The Easy 5-Ingredient Trader Joe’s Dinner My Husband Goes Ga-Ga For

For a dinner that feels homemade and special but takes just 15 minutes to make, look no further than Trader Joe’s. This hearty soup costs less than $4 per serving.

I’m a frequent Trader Joe’s shopper, regularly visiting my local store to pick up snacks, flowers, cards, cheese, and wine—just about everything. And while there are a plethora of ready-made meals available in the cool case and freezer section that end up in my cart from time to time, I’ve found the key to creating a memorable meal from Trader Joe’s is to create your own.

I’ve started making my own shortcut dinners using a handful of TJ’s ingredients. They feel fresher and more special than a frozen meal, but they’re just as easy and cost-effective.

One dinner I keep coming back to is Meatball and Tortellini Pesto Soup. It combines a few ready-made ingredients with fresh veg for a one-dish meal that couldn’t be easier. It’s also packed with flavor coming directly from the ingredients themselves. My husband goes ga-ga for this soup and it feels fancy enough that I wouldn’t hesitate to serve it to guests.