Easy High Protein Trader Joe's Meals

At least 30g protein per serving with minimal ingredients

If you watch any of our Trader Joe’s Taste Tests (or read the comments), you might think my wife and I hate Trader Joe’s, but that couldn’t be further from the truth!!

We buy most of our toddlers snacks there, we buy multiple boxes of the mini hold the cones every week and they have so many amazing quick meal options. I am regularly putting together quick little meals in my head when I shop there so I figured it’s a good time to share some of them!

All of these meals come together in less than 30 minutes and each serving has more than 30g of protein!

Turkey Burger Bowls

4 servings | 33g of protein per serving

• 1 box frozen turkey burgers

• 1 bag frozen potato fries

• 1 package lite sliced cheddar cheese

• 1 jar kosher dill pickle chips

• 1 bottle magnifisauce

• Any veggies you usually add to burgers like sliced onion, lettuce, tomatoes - I used cherry tomatoes because it is what I had on hand

1. Bake 4 servings (I did more like 6 servings tbh) of fries in the oven on a sheet pan according to package instructions - I find that these Trader Joe’s fries take a bit longer than the package says to get crispy. I also like to make them in the oven

2. Heat a large skillet over medium heat - you may need 2 skillets to cook all burgers at the same time. When the skillet is warm, add the frozen turkey burgers. Cook 6 minutes, flip, cook another 6 minutes, add a slice of cheese on top, cover the skillet and reduce heat to low and cook for a couple more minutes for the cheese to melt.

3. While they cook, chop pickles, tomatoes and any other toppings.

4. Make sure the burgers have reached an internal temp of at least 165F and remove from the pan. Remove fries from the oven. Assemble burger bowls with fries, cubed burgers, pickles, tomatoes and a drizzle of the magnifisauce.

** I served this to my toddler with all of the ingredients on a plate and the pickles whole. He loved this meal!

Creamy Sausage Pasta

5 servings | 34g of protein per serving

• 1 (12oz) bag of red lentil pasta

• 1 (12oz) pack of organic sweet Italian chicken sausage

• 1 (24oz) jar Italian tomato basil pasta sauce

• 1 container Boursin cheese - you can also use 5oz of goat cheese or cream cheese

1. Boil pasta according to package instructions - be careful not to overcook because lentil pasta can get mushy. Drain and set aside.

2. Cut chicken sausage into rounds and cook over medium heat in a skillet until browned. Pour pasta sauce into the pan and bring to a simmer.

3. Add boursin cheese to the pan and stir into the sauce and chicken sausage until completely melted.

4. Stir cooked pasta into warm sauce until warmed through and serve immediately with grated parmesan cheese.

Cheesy Sheet Pan Sausage Meal

3 servings | 31g of protein per serving

• 1 pack unexpected cheddar chicken sausage

• 1 bag frozen cauliflower gnocchi

• 1 (16oz) bag frozen broccoli

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 1 tsp kosher salt

• 1 tsp garlic powder

• 1/4 tsp black pepper

• 2oz unexpected cheddar cheese (shredded) - you can use any sharp shredded cheese

1. Preheat oven to 400F and line a sheet pan with parchment paper.

2. Cut chicken sausage into rounds and place in a large mixing bowl along with the frozen cauliflower gnocchi and frozen broccoli (cook both of these from frozen)

3. Pour olive oil, salt, garlic powder and pepper into the bowl and toss to coat all ingredients.

4. Bake at 400F for 25 minutes. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on top and bake for another 5-7 minutes. Serve warm

   ***Optional - I like to make a high protein creamy honey mustard sauce to serve with this meal. I mix 1/4 cup plain greek yogurt with 2 tbsp yellow mustard, 2 tbsp honey and a little bit of black pepper.

Balsamic Chicken Salad Bowls

2 servings | 40g of protein per serving

• 1 bag Pizza Ranch salad kit

• 1 container grilled balsamic chicken

1. Prepare salad kit by tossing all ingredients together and separate evenly into 2 bowls.

2. Warm balsamic chicken and cut into slices. Place on salads. I like to serve them with an extra drizzle of balsamic glaze and parmesan cheese.

Let me know what you think of this type of post and if I should do more of them!!