Because “heat and serve” deserves a glowup.
📅 Published: October 2025
👨🍳 Recipe by: Steve Snyder, Trader Joe’s Reviewer and Founder of Club Trader Joe’s
🧾 Quick Takeaway
If you’re looking for an easy, crowd-pleasing Thanksgiving side or cozy vegetarian meal, this Trader Joe’s Holiday Hash Mac & Cheese Bake delivers rich, cheesy comfort with minimal effort. It combines two containers of Trader Joe’s Creamy Mac & Cheese with ½ a container of Holiday Vegetable Hash, Aglio Olio seasoning, and a crisp Panko-Parmesan topping for a golden, bubbling finish.
Ready in under 45 minutes, this dish transforms two simple Trader Joe’s products into something that tastes homemade.
If you’ve been around Club Trader Joe’s for a while, you know I can’t resist taking a perfectly fine Trader Joe’s prepared meal and turning it into something that tastes like it took hours. The new Trader Joe’s Creamy Mac & Cheese is already a hit on its own (see my full review here), but I wanted to see what would happen if I leveled it up for the holidays.
Enter Trader Joe’s Holiday Vegetable Hash, that mix of diced butternut squash, sweet potatoes, red onion, celery, parsley, sage, and rosemary that shows up in the fridge section every fall. It’s flavorful, colorful, and tastes like Thanksgiving sidedish energy in a tub. Add a sprinkle of Aglio Olio seasoning and top everything with Panko breadcrumbs and Parmesan, and you’ve got a bubbling, cheesy, crispy masterpiece that looks like you put in way more effort than you did.
This is one of those dishes that can stand on its own as a vegetarian main or play sidekick to turkey, ham, or roast chicken. It’s comfort food that belongs on your Thanksgiving table or your Tuesday night.
🥘 Why This Recipe Works
Every fall, Trader Joe’s releases Holiday Vegetable Hash a colorful mix of diced butternut squash, sweet potatoes, red onion, celery, parsley, sage, and rosemary. It’s delicious sautéed on its own, but it really shines when mixed with something creamy and rich.
I tested this combination using the new Trader Joe’s Creamy Mac & Cheese, and the result was an incredibly balanced dish:
- Creamy texture from the mac and cheese
- Sweet and savory flavors from the Holiday Hash
- Crunchy, cheesy topping that adds restaurant-style appeal
It’s a recipe that looks like it took all afternoon but comes together in minutes.
🧀 Ingredients
Main mixture
- 2 containers Trader Joe’s Creamy Mac & Cheese (refrigerated section)
- ½ container Trader Joe’s Holiday Vegetable Hash
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Trader Joe’s Aglio Olio Seasoning Blend
- Salt and pepper to taste
Topping
- ½ cup Trader Joe’s Panko Breadcrumbs
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan Cheese
- 1 teaspoon Aglio Olio Seasoning Blend
- Optional: drizzle of olive oil for extra browning
Optional Add-Ins
- 3–4 slices cooked bacon or cooked diced pancetta
- Handful of baby spinach or arugula stirred in before baking
- Dash of crushed red pepper for gentle heat
🥄 What It Tastes Like
The first bite gives you everything you want in comfort food. The creamy, melty mac and cheese holds everything together while the roasted edges of the Holiday Hash bring sweetness and a little herbaceous depth. The Panko and Parmesan topping is the perfect crunchy counterpoint. It’s buttery, savory, and tastes like autumn without being any pumpkin spice flavor so common in the fall.
If you add pancetta or bacon, the salty pops make it even better. Vegetarians, skip the meat and it’s still a standout. Honestly, this could replace your sweet potato casserole at Thanksgiving and no one would complain.
👩🍳 Step by Step Instructions
Preheat your oven.
Set the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9×9 inch baking dish (or an oval baking dish of similar size).
Sauté the Holiday Hash.
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add ½ container of Holiday Vegetable Hash. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and the tablespoon of Aglio Olio seasoning. Cook for about 5–6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften and develop some golden brown bits.
Prepare the mac and cheese.
While the hash cooks, heat both containers of mac and cheese in the microwave for about 30 seconds just to make it easier to mix.
Combine.
Pour the warm mac and cheese into a large mixing bowl. Add the sautéed Holiday Hash and stir to combine until evenly distributed. Season with additional salt and pepper if needed.
Assemble the topping.
In a small bowl, mix together the panko, Parmesan, and a teaspoon of Aglio Olio seasoning. For extra crispness, drizzle with a touch of olive oil and toss to coat.
Bake.
Spread the mac and cheese mixture into your prepared baking dish. Evenly sprinkle the topping mixture over the top. Bake uncovered for 25–30 minutes, until the topping is golden brown and the edges are bubbling.
Cool and serve.
Let the dish rest for about 5 minutes before serving so it sets slightly. Garnish with a few parsley leaves if you want to look fancy.
⭐ Final Thoughts
This dish is the perfect example of why I love Trader Joe’s. A few simple shortcuts, a little seasoning magic, and you’ve got something that looks like it came from a fancy holiday spread. It’s cozy, budget friendly, and deeply satisfying, the kind of recipe that makes you feel like you outsmarted the system.
🧂 Flavor Notes & Serving Ideas
- The Holiday Hash brings out a subtle sweetness from the squash and sweet potatoes that balances beautifully with the cheese.
- The Aglio Olio seasoning adds garlicky depth and mild heat.
- The Panko-Parmesan topping creates a crispy, golden layer that makes it feel like a restaurant side.
Serve it as:
- A Thanksgiving side dish
- A vegetarian main course with a green salad
- A next-day lunch that reheats beautifully in the oven or air fryer
Optional Add-Ons:
Add pancetta or bacon for extra saltiness, or toss in a handful of spinach for color.
Whether you make it as a Thanksgiving side, a main course for Meatless Monday, or just because you need a little cheese therapy, this Holiday Hash Mac & Cheese Bake deserves a spot in your seasonal rotation.
🛒 Trader Joe’s Products Used
- Creamy Mac & Cheese (refrigerated)
- Holiday Vegetable Hash
- Aglio Olio Seasoning Blend
- Panko Breadcrumbs
- Parmesan Cheese
👉 Related Recipes:
- Trader Joe’s Butternut Squash Ravioli with Brown Butter Sage & Sausage
- Trader Joe’s Cheesy Herby Buttermilk Biscuits
- Trader Joe’s Swiss Fondue Review & Serving Ideas
Trader Joe’s Holiday Hash Mac and Cheese Bake
Equipment
- 9×9 backing dish
Ingredients
- 2 containers Trader Joe's Creamy Mac and Cheese
- ½ container Trader Joe's Holiday Vegetable Hash
- 1 ½ tbsp Trader Joe's Aglio Olio Seasoning
- ½ cup Trader Joe's Panko
- ½ cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
- Salt and Pepper
Instructions
Preheat your oven.
- Set the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9×9-inch baking dish (or an oval baking dish of similar size).
Sauté the Holiday Hash.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add ½ container of Holiday Vegetable Hash. Sprinkle with salt and the tablespoon of Aglio Olio seasoning. Cook for about 5–6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften and develop some golden-brown bits.
Prepare the mac and cheese.
- While the hash cooks, heat both containers of mac and cheese according to the package directions (microwave or stovetop). You want it hot and creamy so it mixes easily.
Combine
- Pour the warm mac and cheese into a large mixing bowl. Add the sautéed Holiday Hash and stir to combine until evenly distributed. Season with additional salt and pepper if needed.
Assemble the topping
- In a small bowl, mix together the panko, Parmesan, and a teaspoon of Aglio Olio seasoning. For extra crispness, drizzle with a touch of olive oil and toss to coat.
Bake
- Spread the mac and cheese mixture into your prepared baking dish. Evenly sprinkle the topping mixture over the top. Bake uncovered for 25–30 minutes, until the topping is golden brown and the edges are bubbling.
Cool and serve
- Let the dish rest for about 5 minutes before serving so it sets slightly. Garnish with a few parsley leaves if you want to look fancy.
Notes
💡 Tips & Variations
- Add cooked chicken sausage or smoked gouda for a heartier main dish.
- Substitute frozen Trader Joe’s Mac and Cheese or Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Mac & Cheese if needed. You’ll need to warm it up until not frozen anymore and if too dry add some cream.
- For a crispier top, broil for the last 1–2 minutes of baking.
- Leftovers reheat beautifully in the oven or air fryer; cover with foil so the top doesn’t burn.
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