These Are The 9 Most Popular Frozen Foods at Trader Joe’s — Eat This Not That

By Ghuman

Introduction

If you’re a fan of Trader Joe’s, you know that the store is full of delicious frozen foods. From frozen pizzas to frozen burritos, there’s something for everyone. But which frozen foods are the most popular? We’ve rounded up the nine most popular frozen foods at Trader Joe’s, so you can stock up on your favorites. From frozen breakfast burritos to frozen mac and cheese, these are the frozen foods that Trader Joe’s fans can’t get enough of.

These Are The 9 Most Popular Frozen Foods at Trader Joe’s

Trader Joe’s is a beloved grocery store chain that offers a wide variety of frozen foods. From frozen pizzas to frozen burritos, there’s something for everyone. Here are the nine most popular frozen foods at Trader Joe’s.

1. Cauliflower Gnocchi

Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi is a fan favorite. It’s made with cauliflower, cassava flour, potato starch, and extra virgin olive oil. It’s a great alternative to traditional gnocchi and is perfect for a quick and easy dinner.

2. Mandarin Orange Chicken

Trader Joe’s mandarin orange chicken is a delicious and easy meal. It’s made with white-meat chicken, bell peppers, onions, and a sweet and tangy mandarin orange sauce. It’s a great option for a quick and easy dinner.

3. Chicken Tikka Masala

Trader Joe’s chicken tikka masala is a delicious and flavorful dish. It’s made with white-meat chicken, tomatoes, onions, and a creamy tikka masala sauce. It’s a great option for a quick and easy dinner.

4. Vegetable Fried Rice

Trader Joe’s vegetable fried rice is a delicious and easy meal. It’s made with a blend of vegetables, brown rice, and a savory sauce. It’s a great option for a quick and easy dinner.

5. Broccoli & Cheese Bites

Trader Joe’s broccoli & cheese bites are a delicious and easy snack. They’re made with broccoli, cheese, and a crispy coating. They’re a great option for a quick and easy snack.

6. Spinach & Artichoke Dip

Trader Joe’s spinach & artichoke dip is a delicious and easy appetizer. It’s made with spinach, artichokes, cream cheese, and a blend of spices. It’s a great option for a quick and easy appetizer.

7. Mac & Cheese Bites

Trader Joe’s mac & cheese bites are a delicious and easy snack. They’re made with macaroni, cheese, and a crispy coating. They’re a great option for a quick and easy snack.

8. Chicken Burrito Bowl

Trader Joe’s chicken burrito bowl is a delicious and easy meal. It’s made with white-meat chicken, black beans, corn, and a flavorful sauce. It’s a great option for a quick and easy dinner.

9. Vegetable Spring Rolls

Trader Joe’s vegetable spring rolls are a delicious and easy snack. They’re made with a blend of vegetables, rice noodles, and a savory sauce. They’re a great option for a quick and easy snack.

If you walk through the frozen section of a Trader Joe’s store, you’ll notice it looks different than the aisles of other grocery stores. For starters, there are no standing freezers with doors—just reach-in cases. But it’s the one-of-a-kind items inside those cases that keep shoppers coming back for more.

The 13th annual Trader Joe’s Customer Choice Awards were recently unveiled in categories such as beverages, desserts, and snacks. Thousands of shoppers answered the call to vote online, and a ton of frozen items finished up as winners or runners-up in various categories. Read on to discover which products walked away with bragging rights, including which two took home the (frozen) cake in their specific category.

Related: 6 Things You’ll See at Costco This Year

These frozen items are runner-ups in their categories:

Trader Joe's Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese
Courtesy of Trader Joe’s

This seasonal favorite was a runner-up in the “Favorite Overall” category, even though it only debuted in the frozen section for the first time last fall. It has four kinds of cheese—béchamel, cheddar, gouda, and parmesan—which coat butternut squash and rigatoni pasta. This frozen pick isn’t available right now, but it will likely return to shelves later this year, thanks to its newly-minted star status.

Trader Joe's Sublime Ice Cream Sandwiches
Courtesy of Trader Joe’s

“Nothing subliminal about it; these ice cream sandwiches more than live up to their name,” the grocery chain says about this frozen favorite that finished as a runner up in the “Favorite Sweets/Dessert” category. Months of testing produced the beloved ice cream sandwiches, and years later they remain a staple in household freezers.

Trader Joe's Diner Mac 'n Cheese
Courtesy of Trader Joe’s

This is the second mac and cheese product that finished on a runner-up list, after it was selected as a top entree. Clearly, fans love the combo of cheddar, gouda, havarti, and Swiss cheeses in this iconic frozen dinner. Microwave it or bake it in the oven to create a “kind of cozy dish that leaves you feeling satisfied and happy,” TJ’s says.

Trader joes chicken tikka masala
Olivia Tarantino/Eat This, Not That!

This frozen entree features chicken breast in a mildly spicy curry cream sauce over cumin basmati rice. While lots of people simply heat it up and enjoy it as it comes, TJ’s suggests making a burrito out of it.

“Just about any of our fabulous frozen entrées make a terrific lunch or delicious dinner on their own, but with a few extra ingredients and just a couple more minutes of prep, you could have a new desk-friendly lunch or on-the-go dinner creation in your hands,” the retailer says.

Trader Joe's Butter Chicken with Basmati Rice
Courtesy of Amazon

This is another frozen meal that landed a runner-up spot in the “Favorite Entree” category in this year’s awards. Reviews posted online call it tasty, as well as a great option for a low-calorie Indian dish ready in a pinch.

At 270 calories per box, Freezer Meal Frenzy says, “Trader Joe’s Butter Chicken with Basmati Rice will kill a craving for Indian food without loading you up with calories.”

Trader joes vegetable fried rice

Thousands of Trader Joe’s shoppers participated in this year’s Customer Choice Awards, and they voted the Vegetable Fried Rice as a runner-up in the “Favorite Vegan/Vegetarian Product” category. This combo of rice, soy sauce, and veggies is clearly loved by many even though it didn’t claim the top spot.

Trader joe's cauliflower gnocchi
Courtesy of Trader Joe’s

Cauliflower was all the rage for a while, with the introduction of various foods made using this low-carb vegetable, from pasta and pizzas to tots and more. Trader Joe’s spin on the Italian potato dumpling was the talk of the town when it debuted, in part because it doesn’t taste like cauliflower. It’s also extremely versatilesee these 5 Genius Ways To Turn Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi Into Dinner. Shoppers still love this product, and they voted it as one of the best meatless options in the store.

Trader Joe's Chicken-less Mandarin Orange Morsels
Courtesy of Trader Joe’s

The “Favorite Vegan/Vegetarian Product” category is packed with frozen items (aside from the Vegan Kale, Cashew & Basil Pesto and the winner, Soy Chorizo). These may have been absent from freezers for a while, but they’re backand clearly still on shoppers’ minds and in their carts.

“One of the best things about these morsels is that if you didn’t know they weren’t chicken, you’d probably think they were chicken,” TJ’s says of this meatless frozen option. “But because they’re not chicken, but rather a chicken-y blend of soy, this Asian inspired entrée is suitable-and quite delectable-for vegetarians and vegans alike.”

The winning favorites include…

trader joes mandarin orange chicken
Courtesy of Trader Joe’s

Like the chicken-less option, the Mandarin Orange Chicken is beloved—so much so that it has consistently been named the “Favorite Overall” product on store shelves. This year, it also came in first in the “Favorite Entree” category.

What’s the secret to making it taste even better than takeout? “It’s quite simple, really: Bake the chicken according to the package instructions. Then, during the last few minutes of cooking, pour the defrosted sauce into a HOT wok or non-stick pan—hot is the key here. Stir the cooked morsels of chicken into the sizzling sauce, and watch it transform as it clings to the chicken—perfectly caramelized, sweet and tangy,” Trader Joe’s suggests.

Trader joe's ice cream cones
Trader Joe’s

The Hold The Cone mini ice cream cones are the other frozen category winner, taking the crown for “Favorite Sweets/Dessert.” The boxes of eight cones come in flavors like chocolate, chocolate chip, and vanilla (plus seasonal varieties such as peppermint and pumpkin ginger). As evidenced by the name, these desserts are small, but they make a great snack or sweet treat. One serving contains three cones, which have 280 calories, 13 grams of fat, 35 grams of carbs, 22 grams of sugar, and 4 grams of protein.

Need help putting together your shopping list? Here are the 5 Healthiest New Trader Joe’s Foods, According to Dietitians.