I like to think that one of my greatest qualities in life is knowing my strengths and weaknesses. Grammar? Big strength. Simple math? Weakness. But of all my weaknesses, my cooking skills may be the most dire. I’m a firm believer that when it comes to cooking, some people just have the touch, and I, for one, do not. I follow recipes to a T and try my hardest, and it always just turns out subpar. However, I recently vowed to master some simple, quick, and healthy recipes that I actually like and could make on repeat. To no one’s surprise, I ended up turning to Trader Joe’s to help me figure it out.
After scouring both the Internet and the aisles of Trader Joe’s, I’ve developed an arsenal of three-ingredient meals that I rely on all week long—and that don’t require much actual cooking. Delete your Grubhub app, head to your nearest store, and try these easy Trader Joe’s recipes this week:
1. Chicken Caesar Wraps
Ingredients:
- Caesar Salad Kit
- Grilled Seasoned White Meat Chicken Strips
- Cauliflower Thins
These chicken Caesar wraps are one of my favorite quick, yummy lunches to make. I cut up some of the pre-cooked grilled chicken (this is peak laziness, and I can only pray my mother doesn’t read this), then add the lettuce, dressing, and parmesan from the salad kit to a few of Trader Joe’s cauliflower thins. It takes under five minutes and is so tasty, relatively healthy, and very filling. Pictured: three amazing wraps and a dog who wants them more than I do.
If I want one big wrap instead of the little ones the cauliflower thins provide, I love these tortillas and always have them in my cabinet.
2. Kung Pao Tempura Cauliflower Stir Fry Bowl
Ingredients:
- Kung Pao Tempura Cauliflower
- Organic Riced Cauliflower
- Gochujang Vegetable Stir Fry
I’ll be honest: As a non-vegetarian, I’m not THAT into the cauliflower-disguised-as-meat trend, but this stuff is GOOD. I cook this tempura cauliflower in the oven, and it gets so crispy and tastes even better than any frozen chicken you could make. I love to mix this up into a little healthier Asian alternative when I’m in a pinch. It’s one of those easy Trader Joe’s recipes that makes me feel like I’m a real chef and actually know what I’m doing.
As you’re baking the cauliflower, throw the stir fry and cauliflower rice into a pan and heat it up. To finish, I just use the sauce that comes with the tempura cauliflower (and sometimes a little bit of coconut aminos). The result is always *chef’s kiss.*
3. Pesto Gnocchi
Ingredients:
- Cauliflower Gnocchi
- Vegan Kale, Cashew, & Basil Pesto
- Grilled Seasoned White Meat Chicken Strips
I can hardly write a Trader Joe’s article without mentioning the miracle that is their cauliflower gnocchi. As an Italian girl, I will say without a shadow of a doubt that calling this stuff gnocchi is a stretch, but it’s a staple in my kitchen as an entity of its own (I also much prefer it to their kale gnocchi, which is simply meh to me).
I used to struggle with these because I couldn’t figure out how to cook them or what to put on them, but I’ve discovered the best way is to sear them in a pan so they get nice and crispy, and then top them with some pesto. I love throwing some pre-cooked chicken breast into the pan at the end to add some protein and make it feel more like a full-blown pasta dish. For this recipe, I use the same grilled chicken breast strips pictured in meal #1. It feels like an indulgent, fancy meal but is basically all veggies disguised as something far tastier. This might take the cake for my favorite Trader Joe’s recipe of the bunch—I just don’t seem to ever get sick of it.
4. Mexican Chicken Bowl
Ingredients:
- Grilled Chili Lime Chicken Strips
- Organic Black Beans
- Organic Riced Cauliflower
- Optional: your toppings of choice
This is one of my favorite meals to make throughout the week, and that’s because you can swap out the ingredients for ones that make it feel like a completely new meal every time you make it. I cook some rice and throw some black beans in for protein, then add TJ’s pre-made chili lime chicken, which is hands-down one of my favorite things to eat at home. I’m totally full when I make this recipe with just these three ingredients, but if I have any veggies or avocado or cheese in my apartment, I’ll throw those in too for an easy, quick, healthy burrito bowl.
Pro tip: This is hands-down my favorite Trader Joe’s dressing and sometimes I’ll mix a little into my chicken bowl for extra kick and flavor.
5. Cauliflower Pizza
Ingredients:
- Cauliflower Pizza Crust
- Pizza Sauce
- Shredded Pizza Seasoned Toscano Cheese
- Optional: your toppings of choice
There’s nothing that screams Friday night to me like a good ole’ pizza. I used to rely on an endless stream of regular frozen pizzas, but I recently upgraded to using my own Trader Joe’s recipe. Listen, this swap doesn’t make it much healthier, but I love making my own little pizza with whatever toppings I have in my fridge. This pizza cheese has been one of my favorite recent TJ’s discoveries and makes it taste more like a real take-out pizza, which is obviously the goal.
I always keep these ingredients in my fridge for nights when I just need something yummy for dinner. I’m partial to a thin, super crispy pizza, and this crust gets perfectly crispy (just make sure to follow the cooking instructions on the package—don’t be impatient and try to cut corners like I have). I tossed some arugula on this (weird but highly recommend) in an effort to use up a bag that I had in the fridge and voilà! A perfect little homemade pizza.
6. Mandarin Chicken
Ingredients:
- Mandarin Orange Chicken
- Organic Riced Cauliflower or Vegetable Fried Rice
- Organic Broccoli Florets
This is another faux-Asian recipe that feels satisfying but also way healthier than actually ordering Chinese food. Bake your chicken and fry up some rice and broccoli, and you have a 15-minute meal that you can mistake for takeout.
MEET THE AUTHOR
Madeline Galassi, Senior Fashion & Beauty Editor
Madeline Galassi is the Fashion & Beauty Editor at The Everygirl, where she oversees the fashion and beauty categories of the site. She brainstorms, writes, and edits stories across a broad range of topics including trend reports, product reviews, celebrity style, and more.
