Cajun Shrimp Bowl

This Cajun shrimp bowl brings together warm, seasoned shrimp, rice, and cooked bell peppers for a dinner that doesn't need much fuss. A squeeze of lemon finishes the bowl, and you can add a few toppings from the fridge before sitting down to eat.

The Cajun seasoning gives the shrimp bold flavor and a little heat, while the rice and peppers make it a filling meal. I like avocado for a creamy bite or green onions for a fresh finish, but there's no need to use every topping.

This recipe starts with cooked rice and cooked bell peppers. With those ready, dinner takes about 20 minutes using the air fryer, or a little less on the stovetop. I get the bowls and toppings ready before cooking the shrimp so I can serve everything warm.

Quick Success Tips

• Choose one shrimp cooking method. Use the air fryer or stovetop; these are alternatives, not consecutive steps.
• Keep the shrimp in a single layer. Extra batches add to the total recipe time.
• Remove the shrimp as soon as they are opaque and cooked through. Leaving them in the heat while you assemble dinner can make them tough.

Why This Recipe Works

The warm peppers add sweetness alongside the Cajun seasoning, and the rice gives the bowl a simple, filling base. Lemon keeps the flavors bright without needing a separate dressing recipe.

The shrimp cook on their own, so the rice and peppers can be warmed separately without extending the shrimp's time in the heat. That makes it easier to bring the different parts together at serving time.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Makes two generous bowls with shrimp, rice, and vegetables
• Shrimp can be cooked in the air fryer or on the stovetop
• Each bowl can be finished with different toppings

Ingredients for Cajun Shrimp Bowl

Find the exact amounts in the recipe card below.

For the Cajun Shrimp

Large shrimp: Use raw shrimp that are peeled and deveined. Fresh or completely thawed frozen shrimp work for this recipe.

Olive oil: Helps the Cajun seasoning coat the shrimp before cooking.

Cajun seasoning: Supplies the main flavor. Blends vary in salt and heat, so choose one you enjoy.

Garlic powder: Adds a little more garlic flavor to the seasoning.

Lemon juice: The measured tablespoon goes into the shrimp seasoning before cooking.

For the Bowl

Cooked rice: White, brown, or jasmine rice all work. Measure the rice after cooking; the recipe time does not include cooking it from dry.

Cooked bell peppers: These are already cooked before the recipe begins, too. Use the smaller amount for less vegetable topping or the larger amount for more peppers in each bowl.

Lemon wedges: Squeeze them over the finished bowls right before serving.

Optional Toppings

Avocado slices: Add a creamy bite alongside the seasoned shrimp.

Corn and cherry tomatoes: Add more vegetables to the finished bowls.

Green onions: Give the bowl a fresh finish.

Yogurt or sour cream drizzle: An optional creamy topping to add at serving time.

How to Make a Cajun Shrimp Bowl

Start with the cooked rice and cooked bell peppers ready to go. Cook the shrimp using your preferred method, then assemble the bowls.

Season the Shrimp

Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels.

Add the shrimp to a bowl with the olive oil, Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, and 1 tablespoon lemon juice.

Toss until evenly coated.

Air Fryer Method

Arrange the seasoned shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook in batches as needed.

Air fry at 360°F for 8 to 10 minutes, turning halfway through, until the shrimp are opaque and cooked through.

Remove the shrimp from the basket as soon as they are done.

Stovetop Method

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Add the seasoned shrimp in a single layer.

Cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until the shrimp are opaque and cooked through.

Remove the shrimp from the skillet as soon as they are done.

Assemble the Bowls

Divide the warm cooked rice between two bowls.

Add the warm cooked bell peppers.

Top each bowl with the Cajun shrimp.

Add any optional toppings.

Finish with a squeeze of lemon from the lemon wedges and serve warm.

Helpful Tips

• Choose one or two toppings to keep the extra chopping manageable.
• Slice avocado close to serving so it stays fresh.
• Keep yogurt or sour cream on the table so each person can add their own drizzle.

Make It a Meal

These bowls already include protein, rice, and vegetables, so you can serve them as a complete dinner.

For the easiest night: Serve the bowls with lemon wedges and stop there. Leftover cooked rice and peppers keep the prep manageable.

For more texture: Add corn and cherry tomatoes, then finish with avocado. This uses the optional toppings to make a fuller bowl without cooking another dish.

For something fresh alongside: Put a simple cucumber salad on the table with the warm bowls. I keep the side light so the Cajun shrimp remain the main flavor.

Storage and Reheating

Store the shrimp, rice, and peppers in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator. Keep fresh toppings and any creamy drizzle separate, and add avocado and lemon when serving.

Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours, or within 1 hour in temperatures above 90°F. For the best shrimp texture, plan to eat the leftovers within 2 days; use rice and peppers sooner when they were cooked earlier.

Warm the rice and peppers separately, adding a small splash of water to the rice as needed. Reheat the shrimp gently in a skillet over medium-low heat. Reheated leftovers should reach 165°F; remove the shrimp once heated through rather than continuing to cook them.

More Cajun Shrimp Dinners

For the seasoned shrimp on their own, see my Air Fryer Cajun Shrimp recipe. This bowl turns that flavor into a complete dinner with rice and cooked bell peppers.

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