Busy Mom’s Secret Weapon: Trader Joe’s Shrimp Scampi to the Rescue!

Trader Joe’s recently released a new frozen option for a quick and healthy weeknight meal that I am sure many busy moms will be interested in. The new meal is called “Shrimp Scampi” and you can find it in the frozen section. Before you raise your eyebrows at the thought of frozen seafood, let me take you on a flavorful journey that might just end with this shrimp scampi becoming your new kitchen sidekick. Forget about hours over the stove—this is about turning mealtime from frantic to fantastic faster than you can say ‘more garlic, please!'”

Trader Joe's Frozen Scampi back of box
Trader Joe’s Frozen Scampi back of box

1. Introduction

Shrimp Scampi is a classic Italian-American dish known for its succulent shrimp swimming in a rich, garlicky, buttery sauce, often with a splash of white wine and a hint of lemon. It’s the kind of meal that feels indulgent but is surprisingly simple to make from scratch—if you have the time. Trader Joe’s aims to capture all that deliciousness in a convenient frozen package, making it easier than ever to enjoy this savory favorite on a busy weeknight.

Picture this: it’s 6 PM, and you’ve just wrapped up a long day of work, school pickups, and a seemingly endless list of chores. The kids are hungry, and you’re caught in that familiar dilemma of wanting to serve a delicious, wholesome meal without spending an hour in the kitchen. Enter Trader Joe’s Shrimp Scampi. With just a few minutes and minimal effort, you can transform this frozen treasure into a mouth-watering dinner that tastes like you’ve been slaving away for hours. It’s the perfect solution for those chaotic evenings when you need a quick win that will have everyone at the table asking for seconds.

Trader Joe's Shrimp Scamp in the bag
Trader Joe’s Shrimp Scamp in the bag

2. Product Description

As you can see from the box pictures above this is 13 ounces of frozen raw shrimp with some sauce frozen to each shrimp which is kind of genius if you ask me. It’s genius because you don’t need to make all of it at once if you don’t want, just grab as many shrimp as you want and heat them up. The shrimp come in a single bag but I wouldn’t have any problem throwing any that you don’t use in a Ziploc bag and putting them back in the freezer. The sauce is literally frozen to each individual shrimp. Someone needs to win a Nobel prize for this invention!

Trader Joe's Frozen Shrimp Scampi
Trader Joe’s Frozen Shrimp Scampi

3. Ease of Preparation

Making Trader Joe’s Shrimp Scampi is almost too easy to believe. All you need to do is toss the frozen shrimp into a hot pan. As the shrimp begin to cook, they turn a beautiful pink, and the frozen sauce that clings to them melts into a luscious, buttery, lemony, garlicky pool of flavor. My kitchen was filled with lemon and garlicky aromas. Stir occasionally to make sure everything heats evenly, and before you know it, you have a dish ready to serve. No chopping, no measuring, no fuss, shrimp scampi in a flash.

4. Taste Test

Before I made a meal out of it, I tried a couple of cooked shrimp and the sauce was absolutely wonderful and the shrimp was very tender. Just remember not to overcook the shrimp. There is plenty of sauce if you want to put it over pasta, which is what we did. I did sprinkle some Aglio Olio seasoning and chopped up parsley over our dishes but you don’t have to do anything!

Trader Joe's Shrimp Scampi over pasta
Trader Joe’s Shrimp Scampi over pasta

Versatility

I spent some time thinking up some ways to use it, obviously, the first way is the most common where you put it over pasta. The Trader Joe’s Lemon Torchietti would be wonderful here, but any pasta would work!

Classic Pasta Dish: Prepare your favorite pasta—linguine or fettuccine works great. Cook the shrimp scampi according to the package instructions and toss it with the cooked pasta. Add a sprinkle of fresh parsley and a squeeze of lemon juice for an extra burst of flavor.
Shrimp Scampi Tacos: Heat up some tortillas and fill them with the cooked shrimp scampi. Top with shredded cabbage, a dollop of sour cream, and a squeeze of lime. Garnish with fresh cilantro and a drizzle of hot sauce for a quick and flavorful taco night.
Shrimp Scampi Pizza: Use a pre-made pizza crust or flatbread. Spread a thin layer of Alfredo sauce or garlic butter over the crust, then top with the cooked shrimp scampi. Add a sprinkle of mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, and bake until the cheese is bubbly and golden. Garnish with fresh basil before serving.
Shrimp Scampi Rice Bowl: Prepare a bed of rice—white, brown, or cauliflower rice for a low-carb option. Cook the shrimp scampi and spoon it over the rice. Add steamed vegetables like broccoli, bell peppers, and snap peas for a well-rounded, quick meal.
Shrimp Scampi Stuffed Avocados: Halve and pit ripe avocados. Cook the shrimp scampi and then spoon the shrimp and sauce into the avocado halves. Garnish with a sprinkle of chopped chives or green onions and a drizzle of lemon juice. Serve with a side salad for a light and satisfying meal.

Value for Money

At $8.99 for a box of this at 13 ounces, it may not seem like a good deal, but this isn’t much more expensive than frozen raw shrimp and the time savings are tremendous. For this price, it works out to about $11 a pound, which isn’t that far off from their regular shrimp prices.

Final Verdict

After tasting Trader Joe’s Shrimp Scampi in a variety of dishes, it’s safe to say this product is a real winner. The ease of preparation, rich flavors, and versatility make it a standout option for busy moms looking for quick and delicious meal solutions. Whether tossed with pasta, stuffed in avocados, or transformed into a pizza topping, this scampi brings a touch of gourmet to your table in minutes. We give Trader Joe’s Shrimp Scampi a stellar 9 out of 10 stars, taking away just one star for wishing the portion size was a bit larger. It’s a fantastic addition to your freezer that promises to make dinner time both easy and delightful.

Trader Joe’s Shrimp Scampi

After trying Trader Joe’s Shrimp Scampi in these delightful ways, we’d love to hear from you! Have you found a unique way to use this product in your meals? Share your experiences and recipes in the comments below. Your ideas might just inspire our next delicious adventure! Please leave a comment below.


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2 Comments

  1. This dish tasted great but it certainly was not enough shrimp for 3 servings. The sauce was delicious, but far too much for 3 servings. I ended up throwing most of it out. I served it with linguine and a salad. I won’t be buying it again unless you must package it with much less sauce.

    • It’s definitely not three servings. Trader Joe’s has some weird thing about really small serving sizes. It’s one or two servings in a package especially if you pair it with some pasta.

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