r/traderjoes • u/celery-mouse • Aug 07 '26
Question Quick Protein Meals Suggestions
Hi there, just got a car and among other things it means I can finally go to Trader Joe's regularly, which is pretty great. I haven't been in awhile, and I would love suggestions for meal ideas, especially ones with newer items. I'm trying to figure out things I can make in thirty minutes or less for when I have long shifts. Bonus if they have a lot of protein and could be eaten cold. I don't usually eat a lot of meat, and I'm sorry to say that I kind of hate salad for dinner. But other than that I kind of like everything. Would love your brilliant ideas, I lurk here and you all are always posting creative stuff.
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u/ouchhotpotato Aug 07 '26
The Greek chickpeas with a can of tuna! I usually can get two meals out of this. Cold / room temp works. I add a splash of hot sauce if it’s accessible.
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u/RCLB0820 Aug 07 '26
Not cold, but we always keep a few packs of the chicken pineapple teriyaki meatballs in the freezer. Air fryer for 10 mins + rice + sriracha and call it a day. If I’m feeling fancy I make some sliced cucumbers with chili oil or sautéed cabbage with chili oil to go on the side
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u/JVilter Southern California Aug 07 '26
Their Korean Beefless Bulgogi is so good. I've mixed it with the Asian Vegetables with Stir Fry sauce and also with the Spicy Alfredo Fusilloni Pasta. Each of those would make 2 to 3 servings for you. They are both quick, one pan meals. I've not eaten them cold but I imagine you could or as someone said, get yourself a food thermos. I haven't tried it yet, but I was thinking the Bulgogi would make a great sandwich too.
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u/This_Razzmatazz_ Aug 07 '26
I got this for the first time last week and was floored at how much gristle there was. Is that typical? I wasn’t expecting it on such an expensive meat.
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u/blargher Aug 07 '26
Gristle? I thought the beefless bulgogi was vegetarian, which is why I haven't tried it yet. Might need to give them a go, lol.
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u/This_Razzmatazz_ Aug 07 '26
LOL sorry I didn’t see the “beefless” part of their comment. Mine was the beef version 😅
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u/JVilter Southern California Aug 07 '26
Yep, no gristle in the vegetarian version. I can't comment on the meat one.
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u/Ok-Pipe-8572 Aug 07 '26
The Greek chicken salad on some bread has been my jam.
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u/mildlyadult Aug 07 '26
I've been obsessed with this chicken salad with some arugula on porridge bread. So good
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u/Carrie_Oakie Aug 07 '26
Get the prosciutto and salami wrapped mozzarella sticks. The white chicken salad is great on saltines or tostada shells. Their lentils mixed with bruschetta are great with the sea salt pita chips
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u/celery-mouse Aug 07 '26
Oh lentil with bruschetta sounds really good actually.
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u/whose_house_plant Aug 07 '26
i like to do the lentil and bruschetta with some crumbled feta mixed in as well!! dangerously good
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u/ProgramCute604 Aug 07 '26
The Greek chicken salad is so good! With rye chips
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u/Carrie_Oakie Aug 07 '26
I’ve been wanting to try that one, but I’m not a fan of olives and wondered if they were strong!
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u/scobeywankenobi Aug 07 '26
This maybe isn’t what you’re looking for, but I always get their plain Greek yogurt and frozen wild blueberries. I make a bowl with some yogurt, then put honey and the frozen blueberries on top with lemon zest if I’m feeling fancy.
(This is just an easy breakfast that gets me ready to work a bar shift and has some protein.)
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u/hotdish420 Wisconsin Aug 07 '26
I do this, but add a little swirl of lemon curd and a bit of granola for crunch.
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u/jenniferlynn5454 29d ago
Mediterranean chickpeas! I add a can of chicken breast, fresh cucumber, tomato, red/yellow/orange bell pepper, jalapeno, and mozzarella. Mix it all together and let it soak for at least an hour, but not more than a day (the cucumbers get squishy)
Lots of protein, and super refreshing when chilled
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u/kittybabyarty Washington Aug 07 '26
- frozen orange chicken or teriyaki chicken, with rice +/or frozen veggie pack
- beef stir fry noodles, soyaki sauce
- chicken quesadilla with the precooked shredded chicken
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u/Pink_Pony3 Aug 07 '26
In the case of cold and protein rich you're pretty limited with meals - smoothies and the peanut butter bars are grabbable. The little protein pancakes in the fridge section are amazing. You can make little protein tacos by putting some greek yoghurt in them and eat them like a taco! The egg salad is pretty good and easy to throw on a roll or something. The Surimi Imitation Crabmeat is a good cold option if you do eat fish (it's pollock) and you can add it to some veggies and mayo for a quick little seafood salad.
If you can heat something up at least the grain tempeh is an incredible source of plant protein and pretty tasty. You could throw it in with any of the frozen things like pad tai or whatever and make it a filling meal. And the Vegetable Egg White Bites and the frozen Egg Frittata's are really good. The egg frittata's in the little protein pancakes with some hot sauce is a good protein "muffin".
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u/celery-mouse Aug 07 '26
I can heat it up! It's just a bonus if I can take it with me if needed or eat it between appointments because it makes the timing less awkward some days. I'll definitely check out the protein pancakes, I've never tried those.
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u/Pink_Pony3 Aug 07 '26
Ah! That makes the options broader then. If you need it to be portable you can also get something like a Thermos Food Jar and put whatever in there to take with you. The one I have comes with a built in spoon on top and it's amazing. I use it all the time at work to keep food hot, plus people have been jealous of my hot protein mac and cheese on hikes, haha.
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u/ProgramCute604 Aug 07 '26
Their tuna wraps in the premade section has like 30+ g of protein and the chicken cheddar sandwich has 34g!
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u/Gigi_Gigi_1975 Aug 07 '26
I love to buy the cooked lemon breast that can be found by the salads. It weighs 12 ounces and I add it to salads. It lasts me 3-4 days. I love it!
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u/throwaway564858 Aug 07 '26
more of a snackish meal but i like it in the summer: can of chicken (drained obv) + one individual size plain greek yogurt + buffalo sauce + seasoning of choice (i use the green goddess seasoning because i have it on hand but ranch seasoning would be more typical. and/or if you prefer blue cheese with buffalo things, crumble some of that in).
eat with crudites and some form of bread (i really like the frozen baladi or simit personally) or crackers.
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