I usually plan my meals based on what’s in the freezer or what’s on sale each week. This week I thought I might be in trouble because I had shrimp on the menu, but no shrimp in the freezer. Well, I got lucky! A bag of 40-60 frozen shrimp was on sale from $6.38 to $5.00! PERFECT! I can use half the bag for this meal and the other half later! My goal for each meal is to keep the protein cost at or below $2.50…so this worked out beautifully. I couldn’t have pulled this meal off for under $5 if the shrimp were not on sale! Here’s my recipe!
Shrimp Scampi
An impressive, yet simple dish!
Servings - 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 lb. spaghetti noodles
- 3-4 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 Tbsp butter or margarine
- 4 garlic cloves, crushed
- 3-4 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
- 20 20 frozen shrimp
- 4 corn cobs
Instructions
- In medium saucepan, cook pasta as directed on package. Drain.
- In skillet over medium high heat, add olive oil, butter or margarine, crushed garlic cloves and parmesan cheese. Stir continuously until starts bubbly. Then reduce heat and add "de-tailed and deveined" shrimp. Let simmer for 6-7minutes.
- Once pasta is cooked and drained, add shrimp sauce to the pasta noodles and mix well.
- Remove husks and threads from corn and boil for 4-5 minutes in large saucepan.
- Serve Shrimp Scampi and Boiled Corn.
Cost $4.82
Phoebe @ Cents to Get Debt Free says
Mmm..I love shrimp! I’ll have to keep my eyes peeled for a sale! 😉
Hope :) says
Ooh, this sounds so good! I’m a vegetarian, but have some favorite “fake shrimp” products that I can occasionally buy on sale. (I grew up on the Gulf Coast and miss shrimp dearly!)
Anyway, thanks — I can’t wait to give this a try!
Jen says
You HAVE to tell us about the fake shrimp products! I didn’t know that exists. Are they very expensive? (Have you ever tried various sea weed? I don’t recall which one it was, but I tried one once that tasted just like red snapper!)
Pat says
I found you via everday cheapskate. Mary sent me.
Our household number varies with college kids in and out this summer along with visitors, but I am excited about your recipes and concepts. Our food budget is out of control! Thank you!
Jen says
What I’d do is mix the $5 concept with freezing! Maybe freeze in 2- and 4- person portions, so you can add and subtract as needed.
Carolyn, because we’ve gone from middle income to quite low (ill husband), the way I make shrimp last is to cut it! I’ll keep a couple in-tact and make sure it l goes to a kid, so they get all excited, but cutting the shrimp gives off the impression of more.
Also, I did find Wal-mart has a GREAT price on frozen, cooked shrimp. I only have to put it in a strainer, rinse it, and add it to the recipe.
Erin, this recipe is AMAZINGLY GREAT! This was the first time my daughter and I have been excited about a meal in the past 3 years, since we started having financial issues. It tastes like an expensive, restaurant meal. Best of all, I’ve been giving it to her as a lunch! (I’m thinking of making it on Spaghetti Night, as well, b/c she hates spaghetti, but loves shrimp.) THANK YOU, ERIN!!!!
Carolyn says
I love your ideas, but I can’t figure out how you can feed a family of 4 with 20 shrimp; that would barely be enough for my husband & me much less our two daughters, one of which is nearly 13 and eats like a 16-year-old boy!
Erin says
My kids are just 4 and 2. You would need more for your family!
Kristi says
I agree with you Carolyn. While I am not particularly a big eater, my husband is and I have two boys, one is 18 and the other is 16 and on meds that make him hungery. I usually used at least one full bag, two if I have them. When I cook any meat, it is never less than 3 pounds.
Kristi says
I always try to keep meals around $10, doesn’t always work, they’re kind of picky. I did however, feed 8 with leftovers for 4 the other night for aroun $15. I was very proud and everyone was overfull and smiling. 🙂
Jessica says
That sounds delicious and I plan to make it tonight! I came by way of Mary’s Everyday Cheapskate email. Thank you so much for sharing 🙂
Arlene Curns says
Hi Erin, I found your website on one of my other favorite websites – Everyday Cheapskate. Mary recommended your site. I am so excited about finding it. There are three adults in our household and I budget $100 a week for our groceries. Lately, it is not enough!!!
I have the shrimp in my freezer – purchased on sale last week. I’ve been looking for a great shrimp recipe and I’m going to try this one on the holiday weekend. Thanks so much for sharing.
Marguerite Brown says
I love shrimp scampi and I actually got some on sale last week. I will try this recipe tomorrow. Thanks. I also came by way of Mary Hunt’s Everyday Cheapskate.
Garlic Shrimp Pasta Recipe says
Victory! At last I have found a site that answers my questions. Thank you from a very grateful heart. Dorothy Wildman.
wendy says
Made this for dinner last night ,it was easy to make and my family loved it ! thanks
Kristi says
I always buy my shrimp at Aldi. They always have the medium sized shrimp for $3.69 or $3.99. The flavor is great, I feel it’s better than the ones I’ve purchased at the higher stores.
Becky says
Hi Erin,
I’m new to your site (a friend from church spoke about your website at our Moms, Inc. group).
This recipe sounds YUMMY. I’m going to use lobster (my husband fishes for a hobby & we have a few in the freezer). How many servings do you get from most of your recipes? I like to COST -cook once serve twice. I’m off to continue looking at more recipes . . . . . . . .
Thanks,
Becky
Vickie says
I made this tonight and it’s a keeper 🙂
Chrissy says
I tried this the other night, and it basically tasted like pasta with olive oil. there wasn’t enough sauce for a full lb of pasta. I ended up throwing it all back in a pot, adding 2 more tbsp of butter, 1/2 cup of white grape juice (since white wine would have to cook down and i didn’t want rubber shrimp), another 5 cloves of garlic (that’s just my taste though), and also separately saute’d some shallots to add flavor. I also used more shrimp from the start.