Best Trader Joe’s Frozen Pasta to Buy

Trader Joe’s frozen pasta has been calling to me for awhile—but I never let myself try it. Why? Because I didn’t think I deserved a pasta shortcut. I thought, hey, I can boil water and warm sauce and it won’t take that much more time. I have a small freezer. I don’t have the space for such an indulgence. That’s all to say I was extremely excited to try all the Trader Joe’s frozen pasta I could find in search of the best Trader Joe’s frozen pasta. And, spoiler alert, after this taste test I’ll be giving up some of my precious freezer space for a few of the top picks. 

How we prepared Trader Joe’s frozen pasta

The packaging on most Trader Joe’s frozen pasta gives you two options: stovetop or microwave. We work in an office—not a normal office, per se, but an office nonetheless—so we chose to microwave these frozen pastas. There was just one exception. The microwave instructions on the Garlicky Pasta don’t tell you to include any liquid, but the stovetop instructions have you add some water. We followed the microwave instructions and wound up with stiff, dry noodle nests. So we tried the stovetop instructions instead and wound up with something not just edible, but downright delicious. 

What we looked for in the best Trader Joe’s frozen pasta 

We wanted frozen pasta that could fool someone into thinking it was a homemade pasta dish. We looked for savory sauces, creamy cheese, and al dente noodles. No mush, please. And no telltale freezer flavor, either. We also awarded bonus points for originality. 

One quick note about calories: We try not to care about calories unless we’re ranking low-cal foods. But it should be noted that, while none of these Trader Joe’s frozen pasta dishes are “diet” meals, many of them have very reasonable calorie counts and the serving sizes are substantial. You can have a full, satisfying bowl of pasta for 300 calories or less in some instances. It’s nice! 

If you’ve been curious about Trader Joe’s frozen pasta, don’t be like me. Don’t deny yourself the pleasure of a fast and satisfying pasta meal. But do follow our guidance. Here’s the best Trader Joe’s frozen pasta to buy.

Best Trader Joe’s frozen pasta, ranked

Best Plain Noodles

Trader Joe’s Fettuccine Alfredo

Is Trader Joe’s frozen alfredo pasta going to amaze and stun your dinner guests? No. But will it totally satisfy a picky eater who insists on buttered noodles and buttered noodles alone? Absolutely. The fettuccine noodles are eggy and springy. The sauce is buttery and savory. It’s an extremely comforting, seriously satisfying dish that happens to also be quite boring.

Credit: Merc

Rating:

6.5/10

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Best Basic Spaghetti

Trader Joe’s Spaghetti Carbonara

Trader Joe’s

Another Trader Joe’s frozen pasta that doesn’t get points for creativity, this frozen spaghetti carbonara is well executed and perfectly peppery. Carbonara is a simple dish but it’s tough to make at home. Trader Joe’s frozen carbonara makes it super easy. If you want to plus it up, add some frozen peas for pops of sweetness that will act as a foil to the salty bits of bacon.

Credit: Merc

Rating:

6.5/10

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Best for Fall

Trader Joe’s Sweet Potato Gnocchi

I’m a sucker for sage. It doesn’t matter what time of year it is, if you give me some sage and brown butter, it’s autumn in my mouth, baby. Trader Joe’s frozen sweet potato gnocchi is on the dense side of the gnocchi spectrum, but the butter sauce is so good. It’s sagey and nutty and really satisfying if you love those flavors like I do. Our pro tip? Skip the microwave and cook this Trader Joe’s frozen pasta in a pan so the hearty sweet potato gnocchi can get a little crisp.

Credit: Merc

Rating:

7/10

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Best Single Serving

Trader Joe’s Farfalle Pasta with Italian Chicken Sausage

Trader Joe’s

The only single-serving Trader Joe’s frozen pasta we found, this hearty, saucy farfalle pasta would be a real S-class desk lunch. In fact, it’s so filling that you may even have leftovers for the next day’s lunch. The tomato sauce is rich and spicy—like, actually spicy. The chicken sausage is fennel-y. And the pasta has just enough bite. It’s the best Trader Joe’s frozen pasta to fill an office freezer.

Credit: Merc

Rating:

7/10

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Best Base for Scampi

Trader Joe’s Garlicky Pasta

We didn’t know what to expect from this pasta. The picture on the packaging makes it look like sesame noodles. But you actually end up with ultra garlicky, ultra savory, ultra umami noodles that are the perfect base for a scampi. Seriously, just add frozen shrimp or even canned clams and you’ll be eatin’ good. Don’t forget some crusty bread to sop up all the sauce. And remember to cook this one in a pan, too, so you don’t end up with crispy bone-dry spaghetti.

Credit: Merc

Rating:

7.5/10

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Best Small Gnocchi

Trader Joe’s Gorgonzola Gnocchi

When you see gorgonzola you think pungent, stinky blue cheese. But this gorgonzola gnocchi is actually quite mild and restrained. The mini gnocchi are coated with a super creamy cheese sauce that has some of the bright tang of gorgonzola, but very little of the funk. On its own, it’s more of a side dish than a main course. But you could easily turn this Trader Joe’s frozen gnocchi into something special with some chopped walnuts and shredded prosciutto.

Credit: Merc

Rating:

8/10

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Best Filled Pasta

Trader Joe’s Cheese Filled Fiocchetti with Pink Sauce

Trader Joe’s

This frozen Trader Joe’s pasta is one of the most beloved—and we neglected to try it on camera when we filmed our Trader Joe’s frozen pasta taste test. It was hiding in our freezer. But I took it home and tried it separately, not wanting it to be left out of the running—especially considering it’s something my colleague Jordan Myrick regularly buys. I’m glad I did, because it’s really good and it’s the most unique Trader Joe’s frozen pasta of the bunch. The little pasta purses of cheese are so fun to eat and like nothing I’ve seen in the frozen aisle ever before. And the sauce is bright and zippy and creamy (though I’d scale back on the water next time for a thicker sauce). This may not be the number one best Trader Joe’s frozen pasta to buy but it’s definitely the most Trader Joe’s of the bunch.

Credit: Merc

Rating:

8.5/10

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Best Weeknight Pasta

Trader Joe’s Rigatoni alla Contadina

I really fell for this Trader Joe’s frozen pasta when we tried it. It’s so creamy and fresh. It’s the perfect springtime pasta and that’s a real feat for a frozen pasta. The asparagus is not mushy and tastes just right. The peas pop. And the broccoli that’s advertised on the package is mostly just there in spirit. You’ll see little bits of florets here and there, but there isn’t much. And that’s for the best because frozen broccoli can take over a dish sometimes. This is the best Trader Joe’s frozen pasta to buy for a midweek meal, when you’re stressed for time but you still need a vegetable.

Credit: Merc

Rating:

9/10

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Best Frozen Spaghetti

Trader Joe’s Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe

The noodles in this frozen cacio e pepe are thick. My colleague Gwynedd Stuart even thought they could be bucatini before taking a bite. But nope. It’s just supersized spaghetti, which is actually perfect for this dish because the sauce needs a hearty noodle. It’s super salty, super peppery, and super creamy. It’s really good—though, again, you might want to add some frozen peas to the mix to tame the saltiness. No need to add cheese, this pasta is flavorful enough.

Credit: Merc

Rating:

9.5/10

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Best of the Best

Trader Joe’s Cacio e Pepe Gnocchi

The cacio e pepe sauce in this Trader Joe’s frozen gnocchi dish is not the same as it is in the spaghetti dish. It’s much more toned down and balanced—but it still has great pops of pepper and it’s deeply cheesy. The gnocchi are perfect. They are big, soft, pillowy gnocchi that easily give way under the slightest pressure. This and a green salad and maybe a glass of some reasonably priced Trader Joe’s wine? Chef’s kiss.

Credit: Merc

Rating:

10/10

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