When you go to Trader Joe’s, you know you’re going to leave with a truckload full of freezer foods that make you feel fancy, snacks you’ll probably polish off by the end of the week (or day, whatever), and a sense of satisfaction knowing you didn’t have to blow your whole budget on groceries. And while the freezer foods and snacks are understandably a mainstay on your list, you shouldn’t overlook weeknight meal ingredients.
We get it; you might be intimidated by some of the gourmet-style items stocking TJ’s shelves. You might assume that you can’t throw together a quick and simple meal using only products from TJ’s. In reality, though, TJ’s is a mecca for easy dinner ingredients. One trip can yield you enough stuff to stock your fridge (and freezer) full of just about everything you’ll need for an entire week’s worth of dinners.
To that end, we pulled together 18 dinner ideas using TJ’s ingredients — three to be exact. As in, yes, the following meals can be created using only three ingredients. Of course, we’re operating under the assumption that you have standard cooking supplies like oils, salt, pepper and spices, which we’re not including in our ingredient lists. After all, everyone likes to season things according to their own taste, right?
So, go on and lean in… there’s nothing wrong with a lazy meal every now and then. Or, let’s be real, every other night. We’re all busy! And since so many of TJ’s ingredients are organic, you can feel good about these three-ingredient dinners.
Limone Alfredo Fettucini With Shrimp
What you’ll need:
– TJ’s Frozen Cooked Medium Shrimp
– TJ’s Linguine
– TJ’s Limone Alfredo SauceYou can’t really beat a good bowl of fettuccine alfredo. Unless, that is, you make it with TJ’s zesty, creamy Limone Alfredo Sauce and cook up some frozen shrimp to toss in it. Bonus? This dreamy sauce is only $3.49 per 15-ounce jar, so stock up while you can.
Crispy Tofu Sesame Salad
What you’ll need:
– TJ’s Tofu
– TJ’s Sesame Crunch Chopped Salad Kit
– TJ’s Mandarin Oranges in Light SyrupLooking for something light and healthy but full of flavor? Look no further than the combo of TJ’s Organic High Protein Super Firm Tofu, Sesame Crunch Chopped Salad Kit and Mandarin Oranges in Light Syrup. Tear the tofu into chunks, toss it all in some grapeseed or sunflower oil and drizzle with the kit’s included toasted sesame ginger vinaigrette. Yum!
Pulled Pork Sandwiches
What you’ll need:
– TJ’s Pulled Pork in Smoky BBQ Sauce
– TJ’s Aloha Rolls
– TJ’s Organic Cole Slaw KitLet’s all take a minute to send a silent thank you into the universe and hope it lands on the person responsible for this TJ’s recipe. Seriously, all you need is their one package of TJ’s Organic Cole Slaw Kit, two trays of Pulled Pork in Smoky BBQ Sauce and one package of Aloha Rolls. We challenge you to find someone in your family who won’t polish off at least two of these.
Cheesy Red Pepper Pizza
What you’ll need:
– TJ’s Broccoli & Kale Pizza Crust
– TJ’s Red Pepper Spread with Eggplant & Garlic
– TJ’s Fresh Mozzarella Cheese LogEveryone loves pizza. Of course, it’s nice when you can find a healthier version to feed your family. Enter, this cheesy red pepper pizza. You get to start with a wholesome base of gluten-free Broccoli & Kale Pizza Crust, slather on some Red Pepper Spread with Eggplant & Garlic and top it off with generous slices from a Fresh Mozzarella Cheese Log. Delicioso!
Vegetable and Soba Noodle Shrimp Stir Fry
What you’ll need:
– TJ’s Fully Cooked Medium Shrimp
– TJ’s Vegetable and Soba Noodle Stir Fry
– TJ’s Sunflower OilWhen I was growing up, my mom made a lot of stir fry. I realize now that it was because the frozen stir fry mix was affordable and didn’t take long to make in her trusty wok, which was a huge draw for a single mom. Now that I have kids of my own, stir fry is still a nostalgic favorite — so, the fact that this one only takes TJ’s Vegetable and Noodle Stir Fry and shrimp tossed in sunflower oil makes this busy mom-of-two happy.
Creamy Chicken Poblano Ravioli
What you’ll need:
– TJ’s Mexican Style Roasted Corn with Cotija Cheese
– TJ’s Creamy Chicken Poblano Ravioli
– TJ’s Teeny Tiny AvocadosSay hello to your new obsession: Mex-Italian! That’s what you get when you pair Trader Joe’s Creamy Chicken Poblano Ravioli with Mexican Style Roasted Corn with Cotija Cheese and Teeny Tiny Avocados (which, for the record, are almost too cute to eat).
Channa Masala Tomato Soup with Malabari Paratha Dippers
What you’ll need:
– TJ’s Organic Low Sodium Tomato and Roasted Red Pepper Soup
– TJ’s Channa Masala
– TJ’s Malabari ParathaTomato soup is a classic, but it’s nice to mix things up every now and then. And when you’re ready for a fresh twist on your favorite childhood duo of tomato soup and grilled cheese, you’ve got to try Channa Masala Tomato Soup with Malabari Paratha. Basically, you take TJ’s Tomato & Roasted Red Pepper Soup, then spoon in spicy and belly-warming Channa Masala. Swap out the grilled cheese for Malabari Paratha, and you’ve got the perfect dippers.
Chimichurri Stir Fry
What you’ll need:
– TJ’s Chimichurri Rice
– TJ’s Jalapeno Chicken Sausage
– TJ’s Broccoli FloretsWhen you’ve got TJ’s bold and aromatic Chimichurri Rice as a base, you don’t need much else to whip up a pretty darn impressive stir fry. Just add in chopped Jalapeno Chicken Sausage and Broccoli Florets, and yowza — you’ve got one memorable skillet.
Mediterranean Chicken Shawarma Bowls
What you’ll need:
– TJ’s Organic Mediterranean Style Salad Kit
– TJ’s Shawarma Chicken Thighs
– TJ’s Roasted Garlic HummusWhen you can’t travel the world, bring the best of the world to your kitchen with Mediterranean Chicken Shawarma Bowls. This classic Middle Eastern street food is bursting with so much flavor and complexity that no one will believe you pulled this meal together using only TJ’s Shawarma Chicken Thighs, Mediterranean Style Salad Kit and Roasted Garlic Hummus.
Mandarin Orange Chicken with Fried Rice and Broccoli
What you’ll need:
– TJ’s Mandarin Orange Chicken
– TJ’s Vegetable Fried Rice
– TJ’s Crispy Crunchy Broccoli FloretsStep away from the stack of takeout menus; you don’t need them to enjoy one of your favorite Chinese meals. In fact, we’re already salivating at the very thought of dishing up some of TJ’s Vegetable Fried Rice, Crispy Crunchy Broccoli Florets and Mandarin Orange Chicken — “tender chunks of juicy chicken in a crispy breading, coated with a house-made sauce of fresh California orange peels, fresh ginger, fresh garlic, fresh green onions, and soy sauce.”
Harissa Chicken with Moroccan Zaalouk
What you’ll need:
– TJ’s Harissa Flavored Chicken Thighs
– TJ’s Eggplant Cutlets
– TJ’s Organic Tomatoes on the VineIf you haven’t yet discovered TJ’s Harissa Flavored Chicken Thighs, you’re missing out, friend. It’s super-easy to cook and boasts the bold, spiciness of the North African hot sauce it’s named for. So, what better to pair it with than a traditional Moroccan side dish? Using TJ’s Eggplant Cutlets and organic vine-ripened tomatoes (with a slew of spices from your cabinet), you can make a mean zaalouk.
Jerk Chicken with Mango Chutney, Rice and Black Beans
What you’ll need:
– TJ’s Grilled Jerk Chicken Skewers with Mango Chutney
– TJ’s Organic Brown Rice
– TJ’s Organic Black BeansTake a trip to the Caribbean without ever leaving your house when you serve up this Jamaican-inspired dinner. All you need is the sweet heat of TJ’s Grilled Jerk Chicken Skewers with Mango Chutney paired with organic brown rice and black beans. If you’re feeling really adventurous and don’t mind adding a fourth ingredient, you can cook your rice in coconut milk.
Rosemary Balsamic Steak Tips with Grilled Asparagus and Petite Potatoes
What you’ll need:
– TJ’s Rosemary Balsamic Steak Tips
– TJ’s Grilled Asparagus Spears
– TJ’s Organic Petite Potato MedleyWhen in doubt, you’ll always have a crowd-pleaser on your hands if you serve steak, baked potato, and asparagus. Fortunately, you can find a fantastic variation of that at TJ’s the whole family will love. Just reach for Rosemary Balsamic Steak Tips, Grilled Asparagus Spears and Organic Petite Potato Medley.
Ginger Miso Salmon and Peanut Udon Noodle Salad
What you’ll need:
– TJ’s BBQ Cut Fresh Atlantic Salmon Fillets
– TJ’s Peanut Udon Noodle Salad
– TJ’s Carrot Ginger Miso Salad DressingCraving Asian cuisine? TJ’s has your back. Authentic udon noodles meet fresh matchstick carrots, green and red cabbage, red bell peppers, dry roasted peanuts, diced green onion, cilantro and a peanut-ginger dressing in TJ’s Peanut Udon Noodle Salad. To complement it, we recommend picking up some of those same flavor profiles by serving it alongside BBQ-cut fresh Atlantic salmon fillets drizzled with Carrot Ginger Miso Salad Dressing.
Jackfruit Cakes on a Bed of Greens with Tricolor Peppers
What you’ll need:
– TJ’s Tricolor Peppers
– TJ’s Jackfruit Cakes
– TJ’s Veggies and Green Salad KitDo not — we repeat, do not — be afraid to give jackfruit a try. Especially when you can try TJ’s Jackfruit Cakes! They basically taste just like scrumptious crab cakes, so you can treat them the same way. Why not throw together the perfect summer meal of these tasty treasures atop TJ’s Veggies & Green Salad Kit with a side of Tricolor Peppers?
Sweet Italian Chicken Sausage with Cauliflower Gnocchi
What you’ll need:
– TJ’s Organic Sweet Italian Chicken Sausage
– TJ’s Cauliflower Gnocchi
– TJ’s Rustico Pomodoro Pasta SauceEveryone needs a go-to Italian comfort food meal, right? Well, meet yours. TJ’s Cauliflower Gnocchi is one of the store’s most popular offerings — and it’s made in Italy, so you can’t get much more authentic. You can try, though, by pairing it with Sweet Italian Chicken Sausage and tossing it all in Rustico Pomodoro sauce.
Sriracha BBQ Chicken with Corn & Quinoa Salad and Tortilla Chips
What you’ll need:
– TJ’s Sriracha BBQ Chicken Skewers
– TJ’s Mexican Style Corn and Quinoa Salad
– TJ’s Restaurant Style White Corn Tortilla ChipsIt’s pretty much a law of the universe that everyone loves chicken skewers. And it goes without saying that the best people are equally obsessed with Sriracha and BBQ sauce. So, TJ’s Sriracha BBQ Chicken Skewers are basically magic on a stick. You’ll need a side, and Corn & Quinoa Salad fits the bill. Serve it all with some Restaurant Style White Corn Tortilla Chips to scoop up all the messy goodness.
Chicken Breast, Green Veggie Foursome and French Rolls
What you’ll need:
– TJ’s Organic Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Strips
– TJ’s Organic French Rolls
– TJ’s Organic Green Vegetable FoursomeThis meal is what we like to refer to as a chef’s K.I.S.S.: keepin’ it simple and sexy. Because some nights there’s no replacement for timeless ingredients, well-seasoned and plated with finesse. Case in point? TJ’s Organic Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Strips, Organic French Rolls and Organic Green Vegetable Foursome — “a verdant vegetable blend of broccoli florets, shelled peas, trimmed French green beans and tender zucchini quarters.”
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