In this post, I am going to show you some of my favorite fast and easy Trader Joe’s dinners you should always have on hand.
Trader Joe’s is one of my all-time favorite stores. When we moved to North Carolina being within a reasonable driving distance was one of my stipulations. Moving from the West Coast to the East Coast there are completely different grocery stores and I am pretty picky with grocery stores. I like having a wide selection of name brands and off. I also want a good selection of fruits and veggies while all being reasonably priced. Needless to say, it’s going to take me a while to find the right store but I am beyond thrilled to have Trader Joe’s just down the road.
We don’t buy all our food there but we have some staples that are always in our pantry and freezer so I thought I’d share my fast and easy Trader Joe’s dinners. These are my go-to dinners and lunches when I’m pressed on time or just don’t feel like cooking and I need to feed my kid. If you try any of these I’d love to hear it!
Black Bean Taquitos and Mexican Rice
If you’ve never tried bean taquitos you’re really missing out. I grew up eating black bean taquitos or “corn burritos” from a small Mexican restaurant down the street and I still think about them regularly so these are a great substitution. Cook the black bean taquitos on a pan in the oven and when they are just about done I top them with cheddar cheese so it gets nice and gooey. I love topping them with guacamole, sour cream, and hot sauce. I also love dipping them in the Salsa Verde sauce which adds a nice tang. Their Mexican Riced Cauliflower is a great side that you just heat up in a pan. The jalapenos are definitely present but not overpowering. It has a great kick.
Sun-dried Tomato Chicken Pasta
Ok, so their Vodka sauce is probably my favorite Trader Joe’s product. I could literally drink it. It’s a really balanced tangy pasta sauce. We always have it on hand. I also love that there is no added sugar to this pasta. Their chicken sausage is also fantastic with a bunch of different kinds. These are a great fast protein to heat up for your kids as well. I cut it up and pop it in the microwave for a few seconds and my toddler devours it with a side of frozen veggies.
To make this pasta I cut up the chicken sausage and heat it in a pan while I boil the pasta. This brown rice and quinoa pasta is so good and honestly, you could never tell it was gluten-free. This is coming from someone who is not gluten-free and my hubby can never tell it’s not regular pasta. Once the pasta is done I mix the sausage, pasta, and sauce together and done! If we want to step it up a bit I will add in some steam veggie (typically broccoli because it’s my son’s favorite) and top some feta cheese.
Indian Takeout at Home
My husband and I LOVE Indian food. It’s my favorite kind of food actually. Trader Joe’s frozen Indian food is great but I really love these Indian Fare microwaveable packets. These 2 are our favorites and they heat up in 60 seconds. We pair with their Garlic Naan and Basmati rice (or a packet of their frozen rice even faster and no pans to clean). Their Vegetable Samosas are also a great addition to this meal. My toddler actually loves spicy food and will eat this but you can also mix in some greek yogurt or sour cream to cut the spice so everyone in the family can enjoy
Chicken Stir-Fry
Their Riced Cauliflower Stir Fry is so good. It’s crazy flavorful and heats up in seconds. I love to pair this with some chicken, tofu, or an egg and extra veggies. This is a great meal for someone who’s not a fan of cauliflower rice because you honestly can’t tell.
Chicken Sausage and Peppers
I love a good one-pan meal and this does it. It’s quick, healthy, and delicious. For this, I cut up the sausage and zucchini, and slice up the peppers and onions. I place it all on a pan and season it with salt and pepper, garlic powder, oregano, and fresh basil. Cook it at 400 for 30 minutes until veggies are cooked.
I hope you enjoyed these easy Trader Joe’s dinners. I’d love to hear if you tried them or what your favorite Trader Joe’s products are. There are so many good products and I’m always looking for new ones.
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