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The bold, sophisticated flavors and elevated presentation of my baked Cajun shrimp make the 30-minute dish a hit any night of the week, y'all!! A scrumptious, solid main that pairs perfectly with innumerable sides, this easy, versatile shrimp recipe puts the wow factor down on the table. Yep and yay...
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It's Seafood Food Love at First Sight...
Baked Cajun shrimp incorporates the distinctive flavors of the New Orleans, Louisiana region into its base flavor profile that deepens throughout the roasting process.
My original version only takes minutes to make. However, the flavors combine beautifully during this quick cooking time, transforming the simple ingredients into a restaurant-quality dish you've never experienced!
The colors of my Cajun baked shrimp are captivating, too, y'all!! They make a grand visual entrance, electrifying the tablescape and previewing the abundance of BIG flavors about to be released into your mouth. For sure!!
Baked Cajun Shrimp Ingredient Essentials & Substitutions
- I used large, 31/35-count shrimp for this recipe, but you can use shrimp of any size. I buy peeled and deveined shrimp for convenience and to have the perfect weight to pull off the recipe as intended. Therefore, if you purchase shell-on shrimp, you may need 1 ½ to 2 pounds of pre-peeled shrimp to end up with a pound of peeled shrimp.
- I use regional favorite Crystal hot sauce in this baked Cajun shrimp recipe. You can also use Louisiana brand hot sauce with great success.
- The dried spices create an easy homemade Cajun seasoning that injects the finished dish with deep, rich, layered flavors. They're easy to come by, and you can confidently use inexpensive spice brands.
How to Make Baked Cajun Shrimp
To start the recipe, preheat the oven.
Then, stir the olive oil, honey, lemon juice, and hot sauce into a large mixing bowl.
Sprinkle the dried seasonings over the mixture.
Then, stir until combined.
Place the shrimp over the seasoning mixture.
Stir to combine, ensuring all the shrimp are coated with the spice mixture.
Finally, arrange the seasoned shrimp in a single layer on the bottom of a well-greased cast iron skillet or other oven-proof baking dish.
Slide the pan into the oven, and bake until done.
And that's it, y'all!!
The incredible amount of complementary flavors distributed throughout each bite of this baked Cajun shrimp is extraordinary!! Sweet, savory, smoky, citrusy, earthy, and garlicky notes explode off the tongue simultaneously, collectively creating a one-of-a-kind flavor extravaganza your taste buds won't soon forget.
And, the sauce, y'all!! Just enough to add the perfect amount of lushness to each bite, with soooo much flavor that it's literally a mini tidal wave of deliciousness cascading over every perfectly cooked, well-seasoned shrimpy bite. Indeed!!!
Share this baked Cajun shrimp with those whose impending presence always envelops you with love at first sight. And see y'all on the yum side...
This post was originally published on October 8, 2021, and was updated and republished on June 15, 2025.
Baked Cajun Shrimp
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice freshly squeezed is a must!!
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper to taste I used about ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, and ⅛ teaspoon cayenne
- 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined optimally 31/35-count shrimp but you can use any size
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Pour the olive oil, lemon juice, honey, and hot sauce into a large bowl and stir until combined.
- Add the garlic powder, onion powder, dried parsley flakes, paprika, salt, black pepper, and cayenne to the mixture.
- Fold the shrimp into the mixture, then transfer to a well-greased cast iron skillet or 9 x 13 baking dish, ensuring the seasoned shrimp are in a single layer in the pan.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the shrimp turn opaque and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the shrimp reads at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Remove from the oven and let stand for five minutes before serving.
Notes
The information shown is an estimate provided by a third-party, online computer-generated nutrition calculator, not a registered dietitian or certified nutritionist. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods and individual portion sizes, along with other factors.
See our full nutrition disclaimer here.
