I’m a professional meal planner. Here are 10 of my go-to Trader Joe’s products for easy, healthy dinners.

My kids can’t believe these flavorful Caesar, green-goddess, and creamy-dill dressings in the refrigerated section are completely plant-based. Plus, they have fewer than 100 calories per serving and are made from simple ingredients.

I’m vegan and the rest of my family isn’t, so they’re my answer for zhuzhing up steamed vegetables, grain bowls, wraps, and, of course, salads.

I’m always looking for ways to add more protein to meals, and I do so by using certain pasta varieties from Trader Joe’s in noodle dishes.

There are several options for pasta with up to 14 grams of protein per serving, including varieties made with lentils, brown rice, quinoa, and chickpeas.

Beyond pasta night, I also use the noodles to ramp up salads, veggie stir-fries, and curries.

Trader Joe’s simple can of vegetarian chili is great on nights when I don’t feel like cooking. It’s vegan, so everyone in my family can enjoy it.

I love that the added pea protein boosts the protein content alongside the red beans.

I serve it with a variety of toppings so everyone can pick what they like. I’ll also use it as a topping for baked potatoes or sweet potato “nachos.”

There’s a wide variety of salad kits at Trader Joe’s, from sweet-chili mango to pizza ranch.

Sometimes I just follow the package instructions to build a flavorful salad, but the kits have also inspired a number of dinners in my house. I use the Mediterranean kit as a base for falafel bowls and the Southwestern chopped as a pizza topping.

New varieties always seem to be popping up on shelves, creating limitless options for creativity.

Trader Joe’s offers a variety of tofu, but the high-protein super-firm, baked teriyaki-flavored, and baked Sriracha-flavored varieties are my favorites.

The pre-seasoned and baked varieties are ready to slice, crumble, or air-fry without any prep. Meanwhile, the high-protein tofu can be whipped up for a number of dishes and provides 5 more grams of protein per serving than the store’s standard extra-firm block.

Some of my menu highlights include grilled tofu “steaks” topped with chimichurri and breaded tofu sticks served with dipping sauces.

Preparing beans and legumes can be time-consuming, but they’re one of the best plant-based protein sources. So, the prepared lentil package in the refrigerated section at Trader Joe’s is a handy staple.

I use it in countless ways: filling taco shells, stirring into pasta sauces, and sprinkling on salads, to name a few.

I’ve also combined the lentils with lemon juice, fresh herbs, and Trader Joe’s bruschetta to make a hearty filling for a wrap.

I always keep a box of Trader Joe’s brown rice in my freezer to make easy weeknight meals, from grain bowls and stir-fries to burritos and casseroles.

Instead of meal-prepping a big pot of rice at the start of the week, I can just pull out one of these packets and microwave it for four minutes.

I’m also a fan of the store’s frozen jasmine rice.

Trader Joe’s package of lightly salted edamame is ready to eat, making it a go-to for my Asian-inspired meals.

I sprinkle them into stir-fries, teriyaki bowls, and sushi rolls, but they’re also just great for snacking.

We go through the refrigerated package in a week and don’t have to worry about it going bad, but there’s also a frozen option.

Much to my kids’ chagrin, one of the easiest ways to level up the nutrition factor in my family’s meals is to add more vegetables.

Luckily, all of us can get behind Trader Joe’s fun zucchini spirals and butternut-squash zig-zags.

I toss the spiralized zucchini with protein-enriched spaghetti and use the butternut-squash pieces to replace thicker noodles in soups and casseroles.

Tossed with soybean oil, lemon juice, parsley, salt, cumin, garlic powder, and black pepper, Trader Joe’s Greek chickpeas are my shortcut for adding zest and plant protein to meals.

For salads, I skip the dressing and toss the chickpeas directly into the bowl with the juice of a lemon. Or, I’ll roast them until crunchy and use them as croutons.

I also love to spoon them over grilled vegetables such as zucchini, cauliflower, and portobello mushrooms.

Keep reading Trader Joe’s diaries like this one.

This story was originally published on January 18, 2025, and most recently updated on June 24, 2026.