Trader Joe's Frozen Food Combos for People Who Hate To Cook
Making sure that there’s dinner on the table (or just snacks in the house in general) can sometimes feel like a never-ending battle. There’s a lot that goes into planning meals—whether it’s for yourself or for an entire family—from researching recipes and making a list, to going to the store, coming home and eventually putting it all together. It’s a lot of pressure but Trader Joe’s can be a lifesaver on a busy weekday with their frozen foods that literally take most of "the work" out of making dinner.
Reddit users have been coming up with their own genius combinations for "people who hate to cook" using Trader Joe's frozen food mashups from the store's ever-changing shelves, and the best part? Most of their ideas require no recipe at all.
Just buy the items, throw them together and serve. We couldn’t think of an easier (and more satisfying) way to cook dinner so you can save time in the kitchen and spend more time in the pool this summer.
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10 Best Trader Joe's Frozen Food Meal Combos
1. Honey Walnut Shrimp & Gochujang Vegetable Stir Fry
Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel
This satisfying combination is a snap to throw together as a fraction of the cost of takeout. One Reddit user breaks down this quick recipe, mentioning that adding rice would stretch this meal even further: "This is about 1/2 bag of shrimp with about 1/3 bag vegetables. After the shrimp was done, I took it out and put the vegetables in one layer and sprayed them with vegetable oil...You could also just do it in the microwave. Then tossed it all together with sauce to taste."
2. Lentils, Bruschetta, Feta & Pesto Salad
Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel
This simple summer salad requires no cooking at all and is deeply filling. The lentils provide a hearty base, the bruschetta lightens it all up and the feta and pesto add some saltiness and dimension. You can totally customize this one too, by adding in any chopped herbs that you have or halved cherry tomatoes. One Reddit user says "Steamed lentils, fresh bruschetta (or jarred), and the feta...is very tasty mixed together. Hard to stop eating it." Another says adding a box of TJ's pita crackers to scoop it with is the "chef's kiss" and a perfect appetizer for parties. Some users have difficulty finding these pre-cooked lentils—they're in the produce department in the refrigerated case.
Trader Joe's Pesto Rosso Tomato Based with Parmigiano Reggiano Cashews, 6.7 oz (Pack of 1)
3. Bagged Salad & Pre-Cooked Grilled Chicken
Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel
Trader Joe’s has many salad kits on their shelves that are super delicious and super easy to dump in a bowl and serve like Elote Chopped Salad, BBQ & Black Pepper Toscano and Lemony Arugula Basil to name a few. Reddit users are adding pre-cooked grilled chicken to these bagged beauties to turn them from a skimpy side dish to a marvelous main course. One user raves about the Peanut and Crispy Noodle Salad Kit, saying "I am obsessed!! I’m normally freaked out by pre-cooked chicken but it’s so so delicious!! I even ate a bunch plain while I assembled the salad! and this bagged salad is one of the best yet! Wow, what a great quick lunch!"
4. Tomato, Basil, Mozzarella & Prosciutto with Balsamic Glaze
Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel
Don’t discount the fantastic simplicity of a charcuterie board dinner. In this instance, Reddit users are taking sliced tomato, either pre-sliced or Ciliegine mozzarella and prosciutto and drizzling sweet balsamic glaze over the top along with leaves of julienned basil. Top it off with some flaky sea salt and a few grinds of fresh pepper and you’ll get dinner on the table in no time. One commenter puts a spin on this dinner by adding in sliced peaches instead of tomatoes and mozzarella and building on a French baguette for a summer sandwich fit for a picnic.
Trader Joes Trader Giottos Balsamic Glaze
5. Caesar Pasta Salad with Grilled Chicken
Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel
Much like adding pre-cooked chicken to one of the many Trader Joe's salad kits to make it a meal, this Reddit user also adds cooked pasta to the bowl to make a Caesar salad pasta dish. They even suggest turning vegan too, raving "CEASAR PASTA SALAD! Get the vegan Cesar dressing, pasta of choice, romaine, Parmesan, protein of choice and any extra veg. So refreshing!"
Trader Joe's Organic Pasta Vegetable Ridiatore 12-oz Per Bag (Case of 4)
6. Gnocchi alla Sorrentina with Baby Spinach
Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel
Trader Joe’s has a few frozen gnocchi meals that are wildly popular: Outside-In Stuffed Gnocchi, Cauliflower Gnocchi and Gnocchi alla Sorrentina. Users are getting their veggies by adding a bag of frozen spinach to the frozen gnocchi and cooking it all up for a one-pot meal that takes no time at all. If spinach isn't your jam, follow other users who are getting creative and adding in other TJ's veggies: "Throw in half a jar of the grilled artichokes in oil—perfection!"
Trader Joe's Cauliflower Gnocchi (12 Pack)
7. Mandarin Orange Chicken with Broccoli Florets Over Jasmine Rice
Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel
Not only is this sweet mandarin chicken absolutely delicious on its own but Reddit users say adding in any frozen veggies takes it over the edge into new territory. "Stir fry some onions, red peppers and pineapple. Remove then fry your chicken (or add chicken if you baked or air-fried it). Mix them together with the sauce and sriracha. Tastes almost exactly like Panda Express sweet fire chicken." Some users swear it’s a dead ringer for your favorite Chinese takeout, and note that making it in your air fryer yields slightly better results than the oven.
Trader Joe's Mandarin Orange Chicken (4 Pack)
8. Carnitas and Salsa Verde with Tortilla Chips
Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel
Looking for a heat-and-eat meal that could also double as a super popular party app in a pinch? Throw a package of Trader Joe’s carnitas in your cart along with a jar of their salsa verde and a bag of your favorite chips (may we suggest the Elote Corn Chip Dippers?). Shred the carnitas and combine in a pot or slow cooker with the salsa and heat until warm. It tastes like you’ve had it simmering all day and is the perfect complement to the crunchy, salty chips you scoop it up with.
Trader Joes Organic Elote Corn Chip Dippers
9. Shakshuka with Soy Chorizo and Crusty Bread
Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel
If you’ve never had shakshuka, get ready to meet your new favorite meal. This one can be breakfast, lunch or dinner too. Depending on where you live, the frozen shakshuka starter may be in the freezer case at your local Trader Joe’s. For others, picking up a jar of their Spicy Chunky Tomato & Pepper Sauce is a snap. The soy chorizo is one of the tastiest, easiest proteins that TJ’s offers and makes the jar of spicy sauce a bit heartier. Reddit users showcase this one by warming up the sauce and soy chorizo in a frying pan, cracking in a couple of eggs and serving when the eggs are set with warm, crusty bread. One user loves this jarred sauce saying, "I like it a lot—I think it has just the right amount of spiciness," and another commented, "I make this every week with some goat cheese. So good!"
10. Squiggly Noodles and Pork Belly with Peanut Tahini Sauce
Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel
Another one of the hits at Trader Joe’s that you shouldn’t sleep on is the packaged pork belly. Heat it up and add to their immensely fun squiggly noodles along with a simple sauce Reddit users are making. "The new squiggly noodles are *perfect* for easy peanut sesame noodles! Throw the sauce packet in with some peanut butter, tahini & some honey and you have yourself a tasty meal. I paired mine with the pre-cooked pork belly too," says one user.
Trader Joe’s Squiggly Knife Cut Noodles with Soy & Sesame Sauce (4 Individual Packs Per Package) Net Wt. 13.4 Oz (380g) - Pack of 1
