Trader Joe's Frozen Foods So Good They Have a Cult Following (2024)

Yes, the Trader Joe’s Orange Chicken made our list of favorite frozen food to buy

How many times have you wanted to just order takeout instead of cooking something on a busy weeknight? Probably more than a few. Rather than stress over preparing a meal from scratch, why not rely on some of the best Trader Joe’s frozen food? These meals, snacks, and sides are quick, simple, and easy on the wallet. Best of all, there’s something for every palate, even your pickiest eaters (Check our top Trader Joe’s food for picky eaters, too!).

Mac and Cheese Bites

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It's the best of both worlds with Trader Joe's Mac and Cheese bites: bite-size bites of cheesy goodness and a crispy crust. With seven types of cheese that include Cheddar, Havarti, Swiss, Gouda, Cream Cheese, Monterey Jack and Pecorino Romano for good measure, the whole family will meet their dairy quota for the day, all while enjoying the updated panko-style breading.

Cost: $3.99

Japanese Style Fried Rice

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Whether you make this rice your main meal or a delicious side, you can't go wrong. Packed with edamame, tofu bits and carrots, the flavorful entree is made even better with two tablespoons of TJ's toasted sesame seed oil.

Cost: $4.99

Pork Gyoza Pot Stickers

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This bag of potstickers is your future dinner in a flash. We prefer tossing them in with a bag of frozen vegetables and some of Trader Joe's Gyoza sauce for the perfect one-pot dinner.

Cost: $2.99

Related:16 Easy Trader Joe’s Recipes That Take 15 Minutes or Less

Outside-In Stuffed Gnocchi

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There's a reason why these made our list of the best Trader Joe's frozen food. A twist on the classic, Outside-In Stuffed Gnocchi has sauce and cheese on the inside! The wheat, flour potato pillows contain tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese and can be enjoyed with a simple salad. Kid and adult approved!

Cost: $2.99

Mixed Mushroom and Spinach Quiche

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Great for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, this quiche—packed with Swiss cheese, spinach, and two kinds of mushrooms—just hit freezer shelves straight from France. The sweet flower shape of its real butter and wheat flour crust is pretty darling, too. Your tot can don the corresponding aluminum pan as a hat for some entertainment while this dish cooks—it needs 30 minutes in the oven. You’ll find it right next to their Broccoli and Cheddar Cheese and Quiche Lorraine mainstays.

Cost: $2.49

Mini Beef Tacos

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If the Shopkins sensation is any indication, kids absolutely love tiny things—so give mini foods a try. These tacos come in beef or chicken varieties and are also easy to load up with nutritious goodness like fresh tomatoes, shredded cheddar cheese, or Trader Joe’s reduced-guilt chunky guacamole!

Cost: $4.29

Related:20 Things from Trader Joe’s That Picky Eaters Will Love

Parmesan Pastry Pups

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We all have those nights when dinner needs to be fast and fun. Thankfully, our cries have been heard with this spin on the perennial kid favorite—the hot dog, but in a mini form. The kids will love watching these pups “puff” up in the oven. Then try widening culinary palates with a variety of dipping options, from ketchup to garlic aioli.

Cost: $5

Gluten-Free Cheese Pizza

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Food allergies are more common than ever these days it seems, and thankfully so are food options that everyone can enjoy, like this classic cheese pizza with a nutritious cauliflower crust. But the kids don’t have to be gluten-free to absolutely love this version of pizza night. It even made the list of 50 of the best Trader Joe’s products in store history.

Cost $4.99

Chicken Burrito Bowl

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Healthy and hearty come to mind with this version of popular food bowls. It makes an easy meal unto itself with tons of seasoned chicken, brown rice, red quinoa, black beans, bell peppers, and cheddar cheese. You can also add it to tortillas for easy tacos or a real-deal burrito!

Cost: $3.49

Mini Vegetable Samosas

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Trader Joe’s doesn’t rest on its food laurels. These vegetable samosas are chock full of peas, carrots, potatoes, lentils, onions, and Indian spices. So, yes, these do have a bit of a kick, perfect for kids who aren’t afraid to spice things up. These also pair deliciously with their Mango Ginger Chutney and other ready-to-heat side dishes.

Cost: $3.49

Related:26 of the Healthiest Things You Can Buy at Trader Joe’s

Party-Size Mini Meatballs

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Right when you think there isn’t anything to make for dinner, you'll remember there are meatballs in the freezer and a bag of pasta or a cup of rice ready to boil. With a stash of these minis on hand, it’s also easy to heat up a portion for a side of protein whenever a little diner needs it. Pair it with Trader Joe’s Island Soyaki for an easy dinner sensation. Toothpicks always make fun mealtime props for kids, too.

Cost: $4.99

Black Bean & Cheese Taquitos

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Vegetarian, but still rich in iron and protein, these taquitos make a well-rounded finger food for lunch, dinner, or linner. They work great with sour cream, green onions, and salsa, but also pack enough flavor all on their own if your kids usually take a hard pass on toppings (There’s a tasty chicken version as well.).

Cost: $3.69

Mandarin Orange Chicken

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Considering this is THE most popular Trader Joe’s frozen food item for the last several years, chances are you may already know and love this freezer favorite. You fortify it with broccoli, peas, and green peppers. Vegetarians and vegans can also rejoice because Chicken-Less Mandarin Orange Morsels are back in the freezer aisle as well.

Cost: $4.99

Chocolate Croissants

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Breakfast anyone? These flaky croissants will have you feeling major French vibes, with just the perfect amount of chocolate. Put out the night before to rise overnight, then toss in the oven before enjoying on the go.

Cost: $4.99

Gone Berry Crazy!

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Don’t forget about dessert! How do strawberry halves drenched in dark chocolate sound? These sweet treats are brand new and already a chilly craze for summer days. The best part may be that you can eat them straight from the freezer.

Cost: $2.29

All photos: Courtesy of Trader Joe’s

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Trader Joe's Frozen Foods So Good They Have a Cult Following (2024)

FAQs

Trader Joe's Frozen Foods So Good They Have a Cult Following? ›

Trader Joe's has a cult-like following, thanks to the way the company seems to make grocery shopping easier.

Why does Trader Joe's have a cult following? ›

Trader Joe's has a cult-like following, thanks to the way the company seems to make grocery shopping easier.

Does Trader Joe's have unhealthy food? ›

Plenty of its offerings are über-indulgent — meaning they come with high levels of fat, sugar, and sodium. Even the most innocuous-looking Trader Joe's product may be surprisingly dense in calories. You can always check the label of an item before adding it to your Trader Joe's basket.

What is Trader Joe's biggest seller? ›

The #1 Overall award went to Chili & Lime Flavored Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips.

Is Trader Joe's all healthy food? ›

Trader Joe's is a great place to stock up on staples like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, lean proteins, and healthy fats. With low prices and attractive packaging, it's also easy to grab certain items that may not be nutritionally sound.

What is the controversy with Trader Joe's? ›

In 2020, a Change.org petition viewed by NBC News urged the company to rename its product lines with culturally specific labels like Trader José's (Mexican food) and Trader Ming's (Asian cuisine), gathering thousands of signatures in the process, according to the outlet.

What is hidden at Trader Joe's? ›

If you're like us, and you didn't know, Trader Joe's actually hides stuffed animals all around its stores. Once we let that news sink in, we were on a mission to figure out why.

What are some weaknesses of Trader Joe's? ›

Limited product variety: One weakness of Trader Joe's is its limited product variety compared to other grocery store chains. While the company is known for its curated selection of unique and innovative products, its offerings may only meet the needs of some customers.

Are Trader Joes products high quality? ›

Trader Joe's private label products promise great quality fare for exceptional, everyday prices. We taste everything before we put our name on it and offer only what we feel is extraordinary.

Why is Trader Joe's so addictive? ›

When you go into a large grocery store you have so many choices… Too many for most people to make an informed decision. Trader Joe's pares that down for you so it makes it easier to navigate the store. Another big thing that attracts people is that they cater to special diets, from gluten free to vegetarian to kosher.

Who is Trader Joe's main competitor? ›

Trader Joe's competitors include H E B, Whole Foods Market, Safeway, Sprouts Farmers Market and NatureBox. Trader Joe's ranks 2nd in Product Quality Score on Comparably vs its competitors.

Why does everyone like Trader Joes so much? ›

She mentioned the outgoing, charismatic employees who are encouraged to strike up conversations, its quirky hand-drawn signs, its low prices, its unique seasonal products, and its fun, laid-back atmosphere that helps it to stand out from the hustle and bustle of other popular supermarket chains.

What is Trader Joe's reputation? ›

Per the intel, Trader Joe's scored a 64 percent popularity rating in the survey, which is actually a point higher than its popularity rating at the end of 2022. Popularity, as defined by YouGov in relation to this data, is the “percent of people who have a positive opinion of a grocery store.”

Who owns Trader Joe's? ›

Trader Joe's is owned by families that also own part of Aldi Nord. Trader Joe's and Aldi Nord operate independently. Trader Joe's has no business or ownership relationship with Aldi Sud (including Aldi U.S.).

What makes Trader Joe's so popular? ›

From its focus on sustainability and customer service to its affordable pricing and liberal position on refunds, Trader Joe's is one of the most popular grocery store chains in the United States for a reason.

Does Trader Joe's make its own food? ›

Why is that, you ask? Well, the short answer is that Trader Joe's cuts out the middleman entirely by working directly with some of the biggest food manufacturers across the world, who then make products under Trader Joe's specifications (down to price, flavor, and size) for its store brand.

Does Costco have a cult following? ›

Long lasting low prices on classic Costco items

Costco's strategies for keeping its “cult” following also apply to the food court and prepared food. Costco has kept its hot-dog-and-beverage combo for $1.50 since 1985. Similarly, the store continues to sell the rotisserie chickens at $4.99.

What does Trader Joe's call their employees? ›

Crew. As a member of the Crew, you do a little of everything—and handle a lot. So does everyone along with you. From running the register, to stocking shelves, to creating a beautiful display; all while making sure that every customer has a fun, friendly and informative shopping experience.

What does Trader Joe's believe in? ›

Trader Joe's believes every customer should have access to the best prices on the best products every day. To consistently deliver value: We buy direct from suppliers whenever possible, we bargain hard to get the best price, and then pass the savings on to you.

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