Easy 10 Trader Joe’s Dinner Recipes

Sometimes, you are too tired to chop vegetables or measure spices. That is where Trader Joe’s shines. They offer many items that are 90% cooked and just need to be heated up.

This list focuses on the absolute easiest meals you can make. These are “low-effort, high-reward” dinners that taste like you spent hours in the kitchen.

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1. Spinach Tortellini with Pesto

This is the ultimate 10-minute meal. It feels elegant but requires zero chopping. The fresh pasta cooks much faster than dried pasta, and the pesto adds all the garlic and herb flavor you need instantly.

Ingredients

• The Pasta: 1 package TJ’s Spinach Tortellini (found in the refrigerated section).
• The Sauce: 1 jar TJ’s Vegan Kale, Cashew & Basil Pesto (or regular Genovese Pesto).
• The Crunch: Handful of cherry tomatoes and pine nuts (optional).
• The Protein: TJ’s Pre-Cooked Grilled Chicken Strips (optional).

Instructions

1. Boil a pot of salted water. Add the tortellini and cook for 2–3 minutes.
2. Drain the pasta, but save a little bit of the hot water.
3. Stir the pesto into the hot pasta. If it is too thick, add a splash of the pasta water to thin it out.
4. Toss in the cherry tomatoes and chicken if you are using them. Serve with parmesan cheese.

2. Chili Lime Chicken Burgers

If you want a barbecue flavor without using a grill, these frozen burgers are the answer. They are seasoned with lime, cilantro, and chili, so they are juicy and flavorful right out of the box.

Ingredients

• The Meat: 1 box TJ’s Chili Lime Chicken Burgers (frozen).
• The Bun: 4 Brioche Buns.
• The Toppings: TJ’s Chunky Guacamole and sliced red onion.
• The Cheese: Slices of Pepper Jack cheese.

Instructions

1. Heat a skillet with a little oil. Cook the frozen patties for 4–5 minutes on each side until browned.
2. Place a slice of cheese on each patty during the last minute of cooking so it melts.
3. Toast the buns in the same pan.
4. Spread a thick layer of guacamole on the bun, add the patty, and top with onions.

3. Beef Birria Tacos

Birria is a trendy Mexican beef stew that usually takes hours to cook. Trader Joe’s now sells it fully cooked and frozen. It is rich, spicy, and incredibly tender.

Ingredients

• The Meat: 1 package TJ’s Beef Birria (frozen section).
• The Shell: TJ’s Corn Tortillas.
• The Freshness: Diced white onion, cilantro, and lime wedges.
• The Cheese: Shredded Mozzarella or Mexican blend.

Instructions

1. Heat the Beef Birria in a pot or microwave according to the package instructions. It will be saucy.
2. Dip a tortilla into the red sauce from the meat, then place it in a hot frying pan.
3. Add cheese and a scoop of beef to the tortilla. Fold it in half.
4. Fry until the tortilla is crispy and red.
5. Serve with onions, cilantro, and extra sauce for dipping.

4. Gnocchi al Gorgonzola

While the Sweet Potato Gnocchi is sweet, this one is pure savory comfort. The cheese sauce is frozen into little pucks inside the bag, so it melts beautifully as you cook.

Ingredients

• The Pasta: 1 bag TJ’s Gnocchi al Gorgonzola (frozen).
• The Green: 2 cups fresh spinach or frozen peas.
• The Topping: Freshly cracked black pepper and walnuts (optional).

Instructions

1. Pour the frozen gnocchi into a large non-stick pan.
2. Cook on medium heat for about 7 minutes. The sauce will melt and coat the dumplings.
3. Add the spinach or peas in the last 2 minutes. Stir until the spinach wilts.
4. Serve immediately. The sauce thickens as it cools, so eat it hot.

5. BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Moving from Italian to American comfort food, this recipe uses precooked meat to save you 8 hours of slow cooking. The pork is smoky and sweet, perfect for a quick family dinner.

Ingredients

• The Meat: 1 package TJ’s Pulled Pork in BBQ Sauce (refrigerated meat section).
• The Base: TJ’s Brioche Buns or Slider Buns.
• The Crunch: TJ’s Broccoli Slaw (bagged salad section).

Instructions

1. Empty the pork into a saucepan and heat on medium-low for 10 minutes until hot.
2. While the pork warms, mix the broccoli slaw with a little mayonnaise or vinegar (optional) if you like it creamy.
3. Pile the hot pork onto the buns.
4. Top with a generous handful of the cold, crunchy slaw to balance the sweet BBQ sauce.

6. Greek Gyro Salad

If you want something lighter than a sandwich, try this salad. Trader Joe’s sells cooked gyro slices that just need a quick sear in the pan. It tastes fresh and healthy.

Ingredients

• The Protein: 1 package TJ’s Gyro Slices (cooked).
• The Base: Romaine lettuce and diced cucumber.
• The Dressing: TJ’s Tzatziki Dip (creamy cucumber yogurt sauce).
• The Extra: Feta cheese and Kalamata olives.

Instructions

1. Cut the gyro slices into strips. Pan-fry them for 30 seconds on each side just to warm them up.
2. Fill a bowl with lettuce and cucumbers.
3. Add the warm meat, olives, and feta cheese.
4. Use the Tzatziki as the dressing. You can water it down slightly with lemon juice if it is too thick.

7. Kung Pao Chicken

This is one of the best “Bag Meals” Trader Joe’s offers. It comes with the chicken, vegetables, peanuts, and sauce all in one package. It is faster than ordering takeout and tastes fresher.

Ingredients

• The Kit: 1 bag TJ’s Kung Pao Chicken (frozen).
• The Base: TJ’s Microwave Jasmine Rice or Cauliflower Rice.
• The Boost: Extra green onions (optional).

Instructions

1. Heat oil in a large skillet or wok.
2. Add the chicken and vegetables from the bag. Cook for 6–8 minutes until the chicken is crispy.
3. Stir in the sauce packet and the peanuts. Cook for 1 more minute until the sauce is bubbly and sticky.
4. Serve over hot rice.

8. Soy Chorizo Grain Bowl

This is a fantastic vegetarian option that even meat-eaters love. The soy chorizo is incredibly flavorful and spicy. It crumbles just like real sausage but has zero grease.

Ingredients

• The Protein: ½ package TJ’s Soy Chorizo.
• The Base: 1 bag TJ’s Brown Rice (frozen) or Quinoa.
• The Veggie: 1 bag TJ’s Fire Roasted Bell Peppers and Onions (frozen).
• The Topping: Salsa and avocado.

Instructions

1. Squeeze the soy chorizo out of the plastic casing into a hot pan.
2. Add the frozen peppers and onions. Cook for 5–7 minutes until the veggies are soft and the chorizo is slightly crispy.
3. Microwave the rice.
4. Mix the rice into the pan with the chorizo mixture. Top with salsa and avocado.

9. Chimichurri Steak & Fries

This is a “steak and potatoes” dinner made easy. The Chimichurri sauce (a parsley and garlic sauce) is fresh and vibrant, cutting through the richness of the steak.

Ingredients

• The Meat: 1 flank steak or sirloin steak.
• The Sauce: 1 tub TJ’s Chimichurri Sauce (refrigerated section).
• The Side: 1 bag TJ’s Handsome Cut Potato Fries (frozen).

Instructions

1. Bake the fries in the oven or air fryer according to the package (usually 400°F/200°C for 20 minutes).
2. While fries bake, season the steak with salt and pepper.
3. Sear the steak in a hot pan for 3–4 minutes per side (for medium-rare). Let it rest for 5 minutes.
4. Slice the steak against the grain. Spoon the cold Chimichurri sauce over the hot steak and serve with fries.

10. Lobster Ravioli with Pink Sauce

We finish with a “Date Night” meal. Lobster sounds expensive, but this pasta is very affordable. The pink sauce combines tomato and cream, which perfectly matches the seafood.

Ingredients

• The Pasta: 1 package TJ’s Lobster Ravioli (refrigerated).
• The Sauce: 1 jar TJ’s Vodka Sauce (or mix marinara with a little heavy cream).
• The Garnish: Fresh basil or parsley.

Instructions

1. Boil the ravioli in salted water for 4 minutes. Be gentle so they don’t break.
2. In a separate pan, warm the Vodka sauce.
3. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the ravioli directly into the sauce.
4. Stir very gently to coat. Serve immediately with black pepper.