Recipe: Trader Joe’s Orange Chicken Fried Rice

Trader Joe’s Mandarin orange chicken is beloved by fans (in fact, the store itself has said it’s been the top pick by customers for two years in a row). I find it to be just as good as takeout, but so much cheaper and faster. And while preparing it as the package suggests is fine, there’s plenty of room to play around. Reach for a couple of other items in the freezer section next time you’re stocking up on orange chicken, and you have the makings for a fun twist on the favorite.

More: These 3-Ingredient Trader Joe’s Meals Come Straight from the Freezer Aisle

While you’re at TJ’s picking up your Mandarin orange chicken, grab a bag of frozen stir-fry veggies and a box of pre-cooked brown rice. Together, the three transform into one seriously awesome riff on chicken fried rice. As you warm up the chicken, veggies, and rice in a skillet, you’ll heat up the sweet and sticky orange sauce, which gets drizzled over top. Then give it all a toss and dig in. It’s a complete dinner in under 10 minutes, which is a whole lot faster than any takeout or delivery.