Brian Nagele
Trader Joe’s frozen foods are a great way to enjoy a quick and easy-to-prepare meal or snack. In addition, their diverse selection includes dishes from around the world.
So if you’ve ever wanted to taste culinary classics from other cultures’ cuisines, Trader Joe’s enables you to do so without having to learn a new recipe!
Whenever I wish to prepare some nostalgic comfort food or simply need a quick appetizer for a get-together, I know that I can always find something perfect for the occasion in Trader Joe’s freezer aisle.
However, since they have so many delicious options, deciding what to go for can be challenging. With that in mind, I’ve compiled a list of my absolute favorites.
So without further ado, here are the best frozen foods at Trader Joe’s you have to try.
Cauliflower Gnocchi
Gnocchi is a starchy, dumpling-like type of pasta. As its name sounded daunting to me to try making on my own, my first introduction to this dish was through Trader Joe’s.
Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi provides a lighter twist on this classic Italian pasta.
It only has five simple ingredients: cauliflower, cassava flour, potato starch, extra virgin olive oil, and sea salt.
This product can make a great low-carb alternative to traditional gnocchi. It’s even gluten-free!
I love how versatile gnocchi is, as you can add it to soups, sautee it on the stovetop, grill it, or bake it in the oven. Gnocchi also tastes delicious topped with olive oil, vegetables, or pasta sauce.
Chicken Burrito Bowl
Making burrito bowls from scratch can be time-consuming, and they often leave you with lots of dishes to clean.
Next time you’re craving a burrito bowl, save yourself some time and effort and pick up the chicken burrito bowl from Trader Joe’s frozen section.
This burrito bowl has brown rice, quinoa, black beans, corn, peppers, cheddar cheese, and seasoned chicken breast. It also has a tasty southwest chipotle sauce for a little bit of spice.
Trader Joe’s frozen chicken burrito bowl can provide a complete meal with minimal effort.
If you want to make it even more delicious, you can serve this burrito bowl with a dollop of sour cream on top!
Potato Pancakes
Potato pancakes are a tasty dish originating from Eastern Europe.
They’re also a common part of Hanukkah celebrations! While nothing compares to latkes from scratch, Trader Joe’s frozen potato pancakes hold up pretty well.
Potatoes, onions, oil, matzo meal, and eggs are the main ingredients of this frozen potato pancake.
You can microwave them if you’re in a hurry, but the best way to enjoy them is on the stovetop fried in oil.
For the best experience, I recommend serving these potato pancakes with some applesauce.
It adds a little sweetness and helps balance the savory, oily taste of these pancakes.
Riced Cauliflower Stir Fry
When I’m craving a nutritious yet low-calorie meal, I often opt for Trader Joe’s riced cauliflower stir fry.
This frozen meal uses cauliflower in place of rice, making it a great low-carb alternative to stir fry.
It also has plenty of veggies like peas, peppers, corn, and onions.
As it’s light, it can make a tasty side dish or main course for a quick meal. In addition, you can always pair it with Trader Joe’s frozen beef and broccoli or mandarin orange chicken!
Burrata, Prosciutto, and Arugula Flatbread
If you want an alternative to a frozen pizza, you might want to give Trader Joe’s burrata, prosciutto, and arugula flatbread a try.
This frozen meal has a crispy flatbread topped with burrata, prosciutto, arugula, and lots of melty cheese.
Mozzarella, pecorino romano, Parmigiano Reggiano, and mascarpone are the four main types of cheese you’ll find on this flatbread.
Furthermore, this flatbread is small enough that you can reasonably eat the whole thing yourself.
However, it’s also great for sharing with a friend, especially if you pair it with a side salad.
Chicken Pot Pie
Few things are more comforting on a cold day than a piping-hot pot pie.
However, making one can be a bit of a hassle. So if you want to save yourself the trouble, consider picking up Trader Joe’s frozen chicken pot pie.
You can heat this pot pie in the microwave, but for the best results, I recommend baking it in the oven. It may take longer this way, but the flaky pie crust is worth the wait.
The filling includes chicken, carrots, peas, potatoes, celery, and onions. It also has a creamy chicken sauce that brings all the flavors together.
Tempura Shrimp with Soy Dipping Sauce
Tempura is a Japanese word for battered, deep-fried finger foods.
Shrimp is one of the most popular ways to enjoy tempura that I would highly recommend if you haven’t experienced it yet.
Trader Joe’s tempura shrimp has a crispy and flaky coating. It includes some soy dipping sauce on the side, but if that’s not your thing, it tastes good in some sweet chili sauce, too.
Enjoy this delicious shrimp tempura as a quick and easy appetizer. Or, you could serve it as a side for another Japanese dish like sushi or udon noodles.
Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe
Cacio e Pepe is a classic Italian recipe. It features spaghetti coated in a creamy sauce with black pepper on top.
With this product from Trader Joe’s, you can enjoy this yummy dish in around seven minutes!
This frozen dinner has a rich sauce made from pecorino romano cheese and cream. The black pepper gives it a slight tang as well.
For a complete meal, I suggest pairing these noodles with a side salad and some garlic bread.
You could add some cooked chicken or veggies to make it a little more filling, too.
Butter Chicken
Butter chicken is an Indian dish that’s fairly popular around the world.
It consists of cooked chicken coated in a tomato sauce, and it typically comes with a side of basmati rice.
If you’d like an easy way to enjoy this meal, Trader Joe’s frozen butter chicken is a smart choice.
This butter chicken frozen meal is easy to prepare in the microwave. You can also reheat it in the oven, but the results aren’t much different with this method, so it may not be worth the extra time.
It’s a pretty decently-sized meal, but if you need something a little more substantial, it also goes well with some naan bread on the side.
Mac and Cheese Bites
If you’re a fan of mac and cheese, you will want to give Trader Joe’s mac and cheese bites a try.
They have a crispy breaded outer crust with gooey macaroni and cheese on the inside.
These mac and cheese bites can make a delicious appetizer for a party or movie night. Or, they could make a good side dish for some hot dogs or chili.
No matter when you eat them, mac and cheese bites are nothing short of a tasty treat.
They don’t need any dipping sauce, but if they’re too dry for your preference, they pair well with some hot sauce or marinara.
Tandoori Naan
If you’re at all familiar with South Asian food, you’ve probably had naan bread at least once.
Trader Joe’s frozen tandoori naan is a great way to stock up on naan bread, as it will last much longer than naan bread you’ll find on the shelves.
This bread goes great with curries, soups, or hummus. You can also top it with tomato sauce and cheese for a personal-sized naan pizza! Or, if you’re craving something simple, you can enjoy it on its own, too.
For the best results, heat your tandoori naan in the oven before you eat it. In addition, if you’re in a hurry, you can also pop it in the microwave.
Beef and Broccoli
Trader Joe’s frozen beef and broccoli can make a quick and satisfying meal.
Each package comes with six servings, so it’s the perfect addition to your next family dinner.
For the best results, you should serve this beef and broccoli on top of some rice. Consider using some of Trader Joe’s riced cauliflower for a lower-carb alternative!
This frozen meal has broccoli florets and beef in a sweet and spicy sauce. The heat isn’t too intense, so if you’re sensitive to spicy foods, you might still enjoy this beef and broccoli meal.
Riced Cauliflower Bowl
Finding meals that are low-carb and vegan can be pretty difficult, but the riced cauliflower bowl from Trader Joe’s makes that a little easier.
So if you need a simple yet light plant-based meal, add this frozen dinner to your shopping cart.
This riced cauliflower bowl is a complete meal on its own; it has riced cauliflower, chickpeas, tofu, sweet potatoes, and onions.
It also has a flavorful tahini sauce that brings all of these components together.
This frozen meal is perfect for work lunches or last-minute dinners. It’s a great source of protein, too—the whole meal can provide around 13 grams.
Honey Walnut Shrimp
Are you a fan of Trader Joe’s tempura shrimp, but feel like it needs a little something extra?
Their honey walnut shrimp may be just what you’re craving. It’s crispy, sweet, and incredibly tasty.
This frozen meal includes breaded and fried shrimp with a sweet dipping sauce and candied walnuts.
It’s perfect for people who enjoy a mix of sweet and savory—though this one leans a bit more towards sweet.
Preparing this honey walnut shrimp is pretty simple. Simply bake it in the oven and add the sauce and walnut topping afterward. It’s much easier than making honey walnut shrimp from scratch!
Channa Masala
Those who enjoy Trader Joe’s butter chicken will want to give their frozen channa masala a try.
It’s a great alternative for vegetarian fans of Indian food. However, one of the ingredients is ghee, so this product is not vegan-friendly.
This meal consists of chickpeas, onions, tomatoes, and a variety of flavorful spices.
Cilantro, garlic, turmeric, mango powder, and bay leaves combine to create a super yummy dish.
You can enjoy this frozen meal on its own, but for the best experience, you should serve channa masala on a bed of rice or with a side of tandoori naan.
Mochi
Are you looking for a fun frozen dessert to finish off your meal?
You may want to give Trader Joe’s frozen mochi a shot. This traditional Japanese dessert is a chewy rice flour cake that often has ice cream or fruit filling.
Trader Joe’s offers many different types of mochi in their freezer section. If you want something familiar, you will probably want to get strawberry or vanilla.
If you’re craving something fruity, you may like the mango flavor. And if you want something a little more unique, try the ube, green tea, or Thai tea flavors!
Stacked Eggplant Parmesan
Eggplant parmesan is an Italian favorite among vegetarians and meat-eaters alike.
If you’re a fan of chicken parmesan but need something a little different, this is the frozen meal to buy at Trader Joe’s.
This eggplant parmesan has several layers of tender eggplant, gooey cheese, and hearty tomato sauce. Overall, it has a taste and texture pretty similar to lasagna.
You can enjoy this meal on its own if you want to keep things simple, or you can pair it with a side of garlic bread.
Either way, this eggplant parmesan is one of Trader Joe’s tastiest frozen meals.
Sriracha Shrimp Bowl
Trader Joe’s has a lot of great shrimp products, and their sriracha shrimp bowl is no exception.
It allows you to enjoy a filling and nutritious meal without much effort.
This shrimp bowl has red and brown rice and lots of veggies, including bell peppers, broccoli, baby corn, and edamame beans.
There is also some tender shrimp on the side, as well as a coating of sriracha sauce to add a little heat!
This frozen shrimp bowl can make a satisfying lunch or last-minute dinner. The spicy sriracha and lots of veggies can make it a great meal for when you’re under the weather, too.
Mandarin Orange Chicken
When it comes to Chinese food, mandarin orange chicken is an incredibly popular choice.
It’s sweet, tangy, and tastes great on top of rice. Ordering takeout can be a little expensive, though, so this frozen option from Trader Joe’s can save you a little money.
Trader Joe’s frozen mandarin orange chicken has tender dark meat coated in a flavorful orange sauce. They also offer a vegan version!.
Just one package has five servings, so when you pair it with some fried rice and cheese wontons, you’ll have a complete meal for the whole family.
Chicken and Vegetable Wonton Soup
Need something to warm you up on a chilly day? This chicken and vegetable wonton soup might be what hits the spot.
When I first bought Trader Joe’s wonton soup, I was pleasantly surprised by the generous portions of chicken-filled wontons.
Other ingredients in this easy-to-make delicacy include sugar snap peas, leeks, and green onions.
Moreover, I love having carrots in my soup, and this one has plenty. I also found the broth to be perfectly flavored, with not too much white or black pepper.
In addition to its great taste, Trader Joe’s wonton soup is much quicker and cheaper than ordering takeout.
So whenever I’m on a tight budget or don’t have much time, I love having this soup for a fulfilling meal.
Vegetable Pad Thai
Pad Thai is a delicious noodle dish originating from Thailand.
It can make a great main course or side dish, depending on how you serve it. And with this frozen Pad Thai from Trader Joe’s, you can have it ready to eat in six minutes!
Trader Joe’s Pad Thai includes rice noodles, bean sprouts, onions, tofu, cashews, and a sweet and spicy sauce. It’s one of the best Trader Joe’s frozen meals for fans of Thai cuisine!
In addition, each serving contains 360 calories, which I find to be ideal for breakfast. And best of all, it’s 100% plant-based, so both vegans and meat-eaters can enjoy this simple frozen meal.
Pizza Margherita
Do you need a tasty Italian-style pizza in a hurry?
Trader Joe’s pizza Margherita might be just what you’re craving. It’s fairly simple yet super satisfying.
Trader Joe’s pizza Margherita has a wheat flour crust topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, Grana Padano cheese, and basil.
This pizza has a pretty thin crust, so those who prefer thick crust pizza may want to look elsewhere. However, the thinness of this crust makes for a super crispy pizza!
It’s ready in about ten minutes, too, so it’s perfect for days when you’re craving pizza but don’t want to wait for delivery.
Philly Cheesesteak Bao Buns
Bao buns are traditional Chinese dumplings that typically have a pork filling.
This frozen meal from Trader Joe’s provides a fun twist on this recipe—they have a tasty Philly cheesesteak filling instead!
Inside these tender bao buns are shredded beef, onions, bell peppers, and a little bit of gooey American cheese. They make a great appetizer, side dish, or even a main course!
For the best results, you should cook these bao buns in a steamer. But if you don’t have a steamer, a microwave is your next best option.
