12 Trader Joe's Premade Foods Worth Adding To Your Cart

Listen — aside from my standing Friday night date with a good horror movie and some takeout, I try to cook my own meals as much as possible. Not only do I love cooking, but I always feel better knowing what exactly is landing on my dinner (or lunch, or snack, or dessert, or ... well, you get it) plate. That said, I can't deny the allure of convenience, especially on days when I have multiple assignments to do and products to test. 

I try to keep at least one or two ready-to-go options on hand for those times when I need food but can't take a break from my keyboard. More often than not, the prepped meals come from Trader Joe's — and not just because it's my grocery store of choice. It genuinely has great options that can cater to a variety of appetites and cravings. 

I've tried many of Trader Joe's prepared foods over the years, and some stand out as all-time favorites. I used my own experience with the grocer to select many of the following items, and those I haven't tried get rave reviews. All are basically ready-to-eat, but I didn't exclude options that needed to be heated up in an oven or microwave before serving. 

This may well be my absolute top choice among prepared foods at Trader Joe's. Waldorf salad is one of the items that originated at the iconic, high-class Waldorf Astoria, and its dissemination down to premade grocery fare might sound like a step backward for what should be a dish belonging to elevated cuisine. Trader Joe's version, however, has no problem living up to its reputation. There's nothing complex about the salad, which really gives it room to shine in its simplicity. 

I love everything about this salad. All of its elements — grapes, apples, chicken, walnuts, and dressing — are in perfect proportion to one another. The dressing is tasty without overpowering the rest of the salad, and the fruit provides a lovely crisp while the chicken gives the salad some body. Better yet, everything is already assembled. All you have to do is pour the dressing over the open container and dig in! 

Are you a fan of Starbucks' famous egg bites? I can't blame you — they're remarkably good (in fact, I was particularly pleased by the chain's 2025 autumnal Italian Sausage Egg Bites). But, as anyone slogging their way through our modern economic landscape will know, a daily egg bite can put a strain on your wallet. My personal solution? Trader Joe's Egg Bites. 

Your store will likely have a few different options to choose from; my personal favorite is the Cheese & Uncured Bacon version. They're perfectly good on their own, but I've also been known to use them as a filler for a three-ingredient Trader Joe's breakfast sandwich. Worried about the time it will take to heat them up before heading out the door? Don't be. I usually only microwave them for 30 seconds — the perfect amount of time to grab your keys and lace up your shoes. 

Here's a lunch favorite that's seriously filling, flavorful as anything, and ultra-convenient. While you could totally grill it if you wanted, I'm perfectly happy eating this one cold. Trader Joe's Buffalo Chicken Wrap will always be a top contender in any prepared-food bracket I participate in. Fair warning for the spice-averse, though — this wrap definitely packs some heat. 

One of my favorite unexpected parts about this wrap is that it includes celery rather than lettuce. What makes this such a big deal? One word: texture. Lettuce has the tendency to fall soggy in premade wraps, and while I don't overtly dislike limp lettuce, the choice to use chopped celery here was nothing short of genius — it gives the wrap a crunch that wouldn't have been achievable with lettuce alone. The blue cheese sauce cup on the side is fantastic, but don't worry if you don't like blue cheese. The chicken is sauced enough so that you don't technically need another one. 

Are you in search of an easy but somewhat gourmet snack to keep on hand for those midafternoon hunger pangs? All you need is Trader Joe's Charcuterie Party of One — and, if it's a Friday, perhaps a glass of wine. Assemble your charcuterie and enjoy it on the patio with your favorite vino for maximum vibes. 

I think the portion size of this snack is perfect. The thick-cut salami leaves its mark with every bite and it's a great, mild partner to mozzarella. The crackers could have just been a vehicle for the meat and cheese, but Trader Joe's went one step further by including rectangular sesame crackers as its preferred choice. Effortlessly fancy, tasty, and an easy fridge-to-plate choice, I regularly rely on this when I need something to tide me over between lunch and dinner. 

This is one of the few prepared foods I haven't tried from Trader Joe's, and that's only because my body doesn't do well with cooked red bell peppers (tragic, I know). Were that not the case, I'm pretty sure I would adore Trader Joe's Stuffed Peppers. There really isn't anything too controversial in them at all — who could take issue with a combo of ground beef, rice, tomato sauce, and Parmesan? 

Moreover, those whose bodies can tolerate cooked red peppers — yes, I'll always feel a little spiteful about that — say that this prepped food is delicious. Some mention that its aesthetic isn't nearly as appealing as what you'll see on the box, but that the peppers were delicious anyway. Plenty of reviewers even compare the offering to comfort food. Ready-made, heat and eat cozy cuisine? We'll take it! 

I'll admit to being a bit of a mac and cheese snob. I've been making the same mac and cheese recipe for over a decade — it's oven-baked with a crispy panko topping, and I swear up and down that it's one of the best mac and cheese recipes out there. That said, it takes a while to make, and I do occasionally want a creamy mac without putting in the labor. 

Enter: Trader Joe's Cream Mac & Cheese. To be perfectly honest, I've been known to eat this straight out of the fridge in particularly dire moments (aka times when I haven't felt like dealing with my microwave — hey, don't judge!). The combination of cheddar, Parmesan, and Trader Joe's Unexpected Cheddar makes the mac truly flavorful without compromising its identity, an issue I often have with premade mac and cheese options. In other words, you should try it. 

This is another prepped food that I haven't tried, only because I'm not the biggest fan of beans. I don't love the chalky texture of pinto beans, but I might have to try this after reading the reviews. Besides, I could probably look past the beans if the rest of the burrito is as scrumptious as everyone says it is. 

Consumers' comments about these burritos are universally positive. Plenty of Trader Joe's shoppers call them the best premade grocery burritos on store shelves, and I wouldn't doubt them (I mean, this is Trader Joe's we're talking about!). They also mention that there's a variety of ways you can heat these bad boys up depending on what you want to get. Want something with a crispy exterior? Pop it in the air fryer. Need something ready in a time crunch? Microwave it. 

I could go on for eons about the virtues of this sandwich. Trader Joe's Turkey Apple Cheddar Sandwich simply doesn't feel like your average, everyday sandwich. I'll give ample credit to the bread for that — it's a multigrain bun that gives a ton of character to the sandwich without overshadowing its contents. 

Enough about the bread! Let's move onto what's inside it, and I'll start with this — fruit and meat pairings deserve more time in the spotlight than they get, and I'm happy this sandwich is helping them shine. Apples provide some welcome textural interest, too. The cheddar, arugula, turkey, and apple slices are all in fantastic proportion to one another, but I do wish there was about 50% more of each here to give the sandwich a little more "oomph." That's my only complaint, though, and it's hardly a serious one. 

I'll liken this selection to the aforementioned charcuterie board, but minus the crackers. I'll also say this is a fantastic prepared snack to have in the fridge because it'll get you through a few midafternoon hunger spells — I could never eat all of this at once! I'm big on prosciutto, so Trader Joe's Prosciutto Wrapped Fresh Mozzarella Cheese is an obvious buy.

Could you technically make these yourself? Sure. But honestly, I sometimes have afternoons where all I can bring myself to do is open a package, and I want something more substantial than chips or crackers. In those cases, this is an automatic go-to. A couple pieces are substantial enough to curb my appetite for a few hours, and I think the ratio of mozzarella to prosciutto is pretty perfect. When I have a slightly juicier battery in my system, I'll occasionally drizzle some of the store's balsamic glaze on top. 

This is the final entry on this list that I haven't tried, but don't worry — I've heard incredible things about this premade option. If you need to whip up something quick and a little fancy for dinner, let Trader Joe's Sous Vide Chicken Thighs be your new go-to. They're especially handy if you chronically fear under- or over-cooking chicken. 

Indeed, the Trader Joe's corner of the internet loves this one! One Reddit user who swears by them loves that individual pieces can be microwaved for just 30 seconds before they're ready to eat. They're reportedly incredibly well-seasoned, moist, and impeccably tender. However, they may only be available around the holidays — users report having trouble finding them during other parts of the year. All that is to say, if you see them, grab them!

Here's another scrumptious, ready-made snack option to add to your cart: Trader Joe's Mediterranean Style Hummus Snack Pack. It's super simple yet delicious, and I'm a huge fan of the fact that it's preportioned; it's all too easy to go through a whole bag of pita chips and an entire container of hummus when I'm mindlessly snacking. 

The hummus in this pack appears deceptively smooth, and the pita chips are nice and salty (but not too salty). This duo presents another fantastic midafternoon snacking option; sometimes, when my appetite is low, I'll have this for lunch alongside some chopped veggies. I'll also carry it around with me if I'm running errands all day, as long as it's not too hot outside. It'll satisfy me until I have the opportunity to get a meal, and it's really tasty. 

I'm a big fan of most of Trader Joe's salad kits, but this Elote Chopped Salad Kit is truly a step above. I wish this kind of salad kit — with a combo of cornbread croutons, cotija cheese, corn kernels, and an elote dressing — was more common. But hey, it's available at Trader Joe's, so I won't complain! 

The salad kit is delicious on its own, but personally, I prefer to pair it with grilled chicken and Tamarind Heads barbecue sauce (one of my favorite underrated condiments). The spice and slight tangy sauce marry perfectly with the creamy elote flavors in the salad, and I can't possibly eat it straight out of the bowl — I'll finish the whole thing in one sitting, which has been known to happen. Of course, you could pair it with any protein, use it to top some tacos, or go with the suggestion in the image and slice some avocado as a garnish. The possibilities feel pretty endless here. 

The vast majority of items on this must-try Trader Joe's premade food list are being recommended through my own experience as a lifelong shopper of the store. The few that I haven't tried (yet!) have rave reviews online — and, yes, they've made it onto my shopping list for next week's grocery run.