Let’s face it, your dinners have probably consisted of microwavable mac and cheese, ramen or Doordash. Like myself, most college students either don’t have the time, money or kitchens to supply themselves with a good quality meal. Lucky for you, I have compiled a list of the best quick and easy items from Trader Joe’s for a hearty, quality meal while still being a college student. Grab your reusable tote bags, and let’s head on down to what I think is the best place on earth: Trader Joe’s.
Chicken Soup Dumplings
No. 1 on my list is a personal favorite: Chicken Soup Dumplings. This frozen pack of six fit nicely and snug into my dorm freezer. With a two-minute microwave time, these delicious dumplings will fill you right up. If it was up to me, my entire freezer would be stocked with these all the time. My recommendation is to pair these dumplings with their crispy onion chili oil. This oil has a slight kick to it but makes for the perfect combination on these dumplings. If you are lucky enough to have a kitchen in your dorm room, these dumplings are also able to be cooked on a skillet.
Butter Chicken with Basmati rice
I am an avid Indian food connoisseur. While skeptical at first, I decided to have a go at the butter chicken with basmati rice from Trader Joe’s. This rich and creamy chicken has a mouth-watering essence of curry with undertones of crushed tomato. This quick and easy frozen meal is a go-to in my dorm room freezer. Seriously, ask my roommate. One of my favorite things to pair this meal with is the Trader Joe’s garlic naan crackers. Whether I dip the crackers in the creamy sauce or have them on their own, the butter chicken is something you want to add to your shopping list.
Spinach Artichoke Dip
Now for my snack lovers, a good, rich and creamy dip paired with crackers is a must-have for get-togethers, television marathons or whatever you’d like. I simply cannot leave my local Trader Joe’s without picking up a handful of the frozen spinach artichoke dip. This flavorful, buttery quality dip is perfect to have stocked up in your freezer. These don’t take up a lot of room in the freezer, as dorm freezers often have limited space. Never underestimate the power of a dip. This dip exceeded my expectations.
Chana Masala
Are you a vegetarian? No problem at all, don’t think I forgot about you. We are back on the Indian cuisine train, with the Trader Joe’s chana masala. This chickpea-filled masterpiece incorporates an authentic Indian flavor that does not skimp on spice or portion size. This meal is able to be microwaved, or cooked on a stovetop. Each package contains two servings, and is only priced at $2.49. So seriously, what are you waiting for?
Ice Cream Sandwiches
Now we can’t forget about a sweet treat, can we? The Sublime Ice Cream Sandwiches might be my favorite dessert from the store. The sandwich has the perfect ratio of ice cream, cookie and chocolate chips. I never leave a Trader Joe’s without picking up at least one of these boxes, which by the way have eight sandwiches included. These treats are the perfect way to treat yourself for whatever the occasion may be. Sometimes, after a long day of classes, nothing can quite hit the spot like a sweet snack, and these sandwiches will do that for you.
The next time you see your refrigerator getting low, or even your account balance, hop on over to your local Trader Joe’s. This store is filled with endless possibilities and hidden gems, which can sometimes be overwhelming. If you don’t know where to start, pull out this list and take my word for it.