I've Been Turning This $4.99 Trader Joe's Freezer Aisle Find Into A Full-Blown Meal For Years. These Are My 10 Favorite Variations

In my household, Pizza Friday isn’t just a tradition — it’s a ritual that’s been going strong for 12 years. While my husband and I love making our pies from scratch, sometimes the ease of convenience wins.

That’s where Trader Joe's Frozen Organic 3-Cheese Pizza comes in (of which we currently have four in our freezer).

With a wheat flour crust, a simple tomato sauce, and a blend of mozzarella and Fontal cheeses, consider this $4.99 woodfired, crafted-in-Italy pie your customizable blank canvas. From balsamic glaze to pesto, grilled olives to fresh figs, here are ten easy combos to help you bring this frozen pizza to life using only Trader Joe’s toppings.

Rest assured that you can easily swap in your favorite non-TJ's frozen pizza and toppings if you don't live near a Trader Joe's — and remember that the approximate cost per pizza doesn't include any leftover ingredients that you can put toward future meals.

1.Balsamic Glaze + Arugula + Prosciutto

How to make it: Before baking, add your slices of prosciutto. Once your pizza is out of the oven, toss on a few handfuls of fresh, peppery arugula. Finish with a light drizzle of Trader Joe’s aromatic balsamic glaze, which is actually made with authentic, IGP-designated Aceto Balsamico di Modena.

2.Spicy Hot Honey + Salami

How to make it: Spice, spice, baby! This classic salami and honey combo gets a fiery upgrade with TJ’s spicy hot honey, made with chili extract and a touch of vinegar. We like to dip our slices in blue cheese dressing to balance out the heat.

3.Pulled Chicken + BBQ Sauce + Cilantro + Red Onion

How to make it: Simply toss Trader Joe’s hardwood smoked pulled chicken in their sweet and tangy Kansas City-style BBQ sauce, then add fresh cilantro and sliced red onion. For extra credit, add a sprinkle of cheddar cheese or finish with a drizzle of TJ’s cilantro dressing.

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4.Pear + Caramelized Onion + Crumbled Gorgonzola Cheese

How to make it: Sweet, tender pear meets funky, slightly sweet gorgonzola in this delightful combo. Top with caramelized onions, which are easy to make and perfect for leftovers on sandwiches. (Love & Lemons has a great recipe!)

5.Pineapple + Jalapeño + Applewood Smoked Bacon

How to make it: For this combo, we opt for Trader Joe’s uncured applewood smoked bacon — thick-cut and smoked over real applewood. We bake it in the oven first, and if we’re feeling really wild, drizzle it with maple syrup or pat on some brown sugar beforehand. Pair it with sweet pineapple chunks and jalapeño slices. For bonus points, dip your slices into a pool of TJ's creamy Buttermilk Ranch Dressing.

6.Pesto + Chicken + Sun-Dried Tomatoes

How to make it: When the days get warmer, we go for a pesto-inspired pizza. To keep it easy, use TJ’s pesto Genovese chicken breast, or start with plain chicken and mix in your own pesto. Either way, we like to add more pesto to the pizza before topping with the shredded, cooked pesto chicken and sun-dried tomatoes.

7.Marinated Artichokes + Grilled Green Olives + Tomatoes + Mushrooms + Quattro Formaggi

How to make it: A twist on Pizza Capricciosa (minus the ham), TJ’s marinated artichoke hearts, and grilled green olives are the stars of this pizza. We also add tomatoes and mushrooms, all topped with TJ’s ready-to-sprinkle quattro formaggi — a blend of sharp asiago, nutty Parmesan, creamy fontina, and mild provolone.

8.Meatballs + Fresh Parsley + Parmesan

How to make it: Trader Joe's meatballs are made with a mix of beef, Panko breadcrumbs, onion and garlic purée, aromatic herbs like basil and oregano, plus grated Parmesan and Romano cheeses. Pre-cook them, slice ‘em up, and place them on your pie, then top with chopped fresh parsley and a hefty amount of grated parmesan.

9.Figs + Caramelized Onion Cheddar + Fresh Basil

How to make it: Elegant and flavor-packed, this one’s a top contender for date nights and dinner parties alike, especially when figs are in season. The cheddar is blended with caramelized onion marmalade and is exceptionally meltable. If you have some leftover hot honey or balsamic glaze from a previous pizza, drizzle it on! Prosciutto, caramelized onions, and arugula are good additions, too.

10.Sweet Italian Chicken Sausage + Mozzarella Pearls + Garlic + Shaved Fennel

How to make it: For a delectable combo, sauté a topping of sweet Italian chicken sausage, toss on some minced garlic, and shaved fennel (raw or roasted). Top with a generous amount of bite-sized mozzarella pearls — TJ’s even suggests adding them before and after baking for a “mozz-some” array of temperatures and textures.

For all our fellow weir-doughs who love doctoring up a Trader’s frozen pizza as much as we do, share your favorite combos in the comments! We can’t wait to hear how you take Pizza Fridays to all-new heights.