ClosePictured Recipe:Easy Salmon CakesWe hear it all the time—staying on track with healthy eating depends on planning ahead. But for those of us who don’t have time for elaborate meal-prep days or massive grocery hauls, having a few simple kitchen workhorses is the key to avoiding ordering in. In addition to the standard staples, here are some of our go-to shortcut ingredients for making easy and healthy dinners with five ingredients or less!See More:Easy 5-Ingredient DinnersFrom the PantryPictured Recipe:5-Ingredient Pesto Ravioli with Spinach & TomatoesWe don’t all have as much pantry space as Martha Stewart, so some of us have to be selective about what ingredients we store. That often means finding a few flavorful and simple canned and boxed goods that take the guesswork (and actual work) out of making dinner. Canned vegetables have come a long way since our parents' days. Today you can find preseasoned and creative combinations to suit anyone’s palates and help you get a heathy meal on the table in minutes! And while beans may be the first thing you think of when it comes to pantry protein sources (try this easy recipe for five-ingredientBlack-Bean Quesadillas), there are plenty of other options as well—try canned chicken, tuna and salmon!Grains are another important component of a healthy meal and the panty is home to many. Why make an elaborate grain side dish when there are so many convenient combinations ready to go in the grocery aisles? Whether you’re feeling traditional rice or pasta, or looking to double down on the vegetables with a veggie-based “grain,” you’ll be able to build a balanced meal in a flash. Now comes time for the flavor. Got a base protein with no seasoning? Store-bought sauces deliver big flavor fast and will help you transform a blank slate like chicken, tofu or canned beans into a masterful meal. And spices are how you make real magic in the kitchen—a few good blends and mixes will help you add flavor fast.Easy Ideas to Try:Use seasoned canned tomatoes to make an easyShakshuka with Roasted Tomatoes, or use canned corn with beans and rice for an easy vegan dinner.Pair a store-bought pesto sauce and pasta to make an easypesto ravioli(pictured above), or mix that taco seasoning and enchilada sauce with a can of black beans and serve with some preseasoned rice for a veggietaconight.Canned tuna, plus canned beans and a few dried herbs, makes for a satisfying dinner inthis recipeand with canned salmon plus a few other ingredients, you can make deliciousEasy Salmon Cakesthat can be served over a salad or on a bun for a tasty salmon burger.VegetablesCanned basil, garlic and oregano diced tomatoesCanned peas and carrotsCanned black bean & corn salsaCanned corn with Mexican-inspired flavorsProteinCanned tuna & seasoned tuna pouchesCanned salmonCanned chiliCanned beansCanned no-salt-added premium chicken breastPictured Recipe:5-Ingredient Chicken & White Bean SoupGrains and PastaWhole-wheat pastaSpanish-style riceSouthwestern-flavored quinoaSeasoned rice pilafChickpea pasta kitsSee More Recipes:3-Ingredient Pasta Dinners for When You Need a Meal in a PinchFlavorful SaucesMarinara sauceCurry sauceTeriyaki sauceBasil pesto sauceEnchilada sauceSpice BlendsTaco seasoningEverything but the Bagel Seasoning from Trader Joe’sOld Bay Seasoning for seafood, poultry, salads and meatsItalian seasoningGaram masalaSee More:50 Ideas for Using Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel SeasoningFrom the FridgePictured Recipe:Asian-Style Chicken Salad BowlsThe supermarket’s refrigerated aisles are no longer just for milk, eggs, vegetables and meat. Today, there are a lot of innovative new products to help make eating well easier on busy folks. Go with pre-prepped produce options and grab some ready-to-eat proteins to pair with other pantry and freezer staples for easy meals. Let the grocery store do a little of the grunt work to help you get nutritious food on the table.Easy Ideas to Try:A box of precooked chicken strips, some store-bought sauce and some ready-to-eat vegetables can be instantly transformed into thisBasil-Tomato Chicken Skillet.A rotisserie chicken is always a win, and can be used to create crave-worthy recipes like this five-ingredientChicken & White Bean Soup.VegetablesSalad kitsAldi Hot & Spicy Stir-Fry KitTrader Joe’s Jicama WrapsButternut squash ravioli, spinach-stuffed ravioli, etc.Trader Joe’s Grilled Vegetables (from the refrigerator section)8 Easy Meals You Can Make from Your Trader Joe’s HaulProteinEggsTarget’s Good & Gather Grilled Chicken Fajita StripsFlavored tofu cubesRotisserie chickenPlant-based meat alternativesFrom the FreezerPictured Recipe:Brown Rice Pilaf with Spring VegetablesThe freezer is a busy foodie’s BFF—it istheplace to stock up and store easy meal components for hectic weeknights. Start with an essential staple—frozen veggies. Contrary to popular belief, frozen produce is just as healthy, if not more so, than fresh since it’s often packed at the peak of ripeness and flash frozen to lock in nutrition. Keep a few options on hand to add to meals in a pinch. Healthy whole grains can also be found in the freezer aisle. And for the weeks when some fresh meats and alternatives get expensive or hard to find, having a well-stocked freezer with protein staples will make family meals stress free. Whoever said fresh is best didn’t know how to stock a freezer like this!Easy Ideas to Try:Dinner could be thisBrown Rice Pilaf with Spring Vegetablesmade simply with frozen grains and veg.This easyBarbecue Chicken Pizzacomes together with whole-wheat dough (which is a great freezer staple), frozen shredded chicken and store-bought barbecue sauce for a simple, healthy meal.Use frozen turkey meatballs in place of homemade in this simpleTurkey Meatballs with Green Beans & Cherry Tomatoes.Serve some frozen potstickers with frozen stir-fry veggies for an ultra-easy meal.VegetablesTrader Joe’s Cauliflower GnocchiTrader Joe’s Riced Cauliflower StuffingStir-fry veggie blendsGrainsBanza Chickpea Crust PizzaFrozen whole-wheat pizza crust or cauliflower crustTrader Joe’s Multigrain Blend with VegetablesTrader Joe’s Garlic NaanRavioliProteinDr Praeger’s Perfect Plant Based GroundTai Pei Frozen Chicken PotstickersTarget’s Good & Gather Italian-Style Chicken MeatballsFrontera Taco Skillet kitsSalmon burgersFrozen chicken strips, shredded chicken or diced chickenVeggie burgersBottom LineRepeat after me—mealtimescanbe stress-free, deliciousandhealthy with the right convenient tools in your culinary toolbox. So print this list off for your next shopping trip, and make your groceries work foryou.Abbey Sharp is a registered dietitian (RD), YouTuber, blogger, award-winning author and mom of two busy boys. She debunks nutrition myths and denounces diet culture on herYouTube channel, her acclaimed food blog,Abbey’s Kitchen, and in her Taste Canada Awards Gold-winning cookbook, theMindful Glow Cookbook. With lots of science and a little sass, she makes nourishing your body without dieting easy, delicious and fun.Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!Tell us why!OtherSubmit
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Pictured Recipe:Easy Salmon CakesWe hear it all the time—staying on track with healthy eating depends on planning ahead. But for those of us who don’t have time for elaborate meal-prep days or massive grocery hauls, having a few simple kitchen workhorses is the key to avoiding ordering in. In addition to the standard staples, here are some of our go-to shortcut ingredients for making easy and healthy dinners with five ingredients or less!See More:Easy 5-Ingredient DinnersFrom the PantryPictured Recipe:5-Ingredient Pesto Ravioli with Spinach & TomatoesWe don’t all have as much pantry space as Martha Stewart, so some of us have to be selective about what ingredients we store. That often means finding a few flavorful and simple canned and boxed goods that take the guesswork (and actual work) out of making dinner. Canned vegetables have come a long way since our parents' days. Today you can find preseasoned and creative combinations to suit anyone’s palates and help you get a heathy meal on the table in minutes! And while beans may be the first thing you think of when it comes to pantry protein sources (try this easy recipe for five-ingredientBlack-Bean Quesadillas), there are plenty of other options as well—try canned chicken, tuna and salmon!Grains are another important component of a healthy meal and the panty is home to many. Why make an elaborate grain side dish when there are so many convenient combinations ready to go in the grocery aisles? Whether you’re feeling traditional rice or pasta, or looking to double down on the vegetables with a veggie-based “grain,” you’ll be able to build a balanced meal in a flash. Now comes time for the flavor. Got a base protein with no seasoning? Store-bought sauces deliver big flavor fast and will help you transform a blank slate like chicken, tofu or canned beans into a masterful meal. And spices are how you make real magic in the kitchen—a few good blends and mixes will help you add flavor fast.Easy Ideas to Try:Use seasoned canned tomatoes to make an easyShakshuka with Roasted Tomatoes, or use canned corn with beans and rice for an easy vegan dinner.Pair a store-bought pesto sauce and pasta to make an easypesto ravioli(pictured above), or mix that taco seasoning and enchilada sauce with a can of black beans and serve with some preseasoned rice for a veggietaconight.Canned tuna, plus canned beans and a few dried herbs, makes for a satisfying dinner inthis recipeand with canned salmon plus a few other ingredients, you can make deliciousEasy Salmon Cakesthat can be served over a salad or on a bun for a tasty salmon burger.VegetablesCanned basil, garlic and oregano diced tomatoesCanned peas and carrotsCanned black bean & corn salsaCanned corn with Mexican-inspired flavorsProteinCanned tuna & seasoned tuna pouchesCanned salmonCanned chiliCanned beansCanned no-salt-added premium chicken breastPictured Recipe:5-Ingredient Chicken & White Bean SoupGrains and PastaWhole-wheat pastaSpanish-style riceSouthwestern-flavored quinoaSeasoned rice pilafChickpea pasta kitsSee More Recipes:3-Ingredient Pasta Dinners for When You Need a Meal in a PinchFlavorful SaucesMarinara sauceCurry sauceTeriyaki sauceBasil pesto sauceEnchilada sauceSpice BlendsTaco seasoningEverything but the Bagel Seasoning from Trader Joe’sOld Bay Seasoning for seafood, poultry, salads and meatsItalian seasoningGaram masalaSee More:50 Ideas for Using Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel SeasoningFrom the FridgePictured Recipe:Asian-Style Chicken Salad BowlsThe supermarket’s refrigerated aisles are no longer just for milk, eggs, vegetables and meat. Today, there are a lot of innovative new products to help make eating well easier on busy folks. Go with pre-prepped produce options and grab some ready-to-eat proteins to pair with other pantry and freezer staples for easy meals. Let the grocery store do a little of the grunt work to help you get nutritious food on the table.Easy Ideas to Try:A box of precooked chicken strips, some store-bought sauce and some ready-to-eat vegetables can be instantly transformed into thisBasil-Tomato Chicken Skillet.A rotisserie chicken is always a win, and can be used to create crave-worthy recipes like this five-ingredientChicken & White Bean Soup.VegetablesSalad kitsAldi Hot & Spicy Stir-Fry KitTrader Joe’s Jicama WrapsButternut squash ravioli, spinach-stuffed ravioli, etc.Trader Joe’s Grilled Vegetables (from the refrigerator section)8 Easy Meals You Can Make from Your Trader Joe’s HaulProteinEggsTarget’s Good & Gather Grilled Chicken Fajita StripsFlavored tofu cubesRotisserie chickenPlant-based meat alternativesFrom the FreezerPictured Recipe:Brown Rice Pilaf with Spring VegetablesThe freezer is a busy foodie’s BFF—it istheplace to stock up and store easy meal components for hectic weeknights. Start with an essential staple—frozen veggies. Contrary to popular belief, frozen produce is just as healthy, if not more so, than fresh since it’s often packed at the peak of ripeness and flash frozen to lock in nutrition. Keep a few options on hand to add to meals in a pinch. Healthy whole grains can also be found in the freezer aisle. And for the weeks when some fresh meats and alternatives get expensive or hard to find, having a well-stocked freezer with protein staples will make family meals stress free. Whoever said fresh is best didn’t know how to stock a freezer like this!Easy Ideas to Try:Dinner could be thisBrown Rice Pilaf with Spring Vegetablesmade simply with frozen grains and veg.This easyBarbecue Chicken Pizzacomes together with whole-wheat dough (which is a great freezer staple), frozen shredded chicken and store-bought barbecue sauce for a simple, healthy meal.Use frozen turkey meatballs in place of homemade in this simpleTurkey Meatballs with Green Beans & Cherry Tomatoes.Serve some frozen potstickers with frozen stir-fry veggies for an ultra-easy meal.VegetablesTrader Joe’s Cauliflower GnocchiTrader Joe’s Riced Cauliflower StuffingStir-fry veggie blendsGrainsBanza Chickpea Crust PizzaFrozen whole-wheat pizza crust or cauliflower crustTrader Joe’s Multigrain Blend with VegetablesTrader Joe’s Garlic NaanRavioliProteinDr Praeger’s Perfect Plant Based GroundTai Pei Frozen Chicken PotstickersTarget’s Good & Gather Italian-Style Chicken MeatballsFrontera Taco Skillet kitsSalmon burgersFrozen chicken strips, shredded chicken or diced chickenVeggie burgersBottom LineRepeat after me—mealtimescanbe stress-free, deliciousandhealthy with the right convenient tools in your culinary toolbox. So print this list off for your next shopping trip, and make your groceries work foryou.Abbey Sharp is a registered dietitian (RD), YouTuber, blogger, award-winning author and mom of two busy boys. She debunks nutrition myths and denounces diet culture on herYouTube channel, her acclaimed food blog,Abbey’s Kitchen, and in her Taste Canada Awards Gold-winning cookbook, theMindful Glow Cookbook. With lots of science and a little sass, she makes nourishing your body without dieting easy, delicious and fun.Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!Tell us why!OtherSubmit
Pictured Recipe:Easy Salmon CakesWe hear it all the time—staying on track with healthy eating depends on planning ahead. But for those of us who don’t have time for elaborate meal-prep days or massive grocery hauls, having a few simple kitchen workhorses is the key to avoiding ordering in. In addition to the standard staples, here are some of our go-to shortcut ingredients for making easy and healthy dinners with five ingredients or less!See More:Easy 5-Ingredient DinnersFrom the PantryPictured Recipe:5-Ingredient Pesto Ravioli with Spinach & TomatoesWe don’t all have as much pantry space as Martha Stewart, so some of us have to be selective about what ingredients we store. That often means finding a few flavorful and simple canned and boxed goods that take the guesswork (and actual work) out of making dinner. Canned vegetables have come a long way since our parents' days. Today you can find preseasoned and creative combinations to suit anyone’s palates and help you get a heathy meal on the table in minutes! And while beans may be the first thing you think of when it comes to pantry protein sources (try this easy recipe for five-ingredientBlack-Bean Quesadillas), there are plenty of other options as well—try canned chicken, tuna and salmon!Grains are another important component of a healthy meal and the panty is home to many. Why make an elaborate grain side dish when there are so many convenient combinations ready to go in the grocery aisles? Whether you’re feeling traditional rice or pasta, or looking to double down on the vegetables with a veggie-based “grain,” you’ll be able to build a balanced meal in a flash. Now comes time for the flavor. Got a base protein with no seasoning? Store-bought sauces deliver big flavor fast and will help you transform a blank slate like chicken, tofu or canned beans into a masterful meal. And spices are how you make real magic in the kitchen—a few good blends and mixes will help you add flavor fast.Easy Ideas to Try:Use seasoned canned tomatoes to make an easyShakshuka with Roasted Tomatoes, or use canned corn with beans and rice for an easy vegan dinner.Pair a store-bought pesto sauce and pasta to make an easypesto ravioli(pictured above), or mix that taco seasoning and enchilada sauce with a can of black beans and serve with some preseasoned rice for a veggietaconight.Canned tuna, plus canned beans and a few dried herbs, makes for a satisfying dinner inthis recipeand with canned salmon plus a few other ingredients, you can make deliciousEasy Salmon Cakesthat can be served over a salad or on a bun for a tasty salmon burger.VegetablesCanned basil, garlic and oregano diced tomatoesCanned peas and carrotsCanned black bean & corn salsaCanned corn with Mexican-inspired flavorsProteinCanned tuna & seasoned tuna pouchesCanned salmonCanned chiliCanned beansCanned no-salt-added premium chicken breastPictured Recipe:5-Ingredient Chicken & White Bean SoupGrains and PastaWhole-wheat pastaSpanish-style riceSouthwestern-flavored quinoaSeasoned rice pilafChickpea pasta kitsSee More Recipes:3-Ingredient Pasta Dinners for When You Need a Meal in a PinchFlavorful SaucesMarinara sauceCurry sauceTeriyaki sauceBasil pesto sauceEnchilada sauceSpice BlendsTaco seasoningEverything but the Bagel Seasoning from Trader Joe’sOld Bay Seasoning for seafood, poultry, salads and meatsItalian seasoningGaram masalaSee More:50 Ideas for Using Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel SeasoningFrom the FridgePictured Recipe:Asian-Style Chicken Salad BowlsThe supermarket’s refrigerated aisles are no longer just for milk, eggs, vegetables and meat. Today, there are a lot of innovative new products to help make eating well easier on busy folks. Go with pre-prepped produce options and grab some ready-to-eat proteins to pair with other pantry and freezer staples for easy meals. Let the grocery store do a little of the grunt work to help you get nutritious food on the table.Easy Ideas to Try:A box of precooked chicken strips, some store-bought sauce and some ready-to-eat vegetables can be instantly transformed into thisBasil-Tomato Chicken Skillet.A rotisserie chicken is always a win, and can be used to create crave-worthy recipes like this five-ingredientChicken & White Bean Soup.VegetablesSalad kitsAldi Hot & Spicy Stir-Fry KitTrader Joe’s Jicama WrapsButternut squash ravioli, spinach-stuffed ravioli, etc.Trader Joe’s Grilled Vegetables (from the refrigerator section)8 Easy Meals You Can Make from Your Trader Joe’s HaulProteinEggsTarget’s Good & Gather Grilled Chicken Fajita StripsFlavored tofu cubesRotisserie chickenPlant-based meat alternativesFrom the FreezerPictured Recipe:Brown Rice Pilaf with Spring VegetablesThe freezer is a busy foodie’s BFF—it istheplace to stock up and store easy meal components for hectic weeknights. Start with an essential staple—frozen veggies. Contrary to popular belief, frozen produce is just as healthy, if not more so, than fresh since it’s often packed at the peak of ripeness and flash frozen to lock in nutrition. Keep a few options on hand to add to meals in a pinch. Healthy whole grains can also be found in the freezer aisle. And for the weeks when some fresh meats and alternatives get expensive or hard to find, having a well-stocked freezer with protein staples will make family meals stress free. Whoever said fresh is best didn’t know how to stock a freezer like this!Easy Ideas to Try:Dinner could be thisBrown Rice Pilaf with Spring Vegetablesmade simply with frozen grains and veg.This easyBarbecue Chicken Pizzacomes together with whole-wheat dough (which is a great freezer staple), frozen shredded chicken and store-bought barbecue sauce for a simple, healthy meal.Use frozen turkey meatballs in place of homemade in this simpleTurkey Meatballs with Green Beans & Cherry Tomatoes.Serve some frozen potstickers with frozen stir-fry veggies for an ultra-easy meal.VegetablesTrader Joe’s Cauliflower GnocchiTrader Joe’s Riced Cauliflower StuffingStir-fry veggie blendsGrainsBanza Chickpea Crust PizzaFrozen whole-wheat pizza crust or cauliflower crustTrader Joe’s Multigrain Blend with VegetablesTrader Joe’s Garlic NaanRavioliProteinDr Praeger’s Perfect Plant Based GroundTai Pei Frozen Chicken PotstickersTarget’s Good & Gather Italian-Style Chicken MeatballsFrontera Taco Skillet kitsSalmon burgersFrozen chicken strips, shredded chicken or diced chickenVeggie burgersBottom LineRepeat after me—mealtimescanbe stress-free, deliciousandhealthy with the right convenient tools in your culinary toolbox. So print this list off for your next shopping trip, and make your groceries work foryou.Abbey Sharp is a registered dietitian (RD), YouTuber, blogger, award-winning author and mom of two busy boys. She debunks nutrition myths and denounces diet culture on herYouTube channel, her acclaimed food blog,Abbey’s Kitchen, and in her Taste Canada Awards Gold-winning cookbook, theMindful Glow Cookbook. With lots of science and a little sass, she makes nourishing your body without dieting easy, delicious and fun.
Pictured Recipe:Easy Salmon Cakes
We hear it all the time—staying on track with healthy eating depends on planning ahead. But for those of us who don’t have time for elaborate meal-prep days or massive grocery hauls, having a few simple kitchen workhorses is the key to avoiding ordering in. In addition to the standard staples, here are some of our go-to shortcut ingredients for making easy and healthy dinners with five ingredients or less!
See More:Easy 5-Ingredient Dinners
From the Pantry
Pictured Recipe:5-Ingredient Pesto Ravioli with Spinach & Tomatoes
We don’t all have as much pantry space as Martha Stewart, so some of us have to be selective about what ingredients we store. That often means finding a few flavorful and simple canned and boxed goods that take the guesswork (and actual work) out of making dinner. Canned vegetables have come a long way since our parents' days. Today you can find preseasoned and creative combinations to suit anyone’s palates and help you get a heathy meal on the table in minutes! And while beans may be the first thing you think of when it comes to pantry protein sources (try this easy recipe for five-ingredientBlack-Bean Quesadillas), there are plenty of other options as well—try canned chicken, tuna and salmon!
Grains are another important component of a healthy meal and the panty is home to many. Why make an elaborate grain side dish when there are so many convenient combinations ready to go in the grocery aisles? Whether you’re feeling traditional rice or pasta, or looking to double down on the vegetables with a veggie-based “grain,” you’ll be able to build a balanced meal in a flash. Now comes time for the flavor. Got a base protein with no seasoning? Store-bought sauces deliver big flavor fast and will help you transform a blank slate like chicken, tofu or canned beans into a masterful meal. And spices are how you make real magic in the kitchen—a few good blends and mixes will help you add flavor fast.
Easy Ideas to Try:
Vegetables
Protein
Pictured Recipe:5-Ingredient Chicken & White Bean Soup
Grains and Pasta
See More Recipes:3-Ingredient Pasta Dinners for When You Need a Meal in a Pinch
Flavorful Sauces
Spice Blends
See More:50 Ideas for Using Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel Seasoning
From the Fridge
Pictured Recipe:Asian-Style Chicken Salad Bowls
The supermarket’s refrigerated aisles are no longer just for milk, eggs, vegetables and meat. Today, there are a lot of innovative new products to help make eating well easier on busy folks. Go with pre-prepped produce options and grab some ready-to-eat proteins to pair with other pantry and freezer staples for easy meals. Let the grocery store do a little of the grunt work to help you get nutritious food on the table.
8 Easy Meals You Can Make from Your Trader Joe’s Haul
From the Freezer
Pictured Recipe:Brown Rice Pilaf with Spring Vegetables
The freezer is a busy foodie’s BFF—it istheplace to stock up and store easy meal components for hectic weeknights. Start with an essential staple—frozen veggies. Contrary to popular belief, frozen produce is just as healthy, if not more so, than fresh since it’s often packed at the peak of ripeness and flash frozen to lock in nutrition. Keep a few options on hand to add to meals in a pinch. Healthy whole grains can also be found in the freezer aisle. And for the weeks when some fresh meats and alternatives get expensive or hard to find, having a well-stocked freezer with protein staples will make family meals stress free. Whoever said fresh is best didn’t know how to stock a freezer like this!
Grains
Bottom Line
Repeat after me—mealtimescanbe stress-free, deliciousandhealthy with the right convenient tools in your culinary toolbox. So print this list off for your next shopping trip, and make your groceries work foryou.
Abbey Sharp is a registered dietitian (RD), YouTuber, blogger, award-winning author and mom of two busy boys. She debunks nutrition myths and denounces diet culture on herYouTube channel, her acclaimed food blog,Abbey’s Kitchen, and in her Taste Canada Awards Gold-winning cookbook, theMindful Glow Cookbook. With lots of science and a little sass, she makes nourishing your body without dieting easy, delicious and fun.
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!Tell us why!OtherSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Tell us why!OtherSubmit
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