Trader Joe’s is a great place to shop for quick and easy vegan meals. They offer a variety of meal kits and and frozen items. Here’s seven quick and easy vegan Trader Joe’s meals that you can prepare in less than 30 minutes with minimal clean-up and cost.
Note, these are quick and easy vegan meals. They are not necessarily WFPB, though all are somewhat close.
These vegan meals are great for occasions when you just don’t have a lot of time or energy but need to eat. Some are great freezer meals that can be saved as backup meals.
Before shopping, it’s a good idea to call your local Trader Joe’s store to verify if the items you need are in stock. The items listed below are what I have been able to purchase at my local store recently.
What are the best vegan Trader Joe’s products in 2021?
Trader Joe’s offers a lot of vegan products, some are obviously vegan, others are vegan and you wouldn’t even know it from first glance.
Currently, in 2021, the store is offering a variety of meal kits and frozen meals that are fully vegan and easy to prepare.
Here’s a few to add to your next shopping list:
- Kung Pao Cauliflower
- Enchiladas
- Burritos
- Cauliflower Gnocchi
- Kale Gnocchi
- Taco Salad Kit
- Vegetable Potstickers
Here’s 7 quick and easy vegan Trader Joe’s meals in 2021
Keep these vegan meals in your refrigerator and freezer to whip up quick and easy vegan meals anytime.
Kung Pao Cauliflower
This frozen meal is totally vegan and takes very little effort to prepare. In less than 30 minutes you can enjoy a delicious bowl of Kung Pao Cauliflower. Add some baby kale, sautéed tempeh and sesame seeds to make this a complete meal. Or, serve these as bite sized appetizers at your next gathering.
Tips for preparing:
Preheat your oven to 450º and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a non-stick baking mat. Place cauliflower onto baking sheet and into preheated oven. Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until desired doneness. I suggest letting them brown fully. Remove baking sheet from the oven, let cool for 5 minutes. Toss with thawed sauce and serve hot. To thaw the sauce, simply microwave the pouch for a few seconds, or submerge the pouch into hot water for several minutes.
Enchiladas
These vegan enchiladas from Trader Joe’s are delicious and filling. They are perfect for when you want to do very little cooking and cleanup. Enjoy these enchiladas with chopped green onions, tortilla chips and baby kale for a complete meal.
Tips for preparing:
Follow the directions on the package to either microwave or bake enchiladas in a hot oven. Baking in the oven takes longer, however I find that the texture and flavor of these is really good when they are allowed to bake. If you can spare the extra time, go for it.
Burritos
Similar to the enchiladas mentioned above, these frozen vegan burritos are great for times when you want to to very little food preparation. Serve these burritos with prepared guacamole and your favorite salad for a filling meal.
Tips for preparation:
These are also best when baked. The tortilla becomes nice and toasted and the flavor of the burritos really come together.
Cauliflower Gnocchi
These cauliflower gnocchi are really delicious and are easy to prepare. Serve these gnocchi with the Kale Cashew Pesto, baby kale, and toasted garlic bread for a complete meal.
Tips for preparation:
Follow the directions on the package for sautéing these gnocchi. I suggest sautéing them in a skillet either with or without a little bit of olive oil. Add some plain, unsweetened soy beverage to make the pesto sauce creamy if desired. Add some nutritional yeast and baby kale to the skillet towards the end of cooking if desired.
Kale Gnocchi
Similar to the cauliflower gnocchi mentioned above, this kale gnocchi is also a great vegan meal in a bag. The flavor of these is slightly different than the cauliflower. They are bright green in color and have a strong kale flavor. These are great when served with a tomato sauce. Or, combine the kale and cauliflower gnocchi together to make a more flavorful dish.
Taco Salad Kit
The taco salad kit at Trader Joe’s is a relatively new addition, is very delicious and easy to prepare. The kit comes with a packet of seitan, which is a vegan meat alternative made from textured wheat gluten. To make this kit gluten free, you can substitute a can of drained and rinsed pinto beans for the seitan.
Vegetable Potstickers
If you are a fan of potstickers, these vegetable potstickers at Trader Joe’s are a great addition to your menu plan. These can be enjoyed as a meal or as an appetizer. Serve with sesame seeds, chopped green onions, and dipping sauce. Or, serve some of these potstickers along side a meal of cooked brown rice, sautéed tempeh, and steamed vegetables.
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