Try Trader Joe’s Frozen Dinners + Pictures

• As part of an ongoing series, I reviewed 15 of Trader Joe’s frozen entrées to find the best ones.
• I loved the Hatchchile chicken wraps, garlic and pesto pizza, as well as mushroom ravioli.
• Some meals, such as the Cuban-style rice bowl or pad thai left much to be desired.

Trader Joe’s large selection of frozen foods is a lifesaver.

However, I tend to be picky about what instant meals I purchase. So I decided to review 15 of Trader Joe’s frozen entrées.

Keep reading to see which options will I be purchasing again and which I’ll avoid next time.

Riced-cauliflower bowls are a great choice because they combine filling, fresh ingredients.

This veggie bowl is a combination of sweet potatoes, sweet potatoes, and chickpeas. It also includes seasoned tofu and sweet potato.

Every bite was a sensory overload of flavors and textures.

The star of the show was the vegetables, without them feeling too wholesome. However, the meal did not taste like frozen convenience food.

The vegetables and tofu were perfectly cooked with a crispy outside and tender middle. You could easily remove them from the tray to prove that they had been roasted in the oven.

Each flavor was perfect for the other.

The soy-like marinade for the tofu was delicious, especially when paired with mild cauliflower rice. The slightly nutty and sesame flavors of the tahini sauce were a great contrast to the sweet potatoes. The onion and spiced chickpeas gave the dish a subtle kick.

This could make a great filling in a wrap with a little tzatziki.

The kale could have been omitted from this dish, as it did not add any flavor or seemed out of place. It was very little that I liked.

VERDICT:This bowl is the perfect vegan option for your dinner rotation. It’s not pasta or fried.

A side dish that would be easy to prepare is mushroom risotto.

Because this frozen bagged mix shouldn’t have turned into this delicious, I’m convinced that magicians work for Trader Joe’s.

I bought this risotto specifically because it was the last one in my shop. A associate also told me that it is one of the most sought-after items in the chain.

It’s a product that I know well, and I can see why it is constantly being sold.

This risotto was slightly thinner and creamier than the homemade version I tried. However, that didn’t make it a deal-breaker. The rice was still soft, pillowy, and delicious.

It was not salty or processed and tasted fresh. It even had real mushrooms.

The simple combination of rice and onions, white wine, and mellow mushrooms with a hint of garlic was delicious, but the overall flavor was bland.

It was not a standout component that made this more than a side meal.

VERDICT: Although I don’t think I would buy this product all the time, I would be happy to have it as a side dish with a meal.

Although it was simple and delicious, the penne Arrabiata wasn’t memorable.

This was a simple and straightforward pasta dish. It wasn’t bad, but it didn’t live up to my expectations.

Although the tomatoes were dominant, it still had a subtle kick of peppery, piquant flavor.

Based on the photo on the package, I thought the sauce would be chunky. But it was thin, broth-like and slipped off the penne too easily.

Although not all pasta dishes have to be complicated, this one was certainly not one to remember. While the cheese added a lot of flavor, it was still lacking salt and other herbs.

VERDICT: Even though this pasta arrabbiata might make a great last-minute meal, it was not memorable enough to be able to be bought again.

These could be useful if you have to feed picky children or mouths.

Kung Pao tempura roasted cauliflower was delicious, but could be crispier

I was very excited to try this cauliflower tempura since I’m always down for anything shareable that can double as an entrée or side.

This was easy to make. I put the frozen florets on a baking sheet and baked them for 20 minutes.

Some edges had brown tips which I thought indicated crispness. They looked exactly like boneless chicken wings.

The sauce almost completely covered the cauliflower smell so I tossed them in it.

Although this meal was promising, it wasn’t quite there yet. Each cauliflower floret was large and made almost every piece two bites.

The ratio of tempura crust and floret was perfect, as there was enough to be able to see it without it being too bready.

The problem was the texture. While the batter that covered each piece was crisp and delicious, the cauliflower florets were way too soft. They looked crispy to me, which I found strange.

I’ve tried making cauliflower wings in the oven many times. They turned out great, though the sauce seemed a bit too heavy. The water droplets could have made them soggy.

Despite all this, I could not help but continue to pop these morsels into the air like popcorn. They became more appealing when I no longer thought of them as tempura.

Kung Pao sauce has a distinct tang with just the right amount sweetness. It also contains ginger and spicy soy. It was simply lip-smackingly tasty.

VERDICT: Although the cauliflower tempura could have been crispier, the Kung Pao Sauce was amazing and totally worth it.

Next time, I’ll try it in the oven to improve the texture.

These cheese enchiladas will satisfy your cravings for spicy and cheesy meals

You can cook these enchiladas in either the oven or microwave, but the oven takes 25 minutes. This is too long for frozen meals.

I chose the easiest route and it didn’t seem to have any negative effects on texture. The tortilla edges were less crisp but the texture was not gummy.

Before cooking, frozen enchiladas contained a crusty cheese, corn, cilantro, and topping. But after a few minutes in microwave, those ingredients disappeared completely. Only tiny pieces of red and green bell-peppers could be seen against the sauce.

There was no meat or beans in sight, so it sort of felt like eating a baked cheese roll-up doused in red sauce — but not in a bad way. The tortilla seams were flooded with Monterey Jack as soon as my fork touched them.

I would have preferred more onions or bell peppers. Although the red sauce wasn’t the best I have ever had, it was adequate and contained enough cumin to get the job done.

They weren’t very spicy, but they left a lasting onion taste in my mouth that lasted several minutes.

These enchiladas are about as basic as frozen food can get. However, they could be enhanced with additional toppings like sour cream.

VERDICT: These enchiladas come at a great price of $2.49. These enchiladas are a great option, especially considering how much time and effort you would need to make them.

These aren’t something I plan to buy regularly. However, if I have a craving for enchiladas and don’t feel like cooking, I might grab some.

Although the vegetable pad thai was a good substitute for takeout, it could have used more spice.

This pad thai is loved by many Trader Joes customers, but I didn’t believe the hype. I had questions after this dish.

I don’t know why they used cashews rather than peanuts. While I can understand the desire to avoid allergy, the crunchiness of pad thai is key. Instead, the nuts were hidden under all else.

It is also a mystery why this single-serving meal had so many bean sprouts. It was not appropriate for Trader Joe’s to give them a leading role, when they are clearly meant to be a supporting cast.

I don’t exaggerate either. They are the first ingredient to be listed on the package. The ratio of noodles and sprouts was nearly equal.

The tofu was also lacking in seasoning. However, it was so minimal that I didn’t notice it.

Also, the texture of the rice noodles was inconsistent. The texture of the rice noodles varied from crunchy to gummy.

But this pad thai had one redeeming quality — its sauce. It wasn’t perfect, but it was delicious.

It was very enjoyable. It had a sweet-and-sour flavor with a hint of chili. However, it was much sweeter than other pad-thai condiments.

If I had liked the flavor of the other parts of the dish, I might have scraped the sides off my tray.

VERDICT: I will always be grateful to Trader Joe’s for providing vegan options of popular dishes that can easily be customized with meat or hot sauce.

This is a great way to start if you are new to Thai cuisine and don’t want any fish sauce or spicy.

The frozen version of this was disappointing because of its inconsistencies with the sauce and textural issues. It’s not worth the money.

These stuffed shells will be a great choice for anyone who is looking for a simple, delicious meal.

They were so delicious, I was surprised.

They perfectly captured everything I crave in pasta — an ample presence of gooey cheese, plenty of yummy, luscious tomato sauce, and an al-dente carb to hold it all together.

Although I wouldn’t mind if there was no cheese inside these shells, I enjoyed the subtle sophistication of the spinach. It’s a great way to get more greens in my diet, while still enjoying comfort food.

Although the filling was slightly bitter and earthy, the delicious tomato sauce and cheese helped to mask it.

These shells were a satisfying way to eat dinner. I also loved the fact that they didn’t require me to heat up my oven or stove.

The sauce-and-cheese combination became too thick and stuck to the tray. It was completely unpalatable. It was not microwaved for more than the recommended time.

VERDICT: Although I could’ve done without the dieting lingo on the label — “Reduced-guilt” pasta? C’mon, Trader Joe’s — I thought these stuffed shells were worth the buy.

The mushroom ravioli was a true dream.

I love fresh ravioli from Trader Joe’s in the refrigerated section. I was so excited to try it.

This ravioli is frozen and comes with the sauce. I have found this to be less than the fresh alternatives. Therefore, I have lowered my expectations.

It turns out that I was seriously underestimating Trader Joe’s.

This ravioli was incredible. Between its soft mushroom-ricotta filling and rich, yet amazingly not heavy truffle sauce, this meal felt far more luxurious than a frozen entrée.

The sauce was thick like a gravy with small bits of mushroom scattered throughout. It accented the savory flavors. The sauce soaked into the ravioli pockets giving them an irresistible buttery, melt-in your-mouth texture.

Every bite was a rich, earthy truffle flavor that balanced the sauce’s saltiness. Only thing that was lacking was an herb.

This was comfort food in seven minutes.

VERDICT: If you’re a fan of mushrooms — and particularly, the taste of truffle — this is an absolute must-buy.

I was not impressed by the Cuban-style ricebowl.

Based on the image of the box, I assumed this bowl would be vibrant and colorful. However, I found a muted yellow palette.

The most notable thing was that there wasn’t any green as the cilantro isn’t included.

This rice bowl was a poor predictor of what was to follow, as it left much to be desired.

Although the rice tasted good and had a slight lime flavor, the chicken was bland and tasteless. The beans, however, were decent and interesting.

I was also disappointed that there were only three pieces of plantain in the whole bowl. They added a unique sweetness to the dish that worked well with the citrusy components.

Although the hot sauce made it taste better, this dish was not worth the effort.

VERDICT:It could have been amazing with some minor adjustments, but it was a bit disappointing as is and definitely not worth the $3.49 price.

This frozen garlic-and-pesto pie was one of my favorite frozen pizzas.

The strength of this pizza was in its simplicity.

The crust was the highlight of the evening. It had just the right amount of buttery, salty flavors. It had a combination of crispy thin sections and puffy pockets, which gave me the feeling of freshly baked bread.

Although I was initially skeptical about the absence of sauce or tomatoes, this dish was so rich in flavor that I couldn’t miss it.

The combination of four luxurious cheeses — mozzarella, Parmesan, burrata, and provolone — along with the garlic bits, mouthwatering crust, and dollops of smooth, nutty pesto was otherworldly.

This pizza was unique because of its brilliant construction. Every ingredient was given time to shine because the pesto dotted all over the pizza accentuated them rather than overpowering them.

It was hard for me to stop eating it all in one sitting.

VERDICT:This is a frozen pizza that I’ve enjoyed many times in my life.

The fresh-baked flavor of the crust and the delicious pesto topping are enough to keep me away from ordering delivery.

This yellow recipe is a great choice for vegan comfort food. jackfruit Curry

Jackfruit is the ultimate plant-based protein superstar. This meaty, stringy fruit is quickly becoming one of my favorite meat substitutes.

This meal took upward of five minutes to make in the microwave but was well worth the wait — it was easily one of the best foods I’ve tried from Trader Joe’s frozen section.

It’s nice that I can have rice and curry separately. To get the best effect, I combined mine in a separate bowl.

The curry also included jackfruit and a wonderful mixture of onions, bell peppers, and eggplant. It didn’t get any rubbery texture in the microwave. The rice was also delicious and fluffy.

What really impressed me was the sauce. It was amazing to see the complex combination of exotic spices like coriander and curry with the sweetness of coconut cream. It also had a fair amount of heat to its, roughly on par with a medium salsa.

The meal was delicious and kept me satisfied for hours, without making me feel bloated.

VERDICT: I recommend this jackfruit curry to everyone. It was simple to make and delicious.

French-onion soup from Trader Joe tasted better than it looked

Straight out of the package, this entrée comes as two frozen masses of broth, onion, and cheese about the height of a small coffee mug.

I like that the package comes with two individual portions, so I don’t have too much to do. There is no need to thaw.

The instructions say that this soup can either be cooked in the microwave or oven. But, as this is a collection of convenience foods, I chose to cook it in the fastest manner possible.

The microwave made the soup look pretty bland. The soup was bland because it had clumps of cheese that were broken into small pieces, which gave it a murky brownish-white appearance.

Still, it smelled delicious.

This meal was delicious! Although it wasn’t spectacular, it was delicious and satisfied my cravings for French-onion soup.

The broth was good, but it was less salty than those in restaurants. Also, the onions were the dominant flavor. This gave it a more earthy, mellow taste than a savory beefy one.

Although a little bit of red wine or thyme could have added depth, the soup came together in my microwave in under 5 minutes.

VERDICT:This product is worth the investment if you value convenience. I will keep this in my freezer, especially during winter.

It is worth having a jar of vegetable gyoza on hand at all costs

For many years, this gyoza is my favorite. Although I have tried other frozen options, none of them compare to this one.

The dumplings were light and fresh, similar to spring rolls, yet they had enough flavor to satisfy any savory cravings with their delicious vegetarian filling made of carrots, cabbage, and scallions.

This is because I love sauce on everything, but these dumplings can be eaten plain.

If you’re looking for gyoza sauce, Trader Joe’s has it. However, these need a little bit of plain soy sauce if any.

These gyoza can be made quickly and are delicious. They can still retain their firmness, even when microwaved, making them an easy meal that you can throw together quickly.

If you want your dumplings crispier, you can saute them in some oil.

VERDICT: This easy-to-cook vegetarian gyoza is great for a quick dinner or as a platter for large groups. It is a favorite in my home.

I was blown away by the Hatch-chile chicken wraps

These wraps were the first frozen meal I had ever tried that was so delicious it made me stop mid-bite. I had to immediately text my friend. “Hey, next time you go to Trader Joe’s you’ve got to try this.”

Trader Joe’s frozen sections offer a variety of Mexican-inspired and Tex-Mex-inspired dishes. I discovered them because of the “Hatch chile” description.

Hatch chile, a green pepper that hails from the Southwest of the US, is known for its strong, spicy and smoky flavors. It is slightly sweeter than the Chipotle chilile. This makes it great to give dishes a bold, yet subtle kick.

Two separate wraps are included in the package so that you can make it into two lighter meals.

Each wrap contained several chunks of juicy chicken, mildly spicy green chiles, jalapeño, black beans, and gooey mozzarella and Monterey Jack cheese. This combination was amazing.

The flour tortilla’s exterior provided a backdrop for all the savory, salty and spicy goodness.

I don’t know how I’ll ever go back for regular frozen burritos again after this.

VERDICT: I am already a fan of this wrap, even though I’ve only tried it once.

The Vegan bolognese was delicious and even better than the meat one

Even though I don’t eat meat as a mainstay, I’m thankful that there are so many tasty vegetarian options. This bolognese adds to my ever-growing collection.

It’s amazing how the mushrooms mimic the taste, texture, and smell of sausage. If you presented this to me, I would have assumed it was meat.

This vegan bolognese was good overall. It features twisted lentil pasta, thick tomato sauce with strong rosemary notes, and chunky tomato tomatoes.

Although it did not make the meal gluten-free for me, I was still happy with the extra fiber and protein that lentil pasta provided.

After a few bites, however, I was quickly bored with this dish. Although I could not pinpoint what it was, it was lacking something that would make me want it to continue to be my favorite dish.

Although it may have required some cheese, which is against the purpose of being vegan, this dish was still in need of some salty Parmesan and creamy mozzarella.

VERDICT:This is a great deal for a decent-sized, vegan meal with plant-based proteins.

It is a great combination of solid protein and delicious meaty flavors. I can easily see this dish winning over even the most dedicated carnivore.

Continue reading this series of Trader Joe’s Taste Tests.