A bold, one-pan Southern-style dinner packed with smoky sausage, juicy shrimp, and tender cabbage – easy, hearty, and full of flavor.
🕒 Recipe Card
👥 Servings: 4
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Dietary Tags: Gluten-Free, Low-Carb, Dairy-Free
✅ Ingredients (Checklist Style)
- Shrimp (peeled & deveined)
- Smoked sausage (sliced)
- Green cabbage (chopped)
- Yellow or white onion (sliced)
- Garlic (minced)
- Celery (optional, chopped)
- Olive oil or butter
- Creole or Cajun seasoning
- Salt & black pepper
- Crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
🔥 Instructions (Quick Step List)
- Prep the Ingredients: Chop cabbage, slice sausage, and season shrimp with Creole seasoning.
- Sauté Sausage: In a large skillet, cook sausage until browned. Remove and set aside.
- Cook Onions & Garlic: In the same pan, sauté onions and garlic in oil until fragrant.
- Add Cabbage: Toss in the cabbage and celery. Season and cook until wilted and tender.
- Cook Shrimp: Add shrimp and cook until just pink (2–3 mins).
- Combine: Return sausage to the pan. Toss everything together and adjust seasoning.
- Serve Hot: Garnish with extra seasoning or herbs if desired.
💡 Notes & Quick Tips
- Use large, raw shrimp for best flavor and texture.
- Keto-friendly as-is.
- Want extra heat? Add more red pepper flakes or a splash of hot sauce.
- Works well as a meal prep dish – reheats beautifully.
📸 Hero Image
(Image of the final dish – as seen above)
🧄 About This Recipe
Looking for a satisfying, flavorful one-pan meal that hits all the notes – spicy, smoky, savory, and just a bit sweet from the caramelized cabbage? This Shrimp & Sausage Skillet is a weeknight wonder born from Southern inspiration. It’s fast, uses simple ingredients, and packs major comfort in every bite.
Perfect for busy nights, low-carb goals, or when you’re just craving something that tastes like it cooked for hours — but didn’t.
👩🍳 Step-by-Step Cooking Guide
1. Slice & Season
- Slice smoked sausage into rounds.
- Season shrimp lightly with Creole or Cajun seasoning.
2. Brown the Sausage
- Heat skillet with a bit of olive oil.
- Cook sausage slices until browned and crisp on edges. Remove and set aside.
Tip: Don’t overcrowd the pan – this helps the sausage caramelize rather than steam.
3. Sauté Aromatics
- Add more oil if needed.
- Sauté sliced onions and minced garlic until golden and fragrant.
4. Cook the Cabbage & Celery
- Add chopped cabbage and celery. Season with salt, pepper, and a bit more Cajun seasoning.
- Cook until softened, about 7–10 minutes.
Tip: If the pan dries out, add a splash of broth or water to help steam the cabbage.
5. Add the Shrimp
- Nestle shrimp into the cabbage mix and cook 2–3 minutes, flipping once, until opaque and curled.
6. Combine & Finish
- Return sausage to pan. Toss everything together. Taste and adjust seasoning.
🥬 Ingredient Details & Substitutions
- Shrimp: Any size works, but large shrimp stay juicier. Use fresh or thawed frozen.
- Smoked Sausage: Andouille is best for spice and flavor, but kielbasa or turkey sausage works too.
- Cabbage: Green cabbage is traditional, but savoy or napa will do.
- Seasoning: Cajun/Creole spice blends add smoky heat. Paprika + garlic powder + thyme is a DIY alternative.
🛠 Equipment Alternatives
- No cast iron? Any large nonstick or stainless skillet works.
- Low on space? Use a wok-style pan for easier tossing.
🔁 Variations & Serving Ideas
🌀 Flavor Twists
- Spicy Cajun Cream Sauce: Add a splash of cream or broth + cream cheese after step 6 for a saucy version.
- Add Veggies: Bell peppers, zucchini, or mushrooms can bulk up the skillet.
- Smoky Bacon Add-In: Sauté chopped bacon with the sausage for double the smokiness.
🌱 Dietary Swaps
- Vegan/Vegetarian: Replace sausage with plant-based sausage and shrimp with tofu or tempeh.
- Low-Sodium: Use a low-salt sausage and control seasoning amounts.
🍽️ Serving Ideas
- Serve over rice, cauliflower rice, or mashed potatoes.
- Top with chopped green onions or a squeeze of lemon juice.
- Add a side of cornbread or garlic toast for comfort meal perfection.
🧊 Storage & Reheating
🥡 Storage:
- Refrigerate in airtight container up to 4 days.
- Freeze for up to 2 months. Reheat directly from frozen or thaw overnight.
🔁 Reheating:
- Stovetop: Sauté in a bit of oil or butter over medium heat.
- Microwave: Heat in 30-second bursts, stirring between, until warm.
⏰ Make-Ahead Tips:
- Chop veggies and slice sausage in advance.
- Meal prep version: Cook everything and store in portions for grab-and-go lunches.
🍽️ Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
- Calories: ~320
- Protein: 22g
- Carbs: 10g
- Fat: 20g
- Fiber: 3g
- Sugar: 4g
All values estimated; will vary based on ingredients used.
Allergens: Shellfish (shrimp) | Can be made dairy-free & gluten-free
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use frozen shrimp?
A: Yes! Just make sure they’re fully thawed and patted dry before cooking.
Q: Can I make this ahead of time?
A: Absolutely. It reheats well and even gets more flavorful the next day.
Q: What if I don’t like sausage?
A: You can use cooked chicken, bacon, or a plant-based sausage alternative.
Q: How spicy is this?
A: Mild to moderate depending on your Cajun spice blend. Adjust to taste.
📝 The Story Behind the Recipe
This recipe came about on a cold evening when I had shrimp, cabbage, and some leftover smoked sausage from a weekend cookout. What started as a clean-out-the-fridge dinner became a staple. It reminded me of Southern-style cabbage dishes but with the added surf-and-turf twist. It’s rustic, quick, and deeply satisfying.
💬 Let’s Chat!
Have you tried this recipe? Let me know in the comments!
💡 What veggies would you add? What seasoning tweaks did you try?
📸 Share your photos on social and tag me — I’d love to see your version!
Want more Southern-inspired skillet meals? Try:
- [Blackened Shrimp Alfredo]
- [Smothered Cabbage & Potatoes]
- [Cajun Chicken and Rice Bake]
