The 8 Best Trader Joe’s Frozen Foods, According to Our Editors

TJ’s has been slinging their take on samosas for years. These bite-size, three-sided pastries offer phyllo-like crispness and deeply flavorful fillings. (The mini vegetable samosas, for instance, are stuffed with a curry-like seasoned mixture of peas, carrots, potatoes, lentils and onions.) “It’s a go-to, quick and easy lunch,” SEO editor Marissa Wu explains. “Tell me, who can resist something hot and crispy?”

The Trader Joe’s freezers are brimming with masala dishes—and regulars can’t get enough of them. “I’ve been eating their vegan tikka masala for years and it never gets old,” assistant editor Delia Curtis asserts. “Deliciously buttery sauce, savory cumin rice and some little vegan nuggets satiate me every time.”

That said, they also love the paneer masala. “It’s paneer—a fresh, acid-set cheese that’s similar in texture to firm tofu with a slightly nutty taste—paired with a spinach basmati rice,” they explain. “Something about the herby flavor of the rice, mixed with the buttery sauce and cheesy paneer, hits all the right notes.”

For VP of editorial Candace Davison, it’s the chicken masala. “When you don’t have time to cook (or you need something easy to tote to the office and reheat), this is a flavor-packed, affordable option,” she says. “Plus, the portion size is decent, so you’re not reaching for a bag of chips 30 minutes later.”

Personally, I always have a bag of frozen potato patties on deck for sandwiches, rice bowls and everything in between, and it looks like I’ll have to see how TJ’s version stacks up against my usual. “I love their hash browns (very McDonald’s-esque); they’re a dream for a quick breakfast,” senior director of special projects and royals Rachel Bowie claims. “I scramble two eggs, air fry a hash brown and mash it up, then pop it all in a tortilla with some chipotle mayo, salsa or sometimes just Tapatío.”

I’m sure TJ’s will never stop thinking up new iterations of these itty-bitty ice creams. “I have the biggest sweet tooth, so it’s nice to have these at the ready for a post-dinner treat,” associate fashion commerce editor Steph Meraz says. “Even though they’re quite small, they’re also deceivingly filling. Every once in a while, one will satisfy my craving (but I also don’t feel guilty for having the allotted serving size of three either).”

Bowie, Curtis and Wu alike sing the praises of Trader Joe’s frozen gyoza, as does assistant editor Nakeisha Campbell. “I’m obsessed with their frozen shrimp gyoza dumplings; if I want a quick appetizer or snack, I can whip up a few in 10 to 15 minutes,” she explains. “They’re super easy to make and so, so tasty.”

Former PureWow senior food editor Katherine Gillen swears by the pork variety. “We pretty much always have a bag of the pork gyoza in our freezer, which are excellent on their own as a quick lunch but also great for tossing into broth for soup,” she suggests.

When it comes to party appetizers, tailgate fare and game day snacks, look no further than this ever-so-slightly-sophisticated take on dough-wrapped cocktail weenies. (They’ve been stealing snackers’ hearts for more than 20 years.) Yohay adds that these poppables are “lightyears ahead of your typical frozen pigs in a blanket, thanks to the flaky puff pastry that’s sprinkled with Parmesan cheese.”