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From frozen versions of classic dishes like sweet potato casserole to an assortment of ready-to-eat pies, you can get most of what you need for your Thanksgiving feast without having to go to more than one store: Trader Joe’s.
Certain staples, like boxed stuffing and pre-sliced Brussels sprouts, will save you time without making the dinner feel store-bought, and quirkier seasonal items, like turkey and stuffing seasoned kettle chips, can be used to update traditional recipes in exciting new ways. Whether you’re feeding a major crowd or keeping things intimate with your closest family and friends, these five products are worth a trip to Trader Joe’s. Here’s how to put them to work on the big day.
The Shopping List
- Cranberry Orange Relish
- Cornbread Stuffing
- Turkey and Stuffing Seasoned Kettle Chips
- Shaved Brussels Sprouts
- Gluten-Free Pie Crust
The Dishes
A Fruity Appetizer
There’s a reason Trader Joe’s cranberry orange relish is such a cult favorite—it’s way less sweet than the stuff from the can. Extremely tart and refreshing, it’s a perfect counterpoint to all the richness of Thanksgiving. You can eat it as is or serve it with goat cheese or on top of baked brie for a quick and satisfying appetizer.
A Spin on Stuffing
There’s really no point in making your own stuffing base from scratch—after all, it’s nothing more than stale bread! What makes a stuffing great is the other ingredients you add in, so opt for TJ’s boxed cornbread stuffing and doctor it from there. Add veggies of all sorts (a can of corn will do wonders), leftover bits from the turkey, wine, butter, and broth. Better yet, bake the stuffing in a muffin tin—your guests will go wild for their individual servings.
A Casserole with a Twist
Switch up this year’s green bean casserole by topping it with Trader Joe’s Turkey and Stuffing Seasoned Kettle Chips instead of fried onions. The final product will be way crispier and more intensely flavored. Pretty genius, no?
A Salad Worth Fighting Over
There is just about nothing worse than chopping Brussels sprouts when you’re in a rush—it’s impossible to work with more than one at a time. Save yourself the pain and pick up a bag of Trader Joe’s shaved Brussels sprouts instead. Then use them to make a salad your guests will crave for the rest of the year, like this one from Cookie and Kate. They’ll appreciate having something light and crispy to eat alongside all the gravy and mashed potatoes.
A Gluten-Free Dessert Everyone Will Love
These days it’s not uncommon to have several guests in attendance with several dietary restrictions. For any of the gluten-free folks in your circle, consider grabbing one (or several) of Trader Joe’s gluten-free pie crusts. Made with rice and tapioca flour and lots of butter, it tastes almost identical to the version with gluten. Use it to make just about any pie you want—it pairs excellently with pumpkin, sweet potato, and pecan pie fillings, to name just a few.
See more recipes: This Pumpkin Lasagna Is the Secret to a No-Stress Dinner Party 12 Unexpected Ways to Experiment With Mushrooms Two Clever Ways to Use Up Leftover Bread, from Paris’s Most Famous Bakery