How to Turn Trader Joe’s Ready-to-Eat Staples Into 5 New Meals

Lobster bisque pasta

This viral shortcut pasta recipe, which made the rounds on social media this Valentine’s Day, calls for Trader Joe’s limited-edition Lobster Bisque, cherry tomatoes, chopped garlic, and your pasta of choice. Despite the name, the rich and creamy bisque — made with lobster stock, cream, sherry, butter, and thyme — doesn’t include chunks of lobster, so you might opt to add frozen langostino tails, which you can find in the freezer aisle.

To make the pasta, first defrost the tails in a bowl of cool water, if using. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, and sauté cherry tomatoes and garlic until the tomatoes release their juices. Add the tails (if using), season with salt and pepper to taste, and cook until warmed through. Seprately, boil the pasta in salted water until just short of al dente. Add the pasta to your pan, along with the bisque, and simmer for a few minutes until hot. To make this meal truly special, add freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano, chopped fresh basil, and a squeeze of lemon juice. 

Chicken gnocchi soup

Looking for a hearty, comforting dinner that won’t break the bank? Add two comfort-food favorites to your grocery cart: Trader Joe’s Kettle Cooked Chicken Soup (ringing up at around $5) and a bag of frozen Cauliflower Gnocchi ($3). Warm up the soup in a saucepan per the package instructions, and sauté the gnocchi in olive oil in a separate skillet. Add the gnocchi to the soup just before serving to keep it from getting soggy. Garnish with fresh thyme and cracked black pepper.

Roasted Caesar chickpeas with broccoli

Over in the produce section, the all-in-one Caesar Broccoli Bake Kit recently landed on shelves. This umami-packed side includes fresh broccoli florets, a packet of Caesar-Romano dressing, shredded Parmesan, and crumbled croutons. And it can easily be turned into a meal with one high-protein addition: canned chickpeas. 

Your chickpeas will take longer to cook than the broccoli, so you’ll want to give them a headstart in the oven. Preheat the oven to 425°F, toss the chickpeas with olive oil and salt, and roast for about 15 to 20 minutes on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Then add the broccoli and 3/4 of the dressing and toss. Follow the package instructions from there, which will prompt you to roast the broccoli for about 20–25 minutes before tossing with the Parmesan, croutons, and remaining dressing.

Italian sausage minestrone soup

Trader Joe’s packaged Organic Hearty Minestrone Soup is already a satisfying vegetarian meal, with kidney beans, cannellini beans, orzo pasta, and vegetables like peas and carrots. But you can add a little more heft and heat by adding slices of Sweet Italian Chicken Sausage. Warm up the broth in a saucepan per the package instructions, crisp up the pre-cooked sausage in olive oil in a large skillet, and add it to the soup. Squeeze some lemon juice on top and add freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.

Chili Lime Chicken Elote Chopped Salad

Trader Joe’s is known for its salad kits, which already come packed with fixings like veggies, cheese, crunchy things, and a flavorful dressing (on the side, of course). Among these are the fan-favorite Elote Chopped Salad with chopped cabbage, carrots, kale, smoked paprika-seasoned cornbread crumbles, and cotija cheese.

To turn it into a protein-packed lunch, make your own chicken breasts or thighs and add them to the salad. For a truly effortless meal, slice up the brand’s pre-cooked Grilled Chili Lime Chicken Breasts, which are seasoned with chili powder, paprika, dried garlic, cumin, and lime juice concentrate. Add some diced avocado and you’ve got one massive solo salad that can easily be extended into two to three meals.