A healthy and easy recipe for very flavorful cajun broiled shrimp. The shrimp are seasoned with cajun seasoning, then broiled just until cooked through.
These cajun broiled shrimp are so tasty. The seasoning is just wonderful – bold, savory and flavorful. (Another very flavorful shrimp recipe is this recipe for skillet sausage and shrimp).
Can you broil shrimp?
Yes, absolutely! Broiled shrimp are very easy to make. In fact, broiling is my favorite way to cook shrimp. It’s an especially appropriate method for cajun style shrimp because the high heat broiling really brings out these bold flavors.
I do make grilled shrimp and baked shrimp quite often, and shrimp stir fry is wonderful. But I’m pretty sure that this is one of the shrimp recipes that I make most often for my family. It’s so flavorful and so EASY!
How do you broil jumbo shrimp?
If you use jumbo shrimp, as the recipe instructs, there’s no need to thread them on skewers. Actually, even if you use smaller shrimp you can skip the skewers.
The reason? There’s no need to turn the shrimp midway through broiling. You can simply arrange the shrimp on the baking pan in a single layer, broil them for 4 minutes, and they’re done.
For smaller shrimp, 3 minutes is likely enough. Of course, it’s a good idea to cut one of them in half and make sure they’re done before serving them.
Is this Recipe healthy?
I believe it is. When it comes to shrimp, it’s best to buy sustainable, wild-caught, local shrimp. If you do, then that’s a healthy source of lean protein.
Other than shrimp, this recipe simply contains olive oil and spices. So yes, I consider it a healthy recipe.
What to serve with cajun broiled shrimp?
If you want to keep your meal low carb, you can serve them on a bed of mashed cauliflower or cauliflower rice.
Or you could quickly mix them and the pan juices into fresh spinach leaves – this will wilt the leaves just enough to cook them ever so lightly.
What about leftovers?
If you happen to have leftovers, keep them in the fridge, tightly covered, for no longer than three days. These well-seasoned broiled shrimp are very tasty in a salad, or you can gently reheat them in the microwave, covered, on 50% power.
Cajun Broiled Shrimp
INGREDIENTS
- 1 lb. jumbo shrimp, 21-25 shrimp per pound, peeled and deveined, tails on
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt (or 1/2 teaspoon sea salt)
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
INSTRUCTIONS
- Heat broiler on high (450 degrees F), with oven rack set 4 inches from heat (directly below the heat element). Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil.
- Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels. Place in a large bowl.
- Add the olive oil, kosher salt, paprika, garlic powder and cayenne. Toss to coat.
- Arrange the seasoned shrimp in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Broil until opaque, about 4 minutes. Serve the Cajun broiled shrimp immediately.
More Healthy Recipes:
Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., has been following a healthy real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She has taken 
