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Home » Seafood Recipes » Cajun Broiled Shrimp

Cajun Broiled Shrimp

Recipes developed by Vered DeLeeuw
Nutritionally reviewed by Rachel Benight MS, RD, CPT

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A healthy and easy recipe for very flavorful broiled shrimp with Cajun-style seasoning. So easy and quick, it’s the perfect weeknight dinner!

Broiled shrimp with cajun seasoning, served on a plate

I cook shrimp fairly often for my family. It’s one of those foods that everyone around here likes, even The Picky Eater. And they like it regardless of how I make the shrimp or how I season them. So it’s up to me to vary the recipes I use.

Whenever I have a bag of shrimp in the fridge and I’m unsure how to make them, there’s a good chance I’ll end up making these Cajun broiled shrimp. They are just so tasty! The seasoning is wonderful – bold, savory and very flavorful.

What’s the best way to cook shrimp?

Broiling is my favorite way to cook shrimp. And it’s an especially appropriate method for Cajun-style shrimp because the high heat really brings out their bold flavor.

I do make grilled shrimp and baked shrimp quite often. Shrimp stir fry is wonderful and so is skillet sausage and shrimp.

But this is one of the shrimp recipes that I make most often for my family. It’s so flavorful and it’s also very easy!

The ingredients you’ll need

You’ll only need a few simple ingredients to make this tasty recipe. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below. Here’s an overview of what you’ll need:

Shrimp: I prefer to use jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined, with the tails on. If you prefer tails off that’s fine. But do use large shrimp. And here are some good tips for eating seafood in a healthy way.

Olive oil: This is a delicious and healthy oil. But if you’re unsure about cooking with it, you can use avocado oil instead.

Cajun seasoning: Kosher salt (use less salt if using fine salt instead of kosher), smoked paprika, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. Spices are delicious and healthy, but make sure they are fresh. A stale spice can easily ruin a dish!

How to make broiled shrimp

It’s so easy! Scroll down to the recipe card for the detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps:

Season the shrimp with the remaining ingredients and toss to coat. I sometimes use my clean hands to make sure they are evenly coated.

Arrange them in a single layer on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet. Broil until cooked through. This should take only 4 minutes, even for large shrimp.

Why I use 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 cooking. You can simply arrange them on the baking sheet 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.

What to serve with 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.

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4.97 from 55 votes

Cajun Broiled Shrimp

A healthy and easy recipe for very flavorful cajun broiled shrimp.
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time4 mins
Total Time14 mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: shrimp
Servings: 3 servings
Calories: 243kcal
Author: Vered DeLeeuw

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 an oven rack set 4 inches from heat (directly below the heating element). Line a rimmed broiler-safe 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.
NUTRITION INFO Nutrition info is approximate and may contain errors. It is calculated using the SparkPeople.com recipe calculator, and the carb count excludes sugar alcohols. Please feel free to make your own calculations. Please read the disclaimers in our Terms of Use carefully before using any of our recipes. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Please verify they are before using.
Nutrition Facts
Cajun Broiled Shrimp
Amount Per Serving
Calories 243 Calories from Fat 108
% Daily Value*
Fat 12g18%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Sodium 597mg26%
Carbohydrates 2g1%
Fiber 0.3g1%
Sugar 0.2g0%
Protein 31g62%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
NEVER MISS A RECIPE! I typically publish a new healthy recipe once or twice per week. Want the new recipes in your inbox? Subscribe!
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Broiled shrimp with cajun seasoning, served on a plate

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Filed Under: Seafood Recipes Tagged With: Shrimp Recipes Last updated on November 21, 2019

About the Author

Vered Deleeuw Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., has been following a healthy real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She has taken nutrition courses at the Harvard School of Public Health and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, Reader's Digest, and Better Homes and Gardens. Learn more...

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Healthy Recipes Blog logo - circle Healthy Recipes Blog was founded in 2011 by Vered Deleeuw. It features real-food recipes with a focus on low-carb and gluten-free ingredients. All recipes are nutritionally reviewed by a Registered Dietitian. You can contact us at HealthyRecipesBlog@gmail.com.
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