5 Trader Joe’s Dinner Hacks That Come Together in Minutes

A TikTok feed is inherently personal. It offers a look into your niche hobbies, sense of humor, favorite TV shows, or, in my case, a collection of clips showcasing my favorite grocery store, Trader Joe’s. From new snacks to hacks for using TJ’s products, I constantly learn something new about this supermarket chain just from social media.

Quite a few food creators online are also dedicated Trader Joe’s fans, and the meal hacks they share starring TJ’s ingredients and products have become my secret to simple weeknight dinners. Easy meal planning begins with the right groceries, and fortunately, there are countless ways to turn Trader Joe’s items into quick, tasty dishes.

Among all the TJ’s-centric meals I’ve learned about, these five recipes stand out for their rich flavor and simple ingredients, making them a must-have in your weekly dinner rotation this fall.

One-Pot Macaroni and Cheese

The Unexpected Cheddar Cheese Spread from Trader Joe’s turns homemade mac and cheese into a super-simple, three-ingredient affair. Plus, if you’re hosting friends for happy hour and don’t use up all this sharp, creamy spread, it’s a great way to repurpose leftovers into a completely new meal.

Because this spread is mainly made of cheddar cheese, butter, water, and whey, without any oil-based ingredients like mayo, it easily emulsifies into a creamy sauce when tossed with noodles. (Cooking the pasta in chicken broth adds extra flavor and some protein to the dish, but water works just as well.)

Feel free to amp up the flavor with your choice of seasonings like red pepper flakes or garlic powder if you have them on hand.

Saucy Baked Dumplings

The Trader Joe’s Chicken Gyoza Potstickers are filled with a mixture of chicken, cabbage, onion, soy sauce, sesame oil, and ginger powder, all encased in a tender wheat-based wrapper. While the most common way to prepare these frozen potstickers is to steam or pan-fry them, this fairly new trick involves turning them into a baked, one-dish meal.

A few of Trader Joe’s pre-made sauces and pantry staples — like the sweet and savory Soyaki, Thai Style Red Curry Sauce, and a can of coconut milk — are combined to make a creamy, rich sauce that bakes with the dumplings until it’s bubbling. Once the curry- and coconut-infused dumpling bake is ready, serve it with rice to soak up all that extra sauce.

Tortellini Soup

Nothing channels cozy autumn vibes better than a hearty soup, and this Trader Joe’s tomato tortellini soup comes together in about 20 minutes. Because it relies on pre-seasoned ingredients like premade tortellini and a can of Organic Tomato and Roasted Red Pepper Soup, you don’t need to add much to ensure the final dish is packed with flavor.

You can customize the soup with your preferred protein, such as Italian sausage, ground beef, or ground turkey, or add beans for a vegetarian option. If you want to try a creamy version of this dinner, simply stir in some ricotta, Greek yogurt, or heavy cream into the broth.

Cheesy Gnocchi Skillet 

Cookbook author and food creator Maxine Sharf (@maxiskitchen) transforms Trader Joe’s frozen Cauliflower Gnocchi into a cheesy one-pan dish with just a few additional ingredients: Italian sausage, marinara sauce, kale, olive oil, garlic, and seasonings. 

The gnocchi and sausage are pan-fried first to develop crispy edges and cook completely, then combined with the other ingredients and baked with plenty of mozzarella on top. While it’s not required, finishing with freshly grated Parmesan is always a good idea.

Dumpling Soup

Many Trader Joe’s recipes have gone viral over the years, and this dumpling soup might be the most popular of them all. The only two ingredients you absolutely need are the store’s Steamed Chicken Soup Dumplings and some chicken broth. 

Turn this duo into a dumpling soup in just two minutes in the microwave, then garnish with your choice of toppings. If you have fresh herbs, use them up by sprinkling them on top. Chili crisp, a drizzle of soy sauce, sliced scallions, and sesame seeds would also be welcome. 

While it’s not usually part of this no-recipe recipe, we recommend wilting some greens into the broth if you have cabbage, spinach, or bok choy that’s close to going bad. Think of this soup as a blank canvas to use up whatever you have on hand.