10+ Trader Joes Recipes Dinner Ideas for Easy Weeknight Meals

When you walk into Trader Joe’s, you’re met with a ton of options for quick, tasty dinners. Most of their stuff can be thrown together fast—no need to overthink it.

You can whip up genuinely good dinners with just a handful of Trader Joe’s staples, even on a busy night.

This article’s here to help you spot easy ways to use Trader Joe’s ingredients you probably already like. If you’re after something healthy, cozy, or just a little different, you’ll find ideas that fit your mood and schedule.

1) Fig & Blue Cheese Burgers

Fig & Blue Cheese Burgers are surprisingly simple but packed with flavor. The sweet fig and tangy blue cheese just work together.

Trader Joe’s burger patties keep this meal easy. Caramelize some onions for extra sweetness, then toast your brioche buns so they don’t get soggy.

A handful of arugula adds crunch and a peppery bite. Serve these burgers with a salad or roasted veggies if you want to round it out.

Ingredients:

• Trader Joe’s Angus burger patties
• Blue cheese
• Fig preserves or fig butter
• Red onion, thinly sliced
• Brioche buns
• Arugula
• Olive oil
• Sea salt

Cooking Instructions:

1. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium.
2. Caramelize sliced onions until soft and golden, about 10 minutes.
3. Season burger patties with sea salt and grill or pan-cook, about 4-5 minutes per side.
4. Toast brioche buns.
5. Spread fig preserves on the buns.
6. Add burger, caramelized onions, blue cheese, and arugula.
7. Serve and dig in.

Check the full recipe here.

2) Zucchini & Ricotta Rolls

Zucchini & Ricotta Rolls—light, cheesy, and honestly way easier than they look. Thin zucchini slices wrap around creamy ricotta, then you bake them in tomato sauce.

A layer of mozzarella on top melts in the oven. They come out bubbly and satisfying.

Want a lighter, veggie-forward dinner? This one’s hard to mess up.

Find a Trader Joe’s version here.

Ingredients

• 2 large zucchinis, sliced thin
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup tomato basil pasta sauce
• Salt and pepper

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Slice zucchinis into thin strips.
3. Spread ricotta on each slice.
4. Roll up and place in a baking dish.
5. Pour tomato sauce over the rolls.
6. Sprinkle mozzarella on top.
7. Bake for 25 minutes, or until bubbly.

3) Creamy Dreamy Hummus with Roasted Baby Broccoli

Trader Joe’s Creamy Dreamy Hummus and roasted baby broccoli make a dinner that’s simple but feels fresh. Roast the baby broccoli with olive oil and salt until it gets a little crispy.

Spread a thick layer of hummus on your plate, then pile the broccoli on top. That’s it—healthy, filling, and barely any prep.

Grab some warm bread or crackers for dipping if you’re feeling snacky. This works as a light meal or even a hearty snack.

Ingredients

• 1 package Trader Joe’s Baby Broccoli
• 1 tablespoon Trader Joe’s Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Salt
• 1 container Trader Joe’s Creamy Dreamy Hummus

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
2. Toss broccoli with olive oil and salt on a baking sheet.
3. Roast 12-15 minutes until crispy at the edges.
4. Spread hummus on a plate.
5. Top with roasted broccoli.
6. Serve with bread or crackers, or just eat it as is.

4) Green Goddess Fried Goat Cheese Medallions

Green Goddess Fried Goat Cheese Medallions are crispy outside, creamy inside, and honestly kind of addictive. They work as an appetizer or with a salad for a low-key dinner.

Trader Joe’s Green Goddess seasoning packs in herby flavor—think parsley, tarragon, chives. It really brightens up the goat cheese.

Ingredients

• Chevré goat cheese medallions
• Green Goddess seasoning
• Olive oil or vegetable oil
• Flour
• Egg
• Bread crumbs

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat oil in a frying pan to 350°F (175°C).
2. Coat goat cheese in flour, dip in egg, then cover with bread crumbs and Green Goddess seasoning.
3. Fry 2-3 minutes until golden.
4. Drain on paper towels and serve warm.

5) Easiest Crispy Chicken Parmesan

Crispy Chicken Parmesan doesn’t need to be complicated. Grab Trader Joe’s breaded chicken tenderloins—they bake up crunchy with zero mess.

Once the chicken’s ready, top with marinara and mozzarella. Bake until it’s gooey and melty.

Serve with pasta or green beans if you want a real meal. It comes together fast, but still feels like a treat.

Ingredients

• Breaded chicken tenderloins
• Roasted garlic marinara sauce
• Fresh mozzarella slices
• Pasta or green beans (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Bake chicken 15-20 minutes until cooked through.
3. Spoon marinara over the chicken.
4. Lay mozzarella on top.
5. Bake another 8-10 minutes until cheese melts.
6. Serve with pasta or green beans.

Find more inspiration at this recipe.

6) Decadent Truffle Ravioli with Brussels Sprouts

Truffle ravioli and Brussels sprouts—sounds fancy, but it’s actually quick. Boil the ravioli, then sauté Brussels sprouts in olive oil until golden.

Toss everything together with a bit of butter or more oil. Finish with Parmesan for a rich, earthy dinner.

You get the truffle flavor and the fresh bite of Brussels sprouts. It’s a dinner that feels special with almost zero effort.

Ingredients

• Mushroom truffle ravioli
• Brussels sprouts
• Olive oil or butter
• Parmesan cheese

Cooking Instructions

1. Boil ravioli per package instructions.
2. While that cooks, heat oil in a pan over medium.
3. Sauté halved Brussels sprouts 6-8 minutes until browned.
4. Drain ravioli and add to the pan.
5. Toss gently with oil or butter.
6. Top with Parmesan and serve.

7) Garlicky Lentil Pasta with Veggies

Trader Joe’s red lentil pasta is a weeknight lifesaver. It cooks fast and has a mild taste, making it perfect for tossing with garlic and veggies.

Sauté garlic in olive oil, then add whatever vegetables you like—broccoli, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers. Mix in the cooked pasta and you’re done.

It’s light but filling, and you can change it up with herbs or chili flakes if you’re feeling adventurous.

Ingredients

• Trader Joe’s red lentil pasta
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup broccoli, chopped
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• Fresh basil (optional)
• Salt and pepper

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook pasta as directed, then drain.
2. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium.
3. Sauté garlic for about a minute.
4. Add broccoli, cook 3-4 minutes.
5. Toss in cherry tomatoes, cook 2 more minutes.
6. Add pasta, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
7. Top with basil if you’ve got it.

Find more ideas at r/VegRecipes or BuzzFeed’s easy Trader Joe’s recipes.

8) Orange Chicken Rice Bowls

Trader Joe’s frozen Mandarin orange chicken makes dinner almost too easy. Bake the chicken, heat some rice, and toss in whatever veggies you have.

Top with sliced green onions or sesame seeds if you want a little crunch. Mix in garlic or soy sauce for extra punch.

Frozen jasmine rice cooks in minutes, but brown rice or leftovers work great too. Sometimes, the simplest dinners are the best.

Ingredients

• 1 package Trader Joe’s Mandarin Orange Chicken
• 2 bags Trader Joe’s Frozen Jasmine Rice
• Sesame seeds (optional)
• Sliced green onions (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
2. Bake orange chicken on a lined sheet for 18-22 minutes until crispy.
3. Heat rice as directed.
4. Build your bowls—rice, chicken, green onions, sesame seeds.
5. Eat while it’s hot.

9) Homemade Pizza with Trader Joe’s Ingredients

Making pizza at home? It’s honestly a breeze with Trader Joe’s stuff.

Grab their pizza dough from the fridge section—it’s just flour, water, oil, and yeast.

Pick your toppings. Their pizza sauce and shredded mozzarella are solid choices.

Add pepperoni if you’re feeling classic, or toss on mushrooms, onions, maybe even a drizzle of spicy honey and salami if you want to shake things up.

Roll out the dough, spread on the sauce, pile on cheese and whatever else you want.

Bake at 425°F (220°C) for 12-15 minutes. You’re looking for bubbly cheese and a golden crust.

Ingredients

• Trader Joe’s pizza dough
• Trader Joe’s pizza sauce
• Shredded mozzarella cheese
• Pepperoni or other toppings like mushrooms or salami

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
2. Roll out the pizza dough on a floured surface.
3. Spread pizza sauce evenly over the dough.
4. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese on top.
5. Add your chosen toppings.
6. Bake on a pizza stone or baking sheet for 12-15 minutes.
7. Remove when cheese is melted and crust is golden brown.

10) One Pan Sausage and Veggie Orzo

One pan sausage and veggie orzo is one of those dinners you’ll actually want to make after a long day.

Start by browning the sausage with onions and garlic. The smell alone is worth it.

Add orzo pasta, chicken broth, and your veggies—bell peppers or zucchini work great.

Everything cooks in one pan, so you’re not stuck with a pile of dishes.

Italian sausage brings the protein, and the veggies keep it light.

A handful of fresh basil and a splash of balsamic vinegar at the end? Yes, please. It just brightens everything up.

You can check out a similar recipe using Trader Joe’s ingredients on this one pan sausage and veggie orzo page.

Ingredients

• 1 lb Italian sausage, casing removed
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 ½ cups orzo pasta
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup chopped veggies (such as bell peppers or zucchini)
• ¼ cup fresh basil
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Pour a splash of olive oil into a pan and set it over medium heat.

2. Toss in the sausage. Let it cook until it turns nice and brown.

3. Add onion and garlic. Stir them around for a couple of minutes.

4. Throw in the orzo, chicken broth, and your veggies. Crank up the heat and bring everything to a boil.

5. Once it’s boiling, drop the heat to low. Cover the pan and let it simmer for about 10 minutes.

6. Uncover the pan. Mix in fresh basil and a dash of balsamic vinegar.

7. Sprinkle in some salt and pepper. Let it cook for another two or three minutes so the liquid can soak in.

8. Dish it up while it’s still warm.