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Kicking things up today with my 15 Minute Cajun Hot Honey Butter Shrimp. Peppery, smoky, garlicky, and buttery, this cajun style shrimp is pan-seared with plenty of lemons and served with sweet and spicy southern-style hot honey. Spoon this buttery shrimp over creamy polenta with pan-seared peppers or sautéed spinach for a complete dinner that’s so simple, and mouth-wateringly delicious. Major bonus? This shrimp dinner is made in just about 15 minutes, using simple pantry ingredients. Perfect for busy nights when you just need something quick and delicious.
I hope you all had a lovely weekend and enjoyed some time celebrating your mom. Did you mix up some fun cocktails, bake a pie or a cake, have a family dinner via Zoom? Whatever you did, I hope you had a great weekend. Today’s post was meant to be a salad, and you’ll still be seeing that salad, probably later this week, but you know? After a very relaxed Mother’s Day weekend, that no one wanted to see end, this fun southern-inspired cajun shrimp just makes Monday a little more enjoyable.
So kickin’ southern style cajun shrimp it is.
The honest truth… was going to make something completely different with the two-pound bag of frozen shrimp in my freezer. But then at the last minute, I switched gears and I made this southern-inspired shrimp instead. It was my best idea of the week.
Yes, this shrimp is simple as can be and comes together in fifteen minutes flat. But don’t let that fool you, this skillet shrimp is such an incredibly flavorful meal.
This is simple. First things first, if you enjoy cooking shrimp regularly, make sure your freezer is well-stocked with frozen shrimp. Having a few bags on hand will save you on nights when you need to cook something other than chicken, and you also need dinner fast.
Thaw out the shrimp and make sure to pat it dry before seasoning. This is key for a nice and crispy shrimp. Toss the shrimp with a good amount of cajun seasoning (you can use my homemade seasoning in the recipe notes, or store-bought). Then add a heavy pinch of black pepper.
Heat your skillet over high heat. Sear the heck out of those shrimps, then add in plenty of (salted) butter, garlic, and fresh thyme too. Oh and lemon! You can’t forget the lemon. And now, you’re done. YUP, that’s it. Simple – Simple.
AND SO GOOD.
Yes, the sauce. It’s the reason I created this recipe. It’s inspired by the famous Nashville Hot Chicken and it’s the same sauce I use on my southern oven fried chicken. It’s spicy but balanced with a touch of sweetness. The classic way to add sweetness to this spicy sauce is with brown sugar, but I prefer using honey for better flavor and texture.
The shrimp has a bit of a kick, so the honey sauce is the perfect sweet balance…and it’s delicious. It’s one of my favorites sauces, and everyone else’s too. Which is why I’ve used it in both the chicken and this shrimp.
I debated back and forth about whether to provide you with a side for this recipe. But in the end, I went with keeping it simple so you could take your pick of sides. But I want to at least provide you with my suggestions.
My choice of a side for this southern shrimp is extra creamy polenta. All you need is polenta, butter, and a pinch of black pepper. Sometimes I like to stir in fresh herbs or a little parmesan, either way, nothing can beat out a bowl of creamy polenta. Especially with such a saucy shrimp dinner like this one. It’s the BEST.
My second choice is steamed rice, but guys make the polenta. It takes ten minutes tops and it’s just so good.
For my vegetable of choice? Pan seared red and orange bell peppers with spinach tossed in at the very end. I’d add a little fresh basil or thyme, then finish with lemon. When the summer corn is in high season, that would be delicious too!
And there you have it, dinner is complete. All in probably twenty to thirty minutes time including cooking the shrimp. So do you see…this is the best idea for Monday night dinner. Then add a fun drink, I’d go with something bourbon, like maybe my blueberry smash. There’s no reason not to have an amazing Monday night, and this is how you do it up.
PS. I forget to add that you should serve this shrimp with crusty bread for scooping up all that amazing sauce. Really, it’s so delicious.
Looking for other quick-cooking shrimp dinners? These are all nice options…
Saucy Garlic Butter Shrimp with Coconut Milk and Rice Noodles
Cajun Pepper Shrimp with Creamed Corn Orzo
Sheet Pan Hawaiian Pineapple Shrimp Tacos with Creamy Jalapeño Special Sauce
Lastly, if you make this 15 minute cajun hot honey butter shrimp, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Made this and loved it! Awesome flavors.
Thank you so much Jill! xTieghan
This came together perfectly. The entire family really enjoyed it. The sauce in which you cook the shrimp is dangerous. I kept going back for spoonfulls to put on my polenta – even when the shrimp were all gone. I could eat it on just about anything!
I am so glad you all enjoyed this one, Jennifer! Also, so glad you loved the sauce! Let me know if you try it on anything else! xTieghan
Made this tonight needing a quick, flavorful meal. Boy, did it deliver! The perfect amount of heat and sweet. My husband, cwho can be picky, loved it! Thanks for this great recipe!
Well I am glad this one was loved by all! Thank you so much for trying this Dawn! xTieghan
Just made this! It was quick and turned out soooo well!!!
Thank you Renae! xTieghan
Perfect blend of spicy and sweet! We made it with cilantro lime rice. It was a big hit. Will definitely make again!!
Thank you so much Renee! xTieghan
Hi, i made this for dinner tonight and it was absolutely delicious! It was so easy to make with everything I already had at home- bonus! Thanks for the great recipe!
Thank you so much Noelle! xTieghan
Loved the hot honey!
Thank you so much! xTieghan
I loved the honey glaze! My shrimp turned out a bit watery even after patting dry. Served it with pan fried polenta.
Amazing! Thank you Carolyn! xTieghan
So so good! Never been a seafood person but this has turned me!
Wow love to hear that! Thank you for trying this, Paige! xTieghan
Served this with quinoa and wilted spinach. Fabulous flavors!
Love that! Thank you so much! xTieghan
Quick, easy, and delicious!! I love when I have everything on hand to try a new recipe. We loved this! I roasted some corn and made sourdough bread as accompaniments.
Amazing!! Thank you for trying this one Bethany! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan,
I wish there had been an option for more then 5 stars. By far hands down one of my favorite shrimp recipes. The flavors come together so well its amazing!! In all honestly there is never enough spice for me. Do you enjoy eating spicy food or cooking it a lot?? I’d love to see more Cajun dishes. They are some of my favorite dishes to cook. I also have a huge compliment for you. The other day I was looking at recipes and reading some other food blogs. None of them come close to what you’re doing here. Their recipes didn’t excite me and weren’t all that inspiring like yours. Besides your food, I love how you tell a story with your food. Each post takes us into your thinking and inspiration for making the dish. I was once told by a chef your food should look like love on a plate. I am here to say that you have mastered that perfectly!! 🙂
You are too kind!! I am so glad this recipe turned out so well for you, Mike! I hope my recipes continue to inspire you and turn out amazing! Thank you!! xTieghan
We made this with chicken and chic peas instead of shrimp and it was delicious. Served with a side of creamy polenta as suggested. Fantastic!
Thank you so much Jamie! xTieghan
This was delicious!! I can’t wait for quarantine to be over so I can serve this to friends. So easy too! I cut the butter in half and it was fine.
Thank you so much Laura! xTieghan
I’ve never been inclined to leave a comment on a recipe before but this was DELICIOUS! So flavorful. So tasty. You’re a queen! Xo
Thank you so much Andrea! I hope you continue to love my recipes!! xTieghan