Quick dinner ideas from Costco or Trader Joe's

[Anonymous]

I need really easy and fast dinners in the summer because we get home really late and there is little time for prep during the day.
The rest of the year, I freeze things for the week but that isn't happening this summer!

Any favorite items from Costco or Trader Joe's that help you put together a fast dinner?

(No beef or pork please!)

[Anonymous]

Chicken meatballs from Costco and pasta or pre cooked chicken breast in tacos, tortillas, salads or just buy a rotisserie chicken from Costco they are dirt cheap plus a salad.

[Anonymous]

I love getting the $6 cooked chickens from Costco. We buy that, and then get home, slap together a salad and baked potatoes and boom, there's dinner.

[Anonymous]

I have posted this often. I am a BIG fan of TJ turkey bolognese (freezer section.) Pretty healthy/natural- too! And delicious!!!

[Anonymous]

healthy chicken tacos from TJ's: just sautee a package of ground chicken (takes 5 minutes), serve with any of TJ's tortillas (I like the low-carb whole wheat), grape tomatoes, avocado, shredded cheese, plain green yogurt, and salsa.

[Anonymous]

We love TJ frozen bean and cheese taquitos. I make a quick guacamole to go with and it's a quick and simple dinner. You can also make a quick Mexican rice as a side.

[Anonymous]

I love TJ's turkey meatballs and use the often-- traditional pasta and meatballs, but also cut them up for salads.

If you like fish, TJ's soy ginger code (frozen section) is AMAZING. Cooks up super quick and pairs great with brown rice and a salad or veggie. We frequently buy the frozen brown rice at TJs for those nights we don't have time for the rice cooker.

[Anonymous]

TJ's chicken or veggie potstickers. Serve with a side veggie.

[Anonymous]

This will probably get flamed, but I love the Costco pot roast. It's in the refrigerated section and comes in a box. It lasts for about a month, so it's great to have on hand. You cook it in the microwave for 20 minutes and it's ready. I usually make green beans and mashed potatoes with it.
It's the only thing I use my microwave for.

[Anonymous]

We love TJ's frozen mandarin orange chicken. We stir-fry it with a bag of their frozen asian veggies and either make rice or use the frozen rice. It goes from freezer to table in under 20 minutes and it's tastier and quicker than take-out chinese!

[Anonymous]

TJ's breaded tilapia is delicious too - bake it for 20 minutes in the toaster oven then have it plain with veggies, as a sandwich, or in fish tacos (add some sliced cabbage, avocado, and salsa or yogurt mixed with chipotle peppers).

[Anonymous]

I like TJ's precooked lentils and beets, both in the veg section. Dump those on a bed of lettuce with any other chopped up veggies you like, add feta or goat cheese crumbles, and top with olive oil/vinegar or whatever salad dressing you like. I eat this for dinner and lunch when DH is traveling. I also like TJs fish nuggets. If your oven preheats quickly, you can have dinner on the table in 20 minutes. Get a back of the broccoli slaw, a pack of corn tortillas, and the cilantro dressing (veg section), and you have some tasty fish tacos. I also think the BBQ pulled chicken in the refrigerated section is really good (a little spicy). That plus the broccoli slaw on rolls is dinner sometimes.

[Anonymous]

The chicken alfredo from Costco (pre-prepared) is pretty tasty. Make sure to cook it long enough. You can freeze it. It is a big meal so when it was just two of us, I would buy it, cut it into smaller portions and freeze the smaller portions.

Frozen quiche is good. Costco sells Morey's marinated salmon. You can cook from frozen or fast thaw in water. The filets are frozen and very yummy. If you are a fried fish person, the frozen breaded tilapia are yummy for fish and chips style dinner.

[Anonymous]

TJ's has some pretty good chicken cacciatore in their refrigerated section. Just microwave 5 minutes and throw over some pasta.

[Anonymous]

OP here.

09:28 - I happened to already have TJ's frozen mandarin chicken and made it last night. Just made brown rice to go with it. I guess it isn't super healthy but it does taste great and my son really loved it. We always make a vegetable but no time last night! Will add that next time.

My question was really inspired by yet another trip to TJs and Costco where I bought the same items and really needed recommendations to try new things.

Thanks everyone! Some great ideas here.