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Bringing together all the flavor with this Spicy Southern Style Shrimp with Lemon Basil Orzo. Golden seared shrimp in a creamy, spicy sauce that’s truly so delicious. This shrimp is made all in one skillet with fresh herbs, bell peppers, and a squeeze of lemon. It’s simple and quick cooking, yet roll your eyes back GOOD. Serve this skillet shrimp over a simple lemony basil orzo for a quick and easy summer dinner. This dish makes great use of those delicious herbs and garden bell peppers. It’s the 25-minute dinner that everyone will love!
There are two things I really love about summer shrimp recipes. One, shrimp cooks up in no time at all, so it usually makes for a quick and simple summer dinner. And two, shrimp can really take on so many flavor profiles. From spicy Mexican, to herby Italian, and in today’s case a little spicy southern flare.
I’m not sure what brought on the inspiration for this recipe, other than the fact that I knew I had a bag of shrimp in the freezer and needed a quick weeknight dinner. Sometimes the best inspiration really does comes from the ingredients you have on hand.
I remembered this creamy chicken lazone I shared last year. I LOVED that sauce so much. So I kind of based this recipe off of that. I used it for this shrimp with a few new additions and it turned out just delicious.
I love to give you guys simple and complete meals…all in one’s. Because in reality, when I develop recipes, I develop them as I would want to make them. And personally, I don’t want a recipe just for shrimp in a cream sauce. So we’re making a quick basil orzo to serve alongside the shrimp.
Start with the orzo since the shrimp cooks so fast. Simply boil it off and toss it together with olive oil, lots of fresh basil, lemon, and a pinch of salt. Nothing fancy, but I find it to be a nice switch up from say rice, which is often served with shrimp.
While the orzo cooks, make the shrimp
I tossed the shrimp with a mix of spices that’s essentially a homemade cajun seasoning blend. It’s one of my favorite spice mixes to keep on hand for quick meals like this.
Once the shrimp is tossed in the spices, just sear it in a skillet, then add a small pat of butter. Pull the shrimp out of the pan then toss in lots of bell peppers. Add a splash of wine, then some milk to create a creamy sauce. You can use any milk…nut milk, whole milk, or in my case goat milk…all will work.
Finish the sauce off with a small amount of parmesan cheese, then simply slide the shrimp right back in.
Now serve it up
At this point, the orzo should be finished and you can spoon the creamy sauce and shrimp over plates of warm orzo. As with a lot of my summer dishes, I like to top this with plenty of fresh herbs. Today it was basil.
If you’re feeling it, a side of beer bread would go really great with this dinner. It feels very southern and summery to me!
Then if you’re really trying to impress, make a side salad and you’ll have the perfect simple summer dinner. It’s fresh, bright and so delish!
Looking for other simple skillet recipes? Here are a few ideas:
20 Minute Florentine Butter Chicken with Burst Cherry Tomatoes
Skillet Cheesy Pepperoni Pizza Chicken
One Skillet Cheesy Cuban Chicken Rice Bake
Lastly, if you make this Spicy Southern Style Shrimp with Lemon Basil Orzo, 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!
Spicy Southern Style Shrimp with Lemon Basil Orzo
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 634 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1 pound orzo pasta
- 5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- juice from 1/2 a lemon
- 1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped
- 2 pounds raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 tablespoon plus 1-2 teaspoons cajun seasoning
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 1 tablespoon salted butter
- 2 bell peppers, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
- 1/2 cup dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc
- 1 cup milk or heavy creamy
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- 1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the orzo to al dente, according to package directions. Drain and add it right back to the hot pot. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1/4 cup basil, lemon juice, and season with salt.2. Meanwhile, toss the shrimp with 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon cajun seasoning.3. In a large skillet set over medium-high heat, add 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add the shrimp and cook on both sides until seared, about 2-3 minutes per side. Add the butter, then remove the shrimp from the pan. 4. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, bell peppers, garlic, and thyme. Cook another 2 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low and pour in the wine. Simmer over medium heat for 2-3 minutes. Then add the milk, parmesan, and 2 teaspoons cajun seasoning. Season with salt and pepper. Slide the shrimp into the sauce, simmer 5 minutes until the sauce has thickened slightly. Remove from the heat and stir in a handful of basil.5. Spoon the orzo onto plates, then spoon the shrimp and sauce over the orzo. Top with fresh basil. Enjoy!Â
Notes
Homemade Cajun Seasoning:Â mix 2 1/2 tablespoons smoked paprika, 2 tablespoons garlic powder, 1 tablespoon onion powder, 1 tablespoon dried oregano, 1 tablespoon dried thyme, 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper, 1 1/2 tablespoons kosher salt, and 1 tablespoon black pepper. Makes 3/4 cup.Â
This cajun shrimp recipe was so easy and delicious. I will definitely be making this again. Thank you for sharing Tieghan!
Hi Lynn,
I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your review, I am so glad it was enjoyed! Have a great day:)
One of the tastiest things I’ve ever had, either homemade or from a restaurant. This is a great, flavorful dish, and very simple to make!
Hey Sha,
I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your review, I am so glad it was enjoyed! Have a great day:)
Tried this recipe tonight and it was so delicious! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Hi Sydney,
Wonderful! Thanks so much for making this dish and sharing your feedback, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan,
This looks so great! Is there anyway to make this dairy free and not use the wine?
Thanks for sharing! Can’t wait to make this!
Hi Aliannah,
Totally, just use a dairy free milk and cheese and broth instead of the wine. Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan,
This was so good, my husband and daughter loved it! I added fresh corn to the sauce and chicken broth to the orzo when cooking! I suggest having the ingredients all prepped ahead of time, because it cooks pretty fast.
What should I try next?
Thank you for sharing!
Hey Ava,
Happy Monday!! I really appreciate you trying this recipe out, I am so glad it was enjoyed! The penne all vodka is a fave! Have a great week:)
Hi Tieghan..This recipe was soooo good! It is a keeper! We all loved it at our house! Thanks for all of your amazing recipes and cookbooks. You are very gifted…xoxo Cathy
Hey Catherine,
Happy Sunday! I am so glad to hear this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for making it:) ?
Can the thyme be replaced or left out all together? I don’t like that spice at all.
Hi Susan,
Sure! You can skip it or use another herb that you enjoy:) I hope you love the recipe! xx
WOW. This is insanely good. My husband and I just moved across the country and into our new apartment and this was the first meal I made in our new place! What an easy and comforting dish to enjoy as we get settled!
Making the bacon and corn chowder tomorrow 🙂
Hey Stella,
Happy Sunday! I am so glad to hear this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for making it:) ?
Excellent recipe! My family loved this meal, it will definitely be added to the rotation:)
Hey Lauren,
Happy Friday!!? Thanks for giving this recipe a try and sharing your review, I am so glad it was a hit! xT
Turned out amazing!
Hey Saira,
Happy Wednesday!! Thanks a bunch for making this recipe and sharing your review, I love to hear that it was tasty!?
I loved this recipe and will make it again.
Hey Karen,
Wonderful!! Thanks a bunch for trying this recipe out, I am so glad it was enjoyed! xTieghan
Fast, easy and delicious!
Hey Jen!
Happy Friday! I am so excited that you enjoyed this recipe, thanks a lot for giving it a go! xT?
Hi Tieghan! This is my husbands favorite recipe I’ve ever made! I recently have started eating diary free for health reasons. Could I replace the heavy whipping cream with Full Fat Coconut Milk?
Thank you for so many wonderful recipes!
Hey April,
Wonderful!! Thanks so much for sharing your feedback and making this recipe! Sure, coconut milk would be great! Hope you’re off to a great weekend! xTieghan
My favorite HBH recipe for sure! I make this probably once a week now and love it more every time.
Hi Sam,
Thanks for your review and trying this recipe out, I love to hear that it was a winner! Have the best Thursday! ?xTieghan
OMG! This was my first recipe to try from Half Baked Harvest. I cannot say enough how tasty this recipe was for my family. I was so impressed with the dish that I shared with my neighbor which absolutely raved about the dish.
I am super excited to try additional recipes from HBH!!
Hi Cindy,
Amazing!! I am so glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it and sharing your feedback:)
This is the best shrimp dish I have ever made! It is so so good. My family loves it so much that I’ve made it twice in the past 2 weeks. So many flavors. Yum yum yum!
Hey Lauren,
Thanks for your comment! So glad to hear that this dish was a winner, thanks a lot for giving it a go! ?xTieghan
Followed the recipe exactly and it was perfect! Will make again for sure!
Hi Tyra,
Wonderful!! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it and sharing your feedback! Hope you’re off to a great weekend:)