The 7 Best Frozen Meals at Trader Joe’s to Grab Right Now

I love grocery shopping and have different stores that I like going to for different reasons. Some I choose for their fresh produce, others for their hot bar, some for the best deals, and others because they carry my favorite boxed mac and cheese. But Trader Joe’s has always been my go-to for its incredibly curated frozen aisle that offers a very satisfying variety. 

 Los Angeles-based content creator Paige Desjardins (@paigeeatsgood) has built a loyal following by tasting and reviewing grocery store items — from frozen plant-based chickens to coffee creamers. But where Desjardins truly shines is in her Trader Joe’s content. 

For a long time, I even referred to her as the “Trader Joe’s guru,” and I always make sure to check her latest TJ’s product reviews before heading to the California-based grocery chain myself.

Desjardins is one of the most popular and well-liked Trader Joe’s reviewers on social media thanks to her thorough commentary and kind, appreciative demeanor. “You know the drill, I’m going to taste them and rank them one through five,” she says in her video intros before proceeding to microwave or heat up each frozen item one by one. 

For each product category, Desjardins tries five to six options. For example, when reviewing premade soups from Trader Joe’s, she heats up and tastes small portions of each — live on camera. At the end of each review, she shares her official ranking and explains her reasoning.

Here are some standouts:

Top frozen burrito: Spinach & Feta Egg White Burrito

In her review of Trader Joe’s frozen burritos, Desjardins’ top pick is the Spinach & Feta Egg White Burrito. 

“So much flavor going on in there,” she says after the first bite. The microwavable breakfast burrito comes wrapped in a whole wheat tortilla and is filled with egg whites, wilted spinach, bits of feta cheese, and a zesty sun-dried tomato spread. 

Desjardins admits she had low expectations due to the burrito’s “healthy” appearance but was pleasantly surprised by how flavorful and fresh it tasted. “The spinach isn’t soggy at all — it must’ve been fresh before it was cooked, ” she notes, calling it “a really great, healthy breakfast option.” Despite being made with egg whites and lacking any sort of fatty meat (such as bacon bits or ground sausage), Desjardins emphasized that it doesn’t skimp on flavor at all.

Top frozen mac and cheese: Hatch Chile Mac & Cheese

Trader Joe’s offers several frozen mac and cheese options, from Pepperoni Pizza Mac & Cheese to the seasonal Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese  (which Desjardins didn’t get to try when she filmed this review in December).

Among the selections she did sample, Desjardins ranks the Hatch Chile Mac & Cheese as her favorite. Hatch chiles, grown in Hatch Valley, New Mexico, are known for their smoky, subtly sweet, and moderately spicy flavor. Trader Joe’s combines these chiles with a creamy, buttery cheese sauce to create a rich, flavorful dish. 

“This tastes so much more than just a bowl of mac and cheese — it gives you a little bit of heat in the back of your throat,” says Desjardins — adding that “it’s definitely not too spicy.” 

Top frozen chicken bowl: Chicken Burrito Bowl

The Trader Joe’s frozen aisle includes a wide variety of chicken-based bowls: Chicken Shawarma, Green Chile Chicken, Mandarin-Style Orange Chicken, and Teriyaki Chicken. But the one that impressed Desjardin the most was the Chicken Burrito Bowl. 

This particular bowl features seasoned chicken breast, brown rice, red quinoa, black beans, corn, bell peppers, cheddar cheese, and a Chipotle Southwest Style sauce. 

“You get a lot of different textures from the pepper, black beans, rice, and the chicken,” she says. Desjardins also points out that it isn’t spicy, thanks to the natural sweetness of the bell peppers and corn. But as someone who always needs a bit of a kick in my meals, I recommend adding some salsa verde or Food & Wine’s creamy and spicy Salsa Asada de Aguacate (Avocado Salsa). 

Top frozen pasta: Cheese Filled Fiocchetti with Pink Sauce

Trader Joe’s frozen pasta selection is just as impressive as its mac and cheese lineup. For this taste-test, Desjardins sampled five options: Spaghetti Carbonara, Linguine with Pesto and Tomatoes, Penne Arrabbiata, Garlicky Pasta, and the Fiocchetti with Pink Sauce.

The Cheese-Filled Fiocchetti with Pink Sauce has long been a fan favorite for its bow-like shape and light cream and tomato sauce

“I think I see what everyone is talking about,” Desjardins says after taking a bite. She praises the al dente texture of the pasta and appreciates the filling, which is made with three different Italian cheeses: Ricotta, Taleggio, and Mozzarella. 

Top frozen rice meal: Bulgogi Beef Fried Rice with Kimchi

For her frozen rice review, Desjardin samples six varieties: Chicken Fried Rice, Spicy Thai Shrimp Fried Rice, Riced Cauliflower Stir Fry, Spanish Style Rice, Japanese Style Fried Rice, and Korean-Inspired Bulgogi Beef Fried Rice with Kimchi.  

What sets the Bulgogi Beef Fried Rice apart, according to Desjardins, is its mix of textures and flavors. The dish includes tender beef, chopped veggies, and the standout ingredient — kimchi — which adds tang and depth. The sweet and savory notes complement each other quite well.

According to the package instructions, the rice can be prepared in five minutes in the microwave or slightly longer on the stovetop. You could even level up this rice dish further by adding scrambled eggs and a spoonful of chili crunch oil for a spicy, umami-forward meal. 

Top frozen meat entrée: Korean Style Beef Short Ribs

When ranking frozen meat entrees from Trader Joe’s, Desjardins tasted the Middle Eastern Style Kebabs, Hot & Spicy Chicken Wings, Beef Birria, Grilled Chicken Strips, and Korean-Style Beef Short Ribs.  Though Desjardins was impressed by the Middle Eastern Style Kebabs, the clear winner was the Korean-style beef short ribs. 

“The meat is really, really tender. This is crazy good — I can’t even speak because I just want to eat it,” says Desjardins. She also notes that the meat is a little fatty and thinks it might not be the top choice for someone who doesn’t enjoy the flavor of fat.  

The short ribs are marinated in a Korean-style sauce made with soy sauce, brown sugar, black pepper, garlic, sesame oil, lemon juice, and rice wine — creating a perfect balance of sweet and savory.

“What can I say? No notes. It’s sweet, it’s savory, it’s tender. I love it,” says Desjardins.  

Top frozen appetizer: Jalapeño & Cream Cheese Crispy Wontons

Trader Joe’s frozen apps are typically crispy, and come filled with a variety of savory ingredients. For this category, Desjardins reviewed the Fried Olive Bites, Chạo Tôm, Vegetable Samosas, and the Jalapeño & Cream Cheese Crispy Wontons.

The wontons emerged as her favorite. With a filling made with tangy cream cheese, Parmesan, and diced jalapeños, these crispy bites resemble jalapeños poppers and rangoons — and offer a satisfying blend of creamy and spicy.

“If I cooked this whole box, I would’ve 100% eaten them all — I loved these,” she says. For the best experience, I suggest pairing these with a sweet chili sauce.