Former Trader Joe’s Employee Shares Best Foods to Make in Air Fryer

• I worked at Trader Joe’s for 3 years, and there are certain products I love making in the air fryer.
• I love some of the fan-favorite freezer items, like the orange chicken, tater tots, and samosas.
• The chicken spring rolls are underrated, and the bambino pizzas are worth trying in the air fryer.

Some of my favorite air-fryer meals come from Trader Joe’s freezer aisle.

I worked at the grocery chain for three years, so I’m very familiar with both the popular and underrated products it sells.

From crispy orange chicken to vegetable samosas, here are 10 Trader Joe’s frozen meals I like to make in my air-fryer:

The orange chicken is a fan-favorite for a reason

 

Jonathan Chandler

The orange chicken at Trader Joe’s is a fan-favorite and costs $4.99.

I cook it in the air fryer for about 20 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Halfway through, I’ll give it a shake so that chicken comes out extra crispy.

 

Jonathan Chandler

The sauce is absolutely amazing with the chicken, and I think it tastes better than fast food.

I like to serve the cooked chicken with brown rice.

Hot wings and tater tots are a match made in heaven

 

Jonathan Chandler

You can’t go wrong with hot wings and tater tots, especially when the whole meal costs less than $10. Trader Joe’s frozen hot wings cost $5.99, and the tater tots cost $2.49.

I cook them separately in the air fryer for 20 to 25 minutes each at 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

Jonathan Chandler

Both come out crispy, and the hot wings are full of flavor. You can also add some garlic powder or onion powder to the tater tots to spice them up.

I serve everything with my favorite ranch for dipping.

Turkey burgers are a quick and easy air-fryer dinner

 

Jonathan Chandler

You can’t go wrong with a good turkey burger. Trader Joe’s sells a four-pack in the freezer aisle for $3.29.

I cook them in the air fryer for about 35 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Unlike some of Trader Joe’s frozen products, these aren’t precooked at all, so the cooking time may depend on your air fryer. Keep an eye on the patty, and flip it halfway through.

 

Jonathan Chandler

I like to add a bit of garlic powder and other seasonings to give the turkey a bit more flavor, then I serve it on a brioche bun with Colby Jack cheese.

You can add whatever toppings you like and serve the burger with french fries or eat it on its own.

Black bean-and-cheese taquitos are a staple freezer purchase

 

Jonathan Chandler

Who doesn’t love taquitos? Trader Joe’s sells a pack of 12 for $3.99.

I put them in the air fryer for 10 to 12 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

Jonathan Chandler

Once they’re crispy, I like to top mine with Mexican-blend cheese and Trader Joe’s five-layer dip.

The veggie samosas are cheap and so delicious

 

Brittany Menjivar

The veggie samosas are absolutely amazing, and they only cost $3.49

I add a bit of avocado oil to my air-fryer basket and cook them for 15 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

Jonathan Chandler

They come out crispy and flavorful, but to make this more of a meal, I served them with vegetable fried rice.

I don’t think enough people appreciate the chicken spring rolls

 

Jonathan Chandler

The chicken spring rolls are an underrated Trader Joe’s item. A box of five costs $3.99.

I air-fry them for 15 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

Jonathan Chandler

They’re packed with incredible flavor and are big enough to fill me up for dinner.

I like to pair the spring rolls with a sweet-chili sauce for dipping.

The chicken-verde burritos come in convenient packs of 2

 

Jonathan Chandler

You can’t go wrong with a good burrito, and Trader Joe’s frozen chicken-verde burritos come in packs of two for $3.49.

They’re absolutely delicious and make the perfect quick meal.

I put them in the air fryer for 15 to 17 minutes on 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

Jonathan Chandler

I like to dip mine in guacamole, but you can also opt for sour cream or salsa.

The turkey meatballs are perfect for quick subs

 

Jonathan Chandler

Trader Joe’s frozen turkey meatballs are absolutely delicious and cost $4.49 a bag.

They’re already fully cooked, so all you have to do is heat them up.

I like to spray some avocado oil in my air-fryer basket and cook them on 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 to 14 minutes.

 

Jonathan Chandler

My favorite thing to do with these meatballs is put them on sub sandwiches.

You can use any bun of your choice and your favorite marinara sauce, then just top everything with fresh mozzarella cheese.

The chicken gyoza are full of flavor

 

Jonathan Chandler

If you’re looking for a quick but satisfying dinner, Trader Joe’s gyozas are a winner. Plus, they only cost $3.49.

I air-fry them on 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 11 to 13 minutes, and they come out crispy and flavorful every time.

 

Jonathan Chandler

I like to dip them in my favorite chili sauce or soy sauce. And if I’m looking for a fuller meal, I’ll pair the gyozas with white rice.

If you haven’t tried the pizza bambinos in the air fryer, you’re missing out

 

Jonathan Chandler

Trader Joe’s frozen bambino pizzas come in a box of four for $3.99.

I put them in my air fryer for about 15 minutes on 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

Jonathan Chandler

The pizza comes out incredibly cheesy and absolutely fantastic.

You can add some fresh Parmesan or red-chili flakes on top if you want to punch up the flavor a bit.