• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The Kitchen Prep Blog

Easy Recipes with a Fresh Twist

  • Home
  • About Dianna
  • Recipe Index
  • Work With Me
    • Disclosure Policy
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • About Dianna
  • Work With Me
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Appetizers

    Hot Cajun Shrimp Dip

    Published: Feb 3, 2016 · Modified: Jul 12, 2022 by thekitchenprep · This post may contain affiliate links ·

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Hot Cajun Shrimp Dip! The combination of cream cheese and spicy Cajun seasoning create a perfect balance in this easy skillet shrimp dip.

    A cast iron skillet of hot cajun shrimp dip with a bottle of hot sauce in the background.

    This post may contain affiliate links, which means that, at no extra cost to you, I may earn a small commission if you click a link and purchase an item I’ve recommended. Thanks for your support in running this blog!

    My relationship with spicy food has not always been a positive one. Maybe it's because I didn't grow up eating foods with a high heat factor; contrary to what some think, Cuban food is generally not spicy. But, I did experience a little -- let's call it, trauma -- as a kid that I like to refer to as The Jalapeno Incident of 1990 that could certainly have had something to do with the aversion.

    During a family Disney trip, my dad accidentally mistook jalapenos for pickles as he loaded up my burger with toppings at a lunch buffet. How you mistake the two, I have no idea… but if you know my dad, you know the flub is entirely feasible for him.

    Anyway, I took one bite of that "loaded" burger and I.Saw.Stars. First, a strange tingling. Then an intense burning that started at my lips and spread like wildfire through my entire mouth within seconds. Five alarm.

    Though I was old enough to communicate, I couldn't even verbalize the problem because my tongue was too busy feeling like it licked a smoldering log. So I cried. Maybe even whimpered. Needless to say, it was a while before I {purposely} ventured into the world of spicy food again.

    I'm happy to say that since then, I've "warmed up" to spicy foods, so to speak. I eased in with "quick heat" like wasabi and horseradish, then graduated to using small amounts of cayenne and red pepper flakes in my cooking, and finally dove into the world of hot sauce.

    A skillet of hot shrimp dip surrounded by Ritz crackers.

    Now, I actually like adding some spice to my food. So there's hope for you if you, too, have been scarred from a bad jalapeno experience.

    A Ritz cracker dipping into a skillet of hot shrimp dip.

    This Hot Cajun Shrimp Dip is a great place to dip your toe into the hot sauce and test the waters. {Ew, not literally.} Not only does the creamy cream cheese help to tame the heat, but you can also control your spice level by adding more or less hot sauce to the dip. {The folks at Tabanero send me a sampler pack and I went with the original recipe, but they also have Extra Hot and Sweet & Spicy.}

    A Ritz cracker topped with hot shrimp dip beside a bottle of hot sauce.

    I can see this shrimp dip served up on SuperBowl Sunday or even for upcoming Mardi Gras celebrations… just make sure you warn your guests so there are no unwanted surprises! Unlike the infamous burger, I have a feeling they'll be going back for a second bite.

    Hot Cajun Shrimp Dip

    The Kitchen Prep
    Hot Cajun Shrimp Dip! The combination of cream cheese and spicy Cajun seasoning create a perfect balance in this easy skillet shrimp dip.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Total Time 25 mins
    Course Appetizer, Side Dish, starter
    Cuisine Cajun
    Servings 9 servings

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 tablespoon butter
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 4 scallions thinly sliced {plus extra for garnish}
    • ⅓ cup green bell pepper finely diced
    • 3 tablespoons diced pimentos
    • 1 garlic clove grated or minced
    • ½ pound peeled, deveined shrimp roughly chopped
    • 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
    • 8 ounces cream cheese
    • 1-2 teaspoons hot sauce such as Tabanero

    Instructions
     

    • Heat butter and olive oil in a pan over medium high heat. Add scallions, bell pepper, diced pimientos and garlic and cook until tender and fragrant, about 3-5 minutes.
    • Add chopped shrimp and Cajun seasoning. Stir to combine. Cook until shrimp is opaque and cooked through. 
    • Add cream cheese and stir until the cheese is completely melted and smooth. Mix in hot sauce. Garnish with extra chopped scallions if desired.
    • Serve with crackers or chips.

    Notes

    Using the whole block of cream cheese makes for a very creamy dip. If you prefer a chunkier dip with more focus on the shrimp, use only half to ¾ of the cream cheese.
    « Orange Chocolate Pudding
    Pear Compote »

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi! I'm Dianna. I used to think cooking had to be complicated to be good, so I never considered it "my thing." Now I know that's far from true, and my mission is to create & share easy, mouthwatering recipes - from weeknight dinners to simple bites for entertaining - that anyone can make! Join me in my South Florida kitchen and let's get cooking!

    More about me →

    Popular

    • Stuffed Italian-Style Cubanelle Peppers
    • Benedictine Spread - A Derby Classic
    • Italian Love Knot Cookies
    • Creamy Mushroom & Chicken Sausage Florentine Pasta

    As Seen In

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure Policy

    Subscribe

    • Sign Up! and get recipes delivered to your inbox.

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work with Me

    Copyright © 2023 · The Kitchen Prep ·