These 10 Trader Joe's-Inspired Dinners Come Together in 20 Minutes or Less

Updated on 3/24/2019 at 10:20 AM

POPSUGAR Photography | Jenny Sugar

When you come home from work, you probably want to spend less time cooking and more time eating. But before you inhale an entire bag of corn chips with guac and call it dinner (not that there's anything wrong with that, but you deserve an actual home-cooked meal!), Trader Joe's has your back. Here are some quick, healthy, and satisfying meal ideas you can whip up in about 20 minutes, thanks to the amazing products you can find at your local Trader Joe's (many of them from the freezer section). If you keep your kitchen stocked, you can make one of these fast and delicious dinners ASAP.

Sweet Potato Chickpea Coconut Curry With Quinoa

Trader Joe's products you'll need:

1 jar Thai green curry simmer sauce
1 raw sweet potato
1 bag frozen bell peppers
1 can organic coconut milk
1 can chickpeas
1 bag organic spinach
1 package frozen fully cooked organic quinoa

Dice the sweet potato and add half the bag of frozen peppers to the curry simmer sauce with the chickpeas and coconut milk. Cook until the potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes. Add in some spinach, and serve over microwaved frozen quinoa. This chickpea coconut curry makes perfect lunch leftovers.

Roasted Tofu, Cauliflower, and Broccoli One-Pan Meal

Trader Joe's products you'll need:

2 bags of cut up raw broccoli and cauliflower
2 packages of organic baked tofu
1 bag shelled edamame

Cube the tofu and add to a sheet pan with the chopped veggies. Toss with olive oil, season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper, and roast for 20 minutes. This roasted tofu, cauliflower, and broccoli one-pan meal is easy, and the perfect high-protein meal if you're trying to eat more plant-based.

Cauliflower Rice and Beans

Trader Joe's products you'll need:

1 bag frozen riced cauliflower
1 can black beans
1 jar salsa
1 bag frozen bell peppers
1 bag frozen corn

Cook the beans with the salsa and add in some frozen corn and red peppers. Serve over warmed cauliflower rice and you've got a low-carb version of "rice" and beans.

Broccoli and Kale Crust Pizza

Trader Joe's products you'll need:

1 broccoli and kale pizza crust
1 jar tomato and basil marinara
1 package shredded mozzarella or vegan mozzarella style shreds
Toppings of your choice

When you really want pizza but you don't want to order an entire pie for yourself, make a small one at home using Trader Joe's broccoli and kale pizza crust. There are tons of toppings you can pick up from Trader Joe's, including frozen or fresh veggies and veggie sausage (or regular sausage to make this non-vegetarian).

Tofu Vegetable Fried Rice

Trader Joe's products you'll need:

2 packages riced cauliflower stir fry (or vegetable fried rice)
1 bag frozen organic broccoli
1 bag fire-roasted bell peppers and onions
2 packages organic baked tofu
1 bottle coconut aminos or soy sauce

This dinner comes together in 10 minutes! Just add cubed tofu, two cups of frozen broccoli, and two cups of frozen bell peppers (and any other veggies!) to the rice. Season with a little extra coconut aminos or soy sauce and it's perfect on nights when you want to order takeout.

Spaghetti with Meatballs

Trader Joe's products you'll need:

1 bag frozen meatless meatballs (they taste like the real thing!)
1 jar tomato basil marinara
1 package whole wheat spaghetti (or other pasta, or spaghetti squash)
1 container fresh mushrooms
1 bag frozen fire-roasted bell peppers and onion (or one fresh bell pepper)
1 package refrigerated lentils

Heat up Trader Joe's Meatless Meatballs (or regular meatballs if you want to make this non-vegetarian) in some tomato sauce with sliced mushrooms, diced peppers, and half a package of the refrigerated lentils. Season with cumin and serve over spaghetti squash or whole wheat pasta.

Soycutash Burritos

Trader Joe's products you'll need:

1 bag soycutash (it's just corn, edamame, and diced red peppers)
1 can black beans
1 package taco seasoning
1 box frozen fully cooked brown rice
1 package whole wheat flour tortillas
1 jar salsa
1 container guacamole

For a quick burrito filling, cook up a bag of this soycutash with black beans, and flavor with Trader Joe's taco seasoning. Microwave a bag of frozen cooked rice, and fill up a tortilla with the beans and rice. Add salsa and guac and this meal is ready in 15 minutes or less.

Mexican Tempeh Quinoa Salad

Trader Joe's products you'll need:

1 package tempeh
1 bag frozen fire-roasted peppers and onion
1 jar salsa
1 can black or pinto beans
1 bag frozen organic corn
1 box fully cooked quinoa or rice medley
1 package cherry tomatoes
1 avocado

Here's a delicious plant-based recipe if you've always wanted to try tempeh. Cube the tempeh and mix it with the frozen peppers and onion, half a jar of salsa, and cook for about 15 minutes. Add in the corn, and mix it all together with microwaved quinoa or rice. Add halved tomatoes and cubed avocado and enjoy!

Superfood Pilaf

Trader Joe's products you'll need:

1 package organic superfood pilaf
1 box frozen fully cooked quinoa
1 box high-protein veggie burgers
1 bag organic kale

This actually tastes great on its own, but you can beef it up by adding a bag of frozen cooked quinoa, two cooked and cut-up high-protein veggie burgers, and a few handfuls of chopped organic kale.

BBQ Jackfruit and Rainbow Slaw Sandwiches

Trader Joe's products you'll need:

1 can jackfruit
1 bottle BBQ sauce (Korean or Kansas Style)
1 bag shredded green and red cabbage
1 bag whole wheat hamburger buns

If you've never tried jackfruit, once cooked, it takes on the same texture and look of pulled pork. Cook drained and rinsed canned jackfruit with BBQ sauce. Add to a bun, top with shredded cabbage, and this BBQ jackfruit sandwich is hearty, flavorful, and filling!