The 15 Best Frozen Foods You Can Buy at Trader Joe’s
Updated: Sep. 09, 2021
Just when you thought Trader Joe's couldn't get any better—you walk down the frozen food aisle. Here are the best Trader Joe's frozen food items to look for!
Cauliflower Gnocchi
Enjoy all of the wonderful flavor and texture of gnocchi—but lighter! Made of cauliflower, olive oil, sea salt and just a handful of other ingredients, Trader Joe’s frozen cauliflower gnocchi is healthier than the traditional—with fewer carbs, calories and fats. Plus there’s no thawing necessary! Just open up the bag and start cooking.
Tandoori Naan
Trader Joe’s frozen Indian food selection is pretty hard to beat when you need a quick and easy meal, especially when it comes to their frozen naan (and chicken tikka masala, of course). Trader Joe’s version is prepared similarly to traditional-style naan: Inside an Indian clay tandoor oven.
Mexican-Style Elote Corn
Trader Joe’s Mexican-style corn is inspired by elote corn—a traditional Mexican side. This dish is sprinkled with Cotija cheese, lime juice and cilantro which lends to its spicy and smoky flavor. Prepare this corn side with other authentic Mexican dishes for a full feast.
Macaroni and Cheese
Joe’s Diner macaroni and cheese is one of the best frozen foods you can get at Trader Joe’s. This meal is perfect as a workday lunch or an easy dinner to whip up for the kids. It has the perfect cheese-to-pasta ratio and isn’t dry at all. It also features four kinds of cheese: Cheddar, Havarti, Gouda and Swiss.
Riced Cauliflower Bowl
The best part of this vegan cauliflower bowl could be its price tag, but it definitely doesn’t skimp on flavor, either. The riced cauliflower is loaded with tofu, sweet potatoes and onions and seasoned with chili powder and garlic for a slight kick. It also contains soy sauce and tahini, and those two pair surprisingly well. Ever wonder why Trader Joe’s is so cheap?
Mandarin Orange Chicken
Once again, Trader Joe’s makes no mistakes with their mandarin orange chicken. California orange peels, ginger, green onions and soy sauce bring everything together. Better yet, learn how to make an orange chicken stir-fry.
Mochi
If you can’t have the real-deal Japanese mochi, Trader Joe’s has got you covered. Try out this Thai tea mochi or one of their other delicious flavors: Green tea, chocolate, pumpkin pie, and one of our personal favorites, strawberry!
Mixed Mushroom and Spinach Quiche
Quiche is easy to find in nearly any grocery store, but Trader Joe’s vegetarian mushroom and spinach quiche is tough to beat. It’s hard to hit that perfect veggie-to-egg ratio, but this quiche manages to do that and then some with all the mushroom and spinach. Plus, the crust is flaky, making it taste like it’s homemade without the effort you’d put need for a from-scratch spinach quiche.
Chocolate-Covered Strawberries
Frozen chocolate-covered strawberries might be the easiest strawberry dessert we’ve ever heard of—and they’re a lot less expensive than ordering a bunch fresh. You don’t even need to defrost these. Just pull out the strawberries, which are dipped in dark chocolate before being flash-frozen, and enjoy.
Potato Pancakes
Trader Joe’s potato pancakes, also known as latkes, pack potatoes into a cake that’s similar to a hash brown in texture. But unlike hash browns, these pancakes have the beautiful flavor of onion. They’re easy enough to microwave or cook in a pan or oven, depending on your desired crispness.
Riced Cauliflower Stir-Fry
The cauliflower stir-fry is a low-carb version of the classic Chinese takeout dish. Making something healthy can sometimes lead to sacrificing flavor, but this stir-fry manages to lower the carb count while still tasting like fried rice. It’s loaded with other veggies, too, such as onions, peppers and peas.
Gyoza
Trader Joe’s frozen potstickers, or gyoza, are a fan-favorite by many of us here at Taste of Home. Whether you choose the chicken, pork, vegetable or shrimp, you’ll have a party-ready appetizer on the table in just a few short minutes. Dress it up even more by making this Trader Joe’s potsticker soup recipe.
Sriracha Shrimp Bowl
Sriracha is a tricky ingredient; it’s spicy, so having exactly the right amount is crucial to getting great flavor. The Sriracha shrimp bowl manages to add a kick to tasty shrimp without making you reach for the water after every bite. It’s loaded with broccoli, edamame and baby corn, among other veggies.
Mac and Cheese Bites
I know, I know. We already mentioned a mac and cheese meal above…but these mac and cheese bites are seriously worth the mention. Enjoy these bite-sized delights as a snack or they’re perfectly dippable with a side of ranch.
Chicken Burrito Bowl
Step aside, Chipotle! The Trader Joe’s chicken burrito bowl is a force to be reckoned with—for frozen food, that is. It won’t taste as fresh as making one from scratch. But it’s pretty healthy and comes with a sauce that is so good, it could be eaten by itself.
