10 Trader Joe’s Stock the Freezer Recipes For $60

Family meal time is our favorite time of the day. And, thanks to our Trader Joe’s freezer stash we always have the makings of a homemade meal on hand.

Cooking dinner for our family has always been a top priority for me. In our early days of marriage I spent tons of time researching and prepping elaborate meals. Once our little guy came along, I simplified the meals and used naptime to prep dinner.

Now that our schedule is busier and naptime is devoted to other activities, I’m not too into those elaborate recipes… But, the importance of cooking a semi-homemade {mostly} healthy meal for my family still remains.

Are you and TJ on a first name basis?

Trader Joe’s intimidated me in the beginning! No labels or brands to recognize. Evvvveerryything looked delicious and tempting to buy. And so many items were way out of my usual realm. Shakshuka what??

But with trial and error, we now have a solid shopping list that regularly provides us with about 10 go-to meals on a moment’s notice. Hallelujah!

Below are recipes for 10 meals using ingredients in two categories: Trader Joe’s Freezer or Pantry Stock Items + Fresh Groceries (i.e. produce, meats, cheese, dairy). The fresh groceries are staples on our weekly shopping list – and I’m guessing they are on yours too!

The Trader Joe’s Stash can be purchased for around $60 (before tax) and each recipe calls for about $5 of other ingredients depending on where you shop. So if you do the math, that’s 10 semi-homemade meals for a family of 2-4 for $110!

So are you ready to save time (and money) in the kitchen so you can spend more time with your family? Let’s go!

1. Chicken Marsala

• Trader Joe’s Chicken Marsala Sauce $3.49
• Trader Joe’s Zucchini Spirals $2.99
• 2-4 Chicken Breasts

Season chicken with your choice of spices – I use salt, pepper, garlic, oregano and parsley. Heat 1 Tbsp of olive oil in skillet. Cook chicken 2-3 minutes on each side. Pour in jar of Trader Joe’s Chicken Marsala Sauce, bring to boil, then simmer 20 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Simultaneously prepare Trader Joe’s Zucchini Spirals according to package. The sauce has a few carbs, so we balance it out with the zoodles! Easy peasy comfort food!

Note: If not watching carbs, I serve over rice penne instead of zoodles. Also, the Marsala Sauce is seasonal – so when you see it, stock up!

2. Italian Meatballs

• Trader Joe’s Frozen Italian Meatballs $3.99
• Trader Joe’s Marinara Sauce $1.99
• Trader Joe’s Rice Penne Pasta $1.99

Self explanatory! These meatballs go into the oven frozen. While they’re cooking heat the sauce and prepare your choice of noodle. Layer noodles, meatballs and sauce in a bowl and top with cheese. Yum! I love this marinara sauce because it is full of flavor but low on sugar compared to other brands.

3. Chicken Enchiladas

• Trader Joe’s Chicken Enchiladas, Verde $6.99
• Chipotle Salad Kit (We love Trader Joe’s version!)

The ultimate quick but delicious meal! The Chicken Enchiladas are fully prepared, just transfer to a baking dish and heat according to package directions. Serve with a chipotle salad kit and you have a full and filling meal. I always have a package in the freezer for busy nights. Just move to the refrigerator in the morning and you’ll be ready for dinner time.

4. Pork Belly

• Trader Joe’s Fully Cooked Pork Belly $5.99
• Trader Joe’s Coconut Aminos $2.99
• Trader Joe’s Frozen Jasmine Rice $3.49
• Thinly Sliced Green Onions (optional)

This was a sample meal in the store one time and I am so grateful for it! In a large zip bag, marinate the pork belly in about 1/4-1/2 cup coconut aminos – enough for the surface to be covered. Refrigerate for at least one hour. Preheat oven to 375. Line a small baking dish with aluminum foil. Place pork belly and marinade in dish. Bake 20 minutes, then flip and bake 20 minutes on other side. Switch oven to Low Broil and flip every 10 minutes for 40 minutes (so twice on each side). The goal is to get a crispy almost black sear on all sides.

Remove from oven and transfer pork belly to a cutting board. Slice to about 1/4″ thickness with sharp knife. Microwave the Frozen Jasmine Rice while you are cutting. Layer rice, several pork belly slices, and any remaining cooking liquid in bowl then top with thinly sliced green onions. Y’all, this is so flavorful and delicious!!

Note: While this dish takes a bit longer to cook, your hands on time is very minimal. I set the timer for each “flip” and set mini goals around the house for each block of time, i.e. pick up certain rooms, fold a load of laundry, phone calls, bills. By the time dinner is ready, my to-do list is to-done, too! Also, Coconut Aminos is a soy sauce substitute – and even better in my opinion!

5. Open Face Burgers – 3 Ways

• Trader Joe’s Frozen Grassfed Angus Burgers $6.99
• 1. Breakfast: Fried Egg, Crispy Bacon, Mustard
• 2. Caprese: Slice of Fresh Mozzarella, Chopped Tomatoes, Thinly Sliced Basil, Drizzle of Balsamic Glaze
• 3. BLAT: Crispy Bacon, Thick Slice of Tomato, TJ Avocado’s Number Guacamole to Go, Romaine Lettuce, Mayo

• 

Open Face Burgers are my favorite low-carb easy dinner. We always have frozen burgers on hand, and the toppings vary with what the refrigerator holds! The above combinations are our favorite. One time I even made Joanna Gaines’ Cucumber Kimchi Salad for the top! So good! The toppings are so filling that these burgers stand alone as a meal – no side dish required.

Note: The Guacamole to Go is a MUST HAVE! I love avocado but never luck out with the timing – too firm or too far gone. These are pre-portioned and stay way longer in the refrigerator. I also love as a snack with sliced radishes. Try it before you call me crazy!

6. Greek Gyro Salad

• Trader Joe’s Fully Cooked Gyro Slices $3.99
• Romaine Lettuce
• Tomatoes
• Cucumber
• Homemade Tzatziki Sauce – 1 cup grated cucumber (no need to peel first!), 3/4 cup sour cream or plain greek yogurt, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon jarred minced garlic, 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice and 1/4 teaspoon salt.

This meal is so quick! First make the tzatziki and let refrigerate for one hour for the flavors to meld. Combine all ingredients and stir well. The gyro meat cooks quickly in under 10 minutes. Layer your salad with romaine lettuce, chopped tomatoes, sliced cucumbers and several slices of gyro meat. Add a large dollop of tzatziki as your dressing.

So fresh and flavor-filled.

7. Cauliflower Chicken Fried Rice

• Trader Joe’s Frozen Riced Cauliflower Stir Fry $3.99
• Trader Joe’s Coconut Aminos
• Minced Garlic
• Rotisserie Chicken

Cook Cauliflower Fried Rice according to package directions. Once most liquid has cooked out, add 1-2 Tablespoons Coconut Aminos, 1 teaspoon minced garlic and 1/3 cup diced rotisserie chicken. Continue cooking until you get a bit of a sear on the rice, and vegetables.

Note: Y’all, in a blind taste test I would not be able to distinguish this from the Take-Out Chinese place! My husband is not a fan of cauliflower rice so I save this for lunches during the week and nights he has to work late! I LOVE it!

8. Creamy Mushroom Chicken

• 1/2 bag Trader Joe’s Frozen Mushroom Medley $3.99
• Trader Joe’s Frozen Zoodles or Carrot Spirals $2.99
• Chicken or Boneless Pork Chops
• Butter
• Minced Garlic
• Half & Half

Sometimes you just need something creamy! Season (salt, pepper, garlic) and cook chicken or pork chops until cooked through. Remove from pan and set aside. In same pan (on medium high heat), melt 1 tablespoon butter. Add half a bag of Trader Joe’s Frozen Mushroom Medley and cook until mushrooms soften. Stir in 1 teaspoon minced garlic and cook for several minutes. Pour in 1/3 cup half and half, stirring continuously. Once combined and just begins to bubble, turn heat to low until sauce thickens jusssstttt a bit. Add chicken or pork back into pan and toss to coat. Serve over zoodles or carrot spirals – or rice pasta!

Note: People usually balk at cream sauces for health concerns, but hear me out… Most cream sauces have added flour as a thickener, this doesn’t. The cooking liquid from the mushrooms evens out the sauce requiring very little added half and half. One third cup half and half only has 100 calories, 7.5 grams of fat and 3 grams of carbs. Split over 4 servings that’s really not too bad! And since it feel like such a decadent meal you will feel full and satisfied!

9. Open Face Chicken Burgers

• Trader Joe’s Frozen Chili Lime Chicken Burgers $3.49
• Trader Joe’s Avocado’s Number Guacamole to Go
• Chipotle Hot Sauce (has to be chipotle!)
• Sour Cream
• Pico de Gallo (optional)
• Cilantro (optional)

These burgers were a lifesaver when I was in the midst of losing baby weight! Easy, satisfying and healthy. Cook burgers according to package directions. While cooking, make a chipotle sour cream – 1/4 cup sour cream with a couple dashes (or more) of chipotle hot sauce. Layer chicken burger, guacamole and dollop chipotle sour cream, plus fresh pico and cilantro if you have it on hand! You could serve this with black beans and rice or over a bed of shredded lettuce – but I always ate by itself! My little guy loves them, too.

Note: They do have a bit of kick! So if you’re not into spicy, maybe skip this recipe. For lunches, I cooked all the burgers at once so all I needed to do was microwave on the following days.

10. Cauliflower Gnocchi Caprese Pasta

• Trader Joe’s Frozen Cauliflower Gnocchi $3.99
• Chicken tenderloins or thighs for 2-4 people
• Balsamic vinegar
• Cherry Tomatoes
• Fresh Mozzarella, pearls or ball cut into small cubes
• Fresh Basil

This meal just feels fancy! Add chicken and balsamic vinegar (enough to coat) to a zip bag, let marinade for one hour in refrigerator. Then, cook in a skillet over medium heat with one tablespoon olive oil. Place just the chicken in the pan – discard the extra vinegar. Flip several times and watch closely towards the end as the balsamic will start to burn. Move around regularly and turn heat down if needed.

Cook Cauliflower Gnocchi simultaneously in a separate pan according to package “stovetop” directions. I heat olive oil and butter in a pan over medium heat, then pour in the gnocchi once its screaming hot. Evenly distribute the gnocchi and don’t touch until they’re fully cooked on the first side. Then, flip to sear the other side. If you move them before they’re cooked on the first side you’ll start to get a mush – don’t want that! Mine always need a bit more time than the package recommends.

Once gnocchi are cooked, add halved cherry tomatoes and cook just a few minutes for them to soften and warm. Turn heat off. Add in mozzarella pearls and thinly sliced basil. Toss to coat everything and add a pinch of sea salt and black pepper. Transfer immediately to a bowl before your mozzarella melts! Place balsamic chicken on top and you’re ready to dig in!

Note: Since the balsamic vinegar cooks quickly, I opt for smaller, thinner piece of chicken to ensure it easily cooks through.

Note 2: I hope my husband doesn’t read this blog because he had no idea this was cauliflower when I served it to him!! Hoping I can keep the secret going…

Meal Planning at it’s Finest

There you have it! Multiple meals of varying time requirements and tastebud variety. As I mentioned above, depending on how you shop for the Fresh Groceries (organic, bulk, etc.), all the ingredients for the 10 meals could be purchased for about $110. That’s amazing!

To save money as you’re meal planning, select recipes that include similar items for the week.

Final Notes

I am no food blogger and don’t intend to become one – there are SO many talented recipe creators out there! All of these recipes are intended for 2-4 people. I eyeball my quantities often… so I’m not sure exactly how many mozzarella pearls or cherry tomatoes I throw into the pasta! Also, when I say medium heat, I mean 6.5 on my stove. Low is 2.5 on my stove. Adjust accordingly!

In the end, my biggest hope is that these recipes save you time and money in the kitchen without sacrificing flavor and those special moments around the table as a family.

When we save time in doing the things on our responsibility list, we have more time to do the things that bring us joy.

And sometimes the stars align and we find ways to make our responsibilities the biggest highlight of our day. Happy Cooking!!

We love Trader Joe’s! What are your favorite freezer or pantry staples?

• 

• 

First Name

Email address:

Leave this field empty if you’re human: