29 Trader Joe's Foods That Make Eating a Low-Carb Diet So Much Easier
Navigating a low-carb diet can be tricky, but when you're pressed for time in the kitchen, these foods from Trader Joe's can help. Of course, there are lots of reasons to shop for fresh foods and make your meals from scratch — less sodium and fewer additives, for starters — but in the real world, sometimes the only thing keeping you out of the drive-through is a stop in the frozen foods aisle. Fortunately, Trader Joe's has a fairly large selection of low-carb items that make preparing meals at home much simpler. From grab-and-go soups to frozen stir-fry, you'll find something to sustain you on this list.
Prices and products may vary by Trader Joe's location.
— Additional reporting by Haley Lyndes and Lauren Harano
Trader Joe's Cauliflower Gnocchi
If you haven't tried Trader Joe's Cauliflower Gnocchi, you're in for a treat. The Italian knockoff is such a good replacement for regular gnocchi (which is packed with carbs) and makes a great dinner smothered in a creamy tomato sauce. Per serving, Trader Joe's Cauliflower Gnocchi contains 22 grams of net carbs.
Trader Joe's Organic Green Vegetable Foursome
Because one green is not enough, Trader Joe's combines broccoli, peas, green beans, and zucchini for an ultrahealthy medley that only contains three grams of net carbs per serving.
Trader Joe's Spicy Thai Eggplant With Thai Basil
This quick vegan meal contains 14 grams of net carbs per serving, and goes great with cauliflower rice. Just be warned: it really is spicy.
Trader Joe's Cauliflower Gratin
Your mouth will water at the thought of this Trader Joe's Cauliflower Gratin. Complete with a creamy cheese sauce and topped with parmesan and herbed breadcrumbs, you'd think this is super high in carbohydrates, but per serving the cheesy dish only has 10 grams.
Trader Joe's Veggie Burger
Veggie burgers can be hit or miss, both taste-wise and carb-wise, but this Trader Joe's Veggie Burger is a hit. The sweet Thai chili sauce is downright delicious, and per patty, it only contains 17 grams of net carbs.
Trader Joe's Chile Lime Chicken Burgers
Ideal for veggie wraps, scrambles, or eaten as is, the Trader Joe's Chile Lime Chicken Burgers are undeniably good — and contain only three grams of net carbs!
Trader Joe's Mashed Cauliflower
Missing carb-heavy mashed potatoes? Try this mashed cauliflower instead from the frozen section. At only seven grams of carbs per serving, it's made with butter, cream, salt, pepper, and garlic and is ready in minutes.
Trader Joe's Soycutash
This may just be a bag of plain corn, edamame, and diced red pepper, but it's only 11 grams of net carbs and makes a quick burrito filling! We suggest pairing it with Trader Joe's new Jicama Wraps over a regular wrap to keep it extra low carb.
Trader Joe's Channa Masala
Chickpeas cooked in a spiced tomato sauce with no preservatives or unnecessary ingredients makes this vegetarian dish reminiscent of restaurant quality — and it only has 19 grams of net carbs.
Trader Joe's Riced Cauliflower Stir Fry
Between the flavor and the vibrant colors, you'd think you made this stir fry from scratch. Plus, with only seven grams of carbohydrates per serving, you can't beat it.
Trader Joe's Cauliflower Pancakes
Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and with only 21 grams of carbohydrates per serving, Trader Joe's Cauliflower Pancakes are a worthy breakfast option.
Trader joe's Shrimp Seafood Burgers
If you want a light, easy, and flavorful lunch, Trader Joe's Shrimp Seafood Burgers are it, with only one gram of net carbs per serving.
Trader Joe's Shakshuka Starter
Trader Joe's Shakshuka Starter can be found in the frozen breakfast section, and is a nice low-carb staple (only 11 grams of net carbs!) to have in your freezer.
Trader Joe's Carrot and Pea Vegetable Patties
Place these vegetable patties on top of a salad, in a wrap, or eat them alone for a quick snack! Each patty contains six grams of carbohydrates per serving.
Trader Joe's Kettle Cooked Chicken Soup
For a ready-made meal (work lunch, perhaps?), drop by the refrigerated section for a cup of this veggie-packed soup. A one-cup serving has just five grams of net carbs.
Trader Joe's Meatless Breakfast Patties
If you're cutting carbs as a vegetarian or vegan, you'll love these meatless patties — they come in at just two grams of net carbs, with no sugar.
Trader Joe's Riced Cauliflower Bowl
Who said frozen meals have to be boring? This delicious vegan bowl is made with chickpeas, sweet potatoes, tofu, roasted onions, and tahini sauce, and it'll cost you roughly 20 net carbs if you eat the the whole thing.
Trader Joe's Hi-Protein Veggie Burger
These frozen veggie burgers are beloved by Trader Joe's regulars — and for good reason. In addition to 26 grams of protein, each patty contains only eight grams of net carbs.
Trader Joe's Turkey Meatballs
For a quick weeknight meal, toss these fully cooked turkey meatballs into a bowl of whole-grain pasta or zucchini noodles (TJ's has those, too!).
Trader Joe's Zucchini Spirals
Zucchini noodles are a low-carb staple, but if they sometimes go bad before you can cook them, try buying them frozen.
Trader Joe's Carrot Spirals
They're not quite as virtuous as zucchini, but these carrot spirals are still only 6 grams of net carbs per serving, and the perfect substitute for pasta.
Trader Joe's Mahi Mahi Burgers
It doesn't get much better than these seafood burgers, which contain only one gram of net carbs per patty.
Trader Joe's Cioppino Seafood Stew
This tasty stew is packed with seafood — mussels, cod, shrimp, scallops — and in spite of the tomato base, a serving contains just 10 grams of net carbs.
Trader Joe's Misto Alla Griglia
For a quick side, try this mix of grilled eggplant, zucchini, and red pepper. A serving — which is about a quarter of the package — is only three grams of net carbs.
Trader Joe's Organic Superfood Pilaf
Get your whole grains and veggies in one delicious side, with this mix of quinoa, sweet potatoes, kale, and carrots. The starchy veg and grain bring it to 22 net grams of carbs per serving, but that won't matter when you serve it alongside a simple protein.
Trader Joe's Salmon Burgers
Whether you serve it on whole-grain bread or a pile of greens, the salmon patty alone will cost you only two grams of net carbs.
Trader Joe's Greek Style Chicken
As packaged entrees go, this one — made with orzo, spinach, and feta cheese — is pretty tasty. Just make sure you have room in your daily budget, as it contains 25 grams of net carbs.
Trader Joe's Shrimp Stir-Fry
Like any stir-fry, this one contains some sugars — four grams, to be exact — but it's flavorful and ideal for a busy weeknight.
Trader Joe's Palak Paneer
The cheese adds some saturated fat, but a serving contains only four grams of net carbs (including some sugars), so it's worth adding to your cart when you're craving Indian food.