I may not be much of a chef, but there is one area of culinary expertise in which I truly excel: Trader Joe’s frozen meals. I’m a pro at turning a few finds from the TJ’s freezer section into a full-blown dinner that tastes gourmet but actually took minutes to throw together. The beauty of Trader Joe’s frozen meals is that so much of the actual cooking is already done for you, so you really don’t need to rely much on your own skills to create something delicious. Just reheat, stir, maybe doctor it up with a drizzle of sauce or an extra protein source, and dinner is served.
To keep things fresh, I typically pair a few different Trader Joe’s frozen foods together instead of just eating a giant bowl of Mandarin Orange Chicken every time (granted, I still do that some days). It’s one of my favorite hacks for busy weeknights when cooking something from scratch is just too much effort. Here are the Trader Joe’s frozen meals I rely on to get me through the week:
1. Riced Cauliflower + Chicken Fried Rice + Chicken Cilantro Mini Wontons
Mixing the classic Trader Joe’s fried rice with riced cauliflower is one of my favorite tricks for a well-rounded dinner. When they’re combined, you can’t taste the cauliflower at all, and it adds an extra veggie to the meal while bulking up the volume a bit. Then, I add the Chicken Cilantro Mini Wontons with a little stir-fry sauce for dipping, and there you have it: one of my favorite Trader Joe’s frozen meals for weeknights.
2. Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe + Broccoli Florets + Grilled Chicken Strips
In my opinion, the Cacio e Pepe from Trader Joe’s is the richest, most indulgent pasta in their line-up. But when I add a veggie and some protein, it’s a complete meal that doesn’t make me feel like I ate just a giant, unhealthy bowl of pasta and cheese sauce. I often make this Trader Joe’s frozen meal with chicken, but it’s amazing with shrimp, too!
3. Butter Chicken with Basmati Rice + Tandoori Naan
This is my go-to Trader Joe’s frozen meal when I’m craving Indian takeout. The frozen butter chicken comes with rice and reheats with just a few minutes in the microwave. It’s a fantastic quick meal on its own, but paired with the Tandoori Naan, it reaches restaurant-quality. If you like your flavors a little punchier, try Trader Joe’s Garlic Naan instead of the classic flavor—both are equally doughy and delicious!
4. Mac ‘n Cheese + Breaded Chicken + Broccoli Florets
Trader Joe’s has a plethora of mac and cheese options that make amazing lunches to have on hand, but having just one of those little packages never satisfies me. So I doctor them up with some broccoli and chicken for protein, and if I’m feeling frisky, I’ll add buffalo or hot sauce. It’s a perfect WFH lunch that takes less than 10 minutes to put together.
5. Chicken Gyoza Potstickers + Chicken Chow Mein
I only just tried this Chow Mein a few months ago, but it quickly became a staple once I realized how easy and tasty it was. I like to make this with an added side protein (like these potstickers), and it becomes a filling dinner that tastes almost as good as Panda Express.
6. Creamy Spinach & Artichoke Dip + Spaghetti + Breaded Chicken
One of my favorite Trader Joe’s hacks is using the Creamy Spinach & Artichoke Dip as a pasta sauce. I saw this on Instagram once, and it’s been a life-changer. I cook the pasta of my choice and prepare the dip as directed, then I pour the dip over the noodles with a tiny bit of water to thin it out. It makes the perfect creamy, light sauce. I add breaded chicken for a little protein and make a side salad (sometimes adding in extra veggies or more spinach) to make it a complete dinner that feels fancy even though it’s super simple.
7. Cauliflower Gnocchi + Vegan Kale, Cashew & Basil Pesto + Broccoli Florets
A long-running favorite of any TJ’s go-er, cauliflower gnocchi with a little pesto and a veggie is a classic Trader Joe’s frozen meal that never fails. I also like to add protein sometimes—TJ’s chicken sausages are great with this! Since it’s a pretty hands-off meal, I make this for lunch and dinner often. I just pop the gnocchi in the air fryer and top it with a little pesto. I also add regular pasta sauce sometimes—it all depends on what I have in my fridge!
8. Asian Style Vegetables with Stir Fry Sauce + Riced Cauliflower + Chicken Spring Rolls
When I’m craving a plant-forward meal, I’ll pair this frozen veggie mix with some riced cauliflower in a big bowl. This combo is great for lunch when I know I’ll be indulging in something slightly less healthy for dinner (like a giant bowl of vodka pasta while watching TV). For some extra protein, I’ll cook up a few of the chicken spring rolls or add some pre-cooked grilled chicken, too.
9. Turkey Corn Dogs + Sweet Potato Fries + Dill Pickle Mustard
When I’m craving a nostalgic lunch, I opt for this classic kid-approved Trader Joe’s frozen meal. TJ’s Turkey Corn Dogs are arguably one of my most favorite things on Earth—they’re slightly more nutritious than your average frozen corn dog but just as delicious. I pair them with a side of sweet potato fries and my favorite condiments. You can use any condiment you like, but I personally can’t get enough of the Dill Pickle Mustard. Please, Trader Joe’s, never get rid of this. It’s the best condiment I’ve tried in a very long time.
10. Mandarin Style Orange Chicken Bowl
See, sometimes I just eat a bowl of Mandarin orange chicken! This frozen bowl has saved me too many times to count. I keep one in my freezer at all times in case of emergencies. It tastes just like the giant bag of Trader Joe’s Mandarin Orange Chicken we all love but with rice and added veggies. This also works great when I head to the office and need to pack a lunch in my bag, too.
Beth Gillette, Former Editor
Beth Gillette is a former editor at The Everygirl, where she specialized in beauty content and covered the latest trends in sex and relationships. Beth spent four years as part of The Everygirl’s editorial staff and is currently a beauty editor at Cosmopolitan.
Jessica Friedhoff, Senior Lifestyle Editor
Jessica Friedhoff is the Senior Lifestyle Editor at The Everygirl, where she oversees the Home & Living category of the site. She writes and edits stories across a broad range of topics including decorating, food, entertaining, travel, and more. With a pulse on the latest trends, she uses her eye for detail and design to create timely, inspiring content for our readers.
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