
With more than 600 locations across the US, Trader Joe’s is a firm favorite for millions of Americans. And honestly, it’s not hard to see why. The aisles of this beloved tiki-themed grocery store chain are always stocked with unique, affordable products, most of which are private label. According to experts on Trader Joe’s, that’s a big part of the appeal for many shoppers.
“There’s this kind of stigma that a private label is something you settle for so you can pay a lower price than you would for the name-brand option,” Julie Averbach, author of The Art of Trader Joe’s, told CNBC last year. “At Trader Joe’s, the private-label products are affordable luxuries.”
Over the years, we’ve covered many different categories of Trader Joe’s affordable luxuries. We’ve rounded up the best dairy-free desserts, vegan snacks, lazy-day meals, and seasonal favorites. In 2023, we even launched the first-ever Best Vegan Trader Joe’s Awards to find out which of the popular grocery store’s staples had your heart the most.
Trader Joe’s best vegan frozen foods
When it comes to convenient, affordable Trader Joe’s food, the freezer section is especially stacked. Think flavor-packed, globally inspired recipes, budget-friendly prices, and minimal prep.
But how do you know which items are truly the best of the best? We’ve got you covered. Below, we’ve ranked 23 of our favorite quick and easy Trader Joe’s frozen products. We love them all, but we think you’ll agree that these top picks have a slight edge when it comes to taste and overall experience.
Exploring Trader Joe’s
23 Multigrain Blend With Vegetables
Some days, we want to eat healthy but just can’t face all the prep that comes with cooking vegetables from scratch. That’s why this frozen bag of grains and vegetables is kicking off our list. All you need to do is simply thaw and toss into a skillet with plenty of olive oil. Enjoy this grain-and-vegetable medley on its own or with your favorite vegan chicken, black beans, or baked tofu, and you’ve got an easy, quick, nutritious midweek meal.
Trader Joe’s
22Riced Cauliflower Stir Fry
Another handy freezer staple from Trader Joe’s is this bag of Riced Cauliflower Stir Fry. The simple mix of crumbled cauliflower, tamari, sesame oil, and veggies is tasty enough to enjoy on its own, but if you want to jazz it up, try tossing in some edamame or serving it alongside spring rolls or gyoza.
21Riced Cauliflower Bowl
Cauliflower is nothing if not versatile, and this is another Trader Joe’s product that proves it. This frozen meal is complete on its own, making it as low-effort as it gets. You’ll still get plenty of nutritional value, thanks to the marinated chickpeas, sweet potatoes, tofu, and onions.

20Vegetable Spring Rolls
A box of vegetable spring rolls is always on hand in our freezer. Filled with kale, edamame, mushrooms, and shredded tofu, this frozen snack is incredibly versatile. Serve these rolls alongside your favorite fried rice or noodle dish, or enjoy them as is with plenty of sweet chili dipping sauce.
Trader Joe’s
19Asian Style Vegetables With Stir-Fry Sauce
This is another great freezer staple, perfect for days when you don’t have the time or energy to whip up something from scratch. Add it to a skillet alongside tofu, tempeh, or your favorite vegan meat to make this an easy and flavorful one-pot, midweek meal.

18Japchae Korean Glass Noodles and Vegetable Stir Fry
Craving takeout? We’ve got an idea that will save you time and money without sacrificing flavor: frozen japchae from Trader Joe’s. This stir-fry is packed with onions, spinach, carrots, bell peppers, chewy sweet potato glass noodles, and soy sauce for plenty of umami.

17 Pad See Ew
Coming in at number 17 on our list of Trader Joe’s best frozen products is this flavor-packed, umami-rich pad see ew. It doesn’t skimp on the vegetables, and we love that it includes Chinese broccoli, tofu chunks, and tofu sheets for an authentic Thai-inspired experience.
Trader Joe’s
16 Vegetable Pad Thai
Speaking of frozen Thai, we also had to include Trader Joe’s top-notch vegetable pad Thai heat-and-serve meal. It’s been available for more than 10 years and has earned a permanent place in our hearts thanks to its sweet-spicy tamarind sauce, tofu, rice noodles, and scallions.
Trader Joe’s
15 Japanese Style Fried Rice
This is another Trader Joe’s frozen staple that often stops us from ordering takeout. You can add vegan egg, plant-based shrimp, or meatless chicken to spruce it up, but it’s also delicious as is, thanks to the deep-fried tofu, shelled edamame, and hijiki seaweed. Served with a side of vegan kimchi, it makes the perfect midweek pick-me-up.
Trader Joe’s
14 Tteokbokki (Korean Spicy Rice Cakes)
Made with a bright red, sweet, peppery gochujang sauce, Trader Joe’s tteokbokki is always a hit. It’s incredibly versatile and can be boiled, air-fried, or skillet-fried, then enjoyed on its own or combined with extra veggies like bok choy for a nutritional boost. Prefer noodle-based dishes? Add instant ramen to make rabokki.

13 Steamed Vegetable Soup Dumplings
At number 13, we have Trader Joe’s vegetable soup dumplings. They’re perfect to keep on hand for filling, nourishing lunches, and even better when paired with a flavorful sauce like soy sauce, sesame oil, or chili oil.

12Vegetable Dumplings
We’re dumpling people, so of course, Trader Joe’s vegetable dumplings are next on the list. We love these delicate, flavorful frozen dumplings, filled with a tasty blend of chives, shiitake mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and cabbage. Keep them on hand for a dim sum-style dinner, or just munch on them as a satisfying snack.

11Teriyaki Mushroom Mini Bao Buns
Now we’re onto the dumpling’s cousin: the bao bun. This Trader Joe’s staple is another reliable favorite for us. The teriyaki miso seasoning adds a delicious kick of umami to every bite, and we love the hearty filling of chopped carrots, three types of mushrooms, onions, and scallions.

10Thai Vegetable Gyoza
Okay, we’re in the top 10. It’s getting serious now. Next up is another type of dumpling: gyoza. Trader Joe’s has created a really tasty fusion of Japanese and Thai flavors with minimal prep required. Just heat the gyoza in a pan until crispy and serve with your favorite dipping sauce.

9 Roti With Thai Red Curry
Another fusion dish, Trader Joe’s has taken the classic Indian roti canai and swapped the traditional Indian curry for a Thai curry instead. We have to say, it really works. The curry is slightly spicy, lightly coconutty, creamy, and filling, while the roti is deliciously flaky and soft.

8 Vegetable Biryani With Vegetable Dumplings
Trader Joe’s really excels at Indian-inspired dishes. Another great example is this frozen vegetable biryani, which comes complete with vegetable dumplings. It’s the ultimate elevated TV dinner, full of flavor and ready to go. Simply heat and serve, no tampering necessary, though you can always pair it with naan or roti if you like.
Trader Joe’s
7 Chicken-Less Mandarin Orange Morsels
Trader Joe’s had us worried for a minute when these disappeared from the shelves. But as proud members of the Chicken-Less Mandarin Orange Morsels fan club, we’re beyond thrilled they’re back. We love the meaty, chewy texture; the sweet-and-spicy sauce; and how quick and easy they come together (in just 10 minutes!). We’re stocking up our freezer now, just in case they disappear again.
Trader Joe’s
6 Korean Beefless Bulgogi
Another meaty favorite we always keep stocked in the freezer is Trader Joe’s Korean Beefless Bulgogi. The soy-based meat is chewy and tender, and the sweet-salty marinade is packed with umami, so what’s not to love? Add it to a stir-fry, enjoy it with veggies and rice, or eat it straight from a bowl exactly as it comes.
Trader Joe’s
5 Jumeokbap
Coming in at the coveted number five spot is another Korean-inspired favorite: jumeokbap. This frozen take on the popular street food combines plant-based bulgogi, vegetables, and rice for a winning combination. We love the slightly smoky flavor, the perfectly sized portions, and the meaty texture from the bulgogi, as well as how fun it is to share with friends alongside stir-fried vegetables, salad, and a selection of dipping sauces like sriracha, soy sauce, and gochujang mayo. Another tip: cook them in advance and pack them to-go for long journeys. They travel well.
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4 Taiwanese Green Onion Pancakes
James Beard Award-winning author, renowned chef, and TV personality Samin Nosrat counts these Taiwanese green onion pancakes as one of her Trader Joe’s essentials—and we wholeheartedly agree. With a lightly salty flavor and a soft, crumbly, flaky texture, this frozen must-have can compete with the kind you’d find in a restaurant. It makes sense that they taste authentic, since they’re actually imported from Taiwan. They’re great as a snack on their own, or you can create a fusion dish by serving them with Thai curry or Korean bulgogi. Be warned: these come and go from the shelves, so make sure to stock up when you see them.
Trader Joe’s
3 Kimbap
Drum roll, please. In third place, we have kimbap. Similar to sushi, this Korean favorite is filled with sesame oil-seasoned rice, sautéed greens, root vegetables, pickles, braised tofu, and a layer of seaweed. Easy to heat from frozen, Trader Joe’s kimbap is full of flavor, convenient to eat on the go, and much cheaper than ordering takeout. It’s a big win in our book.
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2 Vegan Tikka Masala
Trader Joe’s Indian-inspired, heat-and-serve vegan tikka masala comes in at number two. It’s aromatic, perfectly creamy, and full of tender soy-based vegan chicken that soaks up all the vibrant flavor from the sauce. Topping it all off is the traditional cumin rice. This, plus streaming our favorite show, makes for the perfect Friday night in.
Kelsey Oppenheim
1 Vegan Thai Green Curry
Number one, without a doubt, is another creamy curry. We’re not exaggerating when we say this heat-and-serve frozen dish—filled with mildly spicy green curry, tofu sheets, vegetables, and jasmine rice—truly tastes like something you’d be served in a restaurant in Thailand. There’s only one way to see if you agree with us: buy it and put it to the taste test. We don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
This post was originally published on VegNews.com.