14 Trader Joe’s Dinners So Easy and Inexpensive They Feel Illegal

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Elevate your at-home dinner game without overspending by grocery shopping at Trader Joe’s.

This specialty food store is famous for its quirky signature products inspired by global cuisines. Trader Joe’s has something for every taste palate, from fresh salads and sandwiches to one-of-a-kind sauces and seasonings.

These healthy Trader Joe’s dinners are so easy and inexpensive that they feel like cheating.

Orange Chicken

Are you searching for a low-effort, nutritious meal that won’t blow your grocery budget? Trader Joe’s orange chicken is the food hack you need. This cult classic is the ideal protein source next time you crave an at-home Chinese dinner. 

Use an air fryer to crisp up the frozen chicken before tossing it in the zesty orange sauce. Plate over a serving of rice or noodles, and add sesame seeds or crispy garlic for a mouthwatering crunch. 

Mexican Burrito Bowl

Skip the overpriced Mexican fast food chains in favor of homemade burrito bowls. These can be as simple or fancy as you like. The base is frozen rice and canned black beans, which cook in minutes.

Be creative topping the rice and beans with proteins, vegetables, and seasonings. Corn, guacamole, and pico de gallo are excellent for a fresh, flavorful bowl. Turn up the heat by adding jalapenos or hot sauce, and sprinkle some shredded cheese as a finishing touch.

Pesto Gnocchi

Gnocchi is the ideal base for a tasty dinner that satisfies your cravings. Trader Joe’s sells several kinds, including a cauliflower version and frozen options with sauce. The plain gnocchi is just $2 and pairs well with jarred lemon pesto sauce.

For a vegan dish, opt for the kale, cashew, and basil pesto. Elevate your dinner with fresh Parmesan and vegetables, or keep things simple. This Italian-inspired meal is around $5 and yields four servings.

Tomato Soup + Grilled Cheese

Revisit your childhood with a grown-up version of classic tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. The Trader Joe’s boxed tomato and red pepper soup is $3.50 but tastes homemade.

Pick up a loaf of bread and prepare the sandwiches with sliced or shredded cheese. The Unexpected Cheddar is a must-try and tastes fantastic with tomato soup. Grill the sandwiches in a pan with oil or butter, and your tastebuds will be in heaven.

Three grilled cheese recipes to try.

Flatbread

Have an at-home pizza night using fresh, flavorful ingredients. Trader Joe’s carries an Indian-style flatbread that you can transform into a tasty personal pizza. Drizzle the bread with your favorite red sauce, pesto, or garlic and olive oil.

You can top your pie with anything you like, from vegetables to proteins and cheese. Bake the flatbread in the oven for 8-10 minutes, and enjoy once lightly browned and bubbly.

Chicken Sausage + Bagged Salad

Consider cooking some chicken sausage with a Trader Joe’s bagged salad if you need dinner in a pinch. There are a few varieties, including sweet Italian and spicy jalapeño. Choose whatever sounds good and grill or sautee a link or two to serve alongside a salad kit.

Trader Joe’s has many healthy and affordable premade salads. The Caesar mix is a classic, but its Elote chopped salad also has rave reviews. Within minutes, you have a tasty, balanced meal ready to serve.

Lettuce Cups

Lettuce cups are an easy and delicious weeknight dinner. This recipe uses lettuce leaves instead of tortillas to hold any protein choice. Combine ground chicken or turkey with onions, soy sauce, sesame oil, and rice vinegar for an Asian twist.

Add chopped cashews to the meat mixture for extra flavor and texture, and spoon it into the washed and dried lettuce leaves. Savor this restaurant-quality dinner for a fraction of what you’d pay dining out.

Chicken Caesar Wrap

To make a hearty and refreshing chicken Caesar wrap, you only need three Trader Joe’s items: tortillas, a Caesar salad kit, and pre-grilled chicken. Prepare the bagged salad according to the instructions and stir in the chopped chicken to coat everything evenly in Caesar dressing. Fill a tortilla with the chicken and salad mix, and wrap it up for a portable lunch or dinner.

Sliders

For $3, Trader Joe’s Sweet Pull-Apart Aloha Rolls are an incredible find. Warm them briefly in the oven before splitting them in half. Coat the bottom layer with red sauce and turkey meatloaf or meatballs.

Sprinkle the meat with mozzarella and broil for a minute so the cheese turns warm and bubbly. Replace the top layer of rolls and serve alongside a salad or steamed vegetables.

Fried Rice

For under $5, you can grab some frozen vegetable fried rice and create a filling meal with affordable add-ins. One bag has about two servings, though you can bulk it up with vegetables and protein.

A scrambled or fried egg is an excellent topping for fried rice. To increase your protein intake, fry some tofu or warm a bag of frozen shrimp. Extras like soy sauce, sriracha, and crispy chili oil will enhance the rice’s flavor.

Potsticker Soup

A hot bowl of soup is perfect on a cold, rainy day. Trader Joe’s frozen potstickers let you whip up a large serving on a budget. First, pan-fry the potstickers until lightly browned and set to the side. Then, warm a pot of chicken or vegetable broth and season with soy sauce, sesame oil, and any other sauces you like.

Vegetables such as spinach and broccoli are tasty additions, as is a boiled egg. Place the potstickers in the broth and prepare to feel cozy from the inside out.

Chili Cornbread Casserole

This chili cornbread casserole will delight your entire family. To begin, pour the chili into the bottom of a casserole dish. While you can make chili from scratch, Trader Joe’s has a delicious canned vegetarian option if you’re short on time.

Next, follow the instructions to prepare a box of $3 cornbread mix. Pour the batter on top of the chili and bake for around 20 minutes until the bread cooks all the way through. Every scoop of casserole is full of warm, comforting flavors.

Pita Wrap

Take your lunch or dinner game to the next level with Mediterranean-inspired pita wraps. Trader Joe’s pita bread pockets are perfect for filling with Greek ingredients. The store even has ready-to-heat slices of gyro meat to minimize prep time.

Sliced red onions, feta cheese, and olives are a winning combination. Meanwhile, a spoonful of hummus or tzatziki sauce adds creaminess and a refreshing hint of flavor.

Shrimp Alfredo

Pasta, jarred sauce, and frozen shrimp are all you need for a five-star dinner at home. Cook a package of linguine until al dente and evenly coat it in Trader Joe’s lemon alfredo sauce.

Saute a bag of pre-cooked shrimp in garlic and butter for an irresistibly rich pasta dish. It tastes as delicious as your local Italian restaurant but costs much less.

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