The New $3.99 Trader Joe’s Freezer Find I’m Stocking for Nights I’m Too Tired To Cook

It's made in Italy and so delicious.

When we order out for pizza, besides getting the largest size possible for our teenage son, we also usually order a couple (or several) cheesy garlic knots. Well, I found something better than garlic knots in the freezer section of Trader Joe’s: Garlic Gondolas.

What I Love About Trader Joe's Garlic Gondolas

Garlic Gondolas take the idea of cheesy garlic knots to the next level. These delicious boats of garlic and cheese are imported from Italy and baked in a stone oven, and an 8.8-ounce package of two costs only $3.99. They’re super easy to make, too—just toss them onto a baking sheet, then bake for 10 minutes at 425°F. 

They’re basically stone oven-baked pizza pillows that are basted with garlic sauce and stuffed with cheese. They look like little canoes of cheese, perfectly ready to sail down a river of marinara sauce.

Trader Joe’s Garlic Gondolas

• Price: $3.99 for two
• Why I Love Them: This absolutely delicious product is made in Italy and is really versatile. Serve the gondolas on their own alongside pasta or stuff them with fillings for a complete meal or an easy and fun appetizer.

How I Serve Trader Joe's Garlic Gondolas

These garlic gondolas are super garlicky and super cheesy, and they’re a fantastic after-school and before volleyball or gymnastics snack.

They’re also a cheesy, garlicky canvas waiting to be filled. Add a bit of marinara and some pepperoni, cooked Italian sausage, or other pizza fillings, and you’ve got pizza boats. Add some sliced turkey and cranberry sauce, and you’ve got an after-Thanksgiving snack. 

You could also toss some tuna salad into it for a cheesy tuna salad sandwich. Or fill it with chicken salad (and maybe a thin layer of raspberry jam). 

Add some cooked taco meat and more cheese, and you’ve got taco boats that are ready to be topped with sour cream and guacamole

They also would be great to use as a base for appetizers for easy entertaining. Brush the insides with a touch of raspberry jam or orange marmalade, then top them with extra cheese, bake, and slice them for an elegant hors d’oeuvre. I also think that you could make them into pizza apps with pizza sauce and your favorite toppings.

They’re perfect for serving alongside tomato soup or French onion soup, and my husband thinks they’d make a great side for chili or pasta instead of garlic bread (brush them with garlic butter for that classic garlic bread flavor). 

I like having them on hand if I am in need of a quick dinner, lunch, or after-school snack. Mostly, my family has enjoyed them on their own or with a side of marinara for dipping. 

One gondola, plus filling, along with a side salad, makes a perfect meal, but if you're cooking for a teenager, beware: they can eat two or three—sometimes more—in one sitting.

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