3-Ingredient Trader Joe’s Chicken Meatballs & Gravy
These 3-ingredient meatballs & gravy are the perfect quick & easy comfort food dinner! It’s ready in just 20 minutes and perfect for meal prep too.
⏰ TIME: 20 mins
🤑TOTAL COST: $13.47 ($3.37/serving)
🧆 3 INGREDIENTS
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I’ve been going absolutely ham on all the Thanksgiving stuff that’s trickling into Trader Joe’s recently!
This past week, I saw that the turkey gravy was back in stock, along with these new cranberry jalapeno chicken meatballs that I’ve been dying to try. I’ve also really been craving mashed potatoes a lot this week for some reason.
So with all these cravings inside my head, I decided to make these insanely easy 3-ingredient meatballs & gravy using ingredients from Trader Joe’s!
Now, yes in an ideal world we wanna make everything from scratch. But when you’re lazy and craving comfort food, this quick & easy version really hits the spot!
🥔 Craving mashed potatoes? Check out my 4-ingredient cottage cheese mashed potato recipe!
I even meal prepped this for lunch and it tasted delicious! Like a warm hug in the middle of a crazy clinic day (sorry not sorry if that sounds cringe).
I also think this is a great dinner when you’re craving Thanksgiving food without having to do a lot of work!
Even though this recipe uses ingredients from Trader Joe’s, you can definitely find grocery store dupes for all of the ingredients. So don’t worry if you don’t have a TJ’s near you!
If you’re looking for another easy Trader Joe’s dinner, check out this 3-ingredient Trader Joe’s chicken shawarma and pesto potatoes sheet pan dinner!
🍂🍁 More 5-Ingredient Fall Recipes
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- Butternut Squash Recipes
- Creamy Soup Recipes
- Crockpot Dinners
- Crockpot Soups
- Fall Desserts
- High Protein Fall Dinners
- Pumpkin Alfredo
- Sheet Pan Chicken Sausage & Sweet Potatoes
- Thanksgiving & Holiday Side Dishes
- White Chicken Chili with Salsa Verde
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
🧆 These meatballs & gravy are:
- Made with just 3 ingredients
- Ready in 20 minutes
- High protein
- Meal prep-friendly
- Great for leftovers
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Trader Joe’s Chicken Cranberry Jalapeño Meatballs: You can use any pre-cooked meatballs you want. I like the hint of sweetness of the cranberry meatballs, but you can use the regular chicken meatballs from Trader Joe’s if you prefer. You can also use frozen meatballs, as long as they’re pre-cooked!
- Trader Joe’s Frozen Mashed Potatoes: I’ve always wanted to try these, and this was the perfect recipe for a test run! Feel free to make mashed potatoes from scratch if you have some extra time, but this is quick, convenient, and actually tastes pretty decent.
- Trader Joe’s Kettle Cooked Turkey Gravy: I used the tub of gravy that you find in the refrigerated section, but Trader Joe’s also has a boxed turkey gravy if you prefer that.
📌 OPTIONAL INGREDIENTS: You really don’t need anything extra for this recipe, but feel free to add extra butter, cheese, or chives to the mashed potatoes for extra flavor!
Equipment You’ll Need
The following text may contain Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases made through links on this post at no additional cost to you.
The product links above are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you.
- Microwave-safe bowl or dish – for microwaving the mashed potatoes. You could also warm the mashed potatoes on the stovetop, but it’s a lot easier & quicker to heat them in the microwave. I used this large Pyrex dish to microwave my potatoes.
- Large deep skillet – for warming up the meatballs and gravy!
How To Make the Chicken Meatballs & Gravy
Storage Instructions
- Fridge: Store leftover meatballs and gravy in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3–4 days. Store the mashed potatoes separately if possible.
- Freezer: You can freeze leftover cooked meatballs and gravy in a freezer-safe container for up to 2–3 months for best quality. The mashed potatoes may change texture after freezing, so I recommend freezing them separately in individual containers if possible.
- Reheating: Microwave individual portions in a microwave-safe dish in 30 second intervals. Stir between each interval.
The Printable Recipe Card
3-Ingredient Trader Joe’s Chicken Meatballs & Gravy
Equipment
- Large deep container
- Microwave-safe bowl or container
Ingredients
- 1 package Trader Joe's cranberry jalapeno chicken meatballs
- 1 package Trader Joe's frozen mashed potatoes
- 16 oz Trader Joe's kettle-cooked turkey gravy
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Microwave the frozen mashed potatoes in a microwave-safe container according to the package instructions.
- Add 1 tbsp of olive oil to a large, deep skillet over medium heat.
- Add meatballs to the skillet. Cook until warmed through, about 5-10 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low. Pour the turkey gravy into the skillet and stir until combined with the meatballs. Continue simmering the gravy until it's heated through. Stir the gravy frequently so it doesn't clump up.
- Divide the mashed potatoes into plates or bowls. Add meatballs on top and spoon turkey gravy over everything.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Make sure to use pre-cooked meatballs: This recipe won’t work with raw or uncooked meatballs.
- If you’re using frozen meatballs, you may have to cook them a bit longer on the skillet.
- Gravy consistency: If the gravy becomes too thick while simmering, add a small splash of water and stir until it reaches your desired consistency.
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