We Asked College Students For Their Favorite Trader Joe’s Frozen Meals Under $5

If there is anyone you should trust for a quick and easy dinner recommendation, it is a college student. Need evidence? I’ve already rounded up my college friends’ favorite two-ingredient dinners—proof that we are experts in making cheap, but still delicious meals in only a few minutes. 

When college students are not cheffing it up with one of these 2-ingredient meals, there is a likely chance that they are heating up a frozen dish instead. And no grocery store quite does easy freezer meals quite like Trader Joe’s. Two years into college and I have turned into a TJ’s freezer-aisle aficionado. And I know my friends have, too. 

So, I called them up (again) to got their best recs. Even if you are not in school anymore, these meals are sure to come in handy, because let’s be honest, we all have a frozen pizza or two in the freezer ready for a rainy day. It’s time to upgrade your freezer with some dinners that are so delicious, you won’t consider them a last-resort meal. Plus, they are all under $5 and only require a microwave to prepare. What more could you ask for?

Thai Vegetable Gyoza   

While these veggie gyoza might seem unassuming, my friend Yana swears by them as her go-to dinner or lunch. She loves them so much, she says she eats them almost every day. This version is packed with veggies like cabbage and carrots, but TJ’s also offers a chicken version if that is more your style. To upgrade this meal, Yana’s recommendation is to add a simple peanut sauce or some crispy chili oil. But, she says that they are also “incredible” on their own.

Gluten-Free Mac & Cheese

While boxed mac and cheese might be my preference, I also can’t say no to TJ’s frozen version of this classic food. And I am not alone—many of my friends pointed this out as one of their best frozen meal options. Don’t let it scare you that this meal is gluten-free. While TJ’s offers regular mac and cheese, the word on the street is that the gluten-free version is actually better. So the next time you want some creamy, cheesy comfort food, you know exactly where to turn. 

Mini Vegetable Samosas

My friend Delaney is a skeptic of TJ’s frozen meals–except for when it comes to its Vegetable Samosas. These bite-sized treats consist of crispy dough filled with veggies and spices—the perfect savory pastry for a snack-y dinner. Microwave a few of these, and you have a meal. Or, serve them on the side of another dish for something extra. Delaney also insists on pairing these with coriander chutney for the best flavor.

Mexican-Style Rice Cauliflower

This riced cauliflower is an easy way to keep your freezer from getting boring. Jam-packed with flavor and a little kick, this find works great as a meal or—as TJ’s recommends—the base for a burrito bowl. Recommended by my friend Grace, this is an easy freezer staple to have on hand as an ingredient or to eat on its own. While it is vegan, it would be delicious with some meat added on top as well.

Korean Beefless Bulgogi

Before she even left for college, my freshman-year roommate Ryan said that this dish was a “staple” in her house. Ryan is vegetarian, so her preference is the meatless version, but TJ’s sells a meat version of this meal if that is what you are looking for. Both of these frozen dishes go great with some jasmine rice, per Ryan’s recommendation. Add a little Soyaki, she says, and you’ve got yourself one of the best frozen dinners you can find.

Vegetable Pad Thai

This Vegetable Pad Thai recently dethroned Trader Joe’s soup dumplings as my favorite frozen meal option. On my TJ’s runs, it’s been hard for me to venture out to other products when I can toss a few of these in my cart and know I have several dinners ready to go. It’s just so flavorful, I know it will never let me down. I’ll even bet that if you missed the part where this dish gets cooked in the microwave, you might be tricked into thinking it’s homemade.