The “Delicious” $3 Trader Joe’s Side I’m Bringing to Thanksgiving This Year

Nina Derwin
Nina Derwin
Nina Derwin is a Brooklyn-based writer with a passion for the art of storytelling. In addition to writing articles for various clients and publications, Nina has written several episodes of scripted television for networks including Starz and Fox.
published Nov 21, 2023
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Trader Joe's Retail Strip Mall Location. Trader Joe's is a chain of specialty grocery stores in the U.S. II
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Thanksgiving is only days away, which means for many of us who are hosting this year, dinner preparations are already in the works. But if you feel like you are behind planning your menu or you’re short on time, don’t worry — Trader Joe’s has come to the rescue. The beloved grocery store has come through in the clutch with a new addition to its frozen food section: mashed sweet potatoes. There are few foods I enjoy quite as much as a heaping pile of mashed potatoes, so naturally I had to give them a try.

Credit: Nina Derwin

Trader Joe’s New Frozen Mashed Sweet Potatoes

As soon as I heard about Trader Joe’s new frozen mashed sweet potatoes, I grabbed my keys and headed to the store. I added the $3 bag to my cart, and I wondered how close to homemade they could possibly taste for such an affordable price. When I got home I read the instructions: one set for the microwave, and one set for the stovetop. I decided to try both for good measure.

Credit: Nina Derwin

During Thanksgiving, stovetop space is limited, so it was a relief to discover that they taste just as delicious when cooked in the microwave as they do hot off the stove. Cooking the mashed sweet potatoes in the microwave also removes the time-consuming stirring aspect, which is necessary when cooking on the stove to avoid burning. 

As for the flavor, think of Trader Joe’s frozen mashed sweet potatoes as a blank canvas; they are just plain sweet potatoes, after all. You can adjust the taste with additions of butter, milk, salt, pepper, cinnamon, maple syrup, marshmallows, and just about anything else you might use to jazz up the dish.

Credit: Nina Derwin

Whether you are a seasoned home cook or hosting Thanksgiving dinner for the very first time, Trader Joe’s has found a way to make your holiday meal prep easier — not to mention, cheaper. If you’re thinking of adding mashed sweet potatoes to the menu, you’ll want to head to Trader Joe’s sooner than later, because their latest frozen side is sure to sell out. While you’re there, don’t forget to pick up this $5 dessert and a little bit of last-minute fall decor.