Trader Joe's Superfans Share Their Favorite No-Cook Meal Ideas
Are you loath to turn on the oven or stove this time of year? Or maybe you need meal ideas to get you through a move or kitchen renovation. On the Trader Joe's subreddit, users have shared their favorite simple "no-cook" meals using ingredients from the supermarket chain.
Related: 26 Prepared Meals at Costco to Feed Your Family
Salad can be a great option when you're short on time to make a nutritious meal — but you need more than just veggies. A Reddit user suggests adding burrata and sliced prosciutto to a bed of arugula. Or, with a Costco rotisserie chicken in the fridge, you can easily add protein to your favorite bagged salad.
Related: The Best Frozen and Ready-to-Eat Meals from Trader Joe's
Trader Joe's sells pre-cooked lentils, which are packed with nutrients such as folate, iron, phosphorus, potassium, and fiber. They're also low in fat. Mixing them with generous amounts of TJ's Bruschetta Sauce, a scoop or two of pesto (such as vegan cashew), and a handful of crumbled feta cheese makes another yummy salad, according to multiple Reddit users. You can also try adding cut-up watermelon, cucumbers, and chickpeas to this recipe to make it even more substantial.
Related: 30 Under-the-Radar Trader Joe's Pantry Staples
If you're craving something cool and refreshing to counteract summer heat, try ceviche. Look for fresh white fish in the seafood section, but a Reddit user says frozen shrimp works too, along with lots of lime juice, cucumber, onion, and cilantro. You can add some sliced avocado for an extra serving of healthy fat and creaminess. Trader Joe's also has an easy recipe for scallop ceviche. The only catch is you have to allow time for ceviche to sit in the refrigerator before it's ready to eat.
Another popular Trader Joe's item is its pre-cooked grilled chicken strips. Simply wrap the chicken, whatever veggies you have on hand, and your choice of spread in a tortilla. The Reddit user sharing this idea also recommends creating rice paper salad rolls or lettuce wraps, and filling them with pre-made Asian salad from TJ's as a shortcut — but cautions that it's not the cheapest option.
For a delicious and easy sandwich that is sure to hit the spot, try Trader Joe's Sweet Pull Apart Aloha Rolls with sliced peppered turkey breast, mayonnaise, horseradish Dijon mustard, pepper jack cheese, and romaine lettuce. Although the Hawaiian buns can be warmed for a few minutes in the oven, according to the package directions, you can also "enjoy as is."
Related: The 29 Best Things to Buy at Trader Joe's
Charcuterie boards don't always have to be super fancy. Trader Joe's offers a wide variety of nuts, jams, fruits, cheeses, and deli meats to help you build a visually impressive but virtually effortless meal. Unexpected cheeses such as cheddar, brie, and goat are some favorites mentioned on Reddit. Try adding cooked beans for an extra kick of protein and fiber.
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