30-Minute Valentine's Day Dinner for 2 From Trader Joe's
30-Minute Valentine's Day Dinner for 2 From Trader Joe's
Don't want to go out this year on Valentine's Day? Try this quick and easy Valentine's Day dinner for two from Trader Joe's instead! This delicious and special meal includes creamy spaghetti Cacio E Pepe, flavorful shrimp scampi, a refreshing Lemony Arugula Basil Salad, and a decadent chocolate lava cake. Ready in just 30 minutes, it's a much better alternative than waiting for hours to get a table at a restaurant!
Stress-Free Valentine's Day Dinner for 2
Troy and I have been together since 2010! 14 whole years. We used to go out for date night every Valentine's Day, but we slowly realized in the last six years that it is just a crazy holiday and adds so much stress to our lives.
Every time we went out, it was almost impossible to get a reservation; the wait would be hours long, and sometimes, we would even leave before our name was called because we got too cranky.
Sometimes, the restaurant menus were fixed, and it cost a lot of money. Other times, it was so overhyped that we ended up feeling let down after the meal.
A few years ago, we came up with the good idea of having a special dinner at home. Something we normally wouldn’t eat and just make it intentional to spend some time together. It's now my favorite way to enjoy the holiday!
That’s where this easy dinner recipe comes in.
It’s a 30-minute dinner, and everything can be found at Trader Joe’s. It’s easy to make but tastes delicious and indulgent, including all of your ultimate comfort foods. There's a creamy Cacio E Pepe spaghetti, shrimp scampi, an herbaceous arugula salad, and a decadent chocolate lava cake for dessert. It’s honestly the perfect romantic dinner and a great way to spend Valentine's Day.
The best part about this meal is that it can be made together with little to no stress because the ingredients are all semi-made, and there is not as much cooking! It's my favorite meal to serve on Valentine's Day. Best of all, it leaves the night for doing something else too, like watching a movie, going for a walk, having your favorite beverage, doing a puzzle, or exchanging massages (our favorite)!
I think it’s lovely to celebrate love & relationships, whether it is with your partner, best friend, sibling, children, parents, or your whole family. I think Valentine’s Day is a great day to celebrate love in general.
Total Cost
Lemony Arugula Basil Salad Kit $3.99
Spaghetti Cacio E Pepe $4.49
Argentinian shrimp $11.99
Other misc. shrimp ingredients $7.00 (rounding)
Chocolate Lava Cake $3.79
Total meal cost: $32
Lemony Arugula Basil Salad Kit
$3.99/9.75 Oz
I love salad kits because they come with everything you need. There’s no need to overthink it. It has a leafy arugula, shredded parmesan cheese, crunchy carrots, roasted almonds, and a citrus & herb lemon vinaigrette dressing. It is light enough to accompany a delicious pasta but still has tons of flavor. It’s not a boring Caesar salad!
Just toss the kit ingredients into a large bowl and add the dressing on top. It’s balanced, peppery with the arugula, sweet with the carrots, and crunchy with the almonds. Sprinkle it with a little extra flakey sea salt for the next level greatness.
If you don’t like store-bought dressings, you can make a homemade one. Try my 5-Minute Avocado Green Goddess Dressing
Trader Joe's Spaghetti Cacio E Pepe
$4.49/16 oz
This can be found in the frozen section. It’s honestly one of the top 3 pasta dishes at Trader Joe’s. It’s perfect for those who don’t want to dirty too many dishes. It comes with a few spaghetti nests, which cook perfectly in about 5 minutes.
It’s a creamy sauce made of pecorino, Romano, and black pepper. It’s kind of like an Alfredo but with a ton of black pepper. It is perfect for a dinner for 2.
It’s really easy to make, and the ingredients are truly no more than what you would put in a homemade Cacio E Pepe, making it a great alternative for less stress!
To make it, just pop the contents of the bag into a skillet on the stove. Add a little bit of water to it, and stir it consistently for about 10-15 minutes until the sauce melts and your noodles are cooked to your liking (less cooking time for al dente and more cooking time for softer noodles).
Shrimp Scampi Using Argentinian Frozen Shrimp
$11.99/lb
I like using frozen Argentinian Shrimp. Why?
Its wild caught
Typically larger than normal shrimp, that’s why I prefer it!
It is a slightly sweet and tender type of shrimp.
This easy shrimp scampi is so quick and perfect as a protein for the spaghetti! I think it makes a big difference when you don’t pre-make your protein. And in the case of this romantic meal, it will be so much better if you make that high quality protein right before the dinner is served.
I made this shrimp scampi without wine (yup, traditionally, there’s wine in it). But I don’t think it’s necessary. It’s simple, ready in just enough time for the meal to come together, and such little prep!
Here’s what you need:
16-20 thawed Argentinian shrimp
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
5 fresh cloves of garlic, minced
1/4 cup bone broth or chicken broth
2 tbsp lemon juice + all of the zest
Chopped parsley for topping
În a large skillet, melt the butter and olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 1-2 minutes.
Add the broth and simmer for another 2-3 minutes.
Add the cooked shrimp. Cook for about 2 minutes, flip, and cook for another 2 minutes on the other side.
Add the lemon zest and lemon juice to the shrimp. Remove from the heat & add chopped parsley.
Enjoy alongside the spaghetti.
How Can You Tell if Shrimp Are Cooked?
Once they are no longer translucent and the internal temperature is 145F.
Tips
You can quickly thaw your frozen shrimp by submerging them in a bowl of cold water for 5 minutes.
Make sure you pat your shrimp dry before cooking. This will allow them to cook evenly and allow the sauce to absorb.
Cooking time may vary based on the size of the shrimp. For larger shrimp, it will take 5-8 minutes. For smaller shrimp, it may take around 5-6 minutes.
Storage
Store the shrimp in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Chocolate Lava Cake
$3.79/7.6 oz
This chocolate lava cake can be found in the frozen section. It comes with two cakes, perfect for a romantic Valentine's Day!
It’s a rich chocolate cake filled with a creamy chocolate ganache on the inside. It’s velvety texture tastes great with a little whipped cream and fresh berries on top!
It’s so easy to make; just follow the package directions, and you can either pop them in the microwave or in the oven/air fryer. If you are cooking them in the oven, you need to preheat your oven and cook for 15 minutes on a baking sheet. I prefer to do this in an air fryer because you won’t need to wait for the preheating!
In contrast, you can pop them in the microwave for just 60 seconds, which is so easy, fast, and honestly tastes better, too! If I were you, I would opt for the microwave, let them cool for a few minutes, and add the whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, or berries on top for a perfect end to a meal. For the ultimate Valentine's Day dessert, add some conversation hearts or jelly bean hearts for decoration.
Valentine's Day Dinner for 2 From Trader Joe's Ingredients
Lemony Arugula Basil Salad Kit
Spaghetti Cacio E Pepe (frozen)
16-20 thawed Argentinian shrimp
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
5 fresh cloves of garlic, minced
1/4 cup bone broth or chicken broth
2 tbsp lemon juice + all of the zest
Chopped parsley for topping
Chocolate lava cake (frozen)
Whipped cream + berries (optional)
How to Prepare Valentine's Day Dinner for 2 From Trader Joe's
Spaghetti Cacio E Pepe
Heat a skillet over medium heat with 1-2 tablespoons of water.
Add the contents of the frozen spaghetti Cacio E Pepe & heat for about 10-15 minutes while stirring consistently.
Keep stirring until the pasta is cooked through and the sauce is melted. Add more water if needed to thin out the sauce.
Shrimp Scampi
În a large skillet, melt the butter and olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 1-2 minutes.
Add the broth and simmer for another 2-3 minutes.
Add the cooked shrimp. Cook for about 2 minutes, flip, and cook for another 2 minutes on the other side.
Add the lemon zest and lemon juice to the shrimp. Remove from the heat & add chopped parsley.
Enjoy alongside the spaghetti.
Lemony Arugula Basil Salad
Add the kit ingredients into a bowl. Mix with the dressing and set aside to serve.
Chocolate Lava Cake
Remove the plastic from the packaging and place it in the microwave for about 60 seconds.
Let it cool for a few minutes, then add your whipped cream on top with some fresh berries.
Enjoy warm!
This 30-minute Valentine's Day dinner for two from Trader Joe's is a stress-free and fun alternative to dining out on the busy holiday. You can enjoy a romantic and indulgent meal at home with its delicious and easy recipes. Whether celebrating with your partner, best friend, or loved ones, this meal is a perfect way to show your love and create lasting memories. Skip the crowded restaurants and enjoy a special evening with this delicious Trader Joe's dinner.
30-Minute Valentine's Day Dinner for 2 From Trader Joe's
Ingredients
- Lemony Arugula Basil Salad Kit
- Spaghetti Cacio E Pepe (frozen)
- 16-20 thawed Argentinian shrimp
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 5 fresh cloves of garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup bone broth or chicken broth
- 2 tbsp lemon juice + all of the zest
- Chopped parsley for topping
- Chocolate lava cake (frozen)
- Whipped cream + berries (optional)
Instructions
- Heat a skillet over medium heat with 1-2 tablespoons of water.
- Add the contents of the frozen spaghetti Cacio E Pepe & heat for about 10-15 minutes while staring consistently.
- Keep stirring until the pasta is cooked through and the sauce is melted. Add more water if needed to thin out the sauce.
- În a large skillet, melt the butter and olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 1-2 minutes.
- Add the broth and simmer for another 2-3 minutes.
- Add the cooked shrimp. Cook for about 2 mins, flip, and cook for another 2 minutes on the other side.
- Add the lemon zest and lemon juice to the shrimp. Remove from the heat & add chopped parsley.
- Enjoy alongside the spaghetti.
- Add the kit ingredients into a bowl. Mix with the dressing and set aside to serve.
- Remove the plastic from the packaging and place in the microwave for about 60 seconds.
- Let it cool for a few minutes, then add your whipped cream on top with some fresh berries.
- Enjoy warm!
30-Minute Valentine's Day Dinner for 2 From Trader Joe's
Ingredients
- Lemony Arugula Basil Salad Kit
- Spaghetti Cacio E Pepe (frozen)
- 16-20 thawed Argentinian shrimp
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 5 fresh cloves of garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup bone broth or chicken broth
- 2 tbsp lemon juice + all of the zest
- Chopped parsley for topping
- Chocolate lava cake (frozen)
- Whipped cream + berries (optional)
Instructions
- Heat a skillet over medium heat with 1-2 tablespoons of water.
- Add the contents of the frozen spaghetti Cacio E Pepe & heat for about 10-15 minutes while staring consistently.
- Keep stirring until the pasta is cooked through and the sauce is melted. Add more water if needed to thin out the sauce.
- În a large skillet, melt the butter and olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 1-2 minutes.
- Add the broth and simmer for another 2-3 minutes.
- Add the cooked shrimp. Cook for about 2 mins, flip, and cook for another 2 minutes on the other side.
- Add the lemon zest and lemon juice to the shrimp. Remove from the heat & add chopped parsley.
- Enjoy alongside the spaghetti.
- Add the kit ingredients into a bowl. Mix with the dressing and set aside to serve.
- Remove the plastic from the packaging and place in the microwave for about 60 seconds.
- Let it cool for a few minutes, then add your whipped cream on top with some fresh berries.
- Enjoy warm!
Vegan or not, this stuffing will be a hit for all at your Thanksgiving table this year! This recipe is dairy-free and devoid of allergens, making it a safe choice for everyone at the table.