The kitchen is one of my happy places. Nothing makes me feel more accomplished or snaps me out of a funk faster than bringing a delicious meal to life, but carving out time to cook is often easier said than done. Quite frankly, whipping up a dish from scratch typically requires a lot of time and energy, two things I often lack during a busy workweek. So, when I’m in a pinch but don’t want to sacrifice a home-cooked meal, I rely on a few Trader Joe’s shortcuts that are prepped and ready to toss into a recipe. From pre-cooked proteins to heat-and-serve sides, Trader Joe’s has so many products to help cut down on cooking time.
Whether you’re pressed for time or just want to spend less time in the kitchen, these Trader Joe’s items can help. Keep scrolling for 15 Trader Joe’s shortcuts that’ll save you time this week in the kitchen.
1. Organic Jasmine Rice
Jasmine rice is one of the few foods that works with virtually anything you want to serve it with. Whether you’re making stir-fry, burrito bowls, or a side for your protein of choice, having this frozen option from TJ’s on hand is such a big time-saver. Three minutes in the microwave is all you need for fluffy, ready-to-serve rice.
2. Chicken Meatballs
Whether you are whipping up spaghetti or need a protein to serve over rice, these chicken meatballs can be used however you like. They’re fully cooked and ready to reheat, so you can skip the hassle and mess of rolling meatballs yourself. Pop them in the microwave or air fryer before tossing with your favorite sauce for an easy, foolproof dinner.
3. Stir Fry Veggie Blend
The key to any good stir-fry is a diverse mix of veggies. However, washing, chopping, and cooking several individual vegetables requires a lot of time and effort. Luckily, TJ’s Stir Fry Veggie Blend comes washed and ready to use with broccoli florets, napa cabbage, bok choy, and snow peas. I recommend tossing these veggies with olive oil in a skillet to enhance the flavor before adding your favorite stir-fry sauce and protein.
4. Grilled Lemon Pepper Chicken Breast
Chicken is great and all, but cooking it through fully can be time-consuming and tricky to get right. Thankfully, this ready-to-eat chicken breast lets you skip that annoying step. Better yet, the lemon pepper flavor is super refreshing and pairs beautifully on top of a classic Cobb salad or alongside a pasta primavera.
5. Spicy Mexican Style Riced Cauliflower
If you’re cutting back your carb intake, this is the perfect item for you. With tomatoes, bell peppers, jalapeños, and riced cauliflower, this frozen Trader Joe’s item makes a delicious base for taco bowls or a tasty side dish for blackened salmon. Be warned, though: It does pack a bit of a kick. But if you can handle the heat, you’ll be obsessed.
6. Steamed Lentils
Lentils are a delicious source of vegetarian protein that works well in soups, stews, salads, and more. And if you want to skip the hassle of soaking and cooking them yourself, grab a package of these steamed lentils from Trader Joe’s, which are completely cooked and can be eaten hot or cold. Heat them up with some seasonings and serve alongside rice or crusty bread, or enjoy them cold and tossed into a salad.
7. Fully Cooked Uncured Bacon
Bacon is an amazing food to have on deck because it pairs well with just about anything. You can throw it into pasta, serve it in a sandwich or burger, or eat it alongside eggs for breakfast—and that’s just scratching the surface. But alas, cooking bacon takes a long time and is often messy AF (not to mention that your entire house will smell like bacon afterward). This is why Trader Joe’s fully cooked bacon makes such a great kitchen shortcut. It saves you time, energy, and cleanup, and, most importantly, keeps you stocked up on this universal food item.
8. Multigrain Blend with Vegetables
I always keep frozen vegetables stocked in the freezer, and this frozen medley takes my usual time-saving trick another step further. It’s chock-full of nutrients thanks to the variety of veggies and grains. While it obviously works great as a side dish, it’s also the perfect base for salads or grain bowls.
9. Sriracha Baked Tofu
Like all tofu, this version from TJ’s is jam-packed with nutrients and protein. What makes it really stand out, though, is the flavor. While it’s obviously spicy, it also has a subtle sweetness and makes a bold addition to any meal. Crisp it up in the air fryer or in a pan on the stove before using it for tacos, rice bowls, stir-fries, or curry dishes.
10. Asparagus Risotto
Risotto is incredibly creamy and delicious, which is why it’s such a shame that it’s so tedious to make. With this find from the Trader Joe’s frozen section, however, you can whip up a restaurant-quality risotto in seven minutes flat. Heat it up in a pan, top it with a protein of your choosing, and you’re good to go!
11. Gluten Free Breaded Shrimp
This gluten-free take on traditional coconut shrimp is rich with flavor. More importantly, the shrimp are pre-breaded and cooked, so they’re ready to be used in a variety of ways. My personal favorites include crisping up the shrimp in a frying pan before serving it over salad or as the filling for tacos. These also taste great on their own, dunked in sauce, or in a bowl with rice and veggies.
12. Roasted Potatoes with Peppers and Onions
Roasting potatoes to perfection is no easy feat, and the prep time alone is enough to disqualify this dish from weeknight dinners. What I love about this Trader Joe’s shortcut is that it not only eradicates the long prep time, but the addition of peppers and onions makes this side dish even more flavorful. These crispy potatoes pair phenomenally with steak, but I also love serving them alongside white fish or salmon.
13. Sliced Roast Turkey Breast
Most of us associate turkey with Thanksgiving, but I believe this protein should be used year-round. Not only is it a great lean protein choice for a sandwich (turkey BLT, anyone?), but it also pairs well with nearly every side dish you can imagine.
14. Cooked Beets
Beets might have impressive nutritional benefits, but taking the time to wash and prep them is a task most of us can live without—which is where this shortcut comes in. No matter what recipe you add them to (might I suggest a salad or grain bowl?), these ready-to-eat cooked beets will add tons of flavor and give you a healthy dose of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
15. Grass Fed Beef Sirloin Roast
Typically, pre-cooked sirloin roasts leave a lot to be desired, namely because they’re often overcooked, dry, and lacking in flavor. This Trader Joe’s option has none of those issues. It’s cooked to perfection, and the fact that it’s pre-sliced saves you even more effort.
Arianna Reardon, Contributing Writer
Arianna is a freelance writer and journalist, and the self-proclaimed hot and dirty martini queen. At The Everygirl, Arianna uses her authenticity and relatability to empower, inspire, and motivate women everywhere. Whether she’s writing about sex and relationships, career and finance, beauty and fashion, wellness, or home and living, Arianna’s passion shines through in all her work.
