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5 Healthy Dinners with Trader Joe's Orange Chicken

Turn a bag of this popular frozen chicken into a wow-worthy dinner with these creative recipes.
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How many times have you grabbed a bag of Trader Joe's orange chicken and fried rice from the freezer aisle and called it a day? While this iconic pairing is delicious, easy, and satisfies your craving for takeout, there are so many other ways you can enjoy a bag of this popular Trader Joe's grocery item! If you're in the market for new creative healthy dinner recipes with few ingredients—including a bag of that tangy Trader Joe's orange chicken—here are five different meals you can make.

Orange Chicken Sandwich

orange chicken sandwiches with pickles and slaw
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

If a fried chicken sandwich is served with pickles and a little bit of slaw, why wouldn't it also work with some orange chicken? Using the Trader Joe's orange chicken gives this classic dish a sweeter, tangier taste that is undeniably decadent.

How to Make It

orange chicken sandwich with trader joes ingredients
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

Ingredients

  • Trader Joe's Mandarin Orange Chicken
  • Trader Joe's Brioche Buns
  • Trader Joe's Shredded Green & Red Cabbage
  • Trader Joe's Bread & Butter Pickles

Instructions:

  1. Cook the orange chicken in the oven according to the instructions on the package. When finished cooking, mix the cooked orange chicken with the sauce in a bowl.
  2. During the last 2 minutes of cooking, place the brioche buns in the oven on a baking sheet to toast.
  3. To assemble the sandwiches, add the orange chicken (with sauce), red cabbage mix, and a few bread and butter pickles.

Peanut Orange Chicken Pasta

orange chicken pasta with fresh vegetables
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

Mixing a few familiar Asian flavors—like peanut sauce—can elevate any dish served with the Trader Joe's orange chicken. This recipe mixes warm pasta with fresh-cut vegetables for the perfect mix of fresh and creamy to go with that crunchy chicken.

How to Make It

orange chicken pasta with trader joes ingredients
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

Ingredients

  • Trader Joe's Mandarin Orange Chicken
  • Trader Joe's Snow Peas
  • Trader Joe's Yellow Lentil & Brown Rice Pasta
  • Trader Joe's Spicy Peanut Vinaigrette
  • 1 orange bell pepper

Instructions:

  1. Cook the orange chicken in the oven according to the instructions on the package. When finished cooking, mix the cooked orange chicken with the sauce in a bowl.
  2. While the chicken is cooking, bring a pot of water to boil. Once boiling, cook the package of lentil pasta for 5 to 7 minutes. Drain.
  3. Slice a few snow peas super thin, as well as the bell pepper.
  4. Add 1 cup of pasta with 1 cup of orange chicken, a few slices of orange bell pepper, and snow peas to a bowl. Add in 1 or 2 tablespoons of peanut sauce. Mix and serve.

Orange Chicken Flatbread

orange chicken flatbread on a cutting board
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

You can't really go wrong with a flatbread! Between the sweet chicken, chili sauce, savory flatbread, and cheese, this pizza-inspired combo is the perfect appetizer if you're feeding a crowd—or simply having as a solo dinner.

The easy way to make healthier comfort foods.

orange chicken flatbread with trader joes ingredients
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

Ingredients

  • Trader Joe's Mandarin Orange Chicken
  • Trader Joe's Shredded Carrots
  • Trader Joe's Sweet Chili Sauce
  • Trader Joe's Indian Style Flatbread
  • Trader Joe's Shredded Mozarella
  • Green onions

Instructions:

  1. Cook the orange chicken in the oven according to the instructions on the package. When finished cooking, mix the cooked orange chicken with the sauce in a bowl.
  2. Keep the oven at 400 while assembling the flatbread.
  3. Place a flatbread on a baking sheet. Sprinkle a handful of mozzarella on each flatbread.
  4. Spread some chili sauce on the top of the cheese, then add a few pieces of orange chicken.
  5. Sprinkle on some shredded carrots.
  6. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes.
  7. Cut and serve with sliced green onion on top.

Orange Chicken Burrito

orange chicken burritos on grey plates
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

Buying a bag of vegetable fried rice is probably the easiest—and most popular—way the Trader Joe's orange chicken is consumed. But why not mix it up and put these two popular frozen items in a burrito? Add in some crunchy broccoli slaw to give it an extra kick of vegetables to round out your meal.

How to Make It

orange chicken burrito with trader joes ingredients
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

Ingredients

  • Trader Joe's Mandarin Orange Chicken
  • Trader Joe's Vegetable Fried Rice
  • Trader Joe's Handmade Flour Tortillas
  • Trader Joe's Broccoli Slaw

Instructions:

  1. Cook the orange chicken in the oven according to the instructions on the package. When finished cooking, mix the cooked orange chicken with the sauce in a bowl.
  2. While the chicken is cooking, heat up the vegetable fried rice in a large skillet or wok.
  3. Warm a tortilla in the microwave for 15 seconds.
  4. To assemble, add some vegetable fried rice, a few pieces of orange chicken, and broccoli slaw on top.
  5. Fold the burrito and serve.

Mandarin Orange Chicken Salad

orange chicken salad with mandarin oranges and bell peppers
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

Fried chicken on a salad? Yes, please! If you're craving that Trader Joe's orange chicken but want to keep your meal on the lighter side, serve it on a bed of greens with some fresh vegetables and fruit! Paired with some mandarin oranges, the flavors in this salad will brighten up your day.

How to Make It

trader joes ingredients with orange chicken salad
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

Ingredients

  • Trader Joe's Mandarin Orange Chicken
  • Trader Joe's Mandarins
  • Trader Joe's Champs Elysées Salad
  • 1 red bell pepper

Instructions:

  1. Cook the orange chicken in the oven according to the instructions on the package. When finished cooking, mix the cooked orange chicken with the sauce in a bowl.
  2. Cut the red bell pepper into thin slices.
  3. Open up a few mandarin oranges and pull apart the pieces.
  4. To assemble, add a handful of the greens, 1 cup of chicken, a few mandarin orange slices and bell pepper slices. Serve immediately.
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Kiersten Hickman
Kiersten Hickman is a freelance health and nutrition journalist. Read more about Kiersten