Zesty Blackened Shrimp Cavatappi Recipe Everyone Will Love

Sizzling spices dance across succulent blackened shrimp cavatappi that promises a flavor explosion on your plate.

Bold Cajun seasonings coat plump shrimp with intense, smoky warmth.

The curvy cavatappi pasta catches every drop of rich, zesty sauce, ensuring maximum taste in each bite.

Tender seafood mingles with perfectly cooked pasta, creating a restaurant-worthy meal you can craft at home.

Weeknight dinner just got a serious upgrade with this restaurant-quality dish.

Southern-inspired seasonings turn an ordinary meal into a culinary adventure.

Grab your skillet and get ready to impress with this mouthwatering seafood pasta sensation.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Calories: 634 kcal

Servings: 5

What Goes Into Blackened Shrimp Cavatappi

• Cavatappi Noodles: Curly, ridged pasta perfect for catching creamy sauces and trapping delicious flavors.

• Shrimp, Blackened Seasoning: Fresh, plump shrimp transformed with a zesty spice blend that delivers bold, smoky heat.

• Butter, Heavy Cream, Tomato Paste, Sour Cream, Parmesan Cheese: Creamy base ingredients that create a luxurious, velvety sauce with rich depth and tangy complexity.

• Sweet Corn, Green Onions: Sweet corn kernels add bursts of summer sweetness, while green onions provide a crisp, mild onion punch for bright finishing notes.

Kitchen Tools for Blackened Shrimp Cavatappi

• Large Pot: Essential for boiling cavatappi pasta perfectly.
• Colander: Needed to drain cooked pasta efficiently.
• Large Skillet: Critical for cooking shrimp and creating creamy sauce.
• Measuring Spoons: For precise seasoning of shrimp.
• Wooden Spoon or Spatula: Helps stir sauce and mix ingredients smoothly.
• Cutting Board: Used for chopping green onions as garnish.
• Chef's Knife: Necessary for finely chopping green onion garnish.
• Plate: Temporary holding spot for cooked shrimp.

Cooking Blackened Shrimp Cavatappi Made Simple

• Pasta Foundation

Boil salted water and cook cavatappi until tender, creating a perfect pasta base for the upcoming flavor explosion.

• Shrimp Preparation

Generously coat fresh shrimp with bold blackening spices, allowing the seasoning to penetrate deeply for maximum taste.

• Seafood Sizzle

Melt butter in a hot skillet and carefully cook shrimp until they transform into golden-edged delights, ensuring each piece reaches perfect doneness.

• Creamy Canvas

Introduce heavy cream to the skillet, gently simmering and lifting delicious browned bits to create a rich, luxurious sauce foundation.

• Sauce Symphony

Blend tomato paste, sour cream, and parmesan into the cream, stirring until a velvety smooth mixture emerges with complex, tantalizing flavors.

• Final Fusion

Combine pasta, succulent shrimp, and sweet corn into the creamy sauce, tossing until every ingredient is beautifully coated. Sprinkle fresh green onions on top for a vibrant finish and serve immediately.

Tips to Adjust Blackened Shrimp Cavatappi

• Replace blackened seasoning with Cajun, Old Bay, or your favorite spice blend for a personalized flavor kick.
• Substitute shrimp with chicken, scallops, or plant-based protein like tofu for dietary preferences or variety.
• Experiment with roasted bell peppers, spinach, or asparagus instead of sweet corn to add different textures and nutritional value.
• Add a splash of white wine or a dollop of cream cheese to deepen the sauce's complexity and create a more luxurious mouthfeel.
• Use gluten-free pasta and verify that all seasonings are certified gluten-free for those with dietary restrictions.

Serving Suggestions for Shrimp Cavatappi

• Elevate Your Plate: Sprinkle fresh parsley or cilantro over the dish for a vibrant pop of color and added herbal freshness.
• Pair with Crisp Companions: Serve alongside a light, zesty side salad with a lemon vinaigrette to balance the rich, creamy sauce and complement the blackened shrimp.
• Wine Wonderland: Enhance the meal with a crisp white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or a light Pinot Grigio that cuts through the creamy sauce and matches the seafood's delicate flavor.
• Bread Basket Bonus: Include warm, crusty garlic bread or toasted ciabatta slices to soak up the delicious sauce and add a satisfying crunch to your dining experience.

Keeping Blackened Shrimp Cavatappi Fresh

• Refrigerate Wisely: Store leftover blackened shrimp cavatappi in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Seal tightly to maintain freshness and prevent moisture loss.
• Reheat Gently: Warm the pasta in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of cream to restore sauce's creamy texture. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and ensure even heating.
• Freeze Smartly: For longer storage, freeze the dish without corn for best quality. Place in freezer-safe containers, leaving some space for expansion. Consume within 2 months for optimal taste.
• Meal Prep Magic: Prepare components separately to extend dish's versatility. Keep cooked pasta, shrimp, and sauce in separate containers. Combine just before serving to maintain ideal texture and flavor.

Smoky Blackened Shrimp Cavatappi Recipe

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4.6 from 22 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

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Description

Cajun-spiced blackened shrimp cavatappi delivers bold Mediterranean-inspired flavors with creamy pasta and zesty seasonings. Spicy seafood and rich sauce combine for a restaurant-quality meal you can easily prepare at home.

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Ingredients

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• 1 lb (454 g) shrimp, raw, deveined, tail removed
• 8 oz (227 g) cavatappi noodles, cooked al dente
• 1 can (15 oz/425 g) sweet corn, drained
• 2 tbsps blackened seasoning
• 1 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 cup (238 g) heavy cream
• 2 tbsps tomato paste
• ¼ cup (57.5 g) sour cream
• ½ cup (50 g) parmesan cheese, grated
• Green onion, chopped, for garnish

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Instructions

1. Pasta Preparation: Immerse cavatappi in a heavily salted boiling water bath, cooking for 8-9 minutes until reaching al dente perfection. Drain and set aside for subsequent assembly.
2. Shrimp Seasoning: Lavishly coat raw shrimp with blackened spice blend, ensuring comprehensive and uniform coverage across each maritime morsel.
3. Protein Searing: Melt butter in a capacious skillet over medium-high heat, creating a golden cooking landscape. Strategically place seasoned shrimp in a single layer, allowing caramelization and developing a rich exterior. Cook 4-6 minutes, flipping midway to guarantee thorough preparation. Transfer expertly seared shrimp to a separate vessel.
4. Sauce Foundation: Reduce skillet temperature and introduce heavy cream. Simmer liquid while methodically extracting browned culinary essence from pan surface, intensifying underlying flavor dimensions.
5. Sauce Refinement: Minimize heat, then integrate tomato paste, sour cream, and parmesan cheese. Whisk persistently until cheese dissolves, generating a luxuriously smooth sauce with complex flavor profile.
6. Final Composition: Amalgamate cooked cavatappi, seared shrimp, and sweet corn kernels into the creamy amalgamation. Thoroughly toss, ensuring comprehensive sauce integration and flavor distribution.
7. Presentation: Embellish with freshly sliced green onions, serving immediately to maintain optimal gustatory experience and textural integrity.

Notes

• Perfectly Season Shrimp: Ensure complete, even coverage of blackened seasoning for maximum flavor intensity and consistent spice distribution.
• Master Al Dente Pasta: Cook cavatappi precisely 8-9 minutes to maintain ideal texture, preventing overcooking that leads to mushy noodles.
• Control Skillet Temperature: Medium-high heat creates perfect caramelization for shrimp, while reducing temperature prevents sauce separation and burning.
• Layer Flavors Strategically: Scrape browned pan bits into cream sauce to develop rich, deep underlying taste profiles that elevate the entire dish.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Boiling
• Cuisine: Southern American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 634
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 757 mg
• Fat: 42 g
• Saturated Fat: 25 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
• Trans Fat: 1 g
• Carbohydrates: 44 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 28 g
• Cholesterol: 203 mg