Feast Mode: Trader Joe’s Top Ten Thanksgiving Treasures
When it comes to Thanksgiving, the anticipation of a sumptuous feast begins long before the big day arrives. Gathering around the table with loved ones, giving thanks, and indulging in a cornucopia of flavors is what makes this holiday truly special. And while some may spend weeks planning and prepping, others have discovered a secret weapon to simplify their Thanksgiving spread without compromising on taste and quality: Trader Joe’s.
Trader Joe’s is renowned for its unique and delicious offerings, and when it comes to Thanksgiving, they don’t disappoint. From savory staples that make cooking a breeze to delightful treats that elevate your dessert table, Trader Joe’s has an array of products that can turn your Thanksgiving celebration into a culinary masterpiece.
In this blog post, we’ll take you on a delightful journey through the top ten Trader Joe’s Thanksgiving products that will not only save you time in the kitchen but also leave your taste buds singing with gratitude. Whether you’re a seasoned host looking for new ideas or a Thanksgiving newbie seeking culinary shortcuts, these handpicked items are sure to make your holiday gathering memorable and mouthwatering. So, let’s dive in and discover the treasures that can turn your Thanksgiving into a Trader Joe’s inspired feast!
This is a fairly short list. Trader Joe’s has a plethora of Thanksgiving related items you can choose from. I curated this list to give you a complete meal and minimal fuss. You could literally put this meal on the table with about 90 minutes of prep time. The hardest part is the Turkey and that isn’t very much work either, it just takes some time to heat it up.
1. Trader Joe’s Turkey Gravy
I would think of this gravy as a good start. It’s a good base to create a really good gravy. My family, and I am sure yours, like to have a more flavorful gravy but it takes more time to do and the last thing you want to be doing on Thanksgiving day is making more gravy. To give the Trader Joe’s Turkey Gravy more flavor I would simply put the whole box (maybe two) in a saucepan. Bring it to a simmer. Sprinkle some Everything But the Leftovers Seasoning in the gravy, a pinch of dried sage or thyme, and maybe a small grind of black pepper. Simmer for a few minutes until the flavors come together and serve hot. That will boost your gravy game like nobody’s business.
2. Trader Joe’s Par Baked Demi Baguettes
Bread on a Thanksgiving table is essential. What is better than freshly baked bread? While this isn’t exactly making bread from scratch, it’s the next best thing. I highly suggest picking up a couple of bags of these Trader Joe’s Par Baked Demi Baguettes and popping them in the oven right before you sit down for Thanksgiving dinner. One of life’s great pleasures is freshly baked bread!
3. Trader Joe’s Roasted Cauliflower and Orzo
Not everyone is a fan of Cauliflower but I can tell you after eating this you’ll be a convert! The secret to making cauliflower so good is lots of cheese. This dish is super easy to make just pop it in the oven while the turkey is resting and in about a 1/2 hour you have a delicious side dish. So easy to make!
4. Trader Joe’s Cornbread Stuffing
Do Not get the Trader Joe’s Cornbread Stuffing Mix. It’s really quite bad. This stuffing is in the fridge section and it’s pre-made and it’s delicious. Overall, I was extremely impressed with Trader Joe’s roasted cauliflower and orzo with four cheeses, sun-dried tomatoes, and kale topped with panko breadcrumbs. It’s a tasty and satisfying meal that is perfect for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. I highly recommend giving it a try.
5. Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Bisque
Nothing like a warm bowl of soup on a nice cold day and what could be better for a first course for Thanksgiving day than a big bowl of pumpkin soup, or bisque, if you want to be technically correct? Bisque just has a lot of cream in it compared to regular soup and this is a rich and satisfying take on pumpkin soup.
6. Trader Joe’s Cranberry Sauce
What Thanksgiving meal wouldn’t be complete without a bowl of cranberry sauce to pass around especially the next day when want to make some turkey and stuffing sandwiches and smear some cranberry sauce on the bread! One of my favorite things in the world is the day after Thanksgiving sandwiches. Pick up a couple of jars for easy cranberry sauce.
7. Trader Joe’s Four Cheese Scalloped Potatoes
I love mashed potatoes as much as the next person. There is nothing better in the world than putting lots of gravy on mashed potatoes. Unfortunately, I have never found a ready made mashed potato dish that I like, and making mashed potatoes from scratch can be hard and take some time. The next best thing is Trader Joe’s Four Cheese Scalloped Potatoes! When you are letting the turkey rest, pop these in the oven and serve when they are piping hot!
8. Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Cheesecake Croissants
No Thanksgiving dinner would be complete without a nice dessert. Traditionally we would have a pumpkin pie and some whipped cream to top it, but in this Trader Joe’s twist, we have ready to bake Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Cheesecake Croissants! Make these ahead of time and keep them at the ready and when dinner is done hand one of these to each guest and pass the whipped cream. So easy this way and people will appreciate not having to mess with a pumpkin pie slice. Pumpkin pie deconstructed!
9. Trader Joe’s Turkey Sausage Stuffing Fried Rice
This is a bit of a non traditional side dish but at the same time, it’s not really. It has all the same Thanksgiving type flavors all wrapped up in fried rice. There really are no Asian flavors here, it’s all American Thanksgiving, just as fried rice! As a quick and easy side dish, I would heat up a bag or two of Trader Joe’s Turkey Sausage Stuffing Fried Rice and put it a bowl to pass around and it would be great with some gravy on top!
10. Trader Joe’s Brined Bone-In Half Turkey Breast
Finally, the Turkey! Trader Joe’s has done all the work for you here. Just pop this in the oven for about 45 minutes and you have a perfectly cooked turkey breast! If you follow the directions on the back of the bag, you will not be disappointed and it even comes with an easy gravy recipe that is light years better than the packaged gravy I recommended above. This sous vide bone in Turkey Breast from Trader Joe’s is a wonder and is engineered to turn out perfectly every time. My only issue with this turkey breast was the anemic look to it after I baked it. The skin was not very dark and crispy. A couple of minutes under a broiler would help that. You could also put this on a grill on low heat to warm it up and give it some smokey flavors. Either way, this is the easiest and move flavorful Turkey you can make this year.
This list is meant to give you a complete Thanksgiving feast with almost no real cooking and prep, yet have a nutritious and flavorful meal for the whole family!
