Description
A budget-friendly, spicy, and creamy shrimp pasta designed for one person, costing under $5 to make. It uses simple pantry staples and frozen shrimp for a restaurant-quality meal without the high price tag.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces (225g) dried spaghetti or fettuccine
- 8–10 ounces (225-280g) frozen shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 tablespoons (30g) butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup (120ml) heavy cream or half-and-half
- 1–2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
- 1–2 teaspoons hot sauce (e.g., Frank’s RedHot)
- 1/4 cup (60ml) low-sodium chicken broth
- 1/4 cup (25g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Optional: 1/2 cup canned green beans, drained
- Optional: 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Prep ingredients: Mince garlic, grate Parmesan, and thaw shrimp under cold water. Pat shrimp dry with a paper towel.
- Cook pasta: Bring a small pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente (8-10 minutes). Before draining, reserve 1/4 cup of pasta water. Drain pasta and set aside.
- Sauté aromatics: While pasta cooks, melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and Cajun seasoning. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant but not brown.
- Build sauce: Pour in chicken broth and simmer for 2 minutes. Add heavy cream (or half-and-half) and hot sauce. Stir and simmer for 3-4 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Add shrimp and cheese: Add thawed shrimp to the sauce. If raw, cook for 2-3 minutes until pink; if pre-cooked, warm for 1 minute. Remove skillet from heat. Gradually stir in Parmesan cheese until melted and sauce thickens. Add pasta water if too thick.
- Combine: Add drained pasta to the skillet. Toss to coat evenly. Adjust consistency with reserved pasta water if needed. Taste and adjust salt.
- Serve: Serve immediately topped with extra Parmesan, black pepper, and optional red pepper flakes or fresh parsley.
Notes
Save the starchy pasta water to help thicken the sauce. Do not skimp on salt in the pasta water. Remove from heat before adding cheese to prevent graininess. Frozen shrimp are recommended for budget and convenience. This dish does not freeze well due to the dairy sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 large plate
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 850
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 16
- Carbohydrates: 60
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 35
Keywords: budget meals, shrimp pasta, creamy pasta, Cajun food, quick dinner, single serving, cheap meals, weeknight dinner