Shrimp Pasta | Cajun Shrimp Pasta Recipe

Cajun Shrimp Pasta is a decadently creamy pasta dish that is filling enough to feed a crowd. Make this tasty seafood pasta dish in under 30 minutes with just a few simple ingredients and your Instant Pot!

Why You'll Love It

• Easy. Cook everything in your Instant Pot liner. What's better than a one-pot meal?
• Delicious. A rich, creamy seafood pasta with a slight kick of heat that will have your family going back for seconds--or thirds.
• Fast. Make this Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta in under 30 minutes with the help of your Instant Pot.

Is Seafood Pasta Healthy?

What may be considered healthy for one person may not necessarily be healthy for another. It is important to know and understand any dietary restrictions you may have before consuming a new food.

That being said, shrimp is high in protein while being low in calories. The heavy cream is rich in calcium and fat, to help keep you fuller, longer. And the pasta? Well, it's high in carbs so it's good fuel for your brain and muscles when you're feeling depleted or just need a little comfort food hug.

Ingredients You'll Need

• Shrimp- Use raw, peeled, and deveined shrimp for quick and easy preparation.
• Fettuccini Noodles- These will need to be broken in half so they lay flat inside your Instant Pot liner.
• Chicken Broth- This is the base of the shrimp pasta sauce and serves as the liquid to help bring the Instant Pot to pressure.
• Butter- To saute the garlic and make the dish even more flavorful.
• Heavy Cream- You can't have a delicious cream sauce for your pasta without a little heavy cream.
• Parmesan Cheese- Helps thicken the sauce and lends a wonderfully rich and tangy flavor to the sauce.
• Cajun Spice Mix- Makes the shrimp pasta perfectly seasoned and exciting for your taste buds.
• Salt- To taste. Feel free to omit salt completely, as there is some in the Cajun Spice Mix as well.
• Pepper- Just a touch to help enhance the flavors of the other ingredients in the dish.
• Garlic- I prefer to use minced garlic for a stronger garlic bite. If you don't have the time or the urge to mince fresh garlic, you can use 1 tsp of garlic powder instead.
• Nutmeg- Provides another layer of flavor that is subtly sweet to help balance the saltiness from the parmesan cheese and cajun seasoning in the dish.

How To Make Cajun Shrimp Pasta

1. Turn your Instant Pot to saute. Once it is hot, place the butter in the Instant Pot liner. Once the butter has melted, add the minced garlic and saute until golden brown and fragrant. Turn off your Instant Pot.
2. Pour in the chicken broth and use it to deglaze any stuck bits of garlic from the Instant Pot liner.
3. Break your alfredo noodles in half and crisis cross them while laying them flat inside the Instant Pot.
4. Add heavy cream, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and Cajun spice mix.
5. Secure the Instant Pot lid and cook under high pressure for 4 minutes.
6. Use a quick pressure release to allow the pressure to escape quickly and remove the lid once it is safe to do so.
7. Stir the contents of the Instant Pot and incorporate the parmesan cheese.
8. Place the thawed, uncooked shrimp on top of the cooked pasta and sauce and replace the Instant Pot lid. Do not turn the pressure cooker back on.
9. After 10 minutes with the lid locked in place, remove the lid again, stir, and enjoy. The heat and moisture from the cooked pasta will cook the shrimp without bringing the Instant Pot back up to pressure.

Tips And Tricks

• Criss-cross your pasta. Avoid placing the pasta inside of the Instant Pot laying it all in one direction or in one clump. Make sure you are laying the pasta in a variety of directions when placing it in the Instant Pot liner to prevent it from sticking to each other while cooking.
• Don't be afraid to season. The amount of Cajun spice I included in this recipe is adjusted to be family-friendly. If you're a fan of spice or want to make your shrimp pasta super flavorful, don't be afraid to sprinkle in a little extra when you're adding all of the ingredients to the Instant Pot, or even a little to garnish before serving.
• Use the right type of shrimp. Using the correct type of shrimp in this dish is critical to make it a success. Make sure you grab small or medium raw peeled and deveined shrimp. Using cooked shrimp can lead to a rubbery, overcooked bite. Using unpeeled or shrimp that aren't deveined can cause a lot of extra work and make the prep time for this recipe much longer than listed below.
• Give it a good stir. If you have any experience cooking with dairy in the Instant Pot, you know that cooking it under pressure can cause it to separate or give it a curdled appearance. This may happen with the heavy cream in this dish, but don't be alarmed. Give it a good stir after it is done cooking and it will be as good as new.
• Defrost your Shrimp. While the pasta is cooking, run your raw frozen shrimp under cool water for approximately 60 seconds. This should defrost them enough to cook in the residual heat.

What Sides Go Good With Shrimp Pasta?

If you're looking for something to bulk up this Instant Pot pasta dish, try one of these delicious sides to make your dinner spread complete:

• Cauliflower Breadsticks
• Salad
• Cheese Muffins
• Air Fryer Asparagus
• Brussels Sprouts with Bacon

How Long Does It Last?

This recipe makes a large amount of pasta, so if you're not cooking for a crowd or have a small appetite, expect to have leftovers. For the best bite, store any extra shrimp pasta in an air-tight container in the refrigerator and enjoy it within 3-4 days.

Reheating Instructions

There are two different ways you can go about reheating this Instant Pot Shrimp Alfredo. One is in the microwave, and one is using your Instant Pot again.

To reheat your shrimp pasta in the microwave, place it in a microwave-safe bowl and remove the shrimp. Add a small amount of water (this will vary depending on how much pasta you have left) to the bowl and microwave for 90 seconds, or until the pasta is heated through. Add the shrimp back to the bowl and heat for an additional 30 seconds and enjoy.

To use your Instant Pot, place the shrimp pasta in the Instant Pot liner and add 1/4 cup of water. Press saute and when the Instant Pot is hot, stir frequently until the pasta and shrimp are thoroughly heated.

More Delicious Shrimp Recipes

There is such a variety of ways to enjoy shrimp, there's no reason to stop experimenting with shrimp pasta! Try one of our other incredibly easy and tasty shrimp recipes:

• Bang Bang Shrimp
• Shrimp Risotto
• Keto Shrimp and Grits

Pin It!

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Don't forget to check out my other Best-selling Instant Pot Cookbooks!

Indian Instant Pot, Keto Instant Pot, Instant Pot Fast and Easy, Healthy Instant Pot & Vegetarian Instant Pot.