Description
Cajun Shrimp Alfredo Bake delivers a spicy, creamy pasta dream straight from your kitchen. Packed with zesty shrimp and rich sauce, this comforting dish turns dinner into a delicious Southern-style adventure.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 10.5 ounces penne pasta
- 8.8 ounces shrimp, peeled
- 1.5 cups Alfredo sauce
Seasonings:
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
Toppings:
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 bell pepper, diced
Instructions
- Boil 10.5 ounces penne pasta in a large pot with salted water for 8-10 minutes until perfectly al dente. Drain pasta and set aside in a large mixing bowl.
- Heat a skillet to medium temperature and cook 8.8 ounces of peeled shrimp with 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning for exactly 3 minutes until shrimp turn completely pink and opaque.
- Add sauteed shrimp, 1.5 cups Alfredo sauce, and 1 diced bell pepper to the pasta. Gently mix all ingredients until thoroughly combined and evenly distributed.
- Transfer the entire mixture into a clean baking dish, spreading it smoothly across the surface.
- Sprinkle 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the pasta mixture, ensuring complete coverage.
- Preheat your oven to 375°F and place the baking dish inside. Bake for precisely 20 minutes until cheese transforms into a golden, bubbly layer.
- Remove the baking dish from the oven and let it rest for 3-5 minutes before serving to allow the ingredients to settle and cool slightly.
Notes
- Ensure pasta stays perfectly al dente by checking it a minute before package instructions suggest, as it will continue cooking in the oven.
- Select high-quality Cajun seasoning with a balanced heat profile to elevate the dish’s overall flavor complexity.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream Alfredo sauce with a Greek yogurt or low-fat cream-based sauce and use part-skim mozzarella.
- When sautéing shrimp, avoid overcrowding the skillet to guarantee each piece develops a nice golden exterior and stays tender.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 23 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 395 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 610 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 41 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 29 g
- Cholesterol: 115 mg