The 10 Frozen Foods You Should Buy During Your Next Trip to Trader Joe's

While there are incredible deals and flavor adventures to be found in all of the aisles at Trader Joe's (even professional chefs agree!), the freezer aisles are among the best of all, if you ask us. Not only can you find affordable meals and snacks for every eating occasion, but you can also tour the globe with the long-lasting, family-friendly items.

In addition to legacy products like Mandarin Orange Chicken, Cauliflower Gnocchi, fish fillets, and burgers galore and of course all the ice creams, we're wild about these newer additions to the ice chests.

Stock up on these favorite Trader Joe's frozen foods, and you'll never be more than minutes away from a semi-homemade meal.

Breakfast

Quiche Lorraine

Outsource the brunch duties to Joe! This French-inspired Quiche Lorraine features a buttery pastry crust. The filling is an egg custard that's far from shy on the meat — in fact it boasts 20 percent uncured ham, plus plenty of easy-melting Swiss cheese. Find this easy heat-and-eat option in the freezer section for $1.38 per serving ($5.49 per four-slice quiche).

Organic Açai Bowl

Skip that ho-hum protein bar or the chalky shake. For a weekday breakfast, we adore this superfood Organic Açai Bowl to kick off the day on a nutritious note. Sold for $3.99 per 260-calorie bowl (with nine grams of fiber), this fruit smoothie bowl is designed to resemble a menu item you might invest $10 in at a fancy juice bar. The bowl is microwave-safe so you can easily defrost it to your desired consistency, then garnish with the gluten-free, ancient grain granola packet that comes in the box.

Shakshuka Starter

Sure, a jar of marinara can be a shakshuka recipe starter, too, but we're partial to this Shakshuka Starter for the hearty consistency and variety of veggies in the microwave-ready bowl. Featuring tomatoes, bell peppers, garlic, and spices in the chunky, zesty stew, this $1.99 product takes less than five minutes from freezer to table. Pierce the film on top of the tray, microwave for three minutes, then peel back the plastic, and crack in a couple eggs. Microwave for two minutes more, or until done to your preferred level, and this breakfast is ready to devour. Our favorite way to do just that? With a hunk of warm, crusty bread or pillowy pita.

Lunch

Beef Pho

Soup's on! This Beef Pho showcases tender beef slices, chewy rice noodles, crunchy bean sprouts, and an aromatic beef broth that's infused with basil, cilantro, and fish sauce. The $3.49, 220-calorie bowl is spoon-ready after just six minutes in the microwave (our preferred method for busy workday lunches at the office) or 10 minutes in a saucepan on the stove.

Riced Cauliflower Bowl

While this is not Trader Joe's first fling with cauliflower as a replacement for carbs (see also: that aforementioned Cauliflower Gnocchi, Cauliflower Pizza Crust, Riced Cauliflower Stir-Fry, Mashed Cauliflower), the Riced Cauliflower Bowl is among the best for lunch. That's because each $2.99, eight-grams-of-fiber-strong bowl is jam-packed with colorful vegetables and enticing flavor from riced cauliflower, chopped sweet potatoes, tofu and red onions, plus chickpeas and a mix of warm and spicy seasonings. Zippy Sambal oelek red chili paste, a splash of umami tamari sauce, and creamy, nutty tahini sauce bring it all together — and help each bite pop with flavor after five minutes in the microwave.

Gluten-Free Mac and Cheese

Created as a gluten-free rendition of the brand's beloved Diner Mac 'n Cheese, this Gluten-Free Mac and Cheese has twice as much cheese as Trader Joe's first try at frozen gluten-free mac. Swiss, Cheddar, havarti, and gouda star in the ooey-gooey béchamel sauce that coats every inch of the corn-, rice-, lentil-, and quinoa flour-based rotini pasta. Find it for $3.49 per two-cup, microwave-ready bowl.

Dinner

Grilled Jerk Chicken Thigh Skewers

Fully cooked and ready to reheat, dress the Grilled Jerk Chicken Thigh Skewers with the tart and tangy mango dressing and enjoy over rice, quinoa or tucked inside a flatbread, these Jamaican jerk-seasoned skewers will spice up your chicken dinner routine. The blend of black pepper, chili, orange, and peach flavors in the marinade mean that each bite is robust and complex-tasting without being burn-the-tongue spicy. Each six-skewer box is $5.49, which yields three 170-calorie servings with 19 grams of protein each.

Carne Asada Burritos

Think of these fully loaded Carne Asada Burritos as a freezer-friendly, far more affordable take on Chipotle's steak burritos. Available for $2.50 each ($4.99 for two burritos), each flour tortilla is stuffed with grilled Angus beef, onions, roasted poblano chiles, cilantro, lemon pepper seasoning, garlic, and red pepper. The development team worked long and hard with their supplier to ensure that tortilla wouldn't, well, get hard (or dry) after the 60 to 90 seconds in the microwave. Chewy, satisfying, and even better enjoyed alongside elote or chips and guac, this makes for one super-filling south-of-the-border-inspired meal.

Vegan Pasta Bolognese Bowl

Even if you're not vegan, the nutrition facts on this $3.49 Vegan Pasta Bolognese Bowl will likely bowl you over. Thanks to wheat protein, mushrooms, and a red lentil-based tubular pasta, each tomato ragu-topped serving packs in 13 grams of fiber and 30 grams of protein. Microwave for about five minutes, pair with a salad and a basket of breadsticks, and you'll feel like you'll almost feel like you're dining at a classic red sauce restaurant.

Dessert

Cheese-Less "Cheesecakes"

As silky and decadent as the real thing, these Cheese-Less "Cheesecakes" are a sure cure for any case of the Mondays. Sold in two-packs for $3.99, the vanilla-scented custard filling is made with a wild-sounding but surprisingly tasty blend of ingredients, including lima beans, coconut oil, konjac (a plant that delivers the creamy consistency), and agave syrup. The crust is made with oats, graham flour, and shortening, instead of butter, so this treat is 100 percent vegan-friendly. It's good plain, but we adore taking things over the top with a fresh fruit or fruit compote garnish.

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