Cajun Shrimp Skewers Recipe

When you find a good deal on shrimp, it’s the perfect time to make up a bunch of freezer meal bags with seasoned shrimp ready to go. On a busy weeknight, it will be so easy to grab a bag of shrimp, get it on skewers, and head out to the grill. In five to seven minutes, your grilled cajun shrimp skewers can be on the table, so plan your sides accordingly.

Even if you want a shrimp skewer as an addition to your plate, you can’t beat our recipe for perfectly seasoned and grilled shrimp. My family loves to serve it with sesame steak; now we’ve done your meal plan for you, too!

This recipe is so versatile. It can be served over steak, on pasta, or on its own. Any time you want shrimp, this freezer meal recipe is a quick and easy way to get it to the table.

Cajun Shrimp Skewers Recipe

Ingredients for your Freezer Bag

• 1 lb. raw shrimp, fresh or frozen
• 1 Tbsp. canola or olive oil. Any neutral oil will work perfectly fine.
• 3 Tbsp. Cajun seasoning
• 2 Tbsp. lemon juice

Assembly Instructions

1. Add shrimp to a large resealable freezer bag.
2. Next, add oil and gently squish to coat the shrimp.
3. Then, add the Cajun seasoning and gently coat the shrimp again.
4. Finally, add the lemon juice and mix again.
5. Remove excess air, seal, and freeze.

This recipe can also be cooked immediately. If that’s your plan, you can use a large mixing bowl instead of a freezer bag.

Cooking Instructions

1. Soak bamboo skewers in water for 30 minutes. If you have them, you can use metal skewers, which do not need to be soaked.
2. Thaw shrimp.
3. Add shrimp to the skewers and BBQ over medium heat for 5-7 minutes, turning once until the shrimp is pink and curled.

Alternatively, cajun butter shrimp skewers can be cooked under the oven broiler for 5-7 minutes, turning once, or on a very hot cast iron griddle or Blackstone for the same amount of time. If you plan to cook them on a flat surface, make sure you skewer them in such a way that they will lay flat.

What temperature does shrimp need to reach for food safety?

145ºF is the correct temperature, according to food safety experts. Test the temperature using an instant-read thermometer. It is also fairly easy to eyeball the doneness of shrimp so that it doesn’t dry out.

What is the best way to put shrimp on a skewer?

Slide both ends of the shrimp through the skewer as shown, so that it doesn’t break in half and fall off of the skewer.

What is cajun seasoning?

This simple blend of spices has some heat and all of the traditional flavor of New Orleans. You’re welcome to buy pre-mixed seasoning for convenience. We often make our own. You can use this basic recipe to make your own homemade cajun seasoning: 1 1/2 Tbsp paprika, 1 Tbsp fine salt, 1 Tbsp garlic powder, 1/2 Tbsp black pepper, 1/2 Tbsp onion powder, 1/2 Tbsp oregano, 1/4 Tbsp thyme, and cayenne pepper to taste.

Do you leave the tail on shrimp when grilling?

We recommend using peeled and deveined shrimp with the tail removed, as shown in our skewer image. This makes it easier to grill the shrimp and easier to eat.

Ideas and Variations for the Cajun Butter Shrimp Recipe

Not a fan of cajun seasoning? You can trade it out for traditional Old Bay seasoning, a simple garlic/salt/pepper dry rub, a bbq dry rub, or whatever your heart desires. A good lemon-pepper blend is one of my favorites.

Our cajun shrimp kabobs can be spiced up even more with red pepper flakes.

Serve the shrimp skewers with butter sauce or tartar sauce for dipping.

If you’d like to take it further, add slices of andouille sausage to your skewers. These can be added when you make your skewers and do not need to be frozen.

If your family is like mine, not everyone enjoys shrimp with their meal. You can halve this recipe simply by splitting it into two bags. Or, you can pull just the shrimp you need from the bag for thawing and leave the rest frozen. To make this easier, lay the bag flat as the shrimp freezes, and then break the shrimp apart within an hour or two of getting it into the freezer.

How to Serve Cajun Shrimp Skewers

These skewers are beautiful on their own, served over rice with a veggie on the side, and they also make the perfect addition to a more hearty protein like our sesame steak. Serve it up with a side of potato salad and brocolli salad, as shown here.

You could use any potato dish, rice, or bright, clean vegetables that suit your fancy, and it will all coordinate nicely. You can even use this gorgeous grilled shrimp skewer on a salad! Add a slice of lemon to each plate for a last-minute lift to the dish. A small bowl of melted butter or sauce next to each plate for dipping is a nice touch.

How to Store Leftover Cajun Butter Shrimp

If you have leftovers, you can keep them in your refrigerator in an airtight container or freezer-quality bag. I recommend taking them off of the skewers before you take this step. They go from tasty to chewy very quickly when reheated, so exercise caution and don’t use a microwave unless you have to.