10+ Trader Joe’s Recipes Dinner Ideas for Easy Weeknight Meals

Trader Joe’s offers unique ingredients that inspire delicious and easy dinners. You can create satisfying meals without spending hours in the kitchen.

Whether you want something quick or a bit more elaborate, Trader Joe’s has many options to suit your tastes.

Cooking with Trader Joe’s can make meal planning fun. Mix and match different items to add excitement to your dinner routine and stay within your budget.

With some creativity, you’ll enjoy making tasty meals for your family and friends.

1) Cilantro Lentil Tacos

Cilantro lentil tacos are a delicious and easy dinner option. Lentils provide protein and flavor.

Customize these tacos with your favorite toppings for a fresh meal. Start by cooking the lentils—Trader Joe’s sells pre-cooked lentils for convenience.

Mix in taco seasoning for extra flavor. Warm up corn tortillas and layer the lentil mixture inside.

Add diced bell peppers, fresh cilantro, and other toppings like salsa or avocado. Enjoy your tacos!

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon Trader Joe’s Olive Oil
• 1 can Trader Joe’s Lentils
• 2 teaspoons Trader Joe’s Taco Seasoning Mix
• 8 Trader Joe’s Corn Tortillas
• 1 cup diced Trader Joe’s Bell Peppers
• Fresh cilantro

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat (about 350°F or 175°C).
2. Add the lentils and taco seasoning. Stir well.
3. Warm the corn tortillas in a separate pan.
4. Fill tortillas with lentil mixture and toppings.
5. Serve and enjoy!

2) Yellow Curry Chickpeas

Yellow Curry Chickpeas make a tasty and easy dinner. Trader Joe’s Thai Style Yellow Curry Sauce adds great flavor.

This vegetarian recipe comes together in a few steps. Gather chickpeas, onion, and coconut milk for a creamy curry base.

Ingredients

• 1 can chickpeas
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 can coconut milk
• 1 jar Trader Joe’s Thai Style Yellow Curry Sauce
• Optional: fresh basil for garnish

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat a pan over medium heat (about 350°F or 175°C).
2. Add the chopped onion and sauté until soft, around 2-3 minutes.
3. Stir in the chickpeas and coconut milk.
4. Pour in the curry sauce and mix well.
5. Simmer for 5-10 minutes, then serve hot.

3) Smoked Salmon & Cream Cheese Bagels

Smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels make a quick and delicious dinner. This dish is light and easy to prepare.

Start with your favorite bagels and toast them. Spread cream cheese on each half.

Top with smoked salmon. Add red onion and capers for extra flavor.

Enjoy your bagels right away.

Ingredients

• 4 bagels
• 1 tub cream cheese
• 1 package smoked salmon
• 1/4 red onion, sliced
• Capers (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Toast the bagels until golden brown.
2. Spread cream cheese on each half of the bagel.
3. Add a slice of smoked salmon to each bagel half.
4. Top with red onion slices and capers if desired.
5. Serve immediately.

4) Double-Apple Oatmeal

Double-Apple Oatmeal is a filling dish for breakfast or a light dinner. Sweet apples and hearty oats create a simple, satisfying meal.

Gather rolled oats and apple juice for a creamy base. Fresh apples add bright flavor.

Bring apple juice to a boil. Add rolled oats and cook until soft, stirring occasionally.

Fold in diced apples and a touch of butter for richness. Top with nuts or cinnamon if you like.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups TJ’s Organic Unfiltered Apple Juice
• 1 cup TJ’s Rolled Oats
• 4 tablespoons TJ’s Salted Butter
• 1 TJ’s Apple (your choice)

Cooking Instructions

1. Boil the apple juice in a pot over medium heat.
2. Stir in the rolled oats and reduce the heat.
3. Cook until the oats are soft, about 5-7 minutes.
4. Add diced apples and butter, stirring until melted.

5) Sam’s Sweet Potato Soup

Sam’s Sweet Potato Soup is warm and comforting. It’s great for a cozy dinner at home.

Blend sweet potatoes with flavorful ingredients for a satisfying meal. You’ll need avocado oil, yellow onion, sweet potatoes, and vegetable broth.

Add pearled couscous for texture. Spice it up with taco seasoning if you like.

Heat oil in a pot and sauté diced onion until soft. Add cubed sweet potatoes and cooked couscous.

Pour in vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Simmer until the sweet potatoes are tender.

Blend the soup for a smooth texture or leave it chunky.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons avocado oil
• 1/2 jumbo yellow onion, diced
• 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 1/2 cup pearled couscous
• 6 cups vegetable broth

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat the avocado oil in a pot over medium heat.
2. Sauté the diced onion until soft.
3. Add the sweet potatoes and couscous.
4. Pour in the vegetable broth and bring to a boil.
5. Reduce the heat and let it simmer until sweet potatoes are tender.
6. Blend if desired, then serve warm.

6) Zhuzhed Brussels Sprouts

Zhuzhed Brussels sprouts are a simple way to elevate your dinner. Slice fresh Brussels sprouts thinly for great texture.

Toss them with olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper. Roast at 400°F (200°C) for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.

Sprinkle Parmesan cheese or drizzle balsamic glaze before serving. This adds extra flavor.

Ingredients

• Fresh Brussels sprouts
• Olive oil
• Garlic (minced)
• Salt
• Pepper
• Parmesan cheese (optional)
• Balsamic glaze (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Thinly slice the Brussels sprouts.
3. In a bowl, mix them with olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper.
4. Spread them on a baking sheet.
5. Roast for 20-25 minutes, stirring halfway.
6. Top with Parmesan or balsamic glaze before serving.

7) Easiest Crispy Chicken Parmesan

Easiest Crispy Chicken Parmesan is perfect for a quick dinner. You only need a few simple steps.

Take breaded chicken tenderloins from Trader Joe’s. Bake the chicken at 400°F (200°C) for 20 minutes.

Add marinara sauce and shredded parmesan cheese on top. Bake for another 10 minutes.

Serve over pasta or with veggies.

Ingredients:

• Breaded chicken tenderloins
• Marinara sauce
• Shredded parmesan cheese

Cooking Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Place breaded chicken tenderloins on a baking sheet.
3. Bake for 20 minutes.
4. Add marinara sauce and parmesan cheese on top.
5. Bake for an additional 10 minutes.

8) Truffle Ravioli with Brussels Sprouts

Truffle ravioli and Brussels sprouts make a delicious dinner. You can have this meal ready in about 15 minutes.

Boil truffle ravioli according to the package instructions. Sauté trimmed Brussels sprouts in olive oil until crisp-tender.

Combine the ravioli with the sautéed sprouts. Add grated Parmesan cheese for extra flavor.

Serve warm.

Ingredients

• 8 oz Trader Joe’s Truffle Ravioli
• 12 oz Brussels Sprouts
• Olive oil
• Parmesan cheese (for topping)

Cooking Instructions

1. Boil a pot of water and cook the truffle ravioli for about 4-6 minutes.
2. While the ravioli cooks, heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat.
3. Add Brussels sprouts and sauté for about 5-7 minutes until tender.
4. Drain the ravioli and mix it with the Brussels sprouts.
5. Top with grated Parmesan cheese before serving.

9) Garlicky Lentil Pasta with Veggies

Garlicky lentil pasta is a healthy dinner option you can make quickly. Use simple ingredients for a fast weeknight meal.

Cook lentil pasta according to the package instructions. While it cooks, heat olive oil in a pan.

Add minced garlic and your favorite vegetables, like bell peppers or spinach. Sauté the veggies until tender.

Combine the pasta with the veggie mixture. Add salt, pepper, and Parmesan cheese if you like.

Enjoy your meal!

Ingredients:

• 1 bag Trader Joe’s Red Lentil Pasta
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup chopped vegetables (like broccoli, bell peppers, or spinach)
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions:

1. Cook the lentil pasta according to the package instructions.
2. In a pan, heat olive oil over medium heat.
3. Add minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute.
4. Add chopped vegetables and cook until tender.
5. Combine the cooked pasta with the veggies.
6. Season with salt and pepper. Serve warm.

10) Caprese Pasta Salad

Caprese Pasta Salad is a delightful and easy dish to make. You can prepare it quickly using simple ingredients from Trader Joe’s.

It’s perfect for dinner or a light lunch.

Start with cooked cheese tortellini. Add fresh mozzarella balls and halved cherry tomatoes.

Drizzle balsamic glaze for extra flavor.

Mix in some basil for freshness. This adds a great touch to the dish.

You can serve it chilled or at room temperature.

Ingredients

• 10 oz Cheese Tortellini
• 8 oz Ciliegine Mozzarella
• 1-2 tbsp Balsamic Glaze
• 8 oz Mini Heirloom Tomatoes, halved
• 1 tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
• Fresh Basil, to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook the cheese tortellini by following the package instructions.

2. Drain the tortellini, then rinse it in cold water.

3. In a large bowl, add the tortellini, mozzarella, and tomatoes.

4. Drizzle balsamic glaze and vinegar over the mixture.

5. Mix gently. Add fresh basil before serving.