As seen in our latest Instagram reel
Creamy seafood, bold Cajun spices, and a bubbling golden cheese topping — this Louisiana Cajun Seafood Casserole is Southern comfort with a kick. This is the flavor-packed bake from @lilyscravekitchen_ that had everyone commenting SEAFOOD for the recipe. Plump shrimp folded through a creamy Cajun sauce with garlic and bell pepper over fluffy rice, crowned with melted cheese and scattered green onions. Every spoonful is rich, smoky, and just spicy enough.
Why you’ll love them
- Big Louisiana flavor: smoky Cajun spice, creamy sauce, and sweet shrimp.
- One baking dish — the rice soaks up the sauce as it bakes.
- Serious protein: roughly 31g per serving from shrimp and cheese.
- Dinner-party worthy but easy enough for a Friday night.
Ingredients
- 1½ lb (680 g) large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning, divided
- 3 cups cooked rice
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1½ cups shredded Monterey Jack or cheddar
- ¼ cup cream cheese, softened
- 2 green onions, sliced, plus more for topping
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat the oven to 375°F (200°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Toss the shrimp with 1 tablespoon of the Cajun seasoning.
- Sear the shrimp: Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the shrimp 1–2 minutes per side until just pink — don’t cook through. Remove and set aside.
- Sauté: In the same skillet, cook the onion and bell pepper 4–5 minutes until soft. Add the garlic and remaining Cajun seasoning; cook 1 minute until fragrant.
- Make it creamy: Pour in the heavy cream and whisk in the cream cheese until smooth. Simmer 2 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Assemble: Spread the rice in the baking dish, pour over the creamy sauce, and fold in the shrimp. Top with the shredded cheese.
- Bake: Bake 20–25 minutes until the cheese is melted, golden, and bubbling. Rest 5 minutes, then top with sliced green onions and serve.
Tips
- Don’t overcook the shrimp in the sear — they’ll finish in the oven and stay snappy.
- Taste before adding salt; Cajun blends vary a lot in saltiness.
- Leftovers reheat well with a splash of cream to loosen the sauce.
Nutrition
Estimated per serving (recipe makes 6 servings): ~440 calories, ~31g protein, ~24g fat, ~23g carbs. Values are estimates computed from USDA reference data, not lab-tested.
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How much Cajun heat can you handle? Follow @lilyscravekitchen_ on Instagram for the reel and more easy recipes.
