Trader Joe's Lobster Pasta Recipe

This Trader Joe’s Lobster Pasta is a quick and elegant recipe, which is made with tender lobster meat and a simple garlic butter sauce. It’s a restaurant-quality dish, perfect for a special weeknight dinner and ready in under 20 minutes.

Jump to Recipe

Trader Joe’s Lobster Pasta Ingredients

A simple list for a luxurious and quick pasta dinner.

8 oz pasta (like penne, linguine, or fettuccine)
6 oz cooked lobster meat, in bite-sized pieces (like Trader Joe’s frozen langostino tails, thawed)
2 oz (4 tbsp) butter
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 or 2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley, plus more for garnish
2 Tbsp dry white wine
1 tsp sea salt
Optional: Freshly ground black pepper, squeeze of fresh lemon

How To Make Trader Joe’s Lobster Pasta

A step-by-step guide to this incredibly simple yet elegant meal.

Cook the Pasta: In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook your desired pasta according to the package directions until it is al dente. Just before draining, reserve about a cup of the starchy pasta water.
Start the Garlic Butter Sauce: While the pasta is cooking, heat the butter and olive oil in a large saucepan or cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for about one minute until fragrant, being careful not to let it brown.
Add Lobster and Wine: Stir in the fresh parsley. Increase the heat to medium-high, add the bite-sized pieces of lobster meat, and stir gently. Pour in the white wine and let it bubble for one minute.
Toss and Serve: Drain the pasta and add it directly to the skillet with the lobster sauce. Toss everything together gently. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to create a glossy sauce that coats the noodles. Serve the lobster pasta immediately, garnished with more fresh parsley and an optional squeeze of fresh lemon.

Trader Joe's Lobster Pasta Recipe — Trader Joe’s Lobster Pasta Recipe

Recipe Tips

For the most delicious, perfectly saucy lobster pasta.

How to get the best sauce? The secret ingredient is the starchy pasta water. Don’t throw it all away! Adding a splash of this liquid at the end helps the butter and oil emulsify into a creamy, glossy sauce that clings perfectly to every piece of pasta.
Can I make this non-alcoholic? Yes, absolutely. As the recipe notes, you can simply substitute the 2 tablespoons of white wine with an equal amount of the reserved starchy pasta water.
What kind of pasta is best? Long pastas like linguine, fettuccine, or spaghetti are classic with seafood sauces. However, a short pasta like penne or rigatoni, which can trap the sauce, is also a great choice.
Can I make this ahead of time? This dish is at its absolute best when served hot and fresh from the skillet, as the delicate lobster can become tough when reheated. The entire dish comes together in the time it takes to boil pasta, so it’s a perfect quick meal.

What To Serve With Lobster Pasta

Simple sides to complete this decadent meal.

This rich and satisfying pasta is a complete meal on its own, but it pairs wonderfully with:

A simple green salad with a light lemon vinaigrette to cut through the richness
Warm, crusty garlic bread for mopping up every last bit of the sauce
A glass of a crisp, chilled white wine, like a Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio

How To Store Lobster Pasta

Keeping your delicious leftovers fresh.

Refrigerate: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Reheat: To reheat, place the pasta in a skillet over low heat with a generous splash of milk, heavy cream, or chicken stock to loosen up the sauce and add moisture back. Stir gently until it’s warmed through and creamy again.

Trader Joe’s Lobster Pasta Nutrition Facts

An estimated guide per serving.

Calories: 750kcal
Carbohydrates: 80g
Protein: 31g
Fat: 31g

Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.

FAQs

What’s the best lobster to use for pasta?

Using pre-cooked lobster meat is the ultimate shortcut for this recipe. Trader Joe’s frozen langostino tails (thawed) or their pre-cooked frozen lobster meat are perfect. You can also use cooked claw and knuckle meat from a whole lobster.

Can I use raw lobster meat?

Yes. If you are using raw lobster meat, add it to the garlic butter sauce and cook, stirring, for about 3-4 minutes, or until it is opaque and cooked through, before adding the wine.

My sauce seems oily. What went wrong?

This can happen if the sauce “breaks.” The starchy pasta water is the key to preventing this. When you toss the pasta with the sauce, add a few tablespoons of the pasta water and toss vigorously. The starch will help the butter, oil, and water to bind together into a creamy, emulsified sauce.

Try More Recipes: