How can you hack a delicious homemade meal in minutes without resorting to a frozen entree? We asked our editors to share their tips for fast, easy, and tasty dinners thrown together with a handful of Trader Joe's products, so you can become an even savvier cook on busy weeknights. With a combination of fresh and prepped ingredients from the affordable grocery brand, we've come up with some pretty ideal dinners that can easily be thrown together after work. From spruced-up soup to cheap chopped salad and spicy taco bowls, these ideas will inspire you to skip the takeout.
"I add the curry sauce to chicken plus one can of its coconut milk. Once cooked, I shred up the chicken, add cooked potatoes, and then put it over rice, and it tastes better than takeout." — Shannon Vestal Robson
"The Crispy Crunchy Mochi Rice Nuggets make the perfect croutons, and they don't get soggy. Also, when the soup is warming up, I add in some garlic powder, black pepper, and a pinch of sugar — crispy herbs would be good, too!" — Jae Payne
"Grab a bag of mixed greens, a can of tuna packed in olive oil, a sack of baby potatoes, jars of kalamata olives and cornichons, and a bottle of vinaigrette for a tasty, healthy, cheap, and quick dinner." — Angela Elias
"With a hand-held spiralizer, you can quickly make your own zucchini noodles while you heat up the bolognese. Top it off with red pepper flakes and shredded parmesan for a yummy, carb-free dinner." — AE
"Use balela beans as a great topping to a salad (along with the dressing in the container) with just romaine, cherry tomatoes, and feta cheese. Amazingly tasty salad in a pinch." — Lauren Hendrickson
"I have to stop myself from cooking this butternut squash soup more than once a week. Use chicken broth, diced butternut squash, a can of coconut milk, a jar of harissa (instead of curry paste), a tube of ginger purée, onions, garlic, and frozen naan." — AE
"I like to sauté Trader Joe's cauliflower rice in olive oil and garlic, add a can of black beans, and top a bowl of the mixture with TJ's shredded Mexican cheese, a fried egg, and hot sauce! Protein-packed dinner on the cheap." — Erin Cullum
"I love putting together this easy plate when I don't feel like cooking. The only preparation required is cooking some asparagus over the stove top with olive oil. The rest I throw onto a large board or plate: prosciutto, asparagus, slices of french baguette, EVOO, balsamic vinegar, and marinated mozzarella balls." — Nicole Yi
"This is a tasty side that's perfect for bringing to a potluck with a bag of pita chips or piling on top of its frozen naan bread. Dump a package of steamed lentils, feta cheese, and a few spoonfuls of TJ's jarred buschetta mix and combine in a bowl. You can also add cherry tomatoes and a bag of arugula." — AE
"Hatch chili salsa mixed with a little yogurt and olive oil makes a perfect salad dressing for a taco salad." — LH