Blackened Shrimp Pasta

$8.11 recipe / $2.01 serving
by Beth Moncel
4.77 from 52 votes
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I have such a weird relationship with shrimp. Most of the time I don’t like it, then suddenly, out of the blue, I get this really intense craving for it and I’m all like, “Who are you and where did you come from?” Well, when that craving hit last week, I whipped up this super fast and easy Blackened Shrimp Pasta, featuring a homemade blackened seasoning mix. If you want BIG flavor without a lot of work, this pasta is your answer. 

A bowl of Blackened Shrimp Pasta with some wound around a fork and lemon slices on the side

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Should I Use Fresh or Frozen Shrimp?

Fresh shrimp is always best, but for most people frozen is going to be the most readily available and cost effective. Either will work for this recipe. Frozen shrimp thaws quickly when placed in a colander with cool water running over it.

What Size Shrimp is Best for Blackened Shrimp Pasta?

When buying shrimp you’ll notice some numbers on the package (mine said 25/35), which refer to the size, or the number of shrimp per pound. The smaller the number, the larger the shrimp. I used 25/35 because that’s what was available that day, but I think I would have preferred to use 31/45 so that I could get more pieces and more shrimp per bite in my pasta.

Larger shrimp are prettier, of course, but since I was being budget conscious and only used 1/2 lb. shrimp, more pieces would have distributed the shrimp throughout the pasta better.

What Type of Pasta Should I Use?

I had angel hair pasta in my pantry, so I went ahead and used that, but this dish would work equally as well with just about any other shape of pasta. I think bowtie would be nice, as would penne, or fettuccine. The pasta is just the vehicle for the amazing spices and shrimp essence in this Blackened Shrimp Pasta, so the shape doesn’t matter so much. :)

Is This Blackened Shrimp Pasta Spicy?

I would call this shrimp pasta “medium” spicy, but sensitivity to heat does vary from person to person. I used a homemade Cajun Seasoning Blend in this recipe, which allows you to adjust the heat to your liking. If you want it less spicy, reduce the cayenne pepper by half. If you want it more spicy, add more cayenne pepper.

Finished skillet full of Blackened Shrimp Pasta with lemon slices, parsley, and green onion
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Blackened Shrimp Pasta

4.77 from 52 votes
This quick and easy 30 minute Blackened Shrimp Pasta with homemade blackening seasoning boasts huge flavor without a lot of work.
Blackened shrimp pasta served with a fork.
Servings 4
Prep 10 minutes
Cook 20 minutes
Total 30 minutes

Ingredients

BLACKENING SEASONING

  • 1 Tbsp smoked paprika ($0.30)
  • 1 tsp thyme ($0.10)
  • 1 tsp oregano ($0.10)
  • 1/2 tsp cumin ($0.05)
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper ($0.03)
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder ($0.03)
  • 1/4 tsp onion powder ($0.03)
  • 1/4 tsp salt ($0.02)
  • Freshly cracked pepper ($0.05)

SHRIMP PASTA

  • 1/2 lb peeled and deveigned shrimp ($4.31)
  • 2 Tbsp butter ($0.25)
  • 2 cloves garlic ($0.16)
  • 15 oz can petite diced tomatoes ($1.09)
  • 1/4 tsp salt ($0.02)
  • 1/2 lb pasta ($0.50)
  • 2-3 green onions, sliced ($0.17)
  • Handful fresh parsley ($0.20)
  • 1 lemon ($0.69)
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Instructions 

  • In a small bowl, combine the herbs and spices for the blackening seasoning. Rinse the shrimp under cool water, drain, and then pat dry with a paper towel. Sprinkle the blackening seasoning over the shrimp and stir to coat.
  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the pasta. Once boiling, add the pasta and cook until tender (7-10 minutes). Reserve about 1 cup of the starchy pasta water, then drain the pasta in a colander.
  • While the pasta is cooking, mince the garlic and add it to a large skillet with the butter. Heat the butter and garlic over a medium flame until the butter starts to foam and sizzle. Continue to sauté the garlic in the sizzling butter for about one minute. Add the shrimp and sauté until they are opaque and slightly firm (3-5 minutes), then remove them from the skillet.
  • Add the diced tomatoes (with juices) and about 1/2 cup of the pasta water to the skillet. Stir and cook over medium heat, dissolving the browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Let the sauce simmer for 5-10 minutes, or until thickened slightly. Taste the sauce and add salt if needed (I added 1/4 tsp salt).
  • Add the cooked and drained pasta to the skillet and toss with the sauce (add some of the remaining reserved pasta water, if needed, to loosen the pasta). Return the shrimp to the skillet and stir to combine.
  • Slice the green onions and chop the parsley leaves. Sprinkle both over top. Serve with sliced lemon to squeeze over top.

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Notes

For a less spicy pasta, use 1/8 tsp or no cayenne pepper.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 356.3kcalCarbohydrates: 49.93gProtein: 20.35gFat: 7.9gSodium: 839.38mgFiber: 3.7g
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Video

Want more shrimp recipes? Check out our Shrimp Recipe Archives!

Front view of a bowl of Blackened Shrimp Pasta

How to Make Blackened Shrimp Pasta – Step by Step Photos

Homemade Blackening Seasoning

Begin by preparing the blackening seasoning – In a small bowl stir together 1 Tbsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp thyme, 1 tsp oregano, 1/2 tsp cumin, 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 tsp onion powder, 1/4 tsp salt, and some freshly cracked pepper (about 20 cranks of a pepper mill).

Fresh Shrimp

Rinse 1/2 lb. peeled and deveined shrimp under cool water, let them drain, then pat dry with a paper towel (that helps the seasoning stick). I used 25/35 size shrimp, but I think a 31/45 might have been even better. Smaller pieces means more pieces throughout the pasta.

Seasoned Shrimp

Pour the prepared seasoning over the shrimp and stir until they’re well coated.

Boil Pasta

Bring a pot of water to a boil for the pasta. Once boiling, add 1/2 lb. pasta and cook until tender. Reserve about one cup of the starchy water before draining the pasta in a colander. I used angel hair pasta, but you could use just about any shape for this dish. When using a long pasta, like spaghetti or angel hair, I find it helps to break it in half before cooking. It makes stirring in large pieces, like shrimp or diced tomatoes, a LOT easier.

Butter and Garlic

While the pasta is cooking, get started on the shrimp and sauce. Mince two cloves of garlic and add them to a large skillet with 2 Tbsp butter. You really do need to use butter for this recipe to get that authentic “blackened” flavor. Heat the butter and garlic over medium heat until it starts to foam and sizzle, then continue to sauté for about a minute to cook out the raw garlic flavor.

Blackened Shrimp in the skillet

Next, add the seasoned shrimp and continue to sauté until the shrimp are opaque and slightly firm. Shrimp cook very fast, so this should only take about 3-5 minutes depending on the size of your shrimp. It’s important not to over cook the shrimp because the longer you let shrimp sit on the heat, the more the proteins contract, and the more firm and rubbery they become. So, remove them from the skillet as soon as they turn opaque and firm up.

Browned Seasoning

Now you’ve got all these fantastic browned butter and seasoning drippings stuck to the skillet. We NEED that flavor, so we’ll be deglazing the skillet…

Petite Cut Tomatoes

Add a 15oz. can of petite diced tomatoes (with the juices) and about 1/2 cup of that starchy pasta cooking water. Stir to dissolve that good stuff off the skillet. Fire roasted diced tomatoes would also be awesome with this, but I don’t think anyone makes them in a petite dice, so you’ll have larger tomato pieces.

Deglaze Pan with tomatoes

Let the sauce simmer for a few minutes to reduce and thicken. Taste the sauce and add a little salt if needed (I added 1/4 tsp salt).

Combine Pasta and Sauce

Add the cooked and drained pasta to the skillet and toss until it’s coated with the sauce. Add a little bit more of the reserved pasta water, if needed, to help loosen the pasta (but don’t add a lot or you’ll thin out the sauce too much).

Add Shrimp back to skillet

Finally, return the cooked shrimp to the skillet and stir to combine with the pasta and sauce.

Parsley Green Onions and Lemon

Slice a couple green onions, chop a handful of parsley leaves, and slice a lemon.

Add Parsley Onion and Lemon to shrimp pasta

Sprinkle the parsley and green onions over the pasta and serve with the lemon slices. 

Blackened Shrimp Pasta in a bowl seen from above

Wowza, that Blackened Shrimp Pasta is NOT foolin’ around.

Side view of Blackened Shrimp Pasta in the skillet
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  1. I love your Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta Recipe – could I add cream cheese to this recipe to make it “creamy”? If so, how much do you recommend adding?

    1. You could try, but the recipe methods are a little different. The other recipe uses 2oz of cream cheese and you’ll likely need to have some broth or other liquid on hand to thin the sauce out. As is I think it would be a bit too thick with just adding cream cheese.

  2. I have been making this recipe for 4 years now. My family loves this dish and is one of their favorites. I quadruple the recipe. I use chicken breast instead of shrimp because my family don’t like shrimp. Even taste better the next day cold too!!

  3. Hi, What store bought blackening spice can you use instead of purcahsing all of the ones that are listed in the recipe? Thanks!

  4. Time to update this recipe as this is not how you blacken shrimp. You will need to have a stove hood that vents outside or do it in a skillet on a grill outside. Season your shrimp and preheat the skillet until it is very, very, very hot. Drizzle in clarified butter (it must be clarified). Add the shrimp and cook about 2 minutes on each side. That’s it. The flavor of blackened foods comes from charring the spices, particularly the thyme and oregano. Use plain paprika instead of smoked. You will have a new favorite dish. Also works with swordfish or tuna steaks and also chicken breast.

  5. Would I be able to sub in diced chunky chicken? Iโ€™m a scardy cat when it comes to shrimp. Lol!

  6. This was delicious! I doubled the shrimp and used 12 oz spaghetti, vs the 8 oz in the recipe. It was so good!!! I will be making this again soon. It was fast to make by quick thawing the shrimp, and using other pantry staples.

  7. This is a recipe I’ve been making for years!!! I’ve even used the spice mixture in other recipes. I love to double the shrimp and use fire roasted tomatoes! Thanks, Beth for such a good one.

  8. Omg yet another another another amazing budgetbytes recipe that I want to make again like tomorrow. So delicious. Thank you Beth for your gift you share with the world. I felt like I went out to a fancy restaurant to eat this was so good.ย 

  9. Yummmm! Perfect amount of spice! I added a little fresh baby spinach for some more green. Definitely saving this for later!

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