Viral Trader Joe’s Lobster Bisque Pasta
Updated Nov 24, 2025, Published on May 30, 2025
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If you’ve been anywhere near TikTok lately, chances are you’ve seen the viral Trader Joe’s Lobster Bisque Pasta recipe blowing up on everyone’s For You Page. This pasta is rich, comforting, and made with just a few simple ingredients, most of which you can grab in one Trader Joe’s run so it's easy to see why it's trending!
I'm so excited to share my take on the viral lobster bisque pasta, complete with a flavorful twist: Old Bay lemon brown butter breadcrumbs. They add the perfect crispy topping with a hint of heat, saltiness, and brightness from the lemon zest. Total game-changer.
Looking for more viral pasta recipes? Try my TikTok Viral One Pot French Onion Pasta or Viral TikTok Pasta with Boursin!
Watch how to make it here!
Why You’ll Love This Viral Pasta
Whether you saw this lobster bisque pasta on TikTok or you’re just looking for a cozy seafood pasta to try at home, I think you'll love this recipe!
- Easy to make with a trip to Trader Joe's and a few pantry/ freezer staples
- Packed with bold, buttery, seafood flavor
- Ready in around 30 minutes
- Fancy enough for date night, easy enough for a weeknight
Recipe Ingredients
See the recipe card below for the complete list of ingredients with exact quantities.
- Argentinian Red Shrimp. These are a favorite Trader Joe's freezer staple of mine. They’re sweet, juicy, and have an almost lobster-like flavor. I’ve seen others use Trader Joe’s Langostino Tails, which totally works too, but in my opinion, the Argentinian shrimp bring more flavor and a better texture.
- Pasta: I used gigli/campanelle. Other short shapes such as shells, penne, or rigatoni would work well. Long shapes like fettuccine or linguine are also great for twirling.
- Old Bay Seasoning: A spice blend known for its bold, savory flavor with hints of celery salt, paprika, black pepper, and other spices. It’s a favorite for seasoning seafood so it pairs perfectly with the shrimp and lobster bisque in this recipe!
Lobster Bisque Pasta (Step-by-Step Instructions)
See the recipe card below for the full list of instructions.
- Make the brown butter breadcrumbs and toss with Old Bay and lemon zest.
- Cook the shallots, garlic, and tomatoes. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
- Mix in the chopped shrimp and lobster bisque.
- Add cooked pasta, lemon juice, and fresh parsley.
Ready to try it? Scroll to the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts and full instructions.
Recipe Tips/Substitutions
- Use salted butter for the breadcrumbs (or add salt to taste if using unsalted).
- Don’t skip the lemon juice. It really balances the richness of the sauce!
- Add a splash of reserved pasta water to thin the sauce if it gets too thick.
- This dish is best served immediately while it’s hot and creamy.
- No shallot? You can substitute with 1/2 of a small yellow onion.
- Want to sneak in some veggies? A couple handfuls of spinach stirred into the sauce at the end works perfectly.
- Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave. This dish is not ideal for freezing due to the cream-based bisque sauce.
Did you try this Viral Trader Joe's Lobster Bisque Pasta recipe? Leave a Review!
If you try this recipe, I’d love to hear what you think! If you enjoyed it, please consider leaving a rating and review. And don’t forget to tag me on Instagram or TikTok so I can see your creations!
Viral Trader Joe’s Lobster Bisque Pasta
Equipment
- Sauté Pan or large high-rimmed pan of choice
Ingredients
Brown Butter Breadcrumbs
- 3 tablespoons Butter, see Note 1
- ⅓ cup Panko Breadcrumbs
- ¼ teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning, adjust to taste
- 1 teaspoon Lemon Zest, adjust to taste
Pasta
- 8 ounces Pasta, see note 2
- 1 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 Shallot, finely chopped
- 3 cloves Garlic, minced
- 10 ounces Cherry Tomatoes, halved
- ¼ teaspoon Kosher Salt, adjust to taste
- ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper, adjust to taste
- ¼ teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes, adjust to taste
- 1 pound Argentinian Red Shrimp, chopped (about 3 pieces per shrimp)
- 16 ounces Trader Joe’s Lobster Bisque
- 1 tablespoon Lemon Juice, adjust to taste
- ¼ cup Fresh Parsley, finely chopped
- Parmesan Cheese, optional for serving
Instructions
Brown Butter Breadcrumbs
- In a large pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the butter is foamy, golden, and beginning to develop brown flecks. Watch closely so it doesn’t burn. Add the panko to the brown butter and stir to combine. Toast for 2–3 minutes, stirring often, until golden brown and crispy.
- Transfer the toasted breadcrumbs to a bowl. Stir in the Old Bay seasoning and lemon zest (start with ½ teaspoon of zest and add more to taste). If you used unsalted butter, season with a pinch of salt to taste. Set aside.
Pasta
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta to al dente according to package instructions. Reserve about ½ cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- While the pasta cooks, wipe out the pan to remove any breadcrumb bits. Add a drizzle of olive oil and heat over medium. Add the chopped shallot and minced garlic. Cook for 1 minute, stirring often, until fragrant.
- Stir in the halved cherry tomatoes along with the kosher salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes soften and begin to burst.
- Add the chopped shrimp to the pan and cook for 1 minute until partially cooked through. Lower the heat to medium-low. Pour in the lobster bisque and stir to combine. Let the sauce simmer for a few minutes to thicken slightly.
- Squeeze in the juice of about half a lemon. Add the cooked pasta and toss until well coated in the sauce. If needed, add a splash of reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce. Stir in the chopped parsley.
- Divide the pasta among bowls. Top each serving with a generous spoonful of brown butter breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan (optional), and extra lemon zest or parsley if desired.
Video
Notes
- Note 1: I used salted butter for the brown butter breadcrumbs. If you’re using unsalted butter, you may want to add a pinch of salt to the breadcrumbs to taste after toasting.
- Note 2: A variety of pasta shapes work well here! You can use a short shape like rigatoni, shells, or gigli/campanelle (what I used). Long shapes like fettuccine or linguine are also great for twirling. Use whatever you prefer.
- Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave. This dish is not ideal for freezing due to the cream-based bisque sauce.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This has all the added touches the basic recipe is missing! Browned bread crumbs really make the dish. Turned out perfect!
I’m really glad to hear the recipe worked out so well for you! Thank you for leaving a review!
Great rendition of this viral trend! Do NOT skip the breadcrumbs here! Such a great addition!!
We tried the Trader Joe’s bisque tonight. It was delicious! Very easy to make. The brown butter bread crumbs set it off. Great recipe.
Thank you for trying the recipe! I love the brown butter bread crumbs as well!