The $3.99 Trader Joe’s Find I Always Keep In My Freezer

After a long day, the last thing I want to do is pull out the cutting board to prep vegetables for dinner. I’d rather pull something from the freezer that’s easy, fast, and doesn’t require me to chop a thing.

Trader Joe’s has become my go-to store for frozen vegetables. While it used to be that you’d only find frozen vegetables unseasoned or maybe lightly dressed with butter and herbs, they now come dressed in all kinds of different marinades, sauces, and seasonings.

Trader Joe’s Asian Style Vegetables with Stir Fry Sauce

• Price: $3.99 for a 16-ounce bag

• Why I Love It: This freezer find from Trader Joe’s comes with a tasty sauce that turns the veggies into an impressive stir fry. I love adding ground turkey or pork to make an easy one-pan meal.

Why I Love Trader Joe’s Asian Style Vegetables with Stir Fry Sauce

Frozen stir-fry vegetable blends are nothing new, but the TJ’s version differentiates itself by coming with a packet of sauce, making it a whole side dish on its own. The best way to prepare it is on the stovetop—sauté the vegetables in a tablespoon of oil for about five minutes, then stir in the sauce until it’s heated through and the veggies are evenly coated.

Does the package say to thaw the sauce in a bowl of warm water before you start cooking? Yes. Do I ever actually do that? Nope. Still works great.

The stir-fry sauce is a mild, slightly sweet brown sauce, similar to what you’d get in a Cantonese-style vegetable dish. It’s soy sauce-based, with hoisin taking the place of the usual oyster sauce, and sherry instead of the more traditional Shaoxing wine. For something that’s squeezed out of a packet, it’s very good. As for the vegetables, they come out impressively tender and fresh-tasting as long as you don’t overcook them.

How I Turn Trader Joe’s Frozen Stir Fry Vegetable Mix Into a 10-Minute Dinner

I usually turn this stir-fry blend into a main dish by adding ground turkey, chicken, pork, or beef. I start by browning the ground meat in a large skillet with a drizzle of oil, breaking it up with a spatula as it cooks. Once the meat is fully cooked, I add a tablespoon of oil and the frozen vegetables, then sauté them with the meat. Finally, I toss in the sauce packet, a little extra soy sauce, and sesame oil. Add some fluffy white rice and that’s dinner, from freezer to table in about 10 minutes.

I always make sure to keep a few different frozen vegetable blends in my freezer, and this one is a mainstay! It’s gotten me through quite a few busy weeks, helping me get to the finish line while serving colorful, vegetable-filled meals along the way—and that’s always a win.

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