Trader Joe’s Frozen Food You Should Buy

Get your coats, kids, we’re going to France! And India! And Thailand! And Mexico! What? How can we afford that? Fear not, fellow broke homebodies. We’re simply going to the frozen section of Trader Joe’s! Like most grocers, Trader Joe’s carries freezer staples ranging from vegetable mixes to ice cream treats, but they also stock store-brand options for every taste, occasion, and budget. In the market for a classic all-American appetizer? TJ’s. Want to zip over for some lunchtime Thai without leaving the office? TJ’s. Looking to impress your friends with a French dessert? TJ’s.

But with so many choices, you’ll also need a guide. Hi, that’s us. Let’s start with a few highlights to try. Here are five exciting Trader Joe’s frozen foods we spotted on a recent excursion to the TJ’s frozen aisle.

French Onion Macaroni and Cheese: Trader Joe’s has brought our dream of combining classic French onion soup and gooey mac and cheese to life. And we’re happy to report that just a few minutes in the microwave or oven yields a much better return than sneaking into our neighborhood diner at 3 a.m. to try and make our own.
Mushroom and Black Truffle Flatbread: We don’t have a truffle hog. We know, it’s so embarrassing. But we’ve found that we don’t need one thanks to TJ’s. They’ve got us covered with a frozen flatbread covered in savory mushroom, earthy truffle flavor, and creamy mozzarella.
A Dozen Macarons Variés: Macarons can cost a pretty penny. And while you should support your local French patisserie, TJ’s offers an affordable selection of apricot, coconut, fig, salted caramel, lemon, and pistachio macarons in their frozen section—just defrost and enjoy.
Mandarin Orange Chicken: Sometimes we’re not in the mood to go to Panda Express. It’s not that we don’t want it—it’s just that we don’t want to put on our outside clothes. If you’re like us, then we have good news: You can keep Trader Joe’s frozen orange in your freezer and have it whenever you want. And, as we found out in a taste test, it’s really good orange chicken.
Mini Vegetable Samosas: With a higher filling to crust ratio than any other samosa we’ve ever seen, every one of these frozen samosas is filled to the brim with peas, carrots, potatoes, lentils, onions, and spices. They’re simple to prepare, but complexly flavored. And they’re one of the best frozen Trader Joe’s appetizers you can buy.