This New $4.29 Trader Joe’s Find Is My Weeknight MVP

Trader Joe’s has some of the best ready-to-heat-and-serve products, and one of my all-time favorites is their chicken meatballs.

They’re a pretty regular rotation in my house, so I was excited to try a new variety from TJ’s in their deli section: Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken Meatballs.

Why I Love Trader Joe’s Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken Meatballs

For $4.29, you get a 12-ounce package of 24 meatballs or four servings of six mini-meatballs. Like the plain version, these meatballs are fully cooked, and unlike most ready-made meatballs on the market, they’re completely gluten-free, which means that if you have friends or relatives with gluten sensitivities or celiac disease, they’re great to have on hand.

I grabbed a few packages to try when I spotted them in the store, and when I got home, my 15-year-old son spied them on the counter as I was putting away groceries. It was after 9 p.m., and he immediately asked if he could have some.

Without really waiting for me to say yes, he opened a package, heated about a serving and a half in the microwave, and declared them “tasty.”  He ate the first one plain, then decided that some ALDI chicken dipping sauce was the perfect accoutrement. He liked them so much that he decided they would make a perfect school lunch in his thermos. 

I’m glad I grabbed more than one package because my son polished off the first package. When I finally tried them, I could understand why he liked them so much. They are, indeed, quite tasty.

They are meaty and bursting with sweet pineapple flavor, with a touch of caramelized onion and ginger. They don't need any sauce, but I tried them with a touch of barbecue sauce on a roll, and they made me swoon.

In fact, I think they would be so perfect as an appetizer at a party. I used the original meatballs in a crockpot with pineapple chunks and barbecue sauce for a family gymnastics party last summer, and they were the first dish to disappear. I think this version would be even better for that appetizer.

They also pair with teriyaki sauce, and as odd as it sounds, they even pair well with marinara sauce, an experiment that I had to try. They’re a great start to dinner, snacks, or if you have to take a dish to share at a potluck.

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