7 Trader Joe’s Items That Make Weeknight Meals Feel Special
Written by
Laura Bogart
Edited by
Kristen Mae
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This year, you’re going to cook more at home to boost your health and your savings. Well, that was the intention anyway. Boredom has already set in. Going out to eat just feels more special during the week, especially when your culinary skills begin and end with microwaving a meal.
But what if you could add flair and fun to your weeknight dinners without blowing your food budget?
It’s easier than you think — especially if you’re a Trader Joe’s customer. The store offers plenty of options that can make an everyday meal feel more elevated, along with prepackaged foods that turn a random Tuesday night into something that feels like a night out. GOBankingRates pulled up to the table, hungry to explore these standout items.
1. Spicy Alfredo Fusilloni Pasta
- Price: $4.79
One bite of the creamy gochujang Alfredo sauce in this unique pasta, and you’ll feel like you’re dining at a chic Italian-Korean fusion restaurant. In reality, you’re at your own kitchen table — and the microwave did most of the work. With a balance of spicy and sweet, this dish brings excitement to even the blandest weeknight.
2. Cranberry Orange Spinach Salad Kit
- Price: $3.99
Nothing elevates a meal quite like a thoughtfully assembled salad. This cranberry orange spinach kit delivers bright citrus flavor, balanced by crumbled blue cheese and honey-roasted pecans. Serve it as a side, or add your protein of choice to turn it into a complete meal.
3. Pulled Chicken Salsa Verde
- Price: $8.99
Pulled chicken salsa verde sounds like something you’d order on a fancy night out. But this well-seasoned option lets you bring those flavors home. Slow-cooked in salsa verde with roasted tomatillos, green chiles, cilantro, onion and garlic, it works just as well on its own as it does in salads or tacos. Who knew Taco Tuesday could feel this polished?
4. Truffle Risotto
- Price: $4.99
The word “truffle” alone conjures images of luxury. Add it to risotto, and you’ve got a dish that can take dinner from blah to bodacious. This version delivers nutty, bold flavor and a velvety texture that will impress your entire dinner party — even if that dinner party is just you.
5. Lemony Chicken Orzo Soup
- Price: $4.99
Whether you’re feeling under the weather or battling a case of the Mondays, this lemony chicken orzo soup offers comfort in every bite. It’s the kind of dish many inexperienced cooks shy away from making at home. Thankfully, Trader Joe’s has a ready-made version that makes any weeknight feel special.
6. Simit Turkish Sesame Bread
- Price: $3.49
This chewy, nutty bread — known for its signature twist and crispy exterior — feels like something you’d only find on vacation or at an upscale farmers market. Instead, you can grab it at your local Trader Joe’s and use it to add an unexpected, worldly touch to a weeknight meal.
7. Kung Pao Brussels Sprouts
- Price: $5.99
Stumped on a side dish? Add some spice — and some fun — with this bold take on a classic vegetable. These Kung Pao Brussels sprouts are anything but boring and might even win over the most skeptical Brussels sprouts critics at the table.
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Disclaimer: Prices and availability accurate as of Jan. 23, 2026 and subject to change.
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