I am constantly hitting up my local Trader Joe's for all the goods: meals, snacks, yummy drinks. And as a self-proclaimed grocery store connoisseur, one thing I know for sure is that Trader Joe's has truly mastered the art of easy meals.
They sell tons of products that you can play around with to land on the perfect mealtime combo for you! The 5 easy Trader Joe's meals I've outlined here only require 3 ingredients, all of which you can easily find between the aisles. They've become my absolute go-to's when I don't really feel like doing all the chopping, slicing, and baking that a fully-fledged recipe requires (IYKYK).
The best part is you can customize these easy Trader Joe's meals any way you like, removing some of the ingredients and adding others. Let's get into it!
Meredith Holser
Cauliflower Gnocchi + Sweet Apple Chicken Sausage + Broccoli
I love to make a simple sheet pan meal whenever I'm feeling lazy, and this recipe I made up randomly has stuck around for months now! All it is is TJ's Cauliflower Gnocchi, chicken sausage, and chopped broccoli.
All your chopping energy will go towards slicing the sausage and breaking up the brocc, but from there, it's smooth sailing. I just dump all of the components into a big bowl, season it with olive oil and my fave spices (TJ's has a ton of good ones), toss it all on a pan, and bake until cooked through. The Sweet Apple Chicken Sausage is already cooked, too, which takes a lot of work out of the process!
I've served this with a squeeze of lemon or sometimes I'll add a dollop of pesto for added flavor, but it often doesn't need much since the sausage is really flavorful on its own.
Trader Joe's
Mandarin Orange Chicken + Vegetable Fried Rice + Soyaki
This next easy Trader Joe's meal has slowly become another staple I make, especially when I'm craving Asian takeout. This meal is much easier on the wallet, trust me. I typically cook the orange chicken and fried rice separately, but serve them both together in a big bowl.
If Trader Joe's Soyaki has a million fans, I am undoubtedly one of them. It's super flavorful – basically like a soy sauce with added sesame. It's also great for stir fry dishes, adding some moisture and stickiness. For these orange chicken bowls, I'll simply add a drizzle on top to amp up the flavor and make the meal less dry.
Trader Joe's
4 Cheese Ravioli + Marinara Sauce + Hot Italian Sausage
I mean, you can never go wrong with an easy pasta dinner. You can really prep any pasta shape for this meal combo, but me, I simply can't resist a stuffed pasta like ravioli or tortellini. For added protein, I like to quickly cook up some spicy Italian sausage, but you can absolutely opt for the protein you like. Once the meat is done cooking, I mix some sauce into it while the pasta cooks. Then, voila! I've got myself a hearty meal (and oftentimes, a lot of leftovers).
Sometimes I will add spinach or fresh basil to this dish for some extra greens. In the case of spinach, I'll just use a whole bag. I typically cook it slow in the red meat sauce, so it has the chance to wilt. Spinach is great for this since it can be easily disguised within the mix – gotta love hidden nutrients!
Meredith Holser
Garlic & Herb Pizza Dough + Tomato Basil Marinara Sauce + All-Natural Fresh Mozzarella Cheese
Y'all. TJ's readymade pizza dough is the bomb! It's the same dough I used to make this easy pizza recipe, which is so super customizable based on what you like on your pie. For an easy pizza base, simply knead the refrigerated dough out, add a slathering of tomato sauce, and sprinkle some shredded fresh mozz on before baking. The dough only calls for 6-8 minutes at 425 degrees F, though I've found it needs more time since I'm cooking at altitude. You can totally eat this cheesy pizza as-is, or add lotsa toppings like sausage, basil, olives, and more, as pictured above!
Trader Joe's
Elote Chopped Salad Kit + Grilled Chicken Strips + Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
I know the aforementioned easy Trader Joe's meals are a bit heavier, so if you're craving something light and crunchy (but still filling), picking out a salad mix and some protein is always a good way to go. This combo has become a lunchtime staple for me since it doesn't end up weighing me down!
I'll start with the Elote Chopped Salad Kit (arguably TJ's best) then add some cooked Grilled Chicken Strips cooked with some taco seasoning so I can feel fuller. Finally, a generous drizz of Buttermilk Ranch Dressing does this meal right!
Of course, you can opt for other salad kits, proteins, and dressings to find the perfect easy TJ's meal for your preferences.
Subscribe to our newsletter for more easy meal ideas!
Lead image via Trader Joe's.
