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    Home » Dinner

    Cajun Shrimp Salad {with Creamy Cajun Dressing}

    August 18, 2022 by Agnieszka 10 Comments

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    Cajun Shrimp Salad with the best creamy dressing is a great healthy dinner salad that’s easy to make and bursting with flavor! Made with juicy seasoned shrimp, creamy avocado, sweet corn and colorful veggies.

    Jump to:
    • Looking for more salads?
    • Why you will love this shrimp salad
    • Ingredient notes
    • Homemade Cajun Seasoning
    • Step-by-step instructions
    • Serving and storage suggestions
    • Meal prep tips
    • Variations and substitutions
    • Recipe FAQs
    • More healthy shrimp recipes
    • Recipe
    • YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
    • Meet the Author

    My very first encounter with Cajun food was many years ago at Huey’s Southern Café in Savannah, Georgia. It was my first trip in the South and I had no concept of Creole and Cajun cuisines. Someone suggested Cajun shrimp and grits so I ordered it having no idea what grits were! Mind you, I was a Polish immigrant living in Maine. Once the food arrived, it was absolute love at first bite! Every time I’m in Savannah, I keep going back to Huey’s and ordering their shrimp and grits, jambalayas, gumbo and mufalettas.

    Although Maine (my home state) has a wonderful restaurant scene, it lacks good Cajun and Creole restaurant so whenever I get some serious New Orleans flavors’ craving, especially when it’s hot outside and I don’t feel like cooking grits, I make this Cajun Shrimp Salad. It’s no shrimp and grits from Huey’s but it definitely hits the spot!

    Looking for more salads?

    • Spinach Strawberry Feta Salad
    • Red Lentil Pasta Salad
    • Greek Chickpea Salad
    • Spinach Caprese Salad with Strawberries

    Why you will love this shrimp salad

    • It's easy and quick to make
    • Perfect for a 30-minute weekday dinner
    • Full of flavor thanks to Cajun spices on the shrimp and in the dressing
    • Made with whole, nutritious ingredients
    • High in protein (from shrimp and Greek yogurt) and vitamins (from all the veggies)
    • It can be made with frozen shrimp which is inexpensive and easily accessible

    Ingredient notes

    • Shrimp: If you have access to fresh shrimp, definitely use it! I typically buy frozen raw peeled and deveined shrimp at Sam’s Club or Costco because it’s easily accessible and fairly inexpensive.
    • Sweet Corn: use fresh or frozen corn. If you have leftover steamed or grilled corn on the cob, this salad is a great way to use it! Just cut off the kernels and you’re good to go!
    • Salad Greens: I like spring mix or Romaine for this salad but any salad greens will work.
    • Cherry Tomatoes: I love the look of halved cherry tomatoes in salads.
    • Bell Pepper: red, yellow or orange bell peppers are all great choices.
    • Avocado: pick one that’s ripe but still somewhat firm to touch.
    • Red Onion: for a hint of beautiful color and flavor. If you don’t like harsh onion taste in your salad, soak sliced red onion in a small bowl of ice cold water for 10-15 minutes, drain and toss in the salad. It will make it taste milder.
    • Green Onion: you can skip it if you want but I love adding sliced green onion or scallions on top of this salad.
    • Olive Oil: for sautéing shrimp and corn.
    • Cajun Seasoning: making your own blend is super easy (recipe below) but to save time you can also use good quality store bought seasoning such as this one.
    • Creamy Cajun Salad Dressing: made with mayo, Greek yogurt, red wine vinegar and Cajun seasoning. The creamy dressing is what makes this salad come together! Find out how to make it in this post.

    Homemade Cajun Seasoning

    I highly recommend making your own Cajun seasoning because it’s super easy and delicious, as long as you have all the spices on hand. To make it you will need:

    • 2 teaspoon paprika
    • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
    • 1 teaspoon cayenne
    • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
    • 2 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon onion powder
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon dried thyme

    Place all ingredients in a small bowl or a jar with a lid and mix well. This recipe makes about ¼ cup of seasoning. If you like it spicier, add more cayenne. If you don’t like spicy food, reduce cayenne pepper to ½ or even ¼ teaspoon. You can store homemade cajun spice blend for up to 3 months in an airtight container.

    Step-by-step instructions

    STEP 1: Sauté the corn. Cut corn kernels off the cob by sliding a sharp knife through the sides of the corn cob. I usually stand the corn cob upright on a cutting board and it makes removing the kernels easy. Heat up 1 teaspoon olive oil in a skillet and cook the corn stirring from time to time for about 3-4 minutes on high heat.

    STEP 2: Cook the shrimp. Toss it with cajun seasoning and sauté in a preheated skillet with olive oil for 2-3 minutes per side. Set aside.

    STEP 3: Assemble the salad. In a large bowl place lettuce or salad greens, sliced red onions, cherry tomatoes, yellow bell pepper, cooked corn, cooked shrimp and avocado.  

    STEP 4: Drizzle with dressing. I like to toss the salad gently and then add the dressing on top for a nice presentation but you can also mix the dressing in before serving.

    STEP 5: Sprinkle with sliced green onions and serve immediately.

    Serving and storage suggestions

    For parties, gathering and entertaining, I like to layer salad ingredients in a large platter or bowl and serve the dressing on the side. That way your guests can see exactly what’s in the salad and control how much dressing to use. Plus, it looks SO pretty!

    If you’re serving this salad family style at your dining room table, it’s easier to add the dressing right away and toss everything together before serving.  

    Meal prep tips

    If you’re making this salad ahead of time or for meal prep, make sure the corn and shrimp and completely cooled. Then, assemble the salad without avocado and dressing. For meal prep, divide the salad between airtight containers and store in the fridge for up to 4 days. When ready to serve, add diced avocado and Creamy Cajun Salad Dressing right then.

    Variations and substitutions

    As with most salads, this amazing shrimp salad is highly customizable. Here are some ideas on how to make it fit your preferences and dietary restrictions:

    • If you don’t want to use shrimp, use chicken breast instead. Cut it into 1-inch pieces, toss with cajun seasoning and sauté in olive oil. Add to the salad and enjoy! I make this version quite often and it’s also delicious!
    • Red onion can be swapped for sweet onion, such as vidalia.
    • If you don’t have fresh corn, swap it for frozen corn kernels. Heat up some olive oil in a skillet, add frozen corn and sauté until soft.
    • For a low-carb version, skip the corn altogether.
    • Use thinly sliced carrots instead of bell peppers, if you want.
    • Making your own cajun salad dressing is quick but if you need to put dinner on the table 5 minutes ago, add a large pinch of cajun seasoning to your favorite ranch dressing. It works great when you need a shortcut!

    Recipe FAQs

    How to best thaw frozen shrimp?

    There are a couple options. My favorite is to place the bag with frozen shrimp in the fridge at least 24 hours ahead of time in the fridge and let it thaw. If you need it faster, you can fill your sink with hot tap water and place the unopened bag in it for 30 minutes, squeezing it a couple times to help separate the shrimp. Or, open the bag, place frozen shrimp in a colander and run cold water over it moving the shrimp around until thawed.

    How do I know shrimp is cooked?

    Raw shrimp is usually gray. Once it turns pink on both sides, becomes firm to touch and curls up into a tight “C” shape, it’s done. It usually takes about 2-3 minutes on each side, depending on the size of the shrimp. I usually get extra large or jumbo shrimp.

    Can I use cooked frozen shrimp?

    No. Make sure to use raw frozen shrimp which is typically gray. Cooked shrimp is pink.

    More healthy shrimp recipes

    • Hawaiian Shrimp Poke Bowl
    • Shrimp Fajita Quinoa Bowls
    • Shrimp Yaki Udon
    • Creamy Coconut Tomato Shrimp (Keto, Whole30, Paleo)
    • Blackened Shrimp Tacos with Mango Salsa

    If you try my Cajun Shrimp Salad recipe, be sure to leave me a comment and give this recipe a rating. I would love to hear from you and see how it turned out for you! You can also share and tag me on Instagram!

    This post contains affiliate links.

    Recipe

    Cajun Shrimp Salad {with Creamy Cajun Dressing}

    Cajun Shrimp Salad with the best creamy dressing is a great healthy dinner salad that’s easy to make and bursting with flavor! Made with juicy seasoned shrimp, creamy avocado, sweet corn and colorful veggies.
    5 from 10 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: dinner, lunch, Salad
    Cuisine: American, Cajun
    Keyword: cajun shrimp salad, how to make cajun shrimp salad
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes
    Servings: 2 servings
    Calories: 516kcal
    Author: Agnieszka

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb raw shrimp deveined, tails removed1 teaspoon cajun seasoning
    • 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon olive oil divided
    • 4 cups salad greens
    • 1 ear of sweet corn or ¾ cup frozen corn kernels
    • 1 pint cherry tomatoes halved
    • ½ yellow bell pepper cut into strips
    • 1 avocado sliced or diced
    • ¼ medium red onion sliced thinly
    • 1 scallion or green onion sliced
    • ½ cup Creamy Cajun Salad Dressing

    Instructions

    • If using fresh corn, cut corn kernels off the cob by sliding a sharp knife through the sides of the corn cob. I usually stand the corn cob upright on a cutting board and it makes removing the kernels easy.
    • Heat up 1 teaspoon olive oil in a skillet and cook the corn stirring from time to time for about 3-4 minutes on high heat. If you’re using frozen corn, this may take 1-2 minutes longer.
    • Toss fresh or thawed shrimp with cajun seasoning and sauté in a preheated skillet with olive oil for 2-3 minutes per side. Set aside.
    • In a large bowl place lettuce or salad greens, sliced red onions, cherry tomatoes, yellow bell pepper, cooked corn, cooked shrimp and avocado.  
    • Drizzle with ⅓ cup dressing and toss gently. If it still looks dry to you, add more dressing.
    • Sprinkle with green onions and serve immediately.

    Notes

    If you have leftover boiled, steamed or grilled corn on the cob, you can use it in this salad. Just cut the kernels off and add them in.
    Large or extra large shrimp will take about 2 minutes per side to cook. Add a minute or 2 if using jumbo shrimp. Once cooked the shrimp will be pink and white, firm to touch and curled into a C shape.
    Nutritional value is approximate and it's for the salad only without dressing. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 516kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 38g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 286mg | Sodium: 1340mg | Potassium: 1594mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 2857IU | Vitamin C: 142mg | Calcium: 183mg | Iron: 4mg

    YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

    • La Scala Chopped Salad
    • Creamy Cajun Salad Dressing
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    • Hawaiian Shrimp Poke Bowl

    Meet the Author

    Hi, I'm Agnieszka. I'm a mom of three and recipe developer, writer and photographer behind Wholly Tasteful. I love creating comforting, delicious, family-friendly recipes that you can feel good about.

    Learn more about me →

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Mary

      August 18, 2022 at 8:13 pm

      5 stars
      This is no side salad. It is great as the main course for a light supper. Loved the dressing too.

      Reply
    2. Emily

      August 18, 2022 at 8:21 pm

      5 stars
      This was so flavorful, and we loved the dressing too! It's perfect for summer!

      Reply
    3. Andrea

      August 18, 2022 at 10:47 pm

      loved how this salad turned out and how simple it was to make! so so good!

      Reply
    4. Alexandra

      August 18, 2022 at 10:53 pm

      5 stars
      This is the perfect lunch - so delicious!

      Reply
    5. megane

      August 19, 2022 at 8:22 am

      5 stars
      This looks so good. Now to go shopping for shrimp.

      Reply
    6. Amy Liu Dong

      August 19, 2022 at 11:21 am

      5 stars
      I love this recipe it is so easy and delicious!
      I am so excited to make this for everyone.

      Reply
    7. Kristina

      August 19, 2022 at 5:19 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious salad that was just right for a hot summer evening.

      Reply
    8. Amy

      August 19, 2022 at 8:36 pm

      5 stars
      This was super delicious! Had a BBQ with family and they finished this before the steaks!

      Reply
    9. Jamie

      August 19, 2022 at 9:14 pm

      5 stars
      This shrimp salad is so flavorful and great for summer.

      Reply
    10. Deb

      August 20, 2022 at 6:47 am

      5 stars
      Super delicious will make again soon.

      Reply

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    Hello and welcome to Wholly Tasteful, a healthy food and lifestyle blog! My name is Agnieszka and I am a busy mom of 3 living in and renovating a 1852 farmhouse in Maine. My recipes use ingredients that are healthy, whole and family friendly. More about me

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