17 Trader Joe's Products You Should Be Cooking In The Air Fryer

Trader Joe's is a foodie's dream, chock full of amazing deals, unusual finds, and shortcuts to making easy meals everyone loves. There's something for everyone, whether you're stocking up on staples, planning a dinner party, or want to browse and see what ends up in your cart. With their relaxed atmosphere, friendly staff, and generous return policy, even their often jam-packed stores don't deter fans.

Trader Joe's freezer section is a highlight for many shoppers, offering a wide variety of cuisines and dietary options. No need to fork out big bucks on restaurant meals; whether you're in the mood for Indian, Chinese, Mexican, Thai, or Italian, Trader Joe's has something to tempt you. And with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options galore, this grocery giant makes scrumptious meals simple.

If you are an air fryer fan, you already know this cooking method ensures crispy results without deep frying, which is not only a healthier choice, but makes keeping your kitchen clean a snap. And any Trader Joe's devotee will be happy to know that the beloved chain offers many fan favorites perfect for the air fryer, so read on for our top picks.

Potato pancakes and latkes are different, although most think of both as shredded potatoes made into small cakes, fried in oil, and served crisp with applesauce or sour cream. Latkes actually began as buckwheat cakes fried in chicken fat before evolving into the potato-based fritter we know and love (via The Atlantic). Trader Joe's also calls its Potato Pancakes latkes, but let's not quibble about exact recipes. It's more important to know that air frying these concoctions gives you a yummy crunch that goes beautifully with any meal, or as a snack all by themselves.

Several Reddit users noted that air frying the Potato Pancakes works far better than baking them in the oven because they cook faster and crisp up perfectly. One Redditor pointed out that air frying was the only way to make them and advised, "I like them extra crispy, so I do 375F for 10-12 minutes. Just eyeball them."

While all air fryers are different, it's worth noting that the advice to watch them is wise. Air fryer fans get to know their machine and develop an instinct for how long things take to cook, so take your model into account for all cooking directions. Luckily, Trader Joe's Potato Pancakes are fully cooked, so it's simple to judge by the color of the crust. One taste from the air fryer will likely lead to constant potato pancake cravings – you're welcome.

Gyoza and potstickers are not identical, although they're kind of like kissing cousins. Both are stuffed dumplings served with dipping sauces, but gyoza has thinner wrappers that put the spotlight on the filling. Potstickers are larger, with thicker dough sharing the stage with the stuffing. Trader Joe's avoided confusion, simply calling them Chicken Gyoza Potstickers. Whatever you call them, these dumplings are yummy, filled with chicken and cabbage and flavored with soy sauce, ginger, and sesame oil.

Gyoza is delicious added to soup and can be cooked right in the stock for a simple meal. Still, many of us love them as an appetizer, snack, or side dish along with a stir fry or pad Thai. When it comes to eating gyoza one by one, they taste better (and stay gripped with your chopsticks) when they're made traditionally, with a crispy browned half. You can fry gyoza in oil and steam them to finish cooking them, or if you're feeling super chef-like, go for a fancy browned edge and steam them in a slurry of flour and water.

The trusty TJs subreddit assures us there's an easier way to make Chicken Gyoza Potstickers (if you guessed air frying, you're correct). Users noted that air frying for 12-15 minutes gave a terrific crunch without any toughness. Best news? No need to worry about steaming since these dumplings are fully cooked. So for simplicity, and that crispy bottom every gyoza has to have, fire up the air fryer.

Digging into a delicious plate of gnocchi at a restaurant and trying to replicate the dish at home could leave you questioning your life choices. These delightful Italian potato dumplings quickly turn into a sodden pile if, like many of us, you were told to boil gnocchi like other pastas. While fresh, handmade gnocchi turns out beautifully after a quick boil, packaged gnocchi loses its fluffy interior and ends up gluey and unappetizing. Alternatives to boiling include sheet pan meals to give the gnocchi a golden crust and fluffy insides that will have you scrambling for more.

In case you haven't noticed, though, we think anything roasted in the oven can be improved in the air fryer, and Trader Joe's Cauliflower Gnocchi is no exception. Customers love this plant-based meal that's low in calories with fewer carbs than traditional gnocchi. Whatever additional ingredients, spices, or sauces you have on hand can work perfectly against the backdrop of cauliflower, making it ideal for quick weeknight dinners. Redditors point out that pan-frying Cauliflower Gnocchi made them gluey, while the air fryer turned them into "crispy pillows of heaven" on the second attempt. Others said air frying was life-changing, and when it comes to these gnocchi, we certainly agree.

We love wandering the produce aisles at Trader Joe's to find fruits and vegetables to make excellent meals. In addition to everyday produce, Trader Joe's loves to throw curveballs (Winter Frost Pineberries, anyone?) with tempting offerings that make healthy eating fun. If you have trouble choosing the perfect produce, or dread the prep process that's involved, you can often find frozen versions to save you time and trouble.

Whichever vegetables catch your eye, an air fryer will make them better (ignore this if you're in the mood for a salad). You can save time by using the air fryer instead of boiling water on the stove, for instance, and since air fryers have built-in timers, there's no need to worry about the pot boiling over or the broccoli turning to mush because you forgot to turn off the heat. Roasting veggies in the oven is good, but sometimes there are space issues or different dishes need different temperatures. You can save yourself the hassle by roasting veggies in the air fryer, and you won't be disappointed with the results.

Healthy eating should never be boring; luckily, if you have an air fryer and shop at Trader Joe's, you're all set. Feel free to get creative with your produce, like one Redditor who uses Trader Joe's Rainbow Carrots to make delicious air-fried fritters. One thing to keep in mind when cooking veggies in the air fryer – remember to choose types with similar cooking times for the best results.

Tofu is a staple healthy protein source, but the texture and lack of flavor can be off-putting. Trader Joe's offers an array of tofu with different textures as well as some flavored tofus (try teriyaki or sriracha). They also sell scores of sauces that make tofu taste terrific, like the Gochujang paste Reddit users love as a glaze.

If you're new to tofu, or the thought of eating it is less than thrilling, crispy tofu could be the answer. Properly made, crispy tofu has an incredible texture and mouthfeel. This is where the air fryer makes a big difference; although crispy tofu is easy to make in a skillet or wok, it needs a fair amount of oil to get the proper crust. Plus, if your pan isn't hot enough or you use flour as breading, it absorbs extra oil, and there isn't much point in adding tons of excess fat and calories to an otherwise healthy food.

Redditors love air frying tofu to get that super crispy crunch, and they use it in curries, stir fry, sandwiches, and for Mexican-inspired delights. Its versatility means that seasonings are the key to making any meal you love light and healthy, and air frying lets you slash the amount of oil needed to get it golden and crisp. Two tips to remember: press the tofu to get rid of extra water, and use cornstarch or arrowroot powder rather than flour to coat the tofu, and you'll soon be a tofu lover.

Spring rolls are small and crisp with simple wrappers made of rice or wheat flour and water. These shouldn't be confused with egg rolls, which began in American Chinese restaurants and are named for the egg added to the wrapper dough. Egg rolls are always deep-fried, but spring rolls might be served baked or steamed (via MasterClass). Trader Joe's freezer aisle has spring rolls for any preference, including chicken, vegetable, and even Kalua Pork Spring Rolls, filled with smoky Hawaiian-style shredded pork and vegetables.

Reddit users love making Trader Joe's spring rolls in the air fryer, noting that it takes just 12 minutes to produce perfect restaurant-quality spring rolls, complete with the crunch we all love. Remember that every air fryer gives slightly different results, so the temperature and cooking time might vary depending on your fryer. The good news? Air frying is quite forgiving, so make your best guess based on how you make similar foods in your air fryer and taste test.

While Trader Joe's spring rolls can be heated in the microwave, toaster, and conventional oven, air frying produces consistently beautiful results. Forget preheating the oven for just four spring rolls, getting soggy results from the microwave, or waiting 25 minutes for the toaster oven – air frying will get those spring rolls on your plate faster so you can dig in.

Taquitos, the yummy Mexican snack made from rolled corn tortillas around spicy combos of beans, meat, cheese, and veggies, are a Trader Joe's staple. Quick and simple to prepare, they're great as appetizers, snacks, or a light meal, ideal for busy schedules. Even so, Trader Joe's Black Bean and Cheese Taquitos are a subject of debate; some Redditors downvote the changes in the taquitos recipe, while others defend them and stuff their freezers full. We aren't here to judge – if you're a TJ's taquitos fan, we want to point out that these babies are made for the air fryer.

Taquitos are meant to be deep-fried, with all the crispy goodness that implies. While Trader Joe's taquitos can be baked, their stovetop directions use oil for frying, though in an amount closer to a sauté than deep frying. Compared to the oven, air frying is faster; the taquitos take 20 minutes to bake but less than 10 minutes in the air fryer. Furthermore, an air fryer delivers crunch without extra oil so you can go in for another without thinking twice about it.

One complaint about air-fried foods is that the circulating air doesn't brown food like frying or baking. If this is a problem with your air fryer model, a spritz of oil brings golden brown color like a deep-fried taquito while still keeping the fat content in check.

Pigs in a blanket — tiny hot dogs wrapped in dough or pastry — are beloved by everyone (or everyone that will eat hot dogs, anyway). While nobody can agree who invented them, which part of the world can claim them, or even which century they hail from (via Foodimentary), there's no doubt these enticing savory snacks disappear faster than it would take to finish the debate. And although the Mangalitza pigs from Austria and Hungary are actual pigs in blankets (they sport wooly coats, making them look like Seussian hybrid sheep-pigs, per Porkopolis), the wrapped hot dog snack is our preferred morsel at a party.

Trader Joe's elevated pigs in a blanket not only by wrapping them in puff pastry but by topping them with Parmesan, a touch that makes them sophisticated enough for adults but still enticing to kids. The Trader Joe's subreddit has fans agreeing that air-frying these bad boys make top-tier piggies everyone loves. The puff pastry tends to exude some butter, so making them in the air fryer lets that drip away rather than sitting in a puddle as they do when oven-baked. Of course, you should keep an eye on them in case that dripping fat starts to burn, but considering the air fryer makes short work of them, it should be fine unless you're making many rounds. Although let's face it, we always want to make endless Pastry Pups, so no judgment.