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.
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"I add the curry sauce to chicken plus one can of their 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 salad, a can of tuna packed in olive oil, a sack of baby potatoes, a jar 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 their french baguette, EVOO, balsamic vinegar, and marinated mozzarella balls." — Nicole Yi, assistant editor
"This is a tasty side that's perfect for bringing to a pot luck with a bag of pita chips or piling on top of their 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
