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    Home » Southern Classics » Fiery Cajun Shrimp

    Published: Feb 5, 2019 · Modified: Sep 17, 2021 by Pam

    Fiery Cajun Shrimp

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    The original Fiery Cajun Shrimp recipe gets an update, but it’s still a tasty and beloved recipe.

    Fiery Cajun shrimp gets an update to the true original recipe

    Fiery Cajun Shrimp has been a favorite of our family since the early 1990’s when I cut the recipe out of a Southern Living magazine. No, it was not created by a celebrity chef as you might think if you did an internet search of the title. It’s an interesting story that I thought y’all would enjoy hearing.

    Here’s what happened:

    It was Sara’s idea to cook and share Fiery Cajun Shrimp as a blog post. We typically post only original recipes that we created ourselves or have been passed down from family members, but we do make occasional exceptions.

    Ritz Carlton Lodge Spicy Pecans is one that everyone loves and we clearly got it somewhere else. Bourbon-Glazed Cajun Beef Tenderloin is another that came from an older cookbook, but we’re always honest about the source.

    Below you’ll see a photo of my obviously old, well used magazine clipping of Fiery Cajun Shrimp. I remembered it as being from the late 1980’s to early 1990’s, but I hoped to find out exactly when it was published in Southern Living so I began searching. First I attempted to contact Southern Living, but never got a response.

    Fiery Cajun shrimp gets an update to the true original recipe

    Fiery Cajun Shrimp by who?

    Lo and behold, the only references I could find using this recipe title attributed Paula Deen, via the Food Network. Every single one of them pointed to Paula Deen as the originator.

    So, I also reached out to the Paula Deen operation, but received no reply from them either. As you can see, Fiery Cajun Shrimp originally came from Betty McLendon in Pensacola, Florida.  I set out to see if I could find Mrs. McLendon or some of her family and get the rest of the story about this recipe that we love so much.

    Fiery Cajun shrimp gets an update to the true original recipe

    Sara and son James both helped dig for for contact information, and eventually came up with a winner. In the end, I didn’t actually speak to Mrs. McLendon who is nearly 90 years old, but she did ask her daughter-in-law to contact me.

    We had a delightful conversation and I learned the following: Betty created the recipe by combining a few others. She submitted it to Southern Living and it was published in October, 1991. They paid her $10 for this recipe! She also had a few other recipes published in Southern Living over the years.

    If you love reading stories about the origins of recipes and ingredients you’ll want to check out Southern Food: Then & Now.

    Fiery Cajun Shrimp was published October, 1991, in Southern Living magazine, and was the recipe of Betty McLendon.

    Fiery Cajun shrimp gets an update to the true original recipe

    In the meantime I had located and ordered this “Index of Recipes” from Southern Living covering the years 1979-1999. By the time it arrived I had spoken to Mrs. McLendon’s daughter-in-law and therefore I went right to it, just like she said.

    For a fun cocktail to have with your shrimp and a classic from New Orleans a Hurricane is easy to make and delicious!

    Hey, are you getting our weekly newsletter? It comes straight to your inbox and it’s the best way to make sure you don’t miss a recipe. 

    Fiery Cajun shrimp gets an update to the true original recipe

    Recipe Updates made over the years

    As you can see from my cut out above, I’ve changed the amounts of pepper and, over the years gone back and forth between black and red (cayenne) pepper. It should definitely have a hefty portion of black pepper, but to truly make it “fiery” you would want to add cayenne as well. Adjust that according to your tastes and tolerance level for heat.

    I rarely make the full 5 pounds of shrimp so I’ve written the recipe for two and a half pounds. Mrs. McLendon developed the original recipe with half butter and half margarine. Being butter lovers we use all butter, and I think Paula’s version does too.

    This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Please feel free to click here for our full privacy and disclosure policy.

    Fiery Cajun shrimp gets an update to the true original recipe

    Tips for the Best Fiery Cajun Shrimp

    • Make sure you have a good sharp knife for getting those lemons thinly sliced and our favorite citrus juicing tool to get fresh lemon juice quickly and easily.
    • We like our shrimp to be deveined, but you must cook the shrimp with the shells on for this recipe to be as wonderful as it should be. Therefore, buy your shrimp deveined with the shells on or devein yourself by cutting down the back with good sharp kitchen shears and then rinse out the vein.
    • We all agree on this point. Be sure to have good, crusty bread for dipping into the sauce. It may be as good as the shrimp itself.
    • For ease of clean up with a casual meal like this we like to use aluminum pans. This size works well for 2.5 pounds.
    • As with any shrimp dish, the size of the shrimp will determine the cooking time. Keep an eye on them so they don’t overcook.
    Fiery Cajun shrimp gets an update to the true original recipe

    Thank you Betty McLendon for giving the world Fiery Cajun Shrimp

    Fiery Cajun shrimp gets an update to the true original recipe
    Fiery Cajun shrimp gets an update to the true original recipe

    Fiery Cajun Shrimp

    The original Fiery Cajun Shrimp is updated, but as delicious as ever!
    5 from 10 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe

    Ingredients
      

    • 2.5 pounds shrimp shells on, deveined
    • 1 cup butter melted
    • ¼ cup worcestershire sauce
    • 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
    • 2 Tablespoons black pepper
    • 1-2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
    • 1 teaspoon hot sauce
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 2 cloves garlic minced
    • 1-1.5 lemons thinly sliced

    Instructions
     

    • Combine all ingredients except shrimp and lemon slices. Pour about half of mixture into a large baking dish.
    • Layer shrimp and lemon slices in baking dish.
    • Pour remaining sauce over shrimp and lemon.
    • Bake at 400 for 15-20 minutes, or until shrimp turn pink, stirring twice.
    • Drain sauce and serve along with shrimp and crusty bread for dipping.
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    We hope you enjoy this story and recipe. Be sure to tag us on Instagram or Facebook if you make it, and leave us a comment below.

    Don’t forget… if you’re not already getting our weekly updates you can sign up here. It’s the easiest way to make sure you don’t miss anything. And if you love Southern Food, including its origins and history you’ll want to read Southern Food Now and Then.

    If you’re planning a meal with a Cajun theme you’ll want to include our Muffaletta Shot Appetizers, too. They combine all the flavors of that favorite New Orleans sandwich in individual appetizers served in shot glasses. So much fun and yummy!

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    Categories: Appetizers Tags: appetizers, main dish

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jen says

      February 05, 2019 at 12:27 pm

      5 stars
      What a wonderful story! I love that you spent the time to find the original author of the recipe. Sounds so delicious!

      Reply
      • Pam says

        February 05, 2019 at 12:28 pm

        Aw, thanks Jen! It was a fun project and the shrimp is truly delicious.

        Reply
    2. Jill says

      February 05, 2019 at 12:57 pm

      5 stars
      So awesome that you went to all this effort to give credit where credit is due. I enjoyed reading it. Great recipe!

      Reply
      • Pam says

        February 05, 2019 at 1:35 pm

        Thanks, Jill. It really is a wonderful recipe (and story).

        Reply
    3. Lisa | Garlic & Zest says

      February 05, 2019 at 1:30 pm

      5 stars
      I can’t tell you how many recipes I’ve clipped over the years — and don’t have the original source for. Like so many recipes, I’m sure there are lots of versions of your Fiery Cajun Shrimp out there. I think we should make them all — to determine the best and for quality control purposes.

      Reply
      • Pam says

        February 05, 2019 at 1:35 pm

        Sounds like a fun, but monumental task! Thanks, Lisa.

        Reply
    4. Karen @ Seasonal Cravings says

      February 05, 2019 at 2:24 pm

      5 stars
      I have been trying to eat shrimp once a week to reduce the amount of red meat I feed my family. This looks perfect since my kids like spice. This will be in the weekly rotation!

      Reply
      • Pam says

        February 05, 2019 at 3:01 pm

        Gotta love a family that likes spicy foods. Thanks, Karen!

        Reply
    5. Adriana Lopez Martin says

      February 05, 2019 at 2:52 pm

      5 stars
      This is such a cool story love that you made all that research to attribute the recipe originator. There is no doubt that Cajun and shrimp have a special place in my list of yummy things to eat.

      Reply
      • Pam says

        February 05, 2019 at 3:02 pm

        Thanks, Adriana. It was fun, actually.

        Reply
    6. Matt Ivan says

      February 05, 2019 at 4:11 pm

      5 stars
      I love going to Cajun seafood places, but this looks like a great alternative to make at home!

      Reply
      • Pam says

        February 12, 2019 at 4:05 pm

        It’s super easy too, Matt. Thank you!

        Reply
    7. aunt susan says

      February 09, 2019 at 5:50 pm

      Love that you give credit where credit is due! Great recipe:)

      Reply
      • Pam says

        February 12, 2019 at 4:04 pm

        Thank you!

        Reply
    8. Temera Halley says

      June 02, 2021 at 8:47 pm

      5 stars
      We live on the west coast near the ocean, here we serve this but we don’t drain sauce off we serve it in pasta bowls but we dip sliced fruit in it like bananas, melon, watermelon and strawberries. Everyone who eats it like this takes the recipe and the tradition of serving with crunchy French bread and fruit with them to their homes. Many people request this for their birthday meal another family does it New Year’s Eve. Terrific recipe. My mother in her 80’s does not recall how she ended up with this so I will share your story!

      Reply
      • Pam says

        June 03, 2021 at 10:30 am

        Another fun way to serve it. We just drain the sauce and put it in a little bowl on the side for dipping.

        Reply
    9. RITA VANDERZON says

      January 16, 2022 at 10:46 pm

      5 stars
      I have made this recipe many times. It is easy and delicious. This is a must try for all those that like shrimp…..

      Reply
      • Pam says

        January 17, 2022 at 11:29 am

        Thanks so much for letting us know Rita!

        Reply

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