Trader Joe's has become a beloved grocery store for many, offering unique and convenient food options. If you're a fan of Trader Joe's and looking for simple, healthy meal ideas, this guide is for you. We'll explore a variety of recipes, from breakfast to dinner, that utilize minimal ingredients and require minimal effort, perfect for busy individuals and families.
Breakfast Bliss at Trader Joe's
Start your day with a nutritious and delicious breakfast using Trader Joe's staples.
No-Bake Breakfast Spread Platter
This customizable platter is perfect for entertaining guests or enjoying a creative brunch. It's easy to assemble and offers a variety of options to suit different tastes. Consider adding sour cream scrambled eggs and bacon for a more substantial meal.
Quick & Balanced Breakfast On-the-Go
Trader Joe's offers a range of breakfast items that you can mix and match for a quick and balanced meal on the go. Some great options include yogurt parfaits and steak egg and cheese bagels.
Lunchtime Made Easy
Trader Joe's makes lunchtime a breeze with these simple and satisfying recipes.
Read also: Ultimate Meal Guide
Zero-Prep Lunch Idea
For a truly effortless lunch, try a zero-prep meal that requires just two minutes to assemble. It's a balanced and convenient option for busy days.
Quinoa Salad
This nutritious and satisfying salad is perfect for meal prep. It features quinoa, marinated chicken breast, and black beans, all readily available at Trader Joe's. Top with salsa for an extra kick.
Vegetarian Black Bean Meal Prep Bowls
This vegetarian recipe is packed with protein and reheats well, making it ideal for meal prep. It takes just 10 minutes to prepare, ensuring a quick and easy lunch option.
Dinner Delights with Trader Joe's
Trader Joe's offers a plethora of options for creating quick, easy, and delicious dinners.
Air Fryer Orange Chicken
Cook the popular Trader Joe's orange chicken in an air fryer for a perfectly crispy meal in under 10 minutes.
Read also: Healthy Camping Food
Gluten-Free Cauliflower Gnocchi
This gluten-free favorite is easy to prepare. Serve it with Italian chicken sausage and marinara sauce for a complete and satisfying meal.
4-Ingredient Baked Chili Cheese Dog Casserole
This incredibly satisfying meatless meal requires only four ingredients. Simply layer, bake, and enjoy in just 15 minutes.
Salmon Tacos
These tacos are made with just eight simple ingredients and topped with sliced avocado or guacamole, red onion, and a crunchy slaw.
Flatbread Pizzas
Use just five ingredients to make these fun flatbread pizzas for an easy meal that’s ready in 15 minutes! Top the flatbread with elote for a more authentic street corn flavor.
Egg Roll in a Bowl
This super-popular skillet recipe takes the flavors of the inside of an egg roll and turns them into a stir fry. It’s super simple and tasty!
Read also: Delicious Keto Vegetarian Meals
Bool Kogi Bowls
This meal is SO easy - it only takes 20 minutes and has a ton of flavor. The bool kogi is all season and just needs to be cooked!
Sheet Pan Chicken Sausage
This simple sheet pan recipe makes for super easy prep AND super easy clean up! It’s packed with healthy ingredients (chicken sausage for extra protein) and flavors.
Homemade Sub
This 5 ingredient homemade sub recipe is filling, easy and delicious! Meatball sliders are also delicious and work as a game day snack or easy dinner.
Plant-Based Recipe
This cozy, plant-based recipe is SO simple!
Steak Bowls
This meal feels slightly fancy, even though there is nothing fancy about it! Steak, bell peppers, corn, and a sprinkle of feta! What more do you need?
Sweet Potato and Sausage Skillet
This creamy, sweet, with a bit of spice skillet is a full meal with protein, veggies, and a carb. Use the butternut squash fries if they don’t have sweet potato ribbons.
Easy Taco Night
Using this pre-marinated meat makes taco night easy but my homemade ground chicken tacos are another easy and delicious option as is slow cooker salsa chicken that can be stuffed into tortillas and used in cheater chilaquiles.
Chicken Broccoli Quinoa Casserole
This chicken broccoli quinoa casserole is divine, hearty, and satisfying (just like my chicken broccoli ziti!). I love that it covers all of the nutritional bases that I look for: whole-grain, protein, veggies, flavor!
Turkey Bolognese Rice Bowls
The turkey bolognese sauce can go in so many directions, but combine with some rice (either made fresh or microwaved!) and stuff in a turkey for a fast and wholesome meal. TWO INGREDIENTS! And seriously, so yummy.
Turkey Bolognese Pizza
Turkey Bolognese makes another appearance as a pizza sauce!
Indian Meal
I’m always impressed by the Indian Food at Trader Joe’s, and just #putaneggonit for perfection!
Falafel Feast
Make tzatziki. Bake falafel. Feast. Serve with Greek cucumber salad, hummus, and air fryer pita chips.
Italian Sausage Pasta
Frozen pasta gets upgraded with Italian sausage and spinach. The meatballs are decent on their own, better on pizza!
Rice, Sausage, and Broccoli Bowl
Flavorful rice, sausage, and broccoli. Dinner is complete.
Sautéed Mushrooms Pasta
Sautéed mushrooms make an easy pasta toppings, just don’t forget the parm! Drizzle with olive oil before serving.
Veggie Salad
This easy salad is packed with nutritious veggies, totally delicious, and only takes 5 minutes to prepare!
Toast
This recipe is made up of a slice of crunchy sourdough toast topped with three simple ingredients. It’s filling, fresh, and a delicious meal for any time of the day! Top with roasted grape tomatoes if they aren’t in-season.
More Trader Joe's Meal Ideas
Here are some additional quick and easy meal ideas using Trader Joe's products:
- Broccoli Cheddar Turkey Skillet: An easy high protein dinner with all the nostalgia of broccoli and cheddar.
- Better Than Takeout: Beef & Broccoli: Just one pan, a simple and delicious sauce, and tons of protein & veggies!
- Fall Veggie Sheet Pan Dinner With Maple Mustard Sauce: There really is just something about everything being on one sheet pan and throwing it in the oven.
- Teriyaki Chicken Meatballs: The perfect excuse to douse some meatballs in Trader Joe’s Soyaki.
- Sheet Pan Panko Salmon & Crispy Broccoli: One pan, so easy and so delish.
- One Pot Egg Roll Bowls: If you crave Chinese food takeout, this is your new go-to meal.
- Hot Honey Chicken Meatball Bowls: There’s a reason these went viral. An absolute flavor bomb in a meatball.
- One Pot Creamy Turkey Rigatoni: So damn good, insanely easy to make and clean up is only one pot. You can switch up the protein used and make it dairy free if you like as well!
- 15 Minute Air Fryer Fish Tacos: Simple and efficient with maximum flavor and textures.
- Shrimp Sesame Noodles: Shrimp is such a great source of lean protein! Feel free to switch these with whatever your favorite ramen-esque noodle is. You can also add more veggies like zucchini and snap peas if you want.
- Mediterranean-Inspired Salmon Bite Bowls: One of my all time favorites for a meal that feels light, fresh and filling.
- Cheesesteak Skillet: This is the one I dream about randomly during the day. So addicting and easy to make - genuinely such a crowd pleaser.
- 20-Minute Orange Chicken: A takeout classic, but the healthified version.
- Healthier Shrimp Scampi: Another healthified version of a classic.
- Gochujang Turkey Stir Fry Lettuce Cups: This one is so light, fresh and flavorful without leaving you feeling unsatisfied. You can serve this in lettuce cups or rice if you are wanting a heartier meal.
- Cauliflower Gnocchi Skillet: Gluten and dairy free! Yes, you read that right. Limited number of ingredients and in one skillet for easy shopping and cleanup.
- Sweet Potato Black Bean Burgers: For my vegetarians and meat-eaters alike! Been making these for 5+ years now and they never miss.
- Ground Turkey Taco Bowls: This one isn’t necessarily groundbreaking, but I eat it once a week so it deserves to be here.
- Crispy Chicken Caesar Salad: The base for the dressing for this recipe is Greek yogurt which is high in protein and much lower in fat than traditional Caesar dressings.
- Sticky Shrimp Lettuce Wraps: This one is comically quick and easy! Makes for the best quick and fresh, protein-packed lunch or dinner.
- Fall Turkey Skillet: Your go to for cozy fall flavors all in this high protein, one skillet meal. It is customizable with easy swaps like choosing between butternut squash or sweet potato and has a little protein boost when you use chicken broth over water.
- Sheet Pan Maple Pecan Salmon: This Sheet Pan Maple Pecan Salmon is the perfect dinner for when you’re feeling something on the lighter side, but still want all of those cozy fall flavors.
- One Pot Hamburger Helper Orzo: This comforting recipe is a grown-up version of the boxed Hamburger Helper we all used to love.
- Air Fryer Miso Maple Salmon: This recipe is so simple and SO flavorful. It pairs great with some rice and an Asian-style salad kit or some sautéed mushrooms and bok choy!
- One Pan Creamy Pesto Orzo With Chicken Meatballs: Hearty, nourishing and creamy, lemony one-pan meal is perfect for a weeknight meal after a busy day.
- Cheesy Potato Taco Bowls: When the Taco Bell craving calls, you cannot ignore it! Now you can skip the drive-thru and make these nourishing bowls (that feel indulgent) at home.
- Saucy Peanut Chicken Bowls: For when you are craving a deliciously saucy chicken bowl with over 22 grams of protein per serving.
- Summer Sausage Skillet with Creamy Pesto Sauce: Savory sausage with tons of summer veggies all in one skillet and topped with a delicious creamy pesto sauce. Serve over rice or pasta or enjoy as is!
- Sheet Pan Gnocchi With Bell Peppers & Sausage Meatballs: Full of colorful veggies, tender gnocchi, and protein-packed chicken sausage meatballs, this one is bound to become a weekly fav.
Trader Joe's Staples: Elevating Your Meals
Trader Joe's offers a variety of staples that can enhance your meals and snacks.
Toast Toppings
Toast lovers can create the best TJ’s Cheeseboard. Learn exactly what to buy, how to arrange the items, and what tools you need to make the ultimate charcuterie!
Potstickers, Goyza, and Dumplings
Explore all of the Trader Joe’s potstickers, goyza, and dumplings and rate them on a scale. Be sure to serve them as “dirty goyza” with a drizzle of Trader Joe’s chili onion crunch and maple syrup.
Chili Onion Crunch
Learn all the details about chili onion crunch from Trader Joe’s!
Smoked Salmon
Explore the smoked salmon options at Trader Joe’s.
Garlic Spread (Toum)
This traditional Lebanese spread is delicious and going to be a staple.
Addressing Concerns About Convenience Foods
While Trader Joe's offers many convenient options, it's important to be mindful of sodium content. Convenience foods are often higher in sodium, but if you don't have a medical condition requiring sodium restriction, it's generally fine. Moreover, preparing meals at home with convenience items allows you to increase fiber content compared to takeout or restaurant meals, which are often low in fiber.
Trader Joe's Lunch Ideas: Beyond the Basics
Orzo Pasta Salad Soup
Chop up some of their ready to eat chicken (lemon or balsamic flavor - I used balsamic but I personally would use lemon if they had it that day), toss it into a pot with the contents of their orzo pasta salad, and top with chicken broth. Bring it to a boil until the spinach is wilty and it’s heated through. Squeeze some fresh lemon if you have it.
Tomato Soup Hack
Start with 2 cups of the tomato soup, added up to 1 cup regular cooked white rice and 1 cup regular canned black beans. Use less rice and beans if you don’t want it to be as thick.
Elevated Salad Kits
Top the mediterranean salad kit with falafel and hummus and a drizzle of something spicy. Pair the lemon grilled chicken with some burrata and arugula, and top with olive oil and balsamic.
Rice Bowl
This is a simple rice bowl and you could certainly add to it for more textures and flavors (maybe some lettuce, peppers/onions, salsa, etc).
Soup Dumplings
Pair the chicken soup dumplings with the chili oil crunch.
Miso Crunch Chopped Salad
This salad is so good. I love the crunchy cashews and chow mein noodles. And I love a cabbage based salad kit because it stays fresh much longer than more delicate lettuces.
Sriracha Baked Tofu
The simplest version of this meal would be to pair half the salad kit with a veggie burger. However, if you have avocado, even better. If you happen to have a street corn dip on hand, chef’s kiss. TJ’s has their everything and the elote dip.