If you’ve ever spent time at Trader Joe’s, you know the store is brimming with culinary inspiration. Every visit is like a treasure hunt for ingredients that will make meal prep easier and more enjoyable. A big bonus: many of the things you’ll find are healthy, too, so you’re killing two birds with one stone. Here you’ll find 18 recipes that are nutritious, simple and delicious — and all of them are available right from the shelves at your local Trader Joe’s.
To select our roundup of healthy recipes, we focused on dishes that are high in fruits and vegetables, protein sources, healthy fats, whole grains and fiber, and have minimal added sugar. Additionally, keep in mind that shortcuts to cooking, from canned beans to boxed soups, typically have higher sodium content than their homemade counterparts, so if you’re watching your sodium intake, keep this in mind.
So here’s a hit list of Trader Joe’s healthy recipes that are not only easy but also good for you.
breakfast
Trader Joe’s
To start your day off right, choose meals that include fruits, vegetables, filling whole grains and protein.
Blueberry Banana Overnight Oats
Combine 1 tablespoon almond butter, 1 teaspoon honey, and ½ a ripe banana in a jar that holds at least 8 ounces. Mash ingredients vigorously with a fork to mix. Add ⅔ cup milk, ⅓ cup oatmeal, 2 teaspoons hemp seeds, and a dash of ginger. Stir well. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Top with fresh blueberries or thawed frozen blueberries before serving.
Flavourful potato pancakes
Cook potato pancakes according to package directions. While pancakes are cooking, poach eggs. Then mash ripe avocado in a bowl, squeeze lemon, and add a pinch of salt. Top each pancake with a spoonful of mashed avocado and poached egg. Season with salt and pepper and serve with your favorite hot sauce.
Strawberry and cream smoothie
Pour a 5.3 oz bottle of Vanilla Sky into a blender. Add a generous amount of fresh strawberries, 1/2 a frozen ripe banana, 1 tablespoon of hemp seeds, 2 sprinkles of cinnamon, 1/4 cup of cold water, and a few ice cubes. Optionally, add a handful of baby spinach. Blend until smooth and enjoy.
Tex-Mex Tofu Tacos
Heat a cast-iron or nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and coat with extra virgin olive oil. Spread the shredded 3-cheese blend onto corn tortillas and cook until the tortillas are browned and the cheese is melted. Remove from the pan and keep warm near the stove. Add a little more oil to the skillet. Crumble the firm tofu and add the organic broccoli slaw and a pinch of cumin. Cook, stirring gently, until the tofu is warmed through and the vegetables are slightly softened. Add the Salsa Autentica, season with salt and stir again. Spoon the slaw-tofu mixture into the tortillas and add more salsa, if desired.
Tart Cherry Parfait with Peanut Butter Chocolate Granola
Take a tall glass jar or mason jar and layer TJ’s Tart Cherry Fruit Spread, Skyr Low Fat Cherry Yogurt, and Peanut Butter Chocolate Granola until the jar or jar is full. In just a few minutes, one of the easiest and most delicious breakfasts is ready. This meal is tart, creamy, sweet, and crunchy all at once. Feel free to experiment with different flavors of yogurt, jams, and types of granola.
Smoked sockeye salmon toast with whipped cream cheese
Avocado toast is a favorite, but sometimes you want something a little different. To make this delicious toast, take a slice of your favorite bread (like TJ’s Organic Seeded Bread) and toast it until golden brown and crisp. Once the bread is toasted, spread it generously with whipped cream cheese and 2 slices of wild smoked sockeye salmon. Top with capers and fresh lemon zest for extra flavor.
lunch
Trader Joe’s
Lunch can be light, but make sure it’s packed with lean protein to keep you full until dinner. Add sauces, dressings, and other condiments for extra flavor.
Miso ginger dumpling soup
Bring a saucepan of TJ’s Miso Ginger Soup to a boil. Add frozen chicken gyoza casserole and simmer until tender. Add chopped leafy greens and baby spinach to the soup, then top with thinly sliced green onions. Garnish with crispy chili onions and add spices to each bowl.
Shredded chicken and apple salad
Cook boneless, skinless chicken breasts until cooked through and set aside. In a large bowl, combine Organic Mediterranean Salad Kit and accompanying dry ingredient packet. Dice the chicken and add to the salad along with the diced apple. Drizzle with 2/3 of the dressing packet and 1/3 of the red wine vinegar. Mix well and serve.
Lavash pesto and vegetable pizza
Spread the pesto onto TJ’s Whole Wheat Lavash Flatbread. Top with grated mozzarella and a light sprinkling of Parmesan. Place a few slices of prosciutto on top of the flatbread. Place on a baking tray and bake in the bottom of a 450 degree oven until crisp and melted. Remove from the oven and arrange on top of the pizza with a generous amount of wild arugula, tossed with lemon juice, olive oil and salt. Cut into squares and serve.
Shrimp Burger with Avocado Mayonnaise
Cook Trader Joe’s Shrimp Seafood Burger according to package directions. Mash equal parts ripe avocado and mayonnaise, add a generous squeeze of lime juice, and a pinch of salt. Place the burger in a burger bun and garnish with avocado mayonnaise, hot and sweet jalapeños, and plenty of shredded cabbage lightly seasoned with olive oil and lime juice.
Grilled Chili Lime Chicken Wrap with Cowboy Caviar and Shredded Cheese
Speaking of lunch, wraps never disappoint. Grab your favorite wrap and pack it with four flavorful ingredients. First, spread a generous amount of guaca salsa on one side of the wrap. Next, cut the Grilled Chili Lime Chicken Breast into bite-sized pieces, top with 3 tablespoons of Cowboy Caviar Salsa and a sprinkling of shredded cheese, then place inside the wrap. Fold the wrap tightly and heat in a toaster oven (or microwave) for 3-5 minutes.
Avocado Ranch Salad with Tempeh and Avocado Slices
Trader Joe’s salad kits make lunch easy Really It’s easy. There are a few different kits to choose from, but we love the Avocado Ranch Salad Kit. This kit includes crisp shredded greens, cabbage, carrots, flavorful grated cheddar cheese, and crunchy, lightly salted corn chips. The kit also comes with a delicious Avocado Ranch dressing. To make this hearty salad, cook organic 3-grain tempeh according to package directions and set aside. Then pour the contents of the salad kit (except the dressing) into a bowl and top with fresh avocado slices. Pour the dressing over the salad and avocado and mix. Top with cooked tempeh and serve.
dinner
Trader Joe’s
For dinner, you can’t go wrong with a protein paired with veggies and grains, again with a variety of TJ’s condiments to add flavor.
Chicken Shawarma Skewers with Yogurt Sauce
Dice the shawarma chicken thighs and thread onto skewers. Grill or cook over an open flame until cooked through. Make the yogurt sauce by whisking together plain Greek yogurt, lemon juice, salt, chopped fresh mint and minced garlic. Remove the chicken from the skewers and plate on warm whole wheat pita bread with diced organic Persian cucumber and tomato. Spoon the yogurt sauce over everything and serve.
Warm lentil salad with salmon
Sprinkle salmon fillets with Salmon Rub Seasoning Blend and cook as described. Microwave steamed lentils according to package directions. While still warm, mix lentils with arugula, cracked olive salad and crumbled goat cheese. Spoon onto plates and top with salmon.
Meze plate meal
Brush both sides of traditional Indian flatbread lightly with olive oil, season with salt and cut into wedges. Arrange the bread on a baking sheet and lightly toast in a toaster oven. Then arrange on a serving plate or platter with any or all of the following: Greek chickpeas with cumin and parsley, eggplant garlic spread, grilled artichoke quarters, organic hummus, tabouli, chunks of feta cheese, sweet mini peppers, sliced Persian cucumbers and/or organic assorted colored carrots.
Spicy Polenta Lasagna
Spread a few spoonfuls of Calabrian Chili Spicy Pasta Sauce into the bottom of an 8-inch square baking pan. Slice 1 tube of organic polenta into 1/4-inch thick rounds. Arrange half of the polenta slices on the pan, followed by a handful of baby kale, half of the remaining sauce, and enough shredded mozzarella cheese to lightly cover the surface. Repeat with a second layer, then top with cheese. Bake until sauce is bubbly and cheese is melted. Finally, brown under the broiler. Cut into squares and serve.
Smoked pulled chicken sandwich with coleslaw on a brioche bun
While shredded chicken typically takes hours to cook, Trader Joe’s Hardwood Smoked Pulled Chicken is ready in minutes and is perfect for a hearty sandwich. To assemble the sandwiches, prepare the pulled chicken according to package instructions and toss with at least 3 tablespoons of Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce and set aside. Next, prepare the Organic Coleslaw Kit according to package instructions and set aside. Finally, grab half of a brioche bun and top with as much coleslaw and pulled chicken as you like. Top with the other half of the bun and enjoy!
Spaghetti alla Chitarra with roasted red peppers, almond pesto and burrata
Ready in under 15 minutes, this pasta dinner is definitely worth a try. Cook the spaghetti alla chitarra according to package directions, strain and return to the pasta pot. Mix in as much roasted red peppers and almond pesto as you like and transfer to a plate. Top with creamy burrata and serve.
