After a long day of classes or work, my relaxation routine often includes a trip to Trader Joe’s. The colorful chalkboards and cheap prices are a college student’s dream, and I’m not afraid to admit that I’d buy something solely because the sign in front of it is pretty. You can usually see me looking at a recipe on my phone and scouring the aisles for ingredients, but sometimes I beeline to the frozen section and clear the shelves. When I don’t feel like cooking, I can always count on these 10 frozen foods from Trader Joe’s:
- Thai green curry
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Starting off strong, this is by far my favorite frozen entree. I gotta give it to Trader Joe’s, it says “authentic” on the box and it really does taste like Thai takeout. Did I mention it’s vegan too?
- veggie fried rice
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There are a lot of fried rice options to choose from, but the veggie is my go-to. You can always add things like chicken or shrimp to it, but my favorite way to eat it is with soy sauce, a little sesame oil and a lot of sriracha.
- chicken tikka masala
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There is nothing more you need to complement your meal when you’re having Trader Joe’s chicken tikka masala. It’s spicy, flavorful, creamy and an all-around great choice when cooking is the last thing you want to do. It’s also a fan favorite munchie food in my apartment, so rest assured that it’s gone through extensive testing in order to prove itself that it’s one of the best.
- Thai shrimp gyoza
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Although it’s unclear what exactly makes these dumplings Thai, they’re a great quick and easy meal for a last-minute dinner. For the perfect dipping sauce, mix soy sauce, chili crunch or chili oil, rice vinegar and green onions, and enjoy.
- matcha green tea ice cream
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All matcha lovers definitely need to give this a try, it’s just that good. Green tea was a staple ice cream flavor in my hometown, so this Trader Joe’s treat also reminds me of the days when my brother and I would beg our parents to take us to the ice cream shop across town.
- classic lemon bars
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My late-night cravings more often than not include Trader Joe’s lemon bars. Even when frozen, the tart lemon custard and buttery shortbread are a perfect consistency and pair the contrasting flavors well, just like any freshly baked bars would.
- steamed pork and ginger soup dumplings
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I distinctly remember my freshman roommate stocking our tiny Rieber Hall dorm fridge with boxes of these dumplings, and you know what, she was so right for that. They’re a great comfort food on a cold day and always hit the spot.
- ricotta and lemon zest ravioli
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While more of a refrigerated food than a frozen one, I always make sure to snag this ravioli on my Trader Joe’s runs. All it takes is a few minutes in boiling water, maybe a quick toss in a pan with butter and garlic, and you have a pasta dish with the perfect mix of sweet and savory.
- burrata, prosciutto, and arugula flatbread
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You can get a frozen pizza from pretty much every grocery store, but this one takes the cake. Even though it requires a little more prep than a normal pizza, this flatbread is worth the extra effort and is amazing with or without the prosciutto. Feel free to eat the whole thing in one big slice.
- Malabari paratha
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Sometimes all I’ll eat is this bread and hummus and call it a day. Paratha is the easiest thing to heat up and is a fantastic vessel for whatever sauce you prefer; make Trader Joe’s your one-stop-shop and pick up their avocado tzatziki dip or Mediterranean-style hummus while you’re at it.
When cooking is too time-consuming and delivery is too expensive, Trader Joe’s frozen foods is the obvious third option. After months of letting my groceries go to waste and eating these single-serving meals, I am confident in my refined Trader Joe’s palette. The next time you want a quick and easy meal, let this list guide you and I promise it won’t let you down.