Description
Juicy shrimp coated in a golden, crispy crust packed with smoky Cajun spices. Perfect as an appetizer, main dish, or party snack.
Ingredients
For the Shrimp
1 pound (450 g) large raw shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails on
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon hot sauce (optional)
For the Coating
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
For Frying
2 cups vegetable oil (or enough to cover shrimp halfway in a skillet)
For Garnish (Optional)
Lemon wedges
Fresh parsley, chopped
Cajun dipping sauce or spicy aioli
Instructions
Rinse shrimp under cold water, pat dry, and soak in buttermilk and hot sauce for 15 minutes.
Mix flour, panko, Cajun seasoning, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a shallow bowl.
Dredge shrimp in the coating, pressing firmly. Place on a wire rack until ready to fry.
Heat oil in a skillet to 350°F (175°C).
Fry shrimp in batches, 2–3 minutes per side, until golden brown and crisp.
Drain on a wire rack.
Serve with lemon wedges, parsley, and dipping sauce.
Notes
For extra crunch, double-dip shrimp in buttermilk and breadcrumbs.
Reheat in the oven, not microwave, to preserve crispiness.
Use a thermometer to maintain steady oil temperature.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Dish / Appetizer
- Method: Frying (stovetop)
- Cuisine: Cajun / Southern-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (¼ of recipe)
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 29 g
- Cholesterol: 170 mg
Keywords: Crunchy Cajun shrimp, fried Cajun shrimp, crispy shrimp recipe