Van Life Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta
Luxurious yet simple, this van-life favorite combines plump shrimp, linguine, and a creamy Cajun-spiced sauce cooked in one large skillet. It’s a dinner that feels a little fancy, even parked beside the pines.
Equipment
- Large skillet or sauté pan
- Tongs
- colander or fork
Ingredients
- 6 oz linguine or fettuccine pasta
- 8 oz raw shrimp peeled, deveined, tails off
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 cup half-and-half or light cream
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1/2 lemon juiced
- 2 tbsp chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Cook pasta in a skillet with salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside (reserve 1/2 cup pasta water).
- Heat oil and butter in the skillet over medium. Add shrimp and cajun seasoning. Sauté 2-3 minutes until shrimp are pink and opaque, then remove to a plate.
- Add garlic to skillet, cook 30 seconds. Stir in cream and parmesan, scraping up any bits.
- Return pasta and shrimp to skillet. Toss to coat, adding pasta water as needed for a silky sauce.
- Finish with lemon juice and parsley. Serve hot.
Notes
Shrimp cook fast—don’t overdo them. Use pre-peeled frozen shrimp for easier van-life prep. Make it vegetarian by swapping mushrooms for shrimp.