This authentic shrimp etouffee is positively packed with true Cajun flavor! Perfect when you’re craving something filling, bright, spicy, and delicious, this recipe is restaurant quality and perfect with a mound of rice and loaf of crusty bread.
Some links in this post may be affiliate links. Should you click through to that product and make a purchase, 40 Aprons will receive a small compensation, at no additional cost to you. Anything mentioned here is referred solely based on my experience and satisfaction with the company and/or product, and not because of any potential commission. I’ll identify any affiliate links when they appear within the post!
What Makes This Recipe So Good
- This classic Cajun recipe is absolutely loaded with flavor. Packed with veggies and tender, perfectly seasoned shrimp, it’s the ultimate dinner when you can’t make it to New Orleans!
- This shrimp etouffee is surprisingly easy to make. Made in just over a half hour with mostly pantry staples and fresh vegetables, it’s sure to impress your family or guests – even picky ones.
- With just a few simple swaps, this recipe can easily be made gluten free, paleo, or Whole30-compliant.
How To Make Shrimp Etouffee
The full recipe & ingredients list are below, but here you’ll find a quick overview for making this recipe perfectly, along with useful tips and info!
Whisk the spices together in a small bowl.
Dry the shrimp with some paper towels and add it to a bowl. Season it with some of the spice blend and toss the shrimp so they get fully coated.
Heat some oil in a large, heavy skillet until the oil is smoking hot. Cook the shrimp in the hot oil for a minute, then stir and cook another minute. Transfer the shrimp to a large bowl.
Melt some butter in your skillet and sauté the onions, celery, and green pepper until they’re softened. Add the rest of the spices to the skillet.
Stir in the tomatoes and garlic and cook until the tomatoes soften.
Sprinkle the flour into the veggies and sauté until they’re combined, then whisk in the stock until everything is smooth. Bring it all to a simmer and let it cook until it’s the consistency of gravy. Season with some salt.
Stir the shrimp into the sauce and let everything simmer until the shrimp cook all the way through. Serve over rice and garnish with green onions and a little cayenne pepper.
Top Tips For Making
- To make your shrimp etouffee gluten free, sub out the flour with gluten free flour.
- For paleo or Whole30 shrimp etouffee, use cassava flour instead of all-purpose and serve with cauliflower rice instead of white rice.
More Delicious Cajun & Creole Recipes
- Healthy Jambalaya with Sausage & Shrimp (Whole30, Low Carb, Paleo)
- Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice
- Whole30 Shrimp Boil with Potatoes, Sausage, and Garlic Ghee (Paleo)
- Shrimp and Grits
- Blackened Shrimp with Remoulade Sauce
- Shrimp Gumbo
- Healthy Authentic Seafood Gumbo (Gluten Free, Whole30, Paleo, Low Carb)
Hey – you’ve made it this far, and now we’re best friends! If you make this recipe, I’d love for you to give it a star rating ★ below. Make sure you follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook, too!
Shrimp Etouffee
Ingredients
- 1 dash cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon ground thyme
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 teaspoons no salt added Cajun seasoning
- 2 pounds shrimp peeled and deveined
- ½ teaspoon salt optional, only if Cajun seasoning doesn't have salt
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil or olive oil
- ¼ cup butter
- ½ cup onion diced
- ½ cup green bell pepper diced
- ½ cup celery thinly sliced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour or as needed
- ½ cup tomatoes diced
- 2 cups chicken stock or as needed
- hot sauce dash, plus more to taste
- salt to taste
- ¼ cup green onions sliced
- 2 cups rice cooked
Instructions
- Whisk thyme, oregano, cayenne pepper, Cajun seasoning, optional salt, and black pepper together in a small bowl.
- Dry shrimp with paper towels and season with 1 1/2 teaspoon of the spice blend. Toss to coat shrimp thoroughly.
- Heat oil in large, heavy skillet over high heat until oil is smoking hot. Cook shrimp in the hot oil without stirring for 1 minute. Stir and cook 1 additional minute. Transfer shrimp to large bowl.
- Melt butter in skillet over medium heat until butter begins to turn tan at the edges. Sauté the onion, celery, and green pepper 5 minutes or until softened. Add rest of spice blend to vegetables.
- Stir in tomatoes and garlic. Cook until tomatoes soften, about 2 minutes. Sprinkle flour into vegetable mixture and sauté 3-4 minutes until combined.
- Whisk stock into vegetable mixture and stir until smooth. Bring to simmer and cook until slightly thickened and consistency of gravy, about 3-5 minutes. Season with salt to taste.
- Stir shrimp into sauce. Let simmer until shrimp are cooked all the way through and no longer translucent, about 1 minute. Garnish with green onions and cayenne pepper to taste. Serve over rice.
Notes
- Make it Gluten free: Substitute gluten free for all-purpose flour 1:1
- Make it Paleo or Whole30: Substitute cassava flour for all-purpose flour 1:1 and serve with steamed cauliflower rice instead of white rice
Nutrition
If you enjoyed this recipe, be sure to check out 40 Aprons Premium! 40 Aprons Premium offers exclusive recipes, monthly meal plans, grocery lists, and more – all completely ad free!
Cheryl Malik is the recipe developer, writer, and photographer behind the healthy, flavorful, family friendly recipes at 40 Aprons. She’s been a blogger for 10+ years and is known for her delicious recipes and detailed recipe instructions. Cheryl is a mom of three who lives in Memphis, TN.
Brandy Strahan says
Excellent!
Rebecca Campbell says
My children do a dance when this meal is on the weekly menu.
Mindy D Asplin says
Hello, in your ingredients you don’t list paprika but it’s the first ingredient mentioned in the instructions. How much paprika is needed?
Douglas Shearer says
Impossible to download this shrimp etoufee recipe!
Savannah | 40 Aprons Team says
We are so sorry you are having a negative experience! Can you please let us know what you are having issues with so we can help? 🙂