4 Easy and Tasty Trader Joe's Meals YOU Can Make
“Goes to Trader Joe’s for fun.”
So, You Want To Go To Trader Joe’s!
Get overwhelmed in Trader Joe’s but keep hearing and seeing all the amazing things that are hidden gems?
Want to start cooking yummy things but are hesitant because cooking a box of Rice Roni has already had some challenges in the past? ;)
(no judgement here!)
I have compiled a grocery list for 4 different meals AND recipes of what you’ll need to make some EASY and yummy meals… all that you can get from your local Trader Joe’s.
GROCERY LIST:
Chicken Sausage - lots of kinds/flavors to choose from but the Spicy Italian is my personal favorite
Turkey lunch meat
Shaved Beef
Chili Lime Chicken Patties
Frozen Corn
Frozen Organic Brown Rice (microwaves in 3 minutes)
1-2 packages of Gnocchi - regular or cauliflower
Vegan Kale, Cashew & Basil Pesto
Green Goddess Salad Dressing
Salad Kit - Caesar or Broccoli Kale Slaw
Salad Kit - Southwestern Chopped Salad
Cojita Cheese
1 bag of Mini Avocados
2 large Bell Peppers OR a package of minis
Cucumber (My favorite are the persian cucumbers or english cucumber)
Mango (optional)
Jelapeno’s, fresh or pickled (optional)
Spinach
Tomatoes (I prefer cherry tomatoes)
1-2 Broccoli heads
1 package of shredded Carrots
Sweet Chili Sauce
Soy Sauce
Sriracha
Shopping List Broken Down by department
(may vary from store to store)
Produce Section:
Salad Kit - Caesar or Broccoli Kale Slaw
Salad Kit - Southwestern Chopped Salad
1 package of shredded Carrots
1-2 heads of Broccoli
1 bag of Mini Avocados
2 large Bell Peppers OR a package of minis
Cucumber - persian or english
Mango (optional)
Jalapeno’s, fresh or pickled (can always make your own pickled jalapeños (optional)
Spinach
Tomatoes (I like cherry tomatoes!)
Green Goddess Salad Dressing
Meat Section:
Chicken Sausage - any but the Spicy Italian is my personal favorite
Shaved Beef
Sliced Turkey Deli Meat
Frozen Section:
1-2 packages of Gnocchi - regular or cauliflower
Corn kernels
Chili Lime Chicken Patties
Frozen Organic Brown Rice (microwaves in 3 minutes)
Dairy Section:
Vegan Kale, Cashew & Basil Pesto
Cojita Cheese
Jarred/Canned Aisle:
Sweet Chili Sauce
Soy Sauce
Sriracha
Before I get started, these recipes are not exact. I tried to write them down as best as possible, but tend to cook by eye or feel and I love veggies. So I tend to do more veggies and less meat, grain/carbs. Feel free to add more of something or take something out, make it suitable to your taste buds.
Side note: All of these will feed 2-4 people, easily, depending on portion size and appetite, if you decide to double up on veggies, etc.
RECIPES:
Chicken Sausage Gnocchi:
Ingredients:
Vegan Kale, Cashew & Basil Pesto
1 Package of Chicken Sausage (I LOVE the spicy Italian one, its usually my go to because the flavor is so good. But I haven’t had one that was bad, so any of them will be fine!)
1-2 packages of Gnocci, depending on what meat to gnocchi ratio you are wanting and how many people you are feeding. (I love the cauliflower one, but the regular one is good as well!)
Directions:
DO NOT cook the gnocchi by the directions on the back. It will turn out soggy. You have a few options:
Pan fry. Add some butter or olive oil to skillet (roughly 2 tablespoons). Place on medium heat and add frozen gnocchi in a single layer, trying to not over crowd. Cook for a few minutes until the bottom is crisp/no longer sticks to the bottom, flip and cook on the other side. Do in batches until it’s all cooked, adding butter/oil as needed.
Bake. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Toss or spray oil on gnocchi and place frozen gnocchi on pan (optional, line pan with parchment paper or a cooking mat). Be careful to not over crowd.
Air fry. Spray or toss in olive oil. Place frozen gnocchi in air fryer, be sure to not over crowd. Cook for roughly 10 minutes. Flip/shake, may need to add more oil, and then cook for another 10 minutes roughly.While gnocchi is cooking, slice chicken sausage (I usually do half circle shapes) and cook in skillet on stovetop.
Once gnocchi is cooked, add to skillet of the cooked sausage and add desired amount of pesto. Stir to combine and serve.
Serve with a side salad. Caesar or Broccoli Kale Slaw perhaps?
Southwestern Salad:
Adopted from Bre Sheppard, made my own adjustments
Makes 3-4 regular sized salads OR 2 large salads
Ingredients
1 Southwestern Chopped Salad Kit, divided into 2-4 servings
2-4 Chili Lime Chicken Patties (depending on much meat/protein you are wanting)
1 cup corn
1 package Organic Brown Rice, divided into 2-4 servings (depending on how much grains you are wanting.)
Green Goddess Salad Dressing
Cojita Cheese
1-2 mini Avocados.
1 large Bell Pepper cut into pieces
1/2 english cucumber cut into pieces or a couple persian cucumbers cut into pieces
Jalapeño slices (options)
Mango cut into pieces (optional)
Directions:
Add olive oil to skillet and cook patties on medium to medium-high heat. Using spoon to break into pieces as they cook. Once cooked through add frozen corn and warm.
Stir Green Goddess Salad Dressing into rice. I eyeball it. Start with a little and stir it in. I want the rice to be coated but not drenched.
Divide your salad mix into bowls and lightly toss with the dressing it came with.
Top the divided salad mix with rice and meat/corn mixture
Add desired toppings - the rest of the salad kit mixture (tortilla strips, cheese), avocado, bell pepper, cucumber, jalapenos, mango, cojita cheese, etc.
Mix together and enjoy. I recommend eating it with a spoon instead of a fork.
Rice Bowls:
Adopted from Bre Sheppard, made my own adjustments
3-4 regular sized bowls OR 2 large bowls
Ingredients:
1 package Organic Brown Rice, divided into 2-4 portions
Green Goddess Salad Dressing
Vegan Kale, Cashew & Basil Pesto
1 cup Spinach, cut into pieces
1-2 mini Avocados
Handful of Tomato halved
1 large Bell Pepper cut into pieces
1/2 english cucumber cut into pieces or a couple persian cucumbers cut into pieces
Package of Turkey lunch meat cut into pieces
Cojita cheese
Directions:
Divide rice into bowls and add some Green Goddess Salad Dressing and Vegan Kale, Cashew & Basil Pesto. Stir to combine, adding more dressing and pesto if needed.
Top rice with all your veggies: spinach, avocado, tomatoes, bell pepper, cucumber, turkey pieces and cojita cheese
Stir to combine and enjoy.
Beef Bowls
Adopted from Daryl Ann Denner, made my own adjustments
Ingredients:
Rice - you can make fresh white rice or grab another package of the Frozen Brown Rice you have on hand and use that!
Shaved Beef
1-2 heads of Broccoli cut into florets or roughly 3.5-5 cups of broccoli florets
1 package of Shredded Carrots or roughly 2-3 cups shredded carrots
1 jar Sweet Chili Sauce
2 tablespoons Sriracha, or more to taste
3 and 1/2 tablespoons Soy Sauce, or more to taste
chopped Peanuts
Directions:
If using fresh white rice start cooking that in rice maker or in pan on stovetop.
While rice is cooking add olive oil to pan and start to brown shaved beef over medium heat.
While meat is cooking, add broccoli florets to a different pan with a little water and steam. About half way through steaming broccoli add shredded carrots and cook broccoli and carrots until crisp tender (or loner if you prefer your veggies to be soft)
Once Meat is cooked through add the whole jar of Sweet Chili Sauce (I like sauce and flavor, okay. Haha), sriracha and soy sauce. Stir to combine and cook until it slightly cooks down/thickens up.
Spoon meat and sauce over rice.
Top with broccoli and carrots
Sprinkle chopped peanuts on top and serve.
Bookmark to refer back or print for ease!
Enjoy!
xo,
Alison
Outfit Details:
Stripe Romper: Size down! I got my true size and it was too big.
Strappy Sandals: If in between sizes go with the smaller. Perfect for those with narrow feet.
Felt Wide Brim Hat: Such good quality for the amazing price. One size but can be slightly adjusted.
