Name: Sautéed Cajun Shrimp with Garlic Aioli
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Cuisine: seafood
Ingredients: 1 pound peeled, tail on shrimp; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon onion powder; pinch of chili flakes (optional); pinch of cayenne (optional); 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano; 1/2 teaspoon paprika; 1/4 teaspoon cumin; 1 teaspoon sea salt; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; 2 tablespoons avocado oil or ghee + more as needed; parsley or chives to garnish; 1/3 cup mayonnaise; 1 clove of garlic, grated or finely chopped; 1 teaspoon grainy mustard; 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice; salt and pepper to taste

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This Cajun-seasoned sautéed shrimp with garlic-aioli is simple and flavor-packed recipe that’s perfect on it’s own, as an appetizer, or as the base for a delicious meal when paired with a side dish or two! Made with tail on shrimp and a flavorful homemade cajun shrimp seasoning. Ready in just 25 minutes! Paleo, gluten free, and keto friendly.

Close up shot of a cajun spiced shrimp in a small bowl of garlic aioli. On a light speckled plate with snipped chives.

Perfectly seasoned cajun shrimp with zippy garlic aioli are a the stuff that easy-dream-dinners are made of.

Quick and flavorful, they check all the boxes!

Pair them with a simple side like sautéed garlic spinach, lemon garlic roasted asparagus, turmeric roasted cauliflower, or a big green salad and you’re well on your way to a meal that is both wholesome and satisfying.

Cajun style shrimp also make excellent appetizer / game day snacking material if you’re looking for something delicious to add to your grazing spread!

If you love a good shrimp recipe as much as we do be sure to check out our recipes for Garlic Basil Sautéed Shrimp, Garlic Marinated Grilled Shrimp Skewers, Shrimp Scampi Without Wine, 10-Minute Pan Seared Shrimp, & Burst Cherry Tomato and Shrimp Pasta!

Why you’ll love this shrimp recipe

It is:

Crazy flavorful
Simple to make
Perfectly seasoned
Filling
Keto friendly
Whole30 compliant
Snack & dinner worthy
So dang good!

Light speckled plate of cajun spiced shrimp topped with snipped chives. Lemon wedges on the plate and a small bowl of aioli.

Close up shot of whole30 cajun spiced shrimp topped with snipped chives.

Ingredients

This spiced up shrimp recipe is made with shrimp, an easy cajun seasoning blend, and a simple homemade garlic aioli.

(If you’re already ready to get started, scroll all the way down to the bottom for the full recipe!)

Here’s exactly what you need to make them:

Tail on shrimp – Peeled, tail on shrimp are my preference for this recipe, but you can use any type of shrimp that you prefer!
Homemade shrimp seasoning – A simple blend of garlic powder, onion powder, chili flakes, cayenne, dried oregano, paprika, cumin, salt and pepper. You could also use a pre-made cajun spice blend.
Mayonnaise – Homemade and store bought both work!
Garlic
Grainy mustard
Lemon juice
Salt & pepper

Close up shot of raw shell on jumbo shrimp.

Picture of the ingredients for Whole30 cajun spiced shrimp - plate of raw shell on shrimp, small bowl of aioli, a few lemon wedges, a small bowl filled with spice blend, and a bundle of fresh herbs.

Picture of a hand dipping a cajun spiced shrimp into small bowl of aioli. On a light speckled plate next to a small lemon wedge.

How to make

These cajun shrimp are made on the stove top and ready in less than 30 minutes!

Here’s the step-by-step instructions

Step 1: Make the garlic aioli

Mix together mayonnaise, grated garlic, lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.

Step 2: Make the Cajun seasoning

In a small bowl mix together the cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, chili flakes, oregano, paprika, cumin, sea salt, and black pepper.

Step 3: Prep the shrimp

Peel shrimp if necessary, and pat super dry with paper towels – the drier the shrimp, the better they will cook when you sear them. Moisture when cooking any kind of protein promotes steaming instead of searing.

Toss shrimp with seasoning mix until evenly coated.

Step 4: Cook the shrimp

Heat 2 tablespoons avocado oil or ghee in a large cast iron or non stick skillet over medium high heat.

When oil is hot and glistening, add shrimp in a single layer, being careful not to crowd the pan. Cook in multiple batches if needed, add a little more oil for each batch.

Cook for about 1 minute per side, until just barely opaque in the center.

Step 5: Garnish with herbs and serve!

Garnish with some fresh parsley / chives and serve immediately with garlic aioli for dipping!

Close up shot of a small bowl of garlic aioli, topped with snipped chives.

Are these Cajun shrimp spicy?

The spice blend in this recipe include cayenne and chili flakes, which gives it a small kick of heat, but if you’re not a fan of spicy, you can simply omit those two ingredients.

What is the best pan to cook shrimp in?

My first choice for cooking these cajun shrimp is a cast iron skillet.

Cast iron is generally my go to pan for cooking most proteins, unless it’s a very delicate piece of fish.

Servings suggestions

These simple Cajun shrimp are delicious on their own as an appetizer, or as a base for lunch or dinner.

They would pair deliciously with:

A big green salad
Mashed potatoes
Cauliflower mash
Cilantro lime rice
Dairy free coleslaw
Kale Caesar (swap the chicken for these shrimp in this recipe!)

If you enjoyed this recipe, we’d love it if you would take 5 seconds to rate and review it below! It’s also super helpful for other readers if you share any modifications you made to the recipe.

Thank you for sharing your kitchen with NK. We’re so grateful you’re here!