5 Popular Trader Joe’s Meals You Can Make Yourself for Less Money
Written by
Laura Beck
Edited by
Levi Leidy
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Love Trader Joe’s convenience but not their prices? Here’s how to recreate some of their most popular items at home for a fraction of the cost.
Soup Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao)
While TJ’s veggie dumplings are a decent deal at $3.49 for six, you can multiply your dumpling game at home. With store-bought wrappers and fresh vegetables, you’ll get 18-30 dumplings for about the same cost. Perfect for freezing and enjoying later.
Japanese Fried Rice
That $3.79 bag of fried rice might seem like a steal, but here’s the math: buy your own rice, toss in some frozen edamame and fresh veggies and you can make three to four servings for what you’d pay for one frozen bag. Plus, you can adjust the seasonings to your taste.
Fresh Ravioli
Those fancy TJ’s ravioli packages run $4-$5 for just 9 ounces. With basic pantry ingredients like flour and eggs, plus your choice of filling, you can triple your ravioli count for the same money. Bonus: Your house will smell amazing.
Channa Masala
Sure, TJ’s version is tasty at $2.99 for 10 ounces, but it doesn’t include rice or naan. Make it from scratch and you’ll get three to five servings of rich, spicy chickpea curry for about the same price as one frozen container. Minimalist Baker’s recipe is a great place to start.
Penne Arrabbiata
At $3.49 for three servings, Trader Joe’s version isn’t gonna break your budget — but why not get more bang for your buck? Buy regular penne and jarred arrabbiata sauce (or make your own with canned tomatoes and red pepper flakes), and you’ll get at least double the portions for the same price.
Pro tip: Most of these homemade versions freeze beautifully, so you can still have the convenience factor while keeping more money in your pocket.
Editor’s note: Pricing and availability are accurate as of Dec. 23, 2024, and are subject to change.
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