I tried it so you don’t have to.
Brutally honest, occasionally dramatic, and always snack-obsessed—this is where I spill the tea on what’s worth your cart space and what’s better left on the shelf. No fluff, no filters, just real-deal reviews with a side of sass.
Asparagus Risotto
After being blown away by the mushroom risotto, I knew I needed to give this a try. It wasn’t better than the mushroom, but it was still yummy! I don’t know how they do it, but the rice always cooks perfectly and doesn't get mushy. The asparagus was also firm and didn’t turn to mush! I would have loved if there were more pieces of asparagus included because I enjoyed the texture it brought to the overall dish. I felt that the sauce was lacking some flavor but it’s nothing that some chili flakes and black pepper couldn’t fix.
The mushroom risotto has my heart but I would totally get this again! I need Trader Joe’s to come out with more risotto options because I’d love some more variety!
Riced Cauliflower & Butternut Squash Risotto
I honestly didn’t think that this cauliflower rice would hold up well when combined with a sauce. I was wrong! The cauliflower never got mushy and the butternut squash pieces were cooked perfectly despite being much larger than the rice. I also really enjoyed the sauce. It was light with a little bit of creaminess. The rosemary added a nice touch as well. I took off one point because as you can see in the photo, the sauce was a little more liquidy than I would have preferred. I let the risotto sit for 7 minutes before serving because it was really runny. Letting it sit fixed the problem for the most part so I’m not too mad about it!
I will definitely purchase this again. The whole bag is 210 calories and would go great with some chicken thighs (my favorite protein to cook). Have you tried this seasonal product?!
Mushroom Risotto
You wouldn’t believe how impressed I was with this product. I never thought a frozen risotto would embody a dish you’d get in a restaurant. The rice was cooked perfectly (al dente) and NEVER got mushy. That was my biggest concern with the rice going into a pan with a sauce. The mushroom flavor was subtle but definitely still the star of the show. I got 2 servings out of this which I find fair! I paired this product with some rainbow carrots that I roasted in the oven (plus chicken thighs but I doused it in peri peri sauce and wanted to enjoy the risotto on its own).
Overall, I will most definitely keep this in my freezer at all times. It took me 8 minutes to prepare and made a perfect side dish. Are there any other frozen risottos at TJ’s?! I am now on a mission to try them all!