Face it: More often than not, we’re scrambling on weeknights to make a well-rounded, made-from-scratch dinner. And more often than not, we’re reaching into the freezer to grab one of our go-to frozen meals, toss it into either the oven or microwave to quickly get dinner on the table — be it dinner for the whole fam or dinner for one. That’s why we always keep our freezer stocked with a rotating handful of frozen food staples from none other than Trader Joe’s.
When it comes to meals that are both quick-and-easy to make and consistently tasty, we turn to Trader Joe’s. Truly, every section of the store has its strengths, from Everything But the Bagel Seasoning in the spices aisle to Trader Joe’s Wine Country Chicken Salad front-and-center in the on-the-go section. But it’s the store’s frozen food aisle that’s chock-full of must-haves.
From beef and broccoli that’ll take mere minutes to heat up on the stove to hatch chile macaroni and cheese that’ll not only set you back a whole $2.99, but also fill you up on nights when you’re pressed for time, ahead are Trader Joe’s best-of-the-best frozen food offerings.
Burrata, Prosciutto, & Arugula Flatbread
Mascarpone garlic cream sauce, wild baby Arugula, five fine Italian cheeses (mozzarella, fontal, Pecorino, Romano, and Parmigiano), prosciutto, and soft, creamy burrata — all on one flatbread.
Price: $4.99
Mushroom & Black Truffle Flatbread
Another day, another tasty TJ’s flatbread. This one’s rich and creamy and topped with flavorful mozzarella cheese.
Price: $4.49
Cauliflower Pizza Crust
On days when you’re feeling particularly inspired to create your own pizza, ensure you have this cauliflower pizza crust on-hand. This gluten-free crust is made of riced cauliflower and corn flour and held together with cornstarch, potato starch, olive oil, and sea salt. Plus, one slice’s worth of the crush (one-sixth of the crust) has just 80 calories.
Price: $3.99
Frozen Garlic
One tray of this frozen garlic product found at TJ’s has 20 blocks of garlic — equal to 20 garlic cloves.
Price: $2
Creamy Spinach & Artichoke Dip
I could eat this decadent, creamy spinach and artichoke dip every day. A blend of artichokes, spinach, Swiss and Parmesan cheeses, and herbs and spices, this dip is served best with tortilla chips.
Price: $2.99
Butter Chicken
This butter chicken with basmati rice frozen dish at TJ’s has received countless stellar reviews, including this one from Rafia A. on Influenster: “I would never recommend frozen Indian food from anywhere other than Trader Joe’s. All of the Indian meals they have taste so fresh and authentic. It’s so convenient to have such a great meal ready in your freezer when ever you want.”
We second that.
Price: $3.49
Chicken Tikka Masala
This chicken tikka masala doesn’t skimp on the sauce or spices, especially when it comes to the cumin-flavored basmati rice.
Price: $3.50
Mandarin Orange Chicken
We’ve been crazy about Trader Joe’s Mandarin Orange Chicken since it arrived in the freezer section in 2004. This homey meal — boasting chunks of crispy, breaded chicken coated in a house-made sauce comprised of fresh orange peels, ginger, garlic, green onions, and soy sauce — is super-easy to make and always hits the spot.
Price: $4.99
Riced Cauliflower Stir Fry
This cauliflower stir fry not only has tamari sauce and nutty sesame oil-seasoned crumbles, but also plenty of fresh, vibrant veggies, including green peas, red bell peppers, grilled corn, and spring onions.
Price: $2.99
Chicken Fried Rice
In less than five minutes and for just a little more than two bucks, you can cure your cravings for takeout fried rice.
Price: $2.29
Meatless Meatballs
Vegans, if you haven’t tried these Meatless Meatballs yet, you’ve been missing out. A great addition to spaghetti or placed between two slider buns, Trader Joe’s Meatless Meatballs are perfectly seasoned and surprisingly juicy.
Price: $3
Sweet Potato Gnocchi
Who could possibly resist gnocchi and sweet potato seasoned with a buttery sage sauce? We couldn’t — and neither can most Trader Joe’s shoppers, making this frozen meal a fan favorite.
Price: $2.99
Cauliflower Gnocchi
Would rather have gnocchi sans flour, dairy, and egg? Trader Joe’s has that, too. Cauliflower Gnocchi is made with about 75 percent cauliflower, cassava flour, potato starch, extra virgin olive oil, and sea salt. It skips the wheat, sugar, dairy, and eggs for a more guilt-free gnocchi dish.
Price: $2.69
Hatch Chile Mac & Cheese
For cheesey mac & cheese with a sweet-and-spicy kick, pick up a box (or two) of TJ’s Hatch Chile Mac & Cheese.
Price: $2.99
Stacked Eggplant Parmesan
If you’re a fan of tomatoes, parmesan, bell peppers, and breaded eggplant, then pick up this Stacked Eggplant Parmesan frozen meal at Trader Joe’s. No, seriously; go!
Price: $3.49
Beef & Broccoli
For less than $10, you can’t go wrong with this Beef & Broccoli frozen meal from Trader Joe’s. The beef’s tender, there’s more than enough broccoli to go ’round, and if you like spice, this has plenty of it.
Price: $6.99
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