Cajun Slow Cooker Pot Roast

When I make Cajun slow cooker pot roast I have only one goal in mind: making the perfect pot roast po boy sandwich. Yeah, I could slice it and serve it with mashed potatoes. Or something else. But for me, chop it up fine, pile it up on a crusty roll with some creamy horseradish sauce, chopped lettuce, onion, and tomato and I’m not just sort of happy, I’m in heaven! I like having something crunchy to offset the tenderness of the beef. So, I like to add plenty of lettuce and onion to my sandwiches!

Cajun Slow Cooker Pot Roast

So Tasty And Yet So Easy

As simple as it is to make, this Cajun slow cooker pot roast is crazy full of flavor. And it’s so tender. And juicy. Oh, that juicy goodness. My mouth is watering just thinking back to my po boy. That sure was a mighty good sandwich. And messy. I’ve always said that the messier the sandwich, the better it’s going to be.

I use a nice French bread roll for my sandwiches. The outside has just right crunch, and the inside is nice and pillow-y soft. Not quite as good as the fantastic po boy bread you can find in New Orleans, but it’ll do in a bind!

Also try my slow cooker jalapeno pot roast.

Cajun Slow Cooker Pot Roast
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5 from 1 vote

Cajun Slow Cooker Pot Roast

When I make Cajun slow cooker pot roast I have only one goal in mind: making the perfect pot roast po boy sandwich.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword Cajun, crockpot, pot roast, slow cooker
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Servings 8 servings
Calories 339kcal

Ingredients

  • 3-4 pound chuck roast remove any extra fat
  • 3 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil divided
  • ½ cup carrots diced
  • ½ cup celery sliced
  • 1 cup onion chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • ¼ cup red wine optional, can just add more broth or use water
  • 2 cups beef broth

Instructions

  • Rub the seasoning over the roast. Don't be shy with it.
  • Heat 2 tablespoons of oil over medium heat in a large pan or Dutch oven.
  • Add the carrots, celery and onion and saute until they just start to caramelize..
  • Add the garlic and saute another minute, stirring.
  • Remove the vegetables from the pan and place in a slow cooker set to low. Add the remaining oil.
  • Add the chuck roast and sear well on all sides. Remove to the slow cooker.
  • De-glaze the pan with the red wine, scrapping up any bits that are stuck to the bottom.
  • Add the beef broth and reduce by 1/4th. Pour over meat and vegetables.
  • Cover and cook for 8-10 hours or until tender.
  • Carefully remove the meat and chop or slice as desired. I prefer to return the chopped or sliced meat to the slow cooker until I'm ready to use it.

Notes

This roast makes for the best sandwiches!

Nutrition

Calories: 339kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 117mg | Sodium: 375mg | Potassium: 744mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 2681IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 52mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Grilled Creamy Shrimp and Mushroom Pasta

It was one of those almost-stormy evenings. I was in the mood for grilling, but as a backup, I needed to pick something I could cook inside in case the skies opened up. Well, they didn’t, so I was able to grill the fantastic shrimp for this grilled creamy shrimp and mushroom pasta. If it had stormed, I would’ve roasted the shrimp in the oven and still enjoyed a great dinner. But grilled shrimp, well, that’s just better.

Creamy Grilled Shrimp and Mushroom Pasta

Easy And Fantastic

The cream sauce and mushrooms in this grilled creamy shrimp and mushroom pasta are fantastic. The entire dish is incredibly easy to put together. If you don’t want to fret with the shrimp just use pre-cooked frozen shrimp from your grocery store. Just defrost them ahead of time and you’ll be good-to-go.

No Worries

Don’t be surprised when you start making the sauce that the cream cheese doesn’t melt and get creamy. Once you add the hot water from making the pasta the cream cheese will dissolve and make a fantastic sauce.

Beware Of Flare-Ups

When grilling the shrimp, the butter and oil in the marinade may cause flare-ups on your grill. Be prepared to move the skewered shrimp to another place on the grill until the fire dies down. And by all means, don’t burn yourself!

I recommend that you use a grill basket when making this dish if you don’t have skewers. It makes cooking easier and you don’t have to worry about anything falling through the grates. And cleanup is easier too!

Also try my creamy Cajun sausage ravioli and my Caribbean shrimp pasta.

Creamy Grilled Shrimp and Mushroom Pasta
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4 from 1 vote

Grilled Creamy Shrimp and Mushroom Pasta

Don’t be surprised when you start making the sauce that the cream cheese doesn’t melt and get creamy. Once you add the hot water from making the pasta the cream cheese will dissolve and make a fantastic sauce.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword creamy, mushroom, shrimp
Prep Time 1 hour 40 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 2 hours 40 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 635kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

For the grilled shrimp

For the mushrooms and pasta

  • 8 ounces angel hair pasta or fettuccine or linguine
  • 10 tablespoons unsalted butter divided
  • 8 ounces mushrooms sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 3 ounces cream cheese cubed
  • 2 tablespoons parsley chopped, plus a bit more for garnish
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 cup water from the cooked pasta, you may not need the entire cup

Instructions

For the grilled shrimp

  • Combine all but the shrimp in a medium bowl.
  • Add the shrimp and toss to coat.
  • Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
  • Remove from fridge and let set at room temperature for 30 minutes.
  • Fire up your grill.
  • Thread shrimp onto skewers and place on grill.
  • Brush with remaining marinade (caution: flare-ups can occur) and cook for 3-4 minutes.
  • Flip, brush with more marinade and cook another 2-3 minutes or until the shrimp are done.
  • Remove from grill.

For the mushrooms and pasta

  • Cook the pasta per package instructions, reserving 1 cup of the water from the pot.
  • Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet.
  • Add the mushrooms and saute for 10 minutes or until golden brown and soft.
  • Season with salt and pepper.
  • Remove the mushrooms and reserve.
  • Add remaining butter to the skillet and melt.
  • Add the garlic, cream cheese cubes, parsley and basil. Whisk to combine. Note: The sauce will not be creamy.
  • Add 2/3 cup of the reserved pasta water and whisk. The sauce will come together and get creamy.
  • Add the mushrooms, grilled shrimp, and pasta. Stir to combine. If too thick add a bit more of the pasta water and stir.
  • Serve garnished with freshly chopped parsley.

Notes

I throw the shrimp onto the grill while the mushrooms are sauteeing.

Nutrition

Calories: 635kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 56g | Saturated Fat: 33g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 430mg | Sodium: 1352mg | Potassium: 565mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 2230IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 245mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Copycat Applebee’s Peppercorn and Garlic Shrimp

Only one thing is going to happen when you put a plate of a copycat Applebee’s Peppercorn and Garlic shrimp in front of me. They are going to disappear so fast your head will spin. The coating is amazing. The perfect crunch. With a hint of garlic. And the batter is the best kind, the kind that sticks. No one wants batter holes. You know what I mean. Missing batter. That’s not good.

Copycat Applebee's Peppercorn and Garlic Shrimp

Great Flavor In A Crunchy Batter

Although I have a big fryer for when I’m cooking for more than two people at a time, or if I am frying something large like fish fillets, my preferred deep fryer is a Presto Fry Daddy. The Fry Daddy is perfect for making a batch of copycat Applebee’s Peppercorn and Garlic shrimp. The shrimp cook up perfectly in no time. The Fry Daddy also doesn’t use much oil so I’m not being as wasteful as when I use my big fryer. It’s the perfect size for the two of us.

I get out my big deep fryer when it’s time to fry a large batch of food. It comes to temperature quickly and it maintains that temperature perfectly. It has a built-in oil filter and storage unit so I can re-use the oil several times.

For a little kick, mix in a good pinch or two or more of cayenne pepper into the breading before coating the shrimp.

Also try my copycat Applebee’s Sriracha shrimp and my copycat of Chili’s crispy shrimp.

Copycat Applebee's Peppercorn and Garlic Shrimp
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4 from 1 vote

Copycat Applebee’s Peppercorn and Garlic Shrimp

Only one thing is going to happen when you put a plate of a copycat Applebee’s Peppercorn and Garlic shrimp in front of me. They are going to disappear so fast you’re head will spin. 
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword copycat, deep-fried, garlic, shrimp
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 120kcal

Ingredients

For the shrimp

  • 1 pound shrimp large, peeled and deveined (I use 21-25 count shrimp and keep the tails on)
  • Vegetable oil for frying

For the flour mixture

For the egg mixture

  • 2 large eggs beaten

For the breading

Instructions

  • Heat 3″ of oil to 350 F in a deep fryer or Dutch oven.
  • Combine the flour mixture ingredients in a shallow bowl.
  • Place the beaten eggs into another shallow bowl.
  • Last, combine the bread ingredients in another shallow bowl.
  • Working in batches, dip the shrimp into the flour, then into the eggs, and lastly in the breading, counting well.
  • Fry shrimp 2-3 minutes, flipping once.

Notes

Serve with plenty of cocktail sauce or tartar sauce.

Nutrition

Calories: 120kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 191mg | Sodium: 685mg | Potassium: 87mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 17IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 115mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Easy Kicked-Up Tomato Soup

You have those cans of tomato soup just sitting there in the pantry. It’s not bad soup. But those cans have been sitting there for a reason. That soups needs a little something. A little help to make it into great soup and not ‘just’ a can of soup. This easy kicked-up tomato soup is just that. Just add a few pantry and fridge ingredients and boom, great tomato soup for a cold day!

Easy Kicked-Up Tomato Soup

Canned Soup Re-Imagined

The diced tomatoes add a nice texture and freshness to this easy kicked-up tomato soup. You can definitely leave them out. At least here in the midwest US good fresh tomatoes are impossible to find this time of year.

I like a little crunch to my soup to give it even more texture, so I added a few homemade croutons. Optional, but yummy.

I like to use my good ole trusty Dutch oven to make this soup and pretty much darned near anything like it on my stovetop. It’s nice and big and sturdy. That extra weight helps it maintain and distribute heat perfectly. As an added bonus, it’s actually pretty easy to clean up too!

Also try my creamy cheese and tomato soup.

Easy Kicked-Up Tomato Soup
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5 from 1 vote

Easy Kicked-Up Tomato Soup

You have those cans of tomato soup just sitting there in the pantry. It’s not bad soup. But those cans have been sitting there for a reason. That soups needs a little something.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword soup, tomato
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 177kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 3 cans tomato soup 10.75 ounces
  • ¼ cup sherry
  • ¼ cup heavy cream
  • 3 tablespoons pesto
  • 2 tablespoons Parmesan grated, plus more for garnish
  • ½ cup tomatoes diced
  • olive oil

Instructions

  • Add soup to a pot over medium heat along with 3 cups of water.
  • Stir and heat.
  • Stir in the sherry, cream, pesto and Parmesan.
  • Heat through.
  • Serve sprinkled with the tomatoes, a drizzle of oil and more Parmesan.

Notes

I also like to add a few croutons.

Nutrition

Calories: 177kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 656mg | Potassium: 872mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 990IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Poblano Pepper Powder on the Nesco Snackmaster Pro

After making a big ole batch of bell pepper powder using my dehydrator I decided I need to kick things up a bit. Not crazy over-the-top kicked up, but something a bit spicier. I’m a big fan of poblano peppers. They aren’t super hot and they have such great pepper flavor. I love them stuffed, roasted, sliced on a sandwich, however. And now, I love them dried. Poblano pepper powder on the Nesco Snackmaster Pro is perfect for seasoning my favorite dishes.

Poblano Pepper Powder on the Nesco Snackmaster Pro

Spicier Than You Might Think

Dried poblanos can still pack a punch, so when you go to cutting them up make sure you wash your hands good (or use rubber gloves) when you’re done. And when you grind the dried peppers, watch out for that dust. It’ll wake you up and wake you up quick. Also if you’re really super-sensitive to it you might want to wear eye goggles. I just kept my face back from the grinder. Just be careful when you make Poblano Pepper Powder on the Nesco Snackmaster Pro!

I keep my dried powders in Mason jars that I vacuum seal using an attachment for my sealer. They keep forever. You just need to remember to re-seal the jars after removing the powder to use in a dish.

You can also make bell pepper powder.

Poblano Pepper Powder on the Nesco Snackmaster Pro
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5 from 1 vote

Poblano Pepper Powder on the Nesco Snackmaster Pro

I’m a big fan of poblano peppers. They aren’t super hot and they have such great pepper flavor. I love them stuffed, roasted, sliced on a sandwich, however. And now, I love them dried. 
Course Spice Mix
Cuisine American
Keyword dehydrator, nesco snackmaster pro, peppers
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 16 hours
Total Time 16 hours 15 minutes
Servings 12 peppers
Calories 24kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

  • 12 Poblano peppers I used a mix of 4 each of green, yellow, orange and red. I was able to fit approximately 2 peppers per Nesco Snackmaster Pro tray

Instructions

  • Set your dehydrator to 135 F.
  • Rinse the peppers.
  • Remove the stems and seeds and cut into chunks. If you are not using screen trays you'll want to cut fairly large pieces so they do not fall between the trays.
  • Dehydrate for 12-16 hours.
  • Rotate the trays every 2 hours if possible.
  • Once all the peppers are dry and a bit crisp remove and let cool.
  • Process the peppers in the grinder until they form a fine powder. If some pieces of pepper do not grind return them to the dehydrator for another hour or so until crisp.
  • Keep the powder in an air-tight container.

Notes

I place the powder in a Mason jar, cover it, then use a vacuum-sealer attachment specifically for jars to remove all of the air.

Nutrition

Calories: 24kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 4mg | Potassium: 208mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 440IU | Vitamin C: 96mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Corned Beef using Sous Vide

I’m very new to the world of sous vide. But, making corned beef using the technique is something I have been wanting to do for a long time. Usually, I smoke my corned beef to make ‘fauxstrami’, or as it is sometimes called, ‘cheater pastrami’. This time I was going for just classic corned beef flavor and super tender meat. And that’s what I got.

For 48 hours all I could think about was a Reuben sandwich. Sous vide corned beef on pumpernickel with a homemade Thousand Island dressing, kraut and Swiss cheese. Lunch was fantastic!

Corned Beef using Sous Vide

Beware The Spice Packet

I don’t think that the spice packet added much flavor to the corned beef. So, I would actually consider it borderline optional. I did learn that if you are using it don’t place it directly on the meat. As the vacuum seals the bag, the spices get embedded in the corned beef. And there they will stay until you scrape them off, which isn’t fun. So I pour it into a corner of the bag. It does get mixed in with the liquid from the meat, so perhaps it did add a little flavor. It certainly was not overwhelming.

I think the technique I used for sous vide corned beef can be used as a starting point for making pastrami, so that’s the next thing I will try. After the 48 hour sous vide, I will prepare the corned beef as I do my homemade pastrami, then smoke it just long enough to get a little smoke flavor to it. I will certainly post my results!

I use an Anova sous vide cooker. It’s my immersion circulator workhorse!

Also try my sous vide turkey breast roast.

Corned Beef using Sous Vide
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5 from 1 vote

Corned beef using Sous Vide

I was going for just classic corned beef flavor and super tender meat. And that’s what I got.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword corned beef, sous vide
Cook Time 2 days
Total Time 2 days
Servings 2 pounds
Calories 1347kcal

Ingredients

  • 3 pound corned beef with the spice packet

Instructions

  • Bring your sous vide setup to 140 F.
  • Remove the corned beef from the packaging and rinse well several times under cold water.
  • If you want to use the spice packet, open it and pour it into one corner of a large sealable bag.
  • Transfer the corned beef to the bag. Seal well. I prefer to double seal for long cooks.
  • Add the bag to the sous vide and cook for 48 hours.
  • Remove corned beef from water and let cool slightly before opening and slicing against the grain.

Notes

I don’t usually use the spice packet but in this dish, I always do. It adds a lot of flavor.

Nutrition

Calories: 1347kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 100g | Fat: 101g | Saturated Fat: 32g | Cholesterol: 367mg | Sodium: 8280mg | Potassium: 2021mg | Vitamin C: 184mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 12mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Blackened Fried Shrimp

I could probably eat a ton of these blackened fried shrimp. I was already badly addicted to fried shrimp. Then along came these beyond-delicious treats and my addiction somehow got worse. I didn’t even think that was possible. Yummy crunchy batter that has a great light spiciness to it. The batter isn’t too thick. It isn’t too thin. You really just can’t stop eating them.

Blackened Fried Shrimp

More Seasoning, More Better!

For a little extra kick, sprinkle the blackened fried shrimp with more of the seasoning just after you remove them from the hot oil. You have to do it when they’re still so hot so that the seasoning adheres.

Sure, You Could Use Store-Bought Seasoning…

Why go thru the trouble of making the blackened seasoning from scratch? That store-bought stuff is just way too salty for me. But you’re certainly free to use it. I bet by now there’s a low-salt store-bought version available somewhere!

If I’m cooking for a crowd, I’ll break out my big deep fryer. But, if it’s just the two of us, I’ll fire up my Fry Daddy fryer. It’s the perfect size for both of us. It fries everything perfectly. And as an added bonus, it doesn’t use a lot of oil, which saves me money.

I get out my big deep fryer when it’s time to fry a large batch of food. It comes to temperature quickly and it maintains that temperature perfectly. It has a built-in oil filter and storage unit so I can re-use the oil several times.

Also try my Cajun fried shrimp and my beer battered shrimp and fries.

Blackened Fried Shrimp
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5 from 1 vote

Blackened Fried Shrimp

I could probably eat a ton of these blackened fried shrimp. I was already badly addicted to fried shrimp. Then along came these beyond-delicious treats and my addiction somehow got worse.
Course Appetizer or Main
Cuisine American
Keyword deep-fried, shrimp
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 203kcal

Ingredients

For the blackened seasoning (may make a bit more than you'll need)

For the flour station

For the dipping station

  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce

Instructions

  • Place shrimp into a large bowl. Season with two teaspoons of the blackened seasoning and toss well.
  • Combine the flour and blackened seasoning. Dip the shrimp into the mixture and coat well. Transfer to a plate and place into the freezer for five minutes. Reserve the flour mixture.
  • Heat 3-4" of oil to 350 F in a deep fryer or Dutch oven.
  • Whisk together the egg, milk and hot sauce in a pie plate or shallow dish.
  • Dip the shrimp into the egg mixture and then return to the flour mixture to coat.
  • Shake off excess flour and fry 3-4 minutes or until golden brown, turning once.

Notes

Serve with your favorite tartar sauce or cocktail sauce.

Nutrition

Calories: 203kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 333mg | Sodium: 1778mg | Potassium: 177mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 374IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 198mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Memphis-Style Muffuletta

Muffuletta sandwiches are what I would have on a deserted island if I could choose only one food. I’d even go through the ‘trouble’ of making my own olive salad. When I first ran across this idea for a Memphis-style muffuletta I made a weird face. Huh? Why are you messing with my favorite? The answer was soon obvious: because this is really, really good. Similar to a muffuletta in many ways, but different too.

Memphis-Style Muffuletta

A Totally Different Olive Salad

The creamy olive salad in this Memphis-style muffuletta is totally different than a traditional muffuletta mix but it has many of the same flavors. The artichoke hearts are a totally different twist and quite honestly I might find myself adding them to my homemade muffuletta olive salad too.

Memphis-Style Muffuletta

I almost always use Blue Plate mayonnaise in the dishes I make. I think it is the best around. If you can’t find it locally you can pick it up online for a fair price.

The olive salad mix is also great on grilled hot dogs. If you prefer the original, try my more traditional muffuletta sandwich.

Memphis-Style Muffuletta
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5 from 1 vote

Memphis-Style Muffuletta

When I first ran across this idea for a Memphis-style muffuletta I made a weird face. Huh? Why are you messing with my favorite? The answer was soon obvious: because this is really, really good. 
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword sandwich
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 277kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Whisk together the mayonnaise and salad dressing.
  • Fold in the olives, artichoke and celery.
  • Season with the pepper.
  • Slice bread horizontally. I like to remove some of the insides of the bread, but that’s optional.
  • Spoon half of the olive mixture onto the bottom half of the bread.
  • Add the cheese and meats.
  • Top with the remaining olive mix and top bread half.
  • Wrap tightly in foil or plastic wrap.
  • Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before slicing and serving.

Notes

Stir again before using.

Nutrition

Calories: 277kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 977mg | Potassium: 73mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 230IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Cajun Fried Shrimp

My two biggest food obsessions? Chicken wings and fried shrimp. I could eat either one anytime, anywhere. I’ve never had wings or shrimp that I didn’t absolutely love. Like these Cajun fried shrimp. Lightly crunchy. Stick-to-the-shrimp batter. A little heat. Perfectly cooked. Crazy tasty. And you know, they’re great looking too! You do eat with your eyes first, or so they say! I kinda think I eat with my nose first. I smell the aroma of the food often long before I see it! That’s what gets my mouth watering.

Cajun Fried Shrimp

My Kind Of Shrimp

This is shrimp done up right. I served these Cajun fried shrimp with a crazy wonderful remoulade that has ended up being a shrimp-dipping staple in our house. It’s great for fries fish, too.

For that little extra ‘something’ sprinkle the shrimp lightly with Old Bay seasoning just before serving.

If I’m cooking for a crowd, I’ll break out my big deep fryer. But, if it’s just the two of us, I’ll fire up my Fry Daddy fryer. It’s the perfect size for both of us. It fries everything perfectly. And as an added bonus, it doesn’t use a lot of oil, which saves me money.

I get out my big deep fryer when it’s time to fry a large batch of food. It comes to temperature quickly and it maintains that temperature perfectly. It has a built-in oil filter and storage unit so I can re-use the oil several times.

Also try my crispy fried shrimp and my blackened fried shrimp.

Cajun Fried Shrimp
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5 from 1 vote

Cajun Fried Shrimp

I’ve never had wings or shrimp that I didn’t absolutely love. Like these Cajun fried shrimp. Lightly crunchy. Stick-to-the-shrimp batter. A little heat. Perfectly cooked.
Course Appetizer or Main
Cuisine Main
Keyword Cajun, deep-fried, shrimp
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 444kcal

Ingredients

For the Spicy Remoulade Sauce

Instructions

  • Heat 3-4" of oil to 350 F in a deep fryer or Dutch oven.
  • In a pie plate or shallow dish, whisk together the buttermilk, egg, and mustard.
  • In another pie plate or shallow dish, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, paprika, salt, cayenne and garlic powder.
  • Working in batches, add the shrimp to the flour mixture and coat well.
  • Shake off excess then place into the buttermilk mixture.
  • Shake off excess then return to the flour mixture, coating again.
  • Add to the hot oil and fry 3-4 minutes or until golden brown, turning once. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
  • Serve with the spicy remoulade sauce.

For the Spicy Remoulade Sauce

  • Whisk together all ingredients in a small bowl. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Notes

Give the sauce another good stir before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 444kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 333mg | Sodium: 2090mg | Potassium: 285mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 516IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 232mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Crispy Fried Shrimp

I can eat an embarrassing amount of crispy fried shrimp. My addiction to these little goodies started as a child. Maybe once every few months we would eat out at Sizzler. I would always get the fried shrimp. I would devour them.

That tradition lives on, believe me. That’s why I make them at home. In bigger batches. These crispy fried shrimp are nice and crispy and have a fantastic lightly savory flavor. No overpowering flavors here, you can still taste the wonderful shrimp.

Crispy Fried Shrimp

Right-Sized Shrimp For The Perfect Bites

I like to use shrimp that aren’t too big or too small when I make crispy fried shrimp. For me, 21-25 count (that means 21-25 shrimp are in a pound) are the perfect size. If I can get them, I use Louisiana Gulf Shrimp. I believe they have the best flavor but you can use whatever you prefer (or can find).

I get out my big deep fryer when it’s time to fry a large batch of food. It comes to temperature quickly and it maintains that temperature perfectly. It has a built-in oil filter and storage unit so I can re-use the oil several times.

You can use pre-shelled and pre-deveined shrimp but give them a once-over before using to make sure that there aren’t any shell pieces or veins left. Just in case.

If you’re looking for something super-simple for dipping your delicious crispy fried shrimp, try my quick cocktail sauce or my Carolina cocktail sauce.

Also try my Cajun fried shrimp and my panko fried shrimp.

Crispy Fried Shrimp
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5 from 1 vote

Crispy Fried Shrimp

These crispy fried shrimp are nice and crispy and have a fantastic lightly savory flavor. No overpowering flavors here, you can still taste the wonderful shrimp.
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword crispy, deep-fried, shrimp
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 629kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Remove the shells from the shrimp up to the tail section.
  • Make an incision down the back and remove the vein.
  • Rinse with cold water.
  • In a large bowl or pie plate combine the egg and milk.
  • Place the flour in another large bowl or pie plate.
  • And in another large bowl or pie plate place the bread crumbs, salt, basil, parsley, garlic and onion powders.
  • Heat oil in a large Dutch oven or deep fryer to 350 F.
  • Working in batches, coat the shrimp in the egg mixture.
  • Shake off excess and then roll in flour.
  • Return shrimp to the egg mixture and coat again.
  • Shake off excess and then roll in the bread crumb mixture, coating well.
  • Transfer to hot oil and fry until golden brown, 3-4 minutes.
  • Remove to a paper towel-lined plate to let drain before serving.

Notes

Serve with cocktail sauce or tartar sauce for dipping.

Nutrition

Calories: 629kcal | Carbohydrates: 90g | Protein: 42g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 385mg | Sodium: 3084mg | Potassium: 390mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 236IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 363mg | Iron: 9mg

Nutritional values are approximate.