Cajun Prawns are a quick and easy recipe perfect for dinner any night of the week! With a spicy homemade Cajun seasoning and succulent juicy prawns, this lightening fast recipe requires minimal effort. For a complete dinner on busy nights when you want a healthy meal this recipe will tick a lot of your boxes. This cajun prawn recipe works for an appetizer, brunch or light dinner recipe.
Recipes like the Mexican Prawns, Sweet Chilli Prawns, Satay Prawns and the Creamy Garlic Prawns give us a wide variety of prawn recipes with diverse flavor combinations.
The Prawn Risotto, Prawn Chow Mein, Prawn Tagliatelle and Prawn Fettuccine sees this fantastic seafood be paired with rice, noodles or pasta.
Jump to:
🤍 Recipe Highlights
I have summarised everything that you will come to know and love (LOVE ❤) about this easy Cajun shrimp recipe in the points below:
- Simple ingredients: you will be able to get everything you need to make the recipe from your grocery store. They are year round available ingredients that will be easy to get your hands on. Plus an added bonus is that you might already have some of them in the pantry ready to go.
- Versatile: you can serve the spicy cajun prawns as an appetizer, brunch on the weekends, light lunch, or main meal paired with a salad. They are flexible and lend themselves to a variety of occasions.
- Alternative protein: it is great to switch up the proteins every now and then from Roast Chicken to Lamb Ribs, Beef Ribs, Tofu or Thai Minced Pork. Prawns are another protein that can help diversify our dinners offering different tastes and textures.
- Easy: we do a small amount of prep work by making the spice mix and peeling and deveining the prawns but once these steps are done the recipe comes together easily with a super fast cook time.
- Zero time marinade: we simply cover the prawns in the spice mix and cook them in the hot pan. No need to wait for ages for the protein to marinate.
- Summer time: when it is hot, hot, hot out (Sunny Queensland 😁), the last thing you can feel like doing is cooking a hot and heavy meal. These prawns offer an easy dinner recipe that matches well with the climate and brings a flavor packed seasoning with it. Its great for the warmer weather days and nights!
🥗 Ingredients
The photo below is to show you everything you need to make the Cajun king prawns recipe. Please refer to the printable recipe card for specific ingredient measurements as well as detailed instructions.
As you can see the recipe calls for:
- Olive oil: we use olive oil to cook the prawns in a hot pan on the stove top.
- Salt: cooking salt (kosher salt) is the best type to use.
- Pepper: we use a small amount of black pepper in the recipe for seasoning.
- Garlic powder: a fantastic pantry staple and excellent ingredient to use in dry rubs.
- Onion Powder: as above. We use a little bit less of the onion powder compared to the garlic powder as a means for the best flavored prawns.
- Paprika: you can use either smoked paprika or ground paprika. I usually use ground paprika when making these prawns. This is the key ingredient in cajun spices delivering the unmistakeable flavor in the seasoning.
- Cayenne pepper: this is a hot spice! A little of it goes a long way.
- Dried thyme: easy and convenient to use when kept in the pantry. This dried herb gives the Cajun seasoning a little of its own texture and aroma.
- Dried oregano: another great go to dried herb to have at home. This gives a complimentary pairing to the dried thyme.
- Prawns: or juicy shrimp depending on what country you are in. This fantastic protein cooks quickly and is full of flavor.
Top Tip: I like to provide you with a number of substitutions and variations giving you an array of options when making my recipes. If in doubt of any of the above ingredients, or wanting alternatives, read this section (further below) before jumping into the instructions on how to make the recipe which are coming next 😉👌.
🍳 Instructions
Here are the step by step instructions to make the recipe. We start by gathering the spices for the cajun seasoning.
- Gather the seasonings (Photo 1)
- Whisk together the cajun spice mix (Photo 2)
- Prepare the prawns (Photo 3)
- Add them to a bowl (Photo 4)
👩🍳 How to Make Cajun Prawns
To make the Cajun prawns, start by gathering the ingredients to make the seasoning. Then add the garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, dried thyme, dried oregano, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper to a small plate or bowl and use a mini whisk to stir until it is consistently mixed together.
Next use a cutting board and paring knife to prepare the prawns by twisting to remove their heads, peeling the shell and legs from the body and cutting open the back to remove the digestive tract.
Once done rinse the prawns then pat them dry with paper towel and add them to a large bowl. Pour over half of the cajun seasoning, stir then add the rest of the spice mix and stir till they are consistently coated.
- Add half of the cajun seasoning to the prawns, stir (Photo 5)
- Then add the rest of the seasoning (Photo 6)
- Stir till the prawns are consistently coated (Photo 7)
- Cook the prawns in batches (Photo 8)
Next place a large non-stick skillet on the stove top and turn the heat to high. Let the olive heat for a couple of minutes to start with. Then working in batches add 8-10 prawns and let them cook. Once done use tongs to remove these and place them into a paper towel lined bowl.
Continue like this cooking the prawns until they are all done.
🍽 Serving Suggestions
One of the best things about these spicy cajun shrimp are that they go with a wide variety of sides giving you plenty of ways to serve them!
Pair them with the Tortilla Garlic Bread, Garlic Ciabatta, Garlic Pizza Bread or the Turkish Garlic Bread for a tasty combination. Or keep it simply with some torn crusty bread.
Use store bought cooked rice that you only need to heat and plate alongside the prawns.
Make them more of a meal by pairing them with the Basmati Fried Rice or use them in the Shrimp And Chicken Fried Rice.
The heat level in this dish is reasonably high, therefore it is a recipe that the whole family won't likely want to dive into. You can add some heavy cream to the pan and make the prawns swim in a cream sauce to pacify the heat then add pasta if you wish to. This makes it more of a Cajun shrimp pasta than Cajun prawns but it is good to know your options depending on who is sitting at the table. Or simply save the recipe for a night when you are not cooking for everyone!
You will find that no matter the time of day be it mid morning, lunch or dinner there will be a way to plate them to tick a meal box.
They will go down very nicely with a chilled rose or crisp glass of pinot gris. For red wine lovers, pair them with a smooth red like a pinot noir.
The lemon juice will also help cut through the 'spicy hot' factor of the prawns from the cayenne pepper and help mellow the seasoning mix. They are of course optional and happy to move aside if lime juice is more your thing.
👍 How to Guide
How to Store
Store leftover cajun prawns in a sealed, airtight container for 2-3 days in the fridge. The prawns then need to be heated before being consumed.
How to Freeze
These prawns are best cooked and consumed as is. It is not recommended to freeze them.
How to Reheat
Add the cooked prawns to a bowl and cover with cling wrap. Then place into the microwave and heat on high for 1-2 minutes or until warmed through.
😉 Substitutions and Variations
Here are my sub ins and outs that you might be thinking about as you read the post and I will tell you if I think they will work or why they won't:
- In place of the dried herbs, you can use basil to substitute either one or Italian seasoning if you want to keep it simple.
- To minimise the heat in the recipe omit or reduce the amount of cayenne pepper when creating the spice mix.
- If you want to add some brown sugar to the Cajun spice mix you can, 1 tablespoon is the recommended amount.
- You can use butter to cook the prawns in place of the olive oil if you wish too. In both cases as we are cooking in batches, it is a good idea to top up the oil/butter in between batches.
- Where you see me using lemon wedges to garnish the dish, you can also use lime wedges.
- To garnish the prawns either fresh herbs like flat leaf or curly parsley or finely chopped spring onions will all work well.
💡 Tasty Tips
Here are my top tips and tricks that I want to share with you so that you master the recipe from the get go:
- You will be the best results from fresh raw prawns, not frozen thawed prawns.
- If you want to cook the whole prawns in the spice mix ie not peel and devein them, you can. The most noticeable difference is that some of the prawn meat is very soft compared to cold cooked prawns. This makes it harder to peel cooked whole prawns and remove their shell easily.
- Working in batches with the prawns in one single layer is the best way to not overcrowd the prawns as they cook.
- Tongs come in handy so you can work with the prawns and keep the seasoning out of harm's way.
- The prawns will cook very quickly. Check the flesh and watch for it to turn white on both sides as a means to knowing that they are cooked. 2-3 minutes per side is all it takes.
- When working in batches, you might need to top up the oil as you go as the spice mix will absorb some of it during the cooking time.
🤓 Frequently Asked Questions
What are Cajun prawns made of?
Cajun prawns are made from a spicy combination of garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, dried herbs, salt and pepper.
What can I use Cajun seasoning for?
Cajun seasoning can be used for a wide variety of dishes. Use it as a rub for ribs, chicken, fish, pork or beef. Sprinkle it over wedges or French fries.
How long does Cajun shrimp last in fridge?
Cajun shrimp will last 2-3 days in the fridge and needs to be reheated before the leftovers are consumed.
😍 More Easy Dinner Recipes
Make life easy by turning to a wide variety of recipes that make dinner a breeze every night of the week. Here are some ideas for you to try:
- Garlic Chicken Parmesan Pasta
- Pork Belly Fried Rice
- Scallop Risotto
- Thai Minced Pork
- Chorizo Pasta Bake
- Baked Ziti With Meatballs
- Spinach and Feta Pizza
- Scallop Fried Rice
It is time to get our cajun prawns on my friend! You can also find all of my seafood recipes or dinner recipes in the one spot.
Adrianne
PIN and save this recipe for later!
Hunger still got you? You can SUBSCRIBE to receive the latest recipes, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram or Facebook.
📖 Recipe
Cajun Prawns
Ingredients
Cajun seasoning
- 2 tbs garlic powder Note 1
- 2 tbs smoked paprika Note 2
- 1 tbs onion powder Note 3
- 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper Note 4
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme Note 5
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano Note 6
- ½ tsp salt Note 7
- ½ teaspoon black pepper Note 8
Prawns (Shrimp)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil Note 9
- 1 kg/2 pounds prawns (shrimp) Note 10
Instructions
- Cajun spice mix: gather the ingredients to make the seasoning. Then combine the garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, dried thyme, dried oregano, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper on a plate (or small bowl) and use a mini whisk to stir until consistently mixed.
- Prawns: use a cutting board and start by twisting the heads off the prawns. Then peel the shell from the body and remove it and the legs, leaving the tail and end section intact. Next use a sharp knife and cut down the backbone of each prawn then remove the digestive tract and discard. Once done rinse the prawns and use paper towel to pat dry, then place the peeled prawns into a large bowl.
- Cook: place a large frying pan onto to stove top, turn the heat to high and drizzle in the olive oil. When the oil is hot use tongs to place 8-10 prawns into the pan and cook them for 2-3 mins per side. Flip and rotate to the other side them use the tongs to remove them from the pan once cooked and place them into a bowl with paper towel. Add additional oil as needed and continue to cook the prawn until they are all done.
- To serve: pair the Cajun prawns with lemon wedges and flat leaf parsley for garnish. Serve with rice (optional) to make them a complete meal.
Notes
- Note 1 - Garlic powder: a fantastic pantry staple and excellent ingredient to use in dry rubs.
- Note 2 - Paprika: you can use either smoked paprika or ground paprika. I usually use ground paprika when making these prawns.
- Note 3 - Onion Powder: as above. We use a little bit less of the onion powder compared to the garlic powder as a means for the best flavored prawns.
- Note 4 - Dried thyme: easy and convenient to use when kept in the pantry. This dried herb gives the Cajun seasoning a little of its own texture and aroma.
- Note 5 - Dried oregano: another great go to dried herb to have at home. This gives a complimentary pairing to the dried thyme.
- Note 6 - Cayenne pepper: this is a hot spice! A little of it goes a long way. Omit or reduce the amount to make the prawns less spicy.
- Note 7 - Salt: cooking salt (kosher salt) is the best type to use.
- Note 8 - Pepper: we use a small amount of black pepper in the recipe for seasoning.
- Note 9- Olive oil: we use olive oil to cook the prawns in a hot pan on the stove top.
- Note 10 - Prawns: or shrimp depending on what country you are in. This fantastic protein cooks quick and is full of flavor.
Rebecca says
Yum! We will be making these very soon. They sound delicious.
Adrianne says
Great to hear Rebecca, thanks 😁.
Tamara Leonards says
These prawns are delicious! I didn't have any dried thyme so left that out. Stuck to the recipe for everything else and was very happy with how they turned out.
Adrianne says
Great to hear Tamara 😁. Thanks for your feedback.