I Made 5 No-Chop Dinners Entirely From Trader Joe’s Products, And They Made Weeknight Cooking So Much Easier

2 weeks ago 15

I’ve recently been on the prowl for ways to make weeknight dinners a little easier. I try to double-batch when I cook so we have leftovers, but inevitably, we end up eating said leftovers for lunch. So while pondering our dinner menu before my latest Trader Joe’s run, I started thinking about how much I love dump-and-go Crock-Pot meals and sheet-pan dinners you just toss in the oven. Take that one step further, and sometimes, when I’m tired, even the thought of chopping at the end of a long day feels like a bit of a physical chore. (I love peeling, smashing, and mincing garlic, but some days, it’s just not in the cards.)

With that in mind, I headed to Trader Joe’s to see what I could create without pulling out a knife or cutting board. I spent about $75 on ingredients for five meals, each made to serve two with enough for leftovers. I didn’t go full-on budget mode — I splurged on some items (like a nice hunk of Parmigiano Reggiano and smoked salmon) and gravitated toward organic options when I could, so you could definitely make these meals for less. If you’re familiar with my articles, you know my husband, Nick, and I love Italian food and tend to eat pretty veggie-forward at home, so that shaped the menu, too.

Without further culinary ado, here are five easy, filling dinners using some of Trader Joe’s best shortcuts, from pre-shaved veggies and frozen staples to canned beans and ready-to-go proteins. There’s zero chopping, minimal prep, and, best of all, one less cutting board to wash after dinner. Let’s dive in, sans the knife.

1. Sheet-Pan Gnocchi With Chicken Sausage & Shaved Brussels Sprouts

2. Coconut Chickpea Curry Bowls With Green Beans & Spinach

3. Smoked Salmon Pesto Pasta With Peas

4. Tomato, White Bean & Tortellini Soup

5. Sheet-Pan Black Bean & Roasted Corn Bowls

So, which no-chop dinner was my favorite? If I must pick just one, the Tomato, White Bean & Tortellini Soup takes the top spot. I’ve always intended to add tortellini to one of TJ’s soups, but for whatever reason, I had yet to do it. I often bulk them up with veggies, but forget about pasta. Plus, TJ’s variety of refrigerated ravioli and tortellini is so fun and customizable, and the white beans are a simple protein boost.

Above all, this experiment reminded me that making dinner easier doesn’t have to mean sacrificing the joy of a home-cooked meal at the end of the day. And chopping — though I do love getting in the kitchen and mincing my fair share of garlic cloves — isn’t always necessary to enjoy the art of cooking. Do you have any fave no-chop dinners for busy weeknights? I’m still on the prowl, and I’m all ears, so send ’em my way in the comments below! Happy cooking.

Read Entire Article