California-based Trader Joe's is a great source for creating tasty plant-based meals. In fact, Trader Joe's vegan foods selection has been growing in response to customer demand. "There's been a huge growth in the meatless set," said TJ's category manager Amy Gaston-Morales during a 2021 episode of the Inside Trader Joe's podcast.
"These new iterations of products are really going after the flexitarian customer," Gaston-Morales continued. "As people are looking for ways to have a healthier lifestyle and improve their overall general health…they are incorporating meat-free days."
To that end, it's no surprise that Trader Joe's has come out with everything from vegan butter and ice cream, to meat-free takes on bolognese-style pasta sauce and its ever-popular Mandarin Orange Chicken. And since Trader Joe's items typically go through rigorous product testing before they're available for purchase, you can rest assured that the retailer's tasty vegan foods are likely to satisfy even the most critical meat eaters. Keep reading to find out which Trader Joe's vegan products can help make your Meatless Mondays (and beyond) even easier!
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Organic Creamy Cashew Cultured Yogurt Alternative
This dairy-free, vegan yogurt alternative mixes crushed organic cashews with filtered water, and then is enhanced with a hint of coconut cream. It also has six live and active probiotics—just like dairy yogurt—so you can still reap those good-bacteria benefits. Buy the plain, unsweetened version and top it with fresh fruit, or choose one of the flavored and sweetened versions for when you're in a rush.
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Vegan Buttery Spread
There are unlimited uses for butter when cooking, but it's often tricky to find a vegan substitute that gets the job done. Enter Trader Joe's Vegan Buttery Spread. Made in Germany with a combination of sunflower, coconut, and canola oil mixed with a bit of shea butter, fava bean protein, and just a touch of salt; this spread boasts an irresistible buttery flavor.
Unlike some plant-based butter substitutes, this spread can be used as a one-to-one replacement for traditional dairy-based butter in every way. That's right, you can use this spread in everything from vegan cookies to "buttery" mashed potatoes.
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Green Goddess Salad Dressing
This healthy salad dressing has been a TJ's favorite among vegans and meat-eaters alike for quite some time. It gets its vibrant green hue from Hass avocados, and is also made with fresh herbs—basil and chives—as well as green onions, garlic, and apple cider vinegar. Use it to dress a veggie-filled salad or hearty grain bowl. Trust us, you won't be disappointed.
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Vegan Feta Cheese Alternative
Let's be honest, it can be tricky to find vegan cheese that tastes good and has the texture of the real deal, but TJ's Vegan Feta Cheese Alternative delivers on both fronts. It's made with coconut oil, potato starch, and a bit of potato protein, which gives it that creamy, savory flavor feta is known for. Plus, you can easily crumble it to sprinkle over a salad, or use a block of it to make TikTok's famous Baked Feta Pasta.
Not a feta fan? Try TJ's dairy-free Shredded Parmesan Cheese Alternative. These shreds, made from a base of highly refined coconut oil, add cheesy flavor to a salad, pasta dish, roasted vegetables, or potatoes.
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Vegan Cream Cheese Alternative
Made from a tasty base of coconut oil mixed with potato starch and chickpea protein, TJ's Vegan Cream Cheese Alternative has the smooth spreadability and silky mouthfeel of dairy-based cream cheese, but without the animal-based products. Enjoy it on a bagel, add it to a vegan mac and cheese recipe, or use it to help frost a vegan red velvet or carrot cake.
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Vegan Enchilada Casserole
If you're looking for a comforting meatless meal that's ready in minutes, give this savory Vegan Enchilada Casserole a try. It has layers of soft corn tortillas and a medley of roasted veggies—yams, zucchini, onions, and zesty poblano peppers— smothered in a toasty red chile sauce and topped with a mix of mozzarella and Cheddar-style shredded vegan cheese. Once the casserole is fully cooked, the cheese and veggies blend to create a gooey, satisfying meal.
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Vegan Pasta Bolognese Bowl
For a plant-based Italian feast, consider TJ's Vegan Pasta Bolognese Bowl. The saucy dish, which you can find in the freezer section, is packed with tube-shaped pasta made from red lentils and a meat-free "bolognese" sauce. Instead of slow-braised beef, pork, or veal, the savory pasta accompaniment is made with tomato, mushrooms, carrots, onion, wheat protein, and garlic.
If you'd rather make your own pasta dish, you can still get some help from Trader Joe's Vegan Bolognese Style Pasta Sauce, which works as a zoodle or noodle topper.
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Chicken-less Mandarin Orange Morsels
Since Mandarin Orange Chicken is one of Trader Joe's most popular items, it's no surprise they opted to make a vegan version of the dish known as Chicken-less Mandarin Orange Morsels. While the sweet-and-spicy sauce is the same, they replaced the chicken with a combination of textured wheat protein, soy flour, and more. Still, this dish tastes similar to the original, practically perfect when served alongside vegetables and rice.
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Vegan Banana Bread With Walnuts
Banana bread is a tasty treat that can easily satisfy any sugar craving. This vegan version, which is great to bring to or serve at a plant-based dinner party, is made without dairy or eggs, but still has an unmistakable banana-walnut flavor. What's more, while some vegan breads have a gritty consistency, this loaf is as dense and moist as the real deal.
