Crispy Fried Cajun Shrimp – Cookin' with Mima

Name: Cajun Fried Shrimp
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 2 lbs jumbo shrimp (peeled and deveined); 3 tablespoons cajun seasonings (divided); 1 tablespoon garlic powder; 1 tablespoon onion powder; 2 cups buttermilk; 2 tablespoons yellow mustard; 2 tablespoon hot sauce; 2 cups all-purpose flour; ½ cup cornstarch; Oil (for frying); Chopped parsley (to garnish); Lemon wedges (to serve); 1 cup mayonnaise; ½ cup tomato ketchup; 2 tablespoons lemon juice; 1 tablespoon rice vinegar; 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard; 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce; 1 teaspoon minced garlic; ½ teaspoon paprika

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These Fried Cajun Shrimp are golden, crispy, and packed with bold smoky flavor in every bite. Coated in a seasoned Cajun crust and fried to perfection, they come together in no time with simple pantry ingredients.

A platter of crispy shrimp with cajun seasoning.

This is the kind of recipe you’ll make on a Tuesday night and get asked for every single weekend after that. The Cajun seasoning gives it that bold, smoky kick, and that golden coating? Absolutely addictive. Once you try it, takeout won’t even cross your mind.

Reason To Love This Recipe

Bold Cajun Flavor: Cajun seasoning provides the right balance of spice and zest, enhancing the shrimp’s natural sweetness.
Quick and Easy: This recipe is perfect for last-minute meals or party appetizers.
Customizable Heat Level: You can easily adjust the spice level by tweaking the amount of Cajun seasoning or adding extra cayenne pepper for an extra kick.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Ingredients needed for cajun fried shrimp.

Jumbo shrimp: Make sure the shrimp are peeled and deveined before cooking.
Seasonings: Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, and onion powder create a flavorful base on the shrimp.
Marinade: Buttermilk, yellow mustard, and hot sauce get mixed together for a quick marinade. Don’t have buttermilk? Mix two cups milk with two tablespoons lemon juice or white vinegar and let the mixture sit for 5-10 minutes.
Coating: All-purpose flour and cornstarch make the batter crunchy when fried.
Oil: Use a neutral oil with a high smoke point, like canola, vegetable, rice bran, or corn oil.
Garnish: Chopped fresh parsley and lemon wedges add a kick of flavor and color to the dish.
Dipping Sauce: Ketchup and dijon mustar are the base of the tangy sauce. Use yellow mustard for a milder flavor or spicy brown mustard for more of a kick. Lemon juice, rice vinegar, worcestershire sauce, garlic and paprika add flavor.

How To Make Cajun Fried Shrimp

Shrimp seasoned with cajun seasoning and other spices in a bowl. — **Step 1: Prepare the shrimp.** Pat the shrimp dry and season them with the garlic powder, onion powder, and 2 tablespoons of Cajun seasoning.

Shrimp marinated in butter milk and spices. — **Step 2: Prepare the marinade.** Mix the buttermilk, yellow mustard, and hot sauce in a large bowl, then add the shrimp. Marinade the shrimp for at least an hour up to 4 hours.

Dredging shrimp for frying. — **Step 4: Prepare the flour mixture.** Combine flour, cornstarch, and remaining Cajun seasoning in a separate large bowl.
**Step 5: Batter the shrimp.** Working in small batches, remove the shrimp from the buttermilk marinade and fully coat them in the flour mixture.

A platter of cajun fried shrimp. — **Step 6: Fry the shrimp.** Heat oil to medium high heat and fry the shrimp in batches until golden and crispy.
**Step 7: Drain the shrimp.** Remove the shrimp from the oil and allow them to drain on a towel.

Sauce for dipping cajun fried shrimp. — **Step 8: Mix the sauce.** Mix the mayo, ketchup, lemon juice, rice vinegar, dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, and paprika until smooth.

Crispy cajun shrimp on a platter with a bowl of dipping sauce.

Tips To Perfect This Recipe

Use Jumbo Shrimp: Larger shrimp are ideal for frying because they stay juicy on the inside while achieving a crispy coating.
Pat Shrimp Dry: Make sure to pat the shrimp dry before coating them in the egg and flour mixture. Excess moisture can prevent the coating from adhering properly and will make the shrimp soggy.
Keep the Oil Hot: Maintain the oil temperature at 350°F for perfectly crispy results.
Fry in Batches: Don’t overcrowd the skillet or fryer; this lowers the oil temperature and results in greasy shrimp.

Alternative Cooking Methods

Baked Cajun Shrimp: For a healthier version, coat the shrimp as usual, but bake in the oven at 400°F (200°C) for about 12-15 minutes or until crispy, flipping halfway through.

Air Fryer Cajun Shrimp: Lightly spray the shrimp with cooking spray and air fry at 375°F (190°C) for 12 minutes, flipping them halfway through for even crispness.

Serving Suggestions

Air Fryer Sliced Potatoes: A perfect match for fried shrimp, these crispy sliced potatoes are light, golden, and easy to make in an air fryer.

Spinach Chickpea Salad: This salad is packed with nutrients and provides a fresh, crunchy contrast to the fried shrimp.

Easy Greek White Bean Salad: This salad is packed with nutrients and provides a fresh, crunchy contrast to the fried shrimp.

Sweet Potato Quinoa Salad: A nutritious salad with roasted sweet potatoes, quinoa, black beans, and cranberries, dressed with a maple syrup-lime vinaigrette.

Storing and Reheating

Storing: Store leftover shrimp in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

To reheat: Reheat the shrimp in a preheated oven or air fryer at 350 degrees F for 5-8 minutes until heated through and crispy.

Freezing: Place the cooked shrimp on a baking sheet in a single layer and freeze. Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container up to 2 months. To cook from frozen, add time to the reheating instructions, cooking for 10-15 minutes.

Plate of cajun fried shrimp with a bowl of dipping sauce of the side.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make Cajun fried shrimp ahead of time?

Fried shrimp are best served fresh, but you can prep the shrimp by cleaning and seasoning them ahead of time.

How do you keep fried shrimp crispy?

To keep fried shrimp crispy, avoid overcrowding the frying pan, maintain the oil temperature, and drain the shrimp on paper towels after frying.

A piece of fried shrimp is dipped into a flavorful sauce.

More Shrimp Recipes

This Cajun Fried Shrimp recipe is a simple, flavorful way to enjoy fried seafood at home. Whether you serve it as a main dish or appetizer, it’s a crowd-pleaser that’s quick and easy to make. Try it with coleslaw, fries, or rice for a complete Southern-inspired meal!

If you try this recipe, I’d love to hear how it turned out. Leave a comment and rate the recipe! Also follow me at Cookin’ With Mima on Facebook |Instagram |Pinterest for all of my latest social posts and recipes.