Ways to use Trader Joe’s steamed lentils (vegan meal ideas + recipes)

One package contains 2 ½ cups of lentils. (That’s 5 servings of ½ cup each.)

A serving of steamed lentils meets 21% of your fiber needs and 10% of your iron needs. Plus, with 10 grams of protein per serving, they're an easy way to add plant-based protein to meals.

Since they’re fully cooked, they can be enjoyed as-is, hot or cold.

Below you’ll find some of my favorite ways to use them. This handy list includes ideas that require no recipe, while others link to full recipes.

In this post:

Of all of the ways to use Trader Joe’s steamed lentils, this has to be the most popular.

You simply combine a container of TJ’s refrigerated bruschetta sauce and mix it with a whole package of steamed lentils.

Ways to eat bruschetta lentils:

• Right out of the bowl with a spoon
• Add it to green salads or grain bowls
• Use it as a dip with tortilla chips, crostini, or crispy pita chips

Although it’s not strictly necessary, non-vegans usually add crumbled feta to this simple recipe. They used to sell vegan feta, but it’s now one of Trader Joe’s discontinued products, unfortunately.

However, all you’re really looking for is something with fat that will add contrast.

Here are some of my go-to vegan add-ins to replace the typical feta:

• Violife vegan feta (sold elsewhere)
• Homemade almond feta cheese
• Pistachios
• Sliced avocado (Top just before serving, so it doesn’t go brown or mushy)

It may be surprising, but cooked lentils do a great job of replacing ground beef in recipes. They have a similar bite, texture, and even look.

This is especially true in a Bolognese-type recipe.

You can obviously tweak to your tastes, but here’s a good starting point.

Get a package of dried pasta, steamed lentils, oil, garlic, mushrooms, marinara, and if you like, Trader Joe’s vegan cheese. (Mozzarella or parmesan work well here.)

Boil the pasta according to instructions. Then saute mushrooms with oil and a pinch of salt in a pan.

Once softened, add minced garlic, and cook until fragrant. Then pour in some marinara, and heat through.

Add some steamed lentils. (Unless you’re making a huge batch, you likely won’t need the whole package.)

Once the pasta is al dente, drain, add it to the sauce, and combine to coat. If you like, add vegan cheese to the top, cover with a lid, and allow it to melt. (Or if you’re using vegan parmesan, it can be nice unmelted.)

For a more whole foods option, top with homemade vegan parmesan cheese or a sprinkling of nutritional yeast flakes.

Trader Joe’s steamed lentils also make an excellent meatless taco filling.

For added texture, protein, and fiber, I like to add canned black beans to the mix as well.

Since the lentils and beans are already cooked, the mix only takes 15 minutes to prepare.

Simply saute onions and garlic, add lentils, black beans, spices, and water for even coating. Once warmed through, add a splash of hot sauce for heat.

It’s perfect for tacos, vegan nachos, and taco salads.

Another option for that lentil taco meat is in vegan burrito bowls. Great for lunch or dinner, they’re packed with a variety of delicious tastes and textures.

Along with lentil taco meat, add rice, pico de gallo, leafy greens, pickled red onions, jalapenos, and guacamole.

If you like some crunch, add a few tortilla chips and scoop up your bites.

For some easy Trader Joe’s shortcuts, use their frozen brown rice or Spanish rice, pre-made pico de gallo and guacamole from the refrigerated section, and replace leafy greens with shredded cabbage mix.

If you love a good one pot meal, then lentil bean chili should be on your dinner line-up.

It’s pantry-friendly, flavorful, and ready in under 30 minutes. Ideal for weeknights!

This satisfying chili has 18 grams of protein and 17 grams of fiber. So it really sticks with you.

Steamed lentils add a bite and texture that’s reminiscent of ground beef.

Finish with a sprinkling of vegan cheese, tortilla chips, cilantro, and vegan sour cream.

I like to make vegan sour cream by whipping TJ’s vegan cream cheese with water. See my Trader Joe’s vegan sour cream hack for more details.

Trader Joe’s steamed lentils can also be used in recipes that call for dried lentils – like this marinated lentils recipe. (You’ll just skip the part where you cook the lentils, obviously.)

This hearty lentil salad is light but filling. It includes sun-dried tomatoes, green onions, and fresh parsley. A dressing made with red wine vinegar and Dijon mustard give it tang and bite.

It’s a wonderful protein-filled addition to salads. You can spoon it into lettuce cups, add it to wraps, or toasted pita. It’s also a terrific option for potlucks, picnics, and packed lunches.

This recipe typically uses two kinds of lentils, but I replace them all with Trader Joe’s steamed lentils. Such a great timesaver, the cooking is complete in about 15 minutes.

To prepare it, you’ll make a simple dressing with oil, vinegar, lemon juice, mustard, maple syrup, salt, and pepper in a large mixing bowl.

Then stir in green onions, parsley, sun-dried tomatoes, and Trader Joe’s steamed lentils.

Turn a package of TJ’s lentils into hearty lentil burgers with 20 grams of protein and 14 grams of fiber.

This recipe has a flavor that’s reminiscent of meatballs, plus good-for-you ingredients like mushrooms, kale, oats, and walnuts. 

Finally, they are finished with a spread of pizza sauce.

For the sauce, I recommend Trader Joe’s organic tomato basil marinara. It’s a full-bodied sauce with wholesome ingredients and a flavor that isn’t too sweet like some spaghetti sauces.

This recipe uses 1 ½ cups of cooked lentils. So you’ll still have a cup left over after making these burgers.

Refrigerated lentils are an easy shortcut when making a batch of lentil balls. (Think of them as a unique play on falafel.)

To start, you break down the lentils along with walnuts, dried mushrooms, tomato paste, and parsley in the food processor. Add breadcrumbs, form into balls, and then air fry or bake.

Add the finished lentil balls to bowls with lettuce, tomatoes, onion, and a squeeze of lemon. (A drizzling of vegan tahini dressing wouldn’t go amiss here too!)

Great for lunch or dinner!

A note about amounts: This recipe requires 3 cups of lentils, and one package of Trader Joe’s steamed lentils contains 2 ½ cups. So you’ll need to buy a second package for the extra ½ cup.