Just like most of you, I love me some Trader Joe’s! They have a lot of unique finds and make meal prep easy with a lot of their freezer section favorites. A few months ago I shared what we like to buy at Trader Joe’s for my 4 year old daughter in THIS POST, so today I wanted to share a few favorites of mine.
Some things are healthy and some are not, but that’s okay because it’s all about balance. I will also share how I prepare and use some of these items to give you a few lunch, dinner, and snack ideas.
Let’s get started:
SNACKS:
1. SPINACH & KALE GREEN YOGURT DIP
I’ve been a huge fan of this dip for years. It’s a healthier version of your regular spinach dip since it’s made with greek yogurt. I love dipping vegetables, crackers, and chips into it. Makes for a great lunch or snack option too. It’s so so good on peppers!
2. BLUE CHEESE DRESSING AND DIP
This is a newer dip that I’ve recently discovered and love. It’s not the healthiest, but still super delicious. I like dipping vegetables into it or even sometimes using it as a salad dressing. So delish!
3. PRETZEL SLIMS
These are great. They also come in an everything bagel flavor as well as a chocolate dipped version. Those are amazing also, but I am the biggest fan of the original flavor. Such an easy snack and kids will love them too.
4. ORGANIC CRANBERRIES AND RAISINS
Trader Joe’s has an abundant dried fruit and nut section. These are two of my go-tos in that isle for snacks. My daughter loves them too.
5. ORGANIC CORN CHIP DIPPERS
These are basically like an organic version of Fritos. They are a bit addicting so this is an item I like to buy on occasion, but they are not the healthiest. They are the best with chili and dips. So good and my daughter is obsessed with them too!
6. STRAWBERRY LICORICE TWISTS
My husband and I love these. They are very low in fat and calories too so they are kind of a healthier snack option. I don’t get them often, because they are usually sold out a lot, but when I do, they are gone by the end of the day. They are that addicting!
7. SHISHITO PEPPERS
These make for a healthy snack or appetizer. Just heat them up in a pan with olive oil and then sprinkle with sea salt. So good and not spicy at all.
PROTEINS:
8. ORGANIC FREE RANGE CHICKEN
I’m actually a big fan of Trader Joe’s chicken selection. I usually get a pack of these weekly to use for salads. I like to marinate them in olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, chopped garlic and oregano. I then bake them in the oven at 400 degrees for about 40-50 minutes. I cut them up and use them in my salads throughout the week for an easy protein.
9. BBQ CUT SALMON
This is by far my favorite salmon. I love the BBQ cut because they come in manageable pieces that are easy to use in any recipe. I used to get my salmon from Whole Foods, but love this one so much more. An easy recipe I’ve been making recently is just searing them in a pan on medium heat with a little olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
I also am a huge fan of THIS RECIPE. It’s a lime and honey glazed salmon with basmati rice and broccolini. SO good! You should try it!
10. CENTER CUT FILETS
These are actually a really good price point for the product. Always get the “center cut” filets over just the regular filets because they are less fatty and a better cut. They are a bit on the smaller size, but that’s actually great for portion control.
I like to make these for dinner and serve with a roasted vegetable and either baked potatoes or the cauliflower mash below. I usually sear them in a pan on medium heat with butter, salt and pepper. Usually about 7 minutes per side for medium rear. So easy and your meat loving husband will love them.
FREEZER SECTION:
11. DARK CHOCOLATE COVERED BANANA SLICES
These are the best and perfect for a healthy-ish treat. They also come as strawberries too. We always like to have at least 1-2 packs in our freezer at all times. So much yum!
12. MUSHROOM MEDLEY
This mushroom medley makes the perfect side to any dinner. They are really easy to heat up in a skillet and you can even add them to your omelets in the morning. I always like to add them as a side when I make the filets above. You can even turn these into a mushroom sauce for the steak too.
13. SWEET POTATO FRIES
These are by far the best sweet potato fries. So so good and super easy to bake in the oven for cheeseburger night.
14. CAULIFLOWER GNOCCHI
I’m sure you have heard of this before since they were really popular a few years ago. They are actually really good, but do not follow the directions on the packaging for cooking. Instead, heat them up in a skillet to get them extra crispy and then toss with your favorite pesto or tomato sauce. So good!
15. VEGETABLE FRIED RICE
I always like to have one of these in my freezer or a quick go-to dinner. It pairs perfectly with Trader Joe’s chicken potstickers. I always like to add fresh vegetables to it if I have them on hand as well as soy sauce, sesame oil, and an egg or two. If you are interested in being a bit healthier, they make a cauliflower rice version of this too.
16. MASHED CAULIFLOWER
This is the perfect alternative to mashed potatoes. You can mix in some goat cheese and it is so delish! It’s also super easy and quick to make for a great go-to side for dinner.
17. CRUSHED GARLIC
You can find this in the freezer section and it comes in ginger too. It’s basically frozen cubes of garlic that are perfect for cooking with. I love the fact that there are no preservatives (like the jarred garlic), making it such a healthier option. Make sure to stock up on these next time you visit Trader Joe’s!
PANTRY:
18. Â CHICKPEA & RED LENTIL RISONI
This is a newer favorite of mine that I just discovered. I normally don’t love pasta or rice alternatives, but this one isn’t bad. It’s great to turn into a healthy-ish risotto or mix with vegetables and chicken broth for an easy dinner side.
REFRIGERATOR SECTION:
19. UNEXPEXTED CHEDDAR CHEESE
This is also a newer favorite of mine. This shredded cheddar cheese is SO GOOD and doesn’t taste like regular cheddar cheese. It’s extra special. I like to add it to my salads, eggs, or chili. Honestly you can sprinkle it on anything to make it taste better. It’s simply the best!
20. ARUGULA & PARMIGIANO REGGIANO RAVIOLI
Trader Joe’s has a wide range of fresh pastas, tortellinis, and raviolis. They aren’t the healthiest, but it’s always nice to have one lying around for an emergency dinner. I would have to say that the arugula and parmigiano reggiano one is my favorite! So quick and easy to make. I usually just add a bit of butter or olive oil instead of sauce. It’s that good!
HAVE ANY OTHER TRADER JOE’S FAVORITES THAT I LEFT OUT? LET ME KNOW ABOUT THEM IN THE COMMENTS BELOW.
