional fresh parsley if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like you spent hours cooking, but you'll be done in less than 40 minutes on a weeknight.
  • The creamy sauce clings to every grain of rice and coats the shrimp in a way that feels indulgent without being heavy.
  • You can dial the heat up or down depending on who's at your table, making it flexible enough for picky eaters and spice lovers alike.
02 -
  • Don't overcook the shrimp or they'll turn rubbery, pull them off the heat as soon as they're opaque.
  • Rinsing the rice is non-negotiable if you want separate, fluffy grains instead of sticky mush.
  • Taste the sauce before adding the shrimp back in, you can adjust the salt and spice level while it's still loose.
03 -
  • Use a hot skillet when searing the shrimp so they develop a light crust instead of steaming in their own juices.
  • Grate your own Parmesan instead of using the pre-shredded stuff, it melts smoother and tastes sharper.
  • If the sauce breaks or looks grainy, pull it off the heat and whisk in a tablespoon of cold butter to bring it back together.
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