Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Skewers

These Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Skewers are so easy to make and pack a ton of flavor. They’re smoky and spicy and truly an addicting appetizer to serve to your family and friends. With just 6 ingredients, they’re easy to customize to everyone’s liking.

Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Bites are a viral recipe that I came up with for the Super Bowl one year. Now we make them all the time as an easy appetizer or side dish for a crowd. They’re ridiculously flavorful with just 6 ingredients.

Better yet, they’re easy to get the whole family involved in making. Just skewer pieces of spicy sausage and shrimp onto toothpicks that are grilled to perfection – there really isn’t anything better. Sometimes we change these sausage and shrimp bites up by adding peppers or onions.

We cook these on the grill for easy clean up as well as a smoky flavor, but you can also make them on a grill pan inside or in the oven. If you’re looking for more delicious appetizer recipes to try, our Shrimp Scampi and “Trashed” Wings are both fan favorites.

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

• Easy for anyone to make. These shrimp and sausage skewers are fun for the whole family to help assemble in almost no time.
• Make them on the grill for ease. They’re best made on the grill for an extra smoky flavor, and also makes clean up a breeze.
• Customize with different spices, sauces, and veggies. You can add veggies like bell peppers to the skewers. Feel free to add different spice blends and dipping sauces as well.

Ingredients

• LilliesQ “Creole Dirt”: This is my favorite Creole seasoning, use your favorite or what’s easy to find at the store.
• The W Sauce: You can also use another type of Worcestershire sauce if desired.
• Conecuh Cajun Sausage: This is my favorite brand of pork sausage. Use your favorite spice cajun or andouille sausage that you can find at your supermarket. Be sure it’s already fully cooked for ease.
• Unsalted Butter: For basting and cooking the skewers on the grill.
• Minced Garlic: You can mince your own or make it easy with the pre-minced garlic in the jar.
• Hot Honey: The finishing touch, adds a kiss of spicy sweetness to each bite.

How to Make Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Skewers

• Step 1: Get the grill or oven heated to approximately 400ºF.
• Step 2: Cut sausage into pieces approximately the same width as the shrimp.

• Step 3: Use a toothpick to pierce the shrimp, go through sausage, and through the other side of shrimp.
• Step 4: Season both sides with cajun seasoning.

• Step 5: Once the grill is to temp, add all the ingredients for sauce into the pan and allow to melt, then stir to combine until smooth. Feel free to do this on the stovetop, just have next to grill when cooking shrimp.
• Step 6: Place the shrimp/sausage bites on wire rack, then on grill over direct heat.

• Step 7: Close lid and allow to cook approximately 90 seconds, then open the lid and brush sauce on.
• Step 8: Flip and brush sauce on the other side.
• Step 9: Cook an additional 1 to 2 minutes, then remove.
• Step 10: Allow to cool, then enjoy!

Expert Tips & Variations

• Cook on the stovetop or in the oven instead of the grill. This is possible using a grill pan on the stovetop or you can also bake in the oven on a piece of foil. We recommend using precooked cajun sausage in this case rather than raw. This ensures the sausage is cooked through all the way.
• Add veggies to the bites if desired. You can add a piece of bell pepper if you want to add a veggie to the toothpick. They’re also delicious grilled.
• Buy your shrimp already peeled and deveined. They sell the shrimp this way at the fish stand in the grocery store. You can also buy frozen shrimp already peeled and deveined, make sure to thaw it completely before skewering.
• Thaw shrimp quickly and correctly. If you forgot to defrost the shrimp before cooking, simply place the bag in a bowl of cold water on the counter and it will thaw in an hour or so. You can continue changing the cold water as well to help the process along.
• Don’t overcook the bites. It essential to cook these bites just until the shrimp turns pink and opaque. If you cook the shrimp too long it will be hard and rubbery.

Storage & Make-Ahead Instructions

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave for a couple of minutes until hot.

The beauty of these shrimp and sausage bites is that you can assemble them in advance and keep them in the fridge. Grill right before serving so they’re hot and fresh.

FAQs

What’s the best kind of sausage to use for these bites?

We recommend using any precooked cajun or andouille sausage you can find at your store. If you prefer a mild sausage rather than spicy, that also works well too.

Does the shrimp need to be peeled and deveined for these bites?

Yes, be sure you buy peeled and deveined shrimp from the seafood section. You can also find this in the frozen section. Thaw the shrimp completely before cooking.

Can veggies be added to the skewers?

Add a piece of bell pepper or onion to the skewers if you want a bit of a veggie bite in your skewers.

More Easy Appetizer Recipes

• Slow Cooker Crack Chicken Dip  
• Bacon Wrapped Pretzel Bites 
• Ranch Dill Pickle Dip 
• Cheesy Lobster Sliders 

Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Bites

These Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Bites are so easy to make and pack a ton of flavor. They're smoky and spicy and truly an addicting appetizer to serve to your family and friends. With just 6 ingredients, they're easy to customize to everyone's liking.

5 from 4 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 40 bites

Equipment

• Primo Ceramic Grills
• Rocket Fire Torch
• LilliesQ "Creole Dirt"
• The W Sauce
• Conecuh Sausage

Ingredients

• 2 lbs Jumbo Shrimp peeled and deveined
• 1 lb Conecuh Cajun Sausage
• Cajun or Creole seasoning
• 6 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 tbsp "Jarlic" minced garlic
• 1 tbsp W sauce
• 1 tbsp cajun seasoning
• 3/4 cup Hot Honey

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

• Get grill or oven heated to approx 400 degrees.
• Cut sausage into pieces approx same width as shrimp.
• Use a toothpick to pierce shrimp, go through sausage, and through other side of shrimp.
• Season both sides with cajun seasoning.
• Once grill is to temp add all ingredients for sauce into pan and allow to melt, then stir to combine until smooth. Feel free to do this on the stovetop, just have next to grill when cooking shrimp.
• Place shrimp/sausage bites on wire rack, then on grill over direct heat.
• Close lid and allow to cook approx 90 seconds then open lid and brush sauce on.
• Flip and brush sauce on other side.
• Cook an additional 1-2 min then remove.
• Allow to cool then enjoy!

Video

Notes

These can be done in the stove,  you just won't get that great charcoal flavor imparted by the grill. I would use precooked sausage if using oven as conecuh is not cooked and needs the direct heat to get finished when shrimp is ready. 

Storage: 

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave for a couple of minutes until hot. 

The beauty of these shrimp and sausage bites is that you can assemble them in advance and keep them in the fridge. Grill right before serving so they're hot and fresh. 

Tips: 

• Cook on the stovetop or in the oven instead of the grill. This is possible using a grill pan on the stovetop or you can also bake in the oven on a piece of foil. We recommend using precooked cajun sausage in this case rather than raw. This ensures the sausage is cooked through all the way.
• Add veggies to the bites if desired. You can add a piece of bell pepper if you want to add a veggie to the toothpick. They're also delicious grilled.
• Buy your shrimp already peeled and deveined. They sell the shrimp this way at the fish stand in the grocery store. You can also buy frozen shrimp already peeled and deveined, make sure to thaw it completely before skewering.
• Thaw shrimp quickly and correctly. If you forgot to defrost the shrimp before cooking, simply place the bag in a bowl of cold water on the counter and it will thaw in an hour or so. You can continue changing the cold water as well to help the process along. 
• Don't overcook the bites. It essential to cook these bites just until the shrimp turns pink and opaque. If you cook the shrimp too long it will be hard and rubbery.