Perfect for an appetizer or main course, this Cajun Garlic Butter Shrimp will spice up your plate! This recipe was inspired by an old college friend who made this dish for a dinner party, showcasing her Cajun cooking. I’ve recreated it to make a grain free version but kept the beloved buttery garlic flavors with a strong Cajun kick!

I fall into a bad habit of grabbing too much grocery items, brainstorming recipes when I’m shopping and end up with a random assortment of food. Thus with very little planning, I end up with a bunch of mismatched items and no recipe plan. But when Costco had a sale on super jumbo shrimp, big enough to cover my palm, I knew exactly what I was going to make!

This is a favorite shrimp recipe in our household, right next to my Bang Bang shrimp. Clearly I like my food hot and spicy! 😀 The spice blend for this dish is somewhat of a cross between typical Cajun seasoning and Old Bay, fusing together aromatic spices and herbs enhanced with a lot of garlic. A pair of good fats, butter and olive oil, help smooth everything and make the seafood dish just so darn good!

The secret ingredient for this dish, the thing that gives it an awesome kick, is a few drops of Zatarain’s concentrated shrimp and crab boil. It is some powerful stuff and makes a dramatic difference in the spice level and flavor, something I don’t think can be matched by something else. It also brightens the shrimp and gives off a pleasant aroma.

My friend added bread crumbs to her recipe for a little texture. For this recipe, I replaced bread crumbs with some coconut flour. Thus, the recipe is suitable for gluten free, Paleo, and Whole 30 (see note) diets. Coconut flour is super absorbent so just a little bit is needed, no more than 2 tablespoons would be necessary.

Shrimp cooks fast, so this dish is quick and easy to make. It goes great with just about any starch: rice, pasta, or even scalloped potatoes. This Cajun garlic shrimp dish has been a favorite for years, and I hope you’ll enjoy it too! 🙂

