10+ Trader Joes Recipes to Make Mealtime Easy and Delicious

If you like shopping at Trader Joe’s, you might enjoy making simple meals with their ingredients. Trader Joe’s offers many unique and tasty products that help you make easy recipes at home.

You can create quick, affordable, and delicious dishes using just a few items from Trader Joe’s.

This article shares easy recipes that are perfect for busy days or casual meals. You don’t need to be a cooking expert to try these ideas.

With a little help from Trader Joe’s products, you can make meals that taste great and don’t take much time.

1) Fig & Blue Cheese Burgers

You’ll love the mix of sweet and savory in Fig & Blue Cheese Burgers. The fig adds a natural sweetness that pairs well with the bold flavor of blue cheese.

These burgers are rich, juicy, and perfect for a simple meal. Start with well-marinated beef patties made from Angus chuck, brisket, and sirloin.

Add thinly sliced red onions and a little olive oil to cook the burger just right. Top the cooked burger with fig butter and crumbled blue cheese.

The combination melts into the meat, giving you layers of flavor in every bite.

Ingredients

• Angus chuck, brisket & sirloin burger patties
• Fig butter
• Blue cheese
• TJ’s olive oil
• Thinly sliced red onion
• Sea salt
• Brioche buns (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat (about 350°F / 175°C).
2. Season burger patties with sea salt.
3. Cook patties for about 4-5 minutes each side until desired doneness.
4. Add blue cheese on top during the last minute of cooking to melt.
5. Toast buns if desired.
6. Spread fig butter on buns and assemble burgers.
7. Add caramelized onions or arugula if you like.

2) Zucchini & Ricotta Rolls

Zucchini & Ricotta Rolls are a simple, tasty dish you can make quickly. Start by slicing zucchini into thin, long pieces.

These form the base for the rolls. Spread creamy ricotta cheese over each zucchini slice.

Add a bit of grated cheese, like Pecorino, for extra flavor. Roll up each slice and place them in a baking dish.

Bake the rolls until the zucchini is tender and the cheese is warm. This dish works well as a light appetizer or side.

Ingredients

• 4-5 zucchini, sliced lengthwise
• 1 tub part-skim ricotta cheese
• ½ cup grated Pecorino cheese
• Sea salt

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Slice zucchini lengthwise into thin planks.
3. Sprinkle zucchini slices lightly with sea salt.
4. Spread ricotta cheese on each slice, then sprinkle with Pecorino.
5. Roll up the slices and place them seam side down in a baking dish.
6. Bake for 15-20 minutes until tender.

3) Creamy Dreamy Hummus with Roasted Baby Broccoli

This recipe is a simple way to enjoy creamy hummus with roasted baby broccoli. First, roast the baby broccoli until it’s tender and slightly crispy.

This adds a nice flavor and texture contrast to the smooth hummus. Spread a thick layer of hummus on a plate and top it with the roasted broccoli.

It makes a great snack or appetizer that is both tasty and healthy. Roasting the broccoli at a high temperature brings out its natural sweetness and keeps it crisp.

Ingredients

• 1 package Trader Joe’s baby broccoli
• 1 jar of creamy hummus (Trader Joe’s Creamy Dreamy Hummus works well)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Salt to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
2. Toss the baby broccoli with olive oil and salt on a baking sheet.
3. Roast for 10-15 minutes until tender and slightly browned.
4. Spread a thick layer of hummus on a large plate.
5. Arrange roasted baby broccoli on top of the hummus.
6. Serve and enjoy.

For more details, check Trader Joe’s Creamy Dreamy Hummus with Roasted Baby Broccoli.

4) Green Goddess Fried Goat Cheese Salad

This salad is a delicious way to enjoy fresh greens and creamy goat cheese. Fry the goat cheese until golden and crispy to add a nice crunch to your salad.

Start with a bed of mixed greens. Add your fried goat cheese medallions on top.

Drizzle the Green Goddess dressing over the salad for a bright, tangy kick. You can also add extras like avocado or cherry tomatoes.

Ingredients

• Goat cheese medallions
• Mixed salad greens
• Green Goddess dressing
• Olive oil (for frying)
• Salt and pepper

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat.
2. Fry the goat cheese medallions for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden brown.
3. Place mixed greens in a bowl.
4. Top with fried goat cheese medallions.
5. Drizzle with Green Goddess dressing.
6. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

5) Turkey Meatballs with Tortellini and Tomato Basil Sauce

This recipe is easy and perfect for a quick meal. Boil tortellini in water until tender.

While the pasta cooks, heat turkey meatballs in a pan or oven. Warm up creamy tomato basil sauce and mix it with the cooked tortellini and meatballs.

Add fresh arugula for a touch of green and sprinkle parmesan cheese on top.

Ingredients:

• Trader Joe’s turkey meatballs
• Cheese tortellini
• Creamy tomato basil pasta sauce
• Fresh arugula
• Parmesan cheese

Cooking Instructions:

1. Boil water and cook tortellini according to package instructions.
2. Heat turkey meatballs in a pan or oven until hot.
3. Warm the tomato basil sauce in a saucepan.
4. Mix tortellini, meatballs, and sauce together.
5. Add arugula and sprinkle parmesan cheese before serving.

6) 5 Ingredient Breaded Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo

This recipe is perfect when you want a simple, tasty meal with just a few ingredients. Bread thin chicken breasts, cook them until crispy, and serve with creamy fettuccine Alfredo pasta.

You only need five ingredients, which makes shopping and prep straightforward. The breaded chicken adds a nice crunch that goes well with the smooth Alfredo sauce.

Ingredients

• 1 lb thin sliced boneless skinless chicken breast fillets
• 2 eggs, scrambled
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 lb fettuccine Alfredo

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Coat chicken in flour, dip in scrambled eggs, then cover with breadcrumbs.
3. Cook chicken in a hot pan until golden on both sides.
4. Bake chicken for 10-15 minutes to finish cooking.
5. Cook fettuccine Alfredo according to package directions.
6. Serve chicken over pasta and enjoy.

For more details, check out this 5 ingredient breaded chicken fettuccine Alfredo recipe.

7) Easy Cheesy Ground Beef Nachos

You can make a plate of cheesy ground beef nachos in just 20 minutes. This recipe uses only five ingredients from Trader Joe’s.

Cook the ground beef with taco seasoning and fire-roasted diced tomatoes. Layer the beef mixture over tortilla chips and sprinkle shredded cheese on top.

Bake it until the cheese melts and bubbles. These nachos serve 2 to 3 people and are a great way to enjoy Tex-Mex flavors.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 can diced fire-roasted tomatoes with organic green chiles
• 1/2 packet taco seasoning
• Tortilla chips
• 1 ½ cups shredded cheese

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Brown the ground beef in a pan over medium heat. Drain excess fat.
3. Add taco seasoning and diced tomatoes to the beef. Stir and cook for 5 minutes.
4. Spread tortilla chips on a baking sheet.
5. Pour the beef mixture over the chips evenly.
6. Sprinkle shredded cheese on top.
7. Bake for 10 minutes or until the cheese melts.
8. Serve warm and enjoy!

For more details, see this Easy Cheesy Ground Beef Nachos recipe.

8) Scallion Pancakes over White Rice with Fried Egg

Make a simple meal by placing crispy scallion pancakes over a bed of steamed white rice. This adds a nice crunch and fresh flavor.

Top the pancakes and rice with a fried egg for extra protein. Cook the egg sunny side up or over medium.

Drizzle some soy sauce or Trader Joe’s chili crisp to add some spice.

Ingredients

• Trader Joe’s scallion pancakes
• 1 cup cooked white rice
• 1 egg
• Soy sauce or chili crisp (optional)
• Cooking oil

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat a skillet over medium heat with a little oil.
2. Cook scallion pancakes for 3-4 minutes each side until golden and crispy.
3. In the same pan, fry an egg to your liking.
4. Place cooked rice on a plate, then top with scallion pancakes.
5. Add the fried egg on top and drizzle with soy sauce or chili crisp.

9) Frozen Cacio e Pepe Pasta with Spinach Cranberry Salad

You can make a quick and tasty dinner using Trader Joe’s frozen Cacio e Pepe pasta. Heat the pasta according to the package instructions.

While your pasta warms up, toss together a fresh spinach cranberry salad. Use baby spinach, dried cranberries, and a light vinaigrette for a sweet and tangy flavor.

This salad pairs nicely with the creamy pasta. This meal balances warm comfort food with a fresh side.

Ingredients

• Trader Joe’s frozen Cacio e Pepe pasta
• Baby spinach
• Dried cranberries
• Olive oil or your favorite vinaigrette
• Salt and pepper (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook the frozen Cacio e Pepe pasta as directed on the package.
2. Rinse and dry baby spinach.
3. Combine spinach and cranberries in a bowl.
4. Drizzle with vinaigrette or olive oil.
5. Toss the salad gently to mix.
6. Serve pasta hot with the spinach cranberry salad on the side.

10) Tropical Mango Shrimp Salad

This bright and fresh Tropical Mango Shrimp Salad is easy to make. You can find all the ingredients at Trader Joe’s.

The sweet mango goes well with juicy shrimp. It makes a light and satisfying meal.

Mix lime and lemon juices with olive oil for a tangy zest. Add onion and cilantro for a fresh bite.

Try adding avocado or tomatoes to the salad. It’s ready in just a few minutes once you prep everything.

Ingredients

• Shrimp, peeled and deveined
• Mango, peeled and diced
• Lime juice
• Lemon juice
• Olive oil
• Red onion, chopped
• Fresh cilantro, chopped
• Salt and pepper

Cooking Instructions

1. In a bowl, mix lime juice, lemon juice, olive oil, onion, cilantro, salt, and pepper.
2. Cut shrimp into bite-size pieces.
3. Add shrimp to the bowl. Toss well to coat.
4. Stir in diced mango.
5. Chill for 10 minutes. This helps blend the flavors before serving.

For more details, check out this Tropical Shrimp Salad recipe.