This $4 Trader Joe’s Freezer Find Makes the Best 2-Ingredient Dinners

If you’ve been on cooking TikTok the last few months, you may have seen the rising “dumpling salad” trend. In essence, it combines some steamed and crisped-up frozen dumplings with classic salad ingredients — raw veggies, dressing, and sometimes extras for flavor and crunch. 

I came across lots of these recipe ideas, and as someone with a family who loves dumplings and could always eat more veggies, I made one a few months back, using Trader Joe’s frozen chicken gyoza (my family’s go-to). In our first go-around, I opted to chop up a cabbage, shred my own carrots, cut a bell pepper and cilantro, make a homemade dressing, and top it with chopped nuts and sesame seeds. 

It was relatively low maintenance and super delicious, but not exactly a total breeze. Then I realized there was an easy way to massively simplify this recipe for myself — and anyone else wanting to try out this tasty, quick meal. Combine two Trader Joe’s items: frozen dumplings and a bagged salad kit of your choice.

The first time I tested my new theory, I picked up the Miso Crunch Chopped Salad Kit, which includes green and red cabbage, carrots, kale, chow mein noodles, cashews, and a sesame miso dressing that pairs perfectly with both the veggies and some dumplings. If you love crunch, combining steamed (or fried!) dumplings with fresh, crunchy vegetables and chow mein noodles provides the perfect mix of textures and complementary flavors. And the sesame miso dressing has a savory punch that makes every element taste extra delicious.

It’s also budget-friendly. At my local Trader Joe’s, the bagged salad and dumplings each run $3.99, which adds up to just under $8 for a meal that serves two or three (depending on how hungry we are). I’ve already made this twice for my family, and you better believe it’s become a part of our regular dinner rotation.

I cooked up the dumplings according to package instructions, a mix of steaming and sautéing to achieve a bit of a crust. I prepared the bagged salad, which required no more effort than combining the veggies, toppings, and dressing. Then I combined the two in a large bowl, making sure the dumplings got nice and sauced — and within 10 minutes (and almost no effort) we had a delicious, filling meal. 

One bagged salad to one bag of dumplings is a good ratio, in my opinion, and feeds about two or three people, if it’s your entrée. To make it for a larger group, just double both. 

You could also opt for a slightly higher level of effort and buy the pre-shredded cabbage and carrots from TJ’s, and a bag of dumplings. Then add your preferred toppings and make a delicious dressing of your own preference. This still keeps your ingredient count low — especially if you can rely on pantry staples like soy sauce, fish sauce, honey, sriracha, and the like for your dressing. It’s the super easy weeknight meal your whole household can get excited about.

Find it in stores: Trader Joe’s Chicken Gyoza Potstickers, $3.99 for 16 ounces;

Trader Joe’s Miso Crunch Chopped Salad Kit, $3.99 for 13.5 ounces

What two-ingredient dinners are you making on repeat? Tell us about it in the comments below.