Check out my favorite dinner and dessert ingredients at TJ's!
While I was crafting my Trader Joe's "greatest hits" grocery list, I realized that I had too much to say and decided to break the post into two segments. If you missed the snacks and condiments post, go back and read up on some of my favorite midday must-haves.
Below are some of Trader Joe's best healthy and affordable dinner and dessert items.
Happy shopping!
Mmmm.. I love salmon. TJ's sells fresh boneless skinless salmon fillets at great prices. One package will feed two people and it's all ready to go. You can add whatever seasoning you'd like and then cook it to your likeness. The Trader Joe's website has a great recipe for a sweet and spicy pecan-crusted salmon that I love to make. It's simple, but also fancy enough to whip up for dinners with family and friends!
When I get home for the day and still need to prep dinner, I wonder whether or not it is worth it to still marinate my meat this late in the day. It will only sit for minutes instead of hours and meat usually needs more time to soak in all the flavor and tenderness that the marinade provides. This pre-marinated chicken costs the same as un-marinated and removes the hard part of picking out the seasonings for the evening flavor profile. While I feel wary of many already marinated meats because of the extra salt, sugar, and processed ingredients, I don't feel this way at all about this pesto masterpiece.
Have you ever tried ricing a head of cauliflower yourself? It takes muscle, time, and patience—and I usually don't have all three of those qualities at the same time. But, Trader Joe's has done all the work for me with this frozen rice alternative. I can pull it out of my freezer, toss it in the microwave, and ding! my side dish is done! This delicious frozen riced cauliflower replaces your side dish of grains 1:1. You can cook it as-is, or add it your brown rice for a 50:50 grain and veggie combo.
While rice is not the hardest of sides to make, I dread having to cook it since it takes so long! I like to whip things together and often use a few meal prep techniques to help quicken the dinner prep along. This box of organic brown rice packets is a life-saver. It's ready in three minutes and honestly tastes better than the long-cooking rice I cook on the stove. It is a staple in my household!
Lentils contain a high amount of fiber and protein, making them an easy alternative or supplement to your meal's meat choice. Only half a cup contains 8g fiber and 9g protein! That's why I have a pack of these steamed legumes in my fridge ready to go at all times. Add them on top of your salads or buddha bowls for a perfect, ready-to-go plant protein.
This pre-prepped, gluten-free cauliflower pizza crust serves as a budget-conscious and nutritious foundation for pizza. If you are planning a family pizza night, grab a couple of these crusts in the freezer section. You can toss on sauce, cheese, and veggies for a well-rounded, yet simple dinner. While the cauliflower crust doesn't taste as doughy as regular crust or as crispy as thin crust, it makes it up to you in the flavor department. And it's a great buy!
I made these cookies for some friends the other day, but unfortunately, they never made it out of the house. The simple ingredient list and healthy alternatives to processed flour and sugar make this cookie a guiltless pleasure. Don't mind if I do purchase a box.. or two.
A box of these little morsels can go a long way. Eating a small handful of dark chocolate almonds will satisfy your after-dinner cravings for both sweet and salty. It will meet you indulgence with a healthy fat that fills you up and stills you from continuously reaching for the box.
A box of frozen chocolate banana bites does not last long in my freezer. I love that the majority of the sugar in this dessert derives from a real fruit and that the light, crisp coating of chocolate only amplifies the taste of bananas. When I am feeling fancy, I follow this TJ's recipe for peanut butter and coconut flake-covered frozen bananas.