Top 3-Ingredient Dinners From Trader Joe’s, According to Reddit

After a busy day, spending hours in the kitchen or making a lengthy grocery list for a complicated recipe doesn’t sound appealing. The temptation to grab fast food or hit a restaurant for quick and easy meals can be overwhelming. If you do make it home, you’re likely ready to collapse on the couch, open your food delivery app, and order takeout.

But this can quickly turn into a costly routine. Cooking at home is not only more budget-friendly, but it can also be a fun and relaxing experience—even without elaborate meal prep. The trick is to have a few simple, fast recipes you can rely on, especially those that use pantry and frozen items with long shelf lives that can be bought in bulk.

Trader Joe’s is our go-to for stocking up on just these kinds of foods. Fans rave about their affordable selection of frozen meals, pre-made refrigerated options, and pantry staples like pasta, jarred sauces, and canned goods.

In fact, there’s a whole Reddit thread dedicated to sharing simple Trader Joe's dinner ideas that require only three ingredients or so. Here are some of the top recommendations for quick, delicious meals you can easily make, even on the busiest nights.

Gnocchi with Your Favorite Protein

Gnocchi is a go-to for quick, satisfying meals. SheilaGirlface’s favorite recipe combines “chicken soup, 2 cups of chicken stock, and gnocchi,” creating a delicious dish in minutes. They recommend using the 'Kettle chicken soup' from the refrigerated section. (Soup isn’t just for her—another one of our top two-ingredient Trader Joe’s dinners features chicken broth and frozen soup dumplings.)

Beef or pork with gnocchi is another classic pairing. Reddit user jm22mccl suggests a combo of “ground Italian sausage, gnocchi alla sorrentina, and a touch of cream cheese.” If you’re into seafood, try Disastrous_Recipe_68's version: “Gorgonzola gnocchi, Argentine shrimp, and frozen vegetables,” for a tasty, easy dinner.

Naan Pizza with Pesto and Mozzarella

For a speedy pizza hack, Redditor ronnysmom suggests using naan bread, refrigerated pesto sauce, and mozzarella cheese. Either original or garlic naan works. They recommend adding TJ’s frozen peppers or mushrooms and baking it in the oven for 10 minutes for a quick, gourmet personal pizza. It cooks even faster in an air fryer! You can also switch the pesto for tomato sauce, but their kids love the pesto version. For extra cheesy goodness, top with Parmesan.

Green Curry Coconut Shrimp

This bold and delicious shrimp dish is both flavorful and affordable, with just three simple ingredients: coconut cream, green curry sauce, and frozen shrimp. Redditor Jsscmurhog shares their easy recipe: 'I mix Thai green curry sauce with coconut cream and add shrimp... serve it over rice.' You can easily customize it with extra veggies like broccoli, snap peas, or carrots.

Coconut Chicken Tikka Masala

Redditor Jsscmurhog’s take on chicken tikka masala is creamy, spicy, and comforting. The dish is made by combining chicken with Trader Joe’s tikka masala curry sauce and a can of coconut cream. The user suggests, 'Two bottles of Tikka masala sauce, a can of coconut cream, and chicken. Serve it over rice with garlic naan.' For an extra boost, add in some veggies like broccoli or peas.

Japanese Fried Rice

The same Redditor has another simple three-ingredient dish using Trader Joe's Japanese Fried Rice. 'I cook it in a mix of olive oil and sesame oil, then add a bag of edamame,' Jsscmurhog shared. They recommend topping it with avocado for extra flavor and texture, and suggest adding a savory soy sauce for an umami boost. Feel free to get creative with other add-ins to switch things up.