11 Trader Joe’s Frozen Foods That Taste Homemade
The weeknight supper hero may be Trader Joe’s. For those who don’t have time or energy to cook, their frozen food department is fresh, tasty, and cozy. The flavor and texture of these frozen dinners make you think you cooked them for hours. Whether you want cheesy pasta, a warming curry, or a flaky pastry with wine, Trader Joe’s offers everything. Magic of handmade flavor without preparation, chopping, or mess. Busy foodies celebrate each meal as a win. Save room in your freezer for these tasty treats. These 11 Trader Joe’s frozen treats taste homemade.
1. Mandarin-Style Orange Chicken
This is one of Trader Joe’s best frozen foods. The batter on the chicken pieces is crunchy, and the orange sauce that goes with them is sticky and sour, with a mix of sweet and citrus flavors. The outside stays lovely and crunchy when you air-fry or bake it, while the inside stays juicy. A lot of people say it tastes and feels just as good as takeout. The sauce doesn’t taste too sugary or processed, and the balance seems more like a chef’s sauce than a mass-produced one.
2. Chicken Shawarma Bowl
This frozen bowl has a mix of basmati rice, seasoned chicken, spinach, bell pepper, and a white sauce with garlic in it. The seasoning on the chicken really stands out, with warm Middle Eastern spices, a hint of acidity, and not too much salt or heaviness. It’s not common for frozen bowls to keep their parts separate after being microwaved. People who have tried it claim it tastes more like a home-cooked grain bowl than a frozen meal.
3. Spicy Farfalle Pasta With Italian Chicken Sausage
This meal has bowtie pasta (farfalle), a tomato-based sauce with a hint of heat, and pieces of Italian chicken sausage. The pasta stays chewy instead of getting mushy, which is what makes it stand out. The sauce also adds depth without tasting flat, with a savory and somewhat spicy flavor. One of the nicer frozen spaghetti all-in-ones you can purchase at TJ’s.
4. Butter Chicken With Basmati Rice
Trader Joe’s frozen butter chicken has a creamy tomato curry base, soft pieces of chicken, with basmati rice on the side. It won’t be as good as a meal from a great restaurant, but a lot of people think it gets the comfortable, savory, and somewhat buttery notes very well, especially for what it is. The curry doesn’t taste too processed, and the texture is just right—not too thin or too lumpy. It’s one of the premade Indian meals that people say “does the job” when you don’t have time to make curry from scratch.
5. Joe’s Diner Mac ’N Cheese
This frozen mac and cheese has a mix of cheeses, including cheddar, Havarti, Gouda, and Swiss. It is meant to be rich and creamy. The sauce doesn’t taste flat or too gummy, which makes it taste like it was made at home. Instead, it has a creamy texture with a tasty bite. The pasta doesn’t fall apart completely when heated, and a lot of people claim this is one of the best frozen “classic comfort food” options from TJ’s.
6. Baingan Bharta (Roasted Eggplant Curry)
This frozen curry is really close to the real thing for people who like Indian vegetarian food. Roasting the eggplant instead of just stewing it gives it a smoky flavor and texture that makes it more interesting. The curry sauce doesn’t weigh you down; instead, it has warmth, acidity from the tomatoes, and a hint of spice. It might need a side of naan or more rice, but it tastes almost like homemade curry, which surprises a lot of people.
7. Spicy Peanutty Noodle Bowl With Chicken
This one has a spicy kick and a sauce that tastes like peanuts. It has noodles, ground chicken, and peanuts. The sauce has depth because it has nutty, salty, and sweet elements that work together. The chicken also merges in with the noodles instead of feeling like a frozen piece, and the noodles stay firm (not mushy). A lot of people remark this one seems like a bowl you might order or put together fresh.
8. Kimbap (Trader Joe’s)
Kimbap is a type of Korean rice roll that is similar to sushi rolls but has cooked contents. Reviewers report that Trader Joe’s frozen version tastes and feels just as good. After frozen or heating, the rice, seaweed wrap, and contents stay intact (not mushy), and many people say it’s just as good as freshly made rolls. People stock up on it because it’s one of the frozen things that goes viral.
9. Risotto Semplice
This is a more delicate item: a “frozen risotto” that is meant to taste like classic risotto Milanese (with saffron). Users say it has creamy, al dente, and delicious overtones, and it doesn’t taste too starchy or gummy. Risotto is known for being hard to make, so it’s surprising that a frozen version can look almost homemade. People say that the texture and flavor are quite similar to a dish you might make yourself.
10. Frozen Artichoke Bottoms
They aren’t a full meal, but a lot of people say they taste remarkably fresh for what they are. You just need to thaw and bake or cook the cleaned, prepped, and frozen artichoke bottoms. People have said that the flavor doesn’t taste “frozen” or bitter, and the flesh stays solid and has the subtle sweetness and earthiness of artichoke. It’s not common for a frozen veggie product to be so close to a homemade one.
11. Cheese & Green Chile Tamales
Making tamales from scratch takes a lot of work, such making masa, stuffing them, steaming them, and wrapping them. The Trader Joe’s variation, cheese and green chile tamales, has the masa chew and the mild green chile bite wrapped in corn husks. A lot of reviews say they remind them of the past and are gratifying for what they are: warm, masa-forward, and with a good filling flavor. As a frozen tamale, they are closer to the real thing than a lot of others.
