The “Creamy” One-Pot Trader Joe’s Pasta I’ll Be Making All Fall (It’s Just 2 Ingredients)
These days a lot of my meal inspiration comes straight from Instagram. We’re living in the golden age of dinner ideas, and on my most recent scroll I came across one of the most ingenious things I’ve seen in a long time — a two-ingredient Trader Joe’s dinner.
The idea is so smart, it doesn’t even really require a recipe. What you will need is a container of Trader Joe’s Caramelized Onion Dip, a package of pasta, a handful of optional garnishes, and just 10 minutes, and voilà! A dinner fit for at least four, all for just $4. As soon as the video ended, I put my phone down and walked straight to my local Trader Joe’s to try it out for myself — and, spoiler alert, it’s really good.
What Makes This Trader Joe’s 2-Ingredient Carmelized Onion Pasta So Good?
I’ve bought the Trader Joe’s Caramelized Onion Dip more times than I can count. It’s creamy, full of great onion flavor, and a bit tangy. I’ve only ever used it as a dip (and as an occasional spread on a sandwich), so using it for pasta was totally new to me, but as someone who routinely turns hummus into a creamy pasta sauce, I was all in. To my delight, the dip translates into the creamiest sauce, somewhat reminiscent of an Alfredo ( which Trader Joe’s also sells by the jar)! It’s salty on its own, so there’s no need to add any salt, and the tiny sliced onion pieces add a nice texture to the white sauce.
Trader Joe’s sells the dip for $2.99 and pasta for $0.99, so it’s not only a delicious dinner, but it’s also an affordable one. I typically cook for myself, so this meal gives me four (hefty) portions. It would be a low-lift, high-reward main for a dinner party, too.
How to Make Trader Joe’s 2-Ingredient Carmelized Onion Pasta
This dinner is so good, I’m confident it’ll be on repeat all fall. Here’s how I make it.
Cook the pasta. In a pot, bring water to a boil over high heat. Cover the pot with a lid, if you like (it speeds up the boiling process). Once boiling, add a 16-ounce package of Trader Joe’s spaghetti (or your favorite pasta shape). Reserve about 1/2 cup of pasta water, and then drain the rest.
Make the sauce. In the same pot, add 10 ounces of Trader Joe’s Caramelized Onion Dip (a full container) and two tablespoons of reserved pasta water. Mix to combine and then dump the pasta back into the pot and mix until emulsified.
The person in the video adds some extra breadcrumbs and greens, but the base (just a container of Trader Joe’s Caramelized Onion Dip and spaghetti noodles) works and tastes fabulous all on its own. If I’m feeling a bit fancy, I’ll add some freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano or red pepper flakes, but, as I said, it’s fantastic as it is. One bite, and you’ll be surprised that this meal didn’t take an entire evening to make.
Buy: Trader Joe’s Caramelized Onion Dip, $2.99 for 10 ounces; Trader Joe’s Spaghetti, $0.99 for 16 ounces at Trader Joe’s
What is your favorite two-ingredient dinner? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Further Reading
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