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+ servings
A pile of blackened shrimp on newspaper next to a dipping cup of remoulade sauce

Quick & Easy Blackened Shrimp

This 15-minute blackened shrimp recipe is fast, easy, and full of incredible flavors. The remoulade is optional but HIGHLY recommended!
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 5 minutes
Total: 15 minutes
Yield:4 servings

Equipment

  • medium mixing bowl with lid, optional
  • whisk optional
  • Small bowl
  • Spoon
  • Medium bowl
  • Large skillet
  • Tongs or spatula

Ingredients

For the Remoulade Sauce (Optional)

  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons whole grain mustard Creole mustard preferred
  • 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
  • 1 teaspoon Cajun or Creole seasoning Louisiana, Tony Chachere's, etc.
  • 2 teaspoons capers roughly chopped
  • 1 teaspoon horseradish
  • ½ teaspoon pickle juice dill or sweet
  • ½ teaspoon hot sauce Tabasco, Crystal, Louisiana, etc.
  • 1 clove garlic minced, smashed

For the Shrimp

Instructions

For the Remoulade Sauce (Optional)

  • Add ½ cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons whole grain mustard, 1 teaspoon sweet paprika, 1 teaspoon Cajun or Creole seasoning, 2 teaspoons capers, 1 teaspoon horseradish, ½ teaspoon pickle juice, ½ teaspoon hot sauce, and 1 clove garlic to medium bowl. Whisk until ingredients are fully combined.
    Ingredients for remoulade in bowl
  • Serve immediately with prepared shrimp, or cover and chill at least one hour (preferred).

For the Shrimp

  • Add 2 teaspoons paprika, ¼ teaspoon salt, ⅛-¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, ½ teaspoon cumin, ½ teaspoon dried thyme, ½ teaspoon black pepper, and ¼ teaspoon onion powder to small bowl. Stir until spices are well-blended.
    Blackened seasoning in bowl
  • Place 1 pound raw shrimp in medium bowl and add spice blend. Gently stir or toss shrimp until fully coated in spice blend. Set aside.
  • Heat large skillet over medium-high heat. When pan is warm, add 1-2 tablespoons olive oil and swirl or tilt pan to distribute oil across entire surface. Continue heating pan over medium-high heat until oil is hot and shimmery.
  • When oil is ready, add seasoned shrimp to skillet. Cook shrimp, undisturbed, 1 minute. After 1 minute, flip shrimp over and cook 1 minute more, until shrimp are opaque and curled into "J" shape. Be careful not to overcook.
    Blackened shrimp in skillet.
  • Transfer cooked shrimp to serving bowl or plate. Serve warm with remoulade sauce (optional) and preferred sides.

Notes

  • Mild Heat: Use ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper.
  • Medium Heat: Use ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper.
  • Make it Dairy Free: Most mayo is dairy free, but if you want to err on the side of caution, double-check the ingredients label or use a vegan mayo for your remoulade.
  • Make it Gluten Free: This recipe is naturally gluten-free, but be sure to check the label on each ingredient you use to make sure that specific version doesn't contain gluten.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1serving | Calories: 350kcal | Protein: 24g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 298mg | Sodium: 1347mg | Potassium: 170mg | Total Carbs: 3g | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Net Carbs: 2g | Vitamin A: 1008IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 184mg | Iron: 3mg
Recipe By:Cheryl Malik