Trader Joe’s Ricotta & Spinach Filled Ravioli Review

This post is a little different for me. I usually don’t write frozen food reviews, but last night I made a bag of Trader Joe’s Ricotta & Spinach Filled Ravioli with tomato and basil sauce that I bought a few weeks ago and I thought it would be fun to show you what it is all about.

Admittedly, frozen foods can be hit or miss – and it’s really disappointing if you buy something you have never tried before and don’t end up liking it. Now, of course, I can’t tell you whether you will like this ravioli or not, but I can at least share my experience and show you what is in the bag.

But please bear with me because I am a food photography newbie and well, the photos kind of reflect that.

TL;DR – I Like It

The quick summary here is this: I liked the Trader Joe’s Ricotta & Spinach Filled Ravioli and would by it again – but I think it needs a little something additional, like a little grated parmesan on top, to make it satisfying.

The Trader Joe’s Ricotta & Spinach Filled Ravioli Packaging

Just so we are on the same page, I thought I would take a picture of the packaging for the Trader Joe’s Ricotta & Spinach Filled Ravioli that I made.

I first discovered this several years ago when they were giving out samples in the store – and I thought it tasted good. But I promptly forgot about it and didn’t actually buy it until recently.

So, last night I found myself on my own for dinner and as I was contemplating serving up bowl of cereal, I had an aha! moment and thought, “why not make that ravioli that is in the freezer?”.

Super Easy To Make

According to the package directions, you need to heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1/3 cup water in a skillet before you add the ravioli. So that is what I did.

But then imagine my surprise when I poured out the contents into my Caraway skillet and saw the frozen raviolis intermingled with frozen rectangles of sauce!

I think I expected some kind of sauce packet, but these little sauce cubes make preparing this frozen meal even easier!

You simply put it all in the pan, heat and enjoy.

When Is It Ready?

The package instructions say to cook for 6 to 7 minutes, and I know I simmered mine for at least that long.

But I prefer the sauce to be a bit thicker and kind of “clingy” to the ravioli. So I just cooked it until the sauce was the consistence that I liked.

Since I was using my Caraway skillet, I did not have to worry about the ravioli sticking to the pan at all.

How Did It Taste?

This perhaps, is the most important question of all – how did the ravioli taste?

I thought that the texture was fine – the pasta wasn’t as thick or chewy as a homemade ravioli or some of the frozen options in the supermarket.

The taste was pretty good on it’s own as well. It had a tomato basil flavor that came through nicely.

However, I felt that it lacked a little oomph.

So, I sprinkled a little romano cheese (parmesan would do as well) and some chili pepper flakes on top – and then it hit the spot.

The next time I make this Trader Joe’s Ricotta & Spinach Filled Ravioli, I might add a little garlic powder and dried oregano into the skillet along with the raviolis.

You could even take it a step further and sauté some fresh garlic but I think the whole purpose of having this frozen meal is the convenience of it and the time that it saves. So if you start to do more elaborate things, then you defeat the purpose.

Portion Size, Nutrition Info, and Ingredients

I took a quick snap of the portion size, nutrition information, and ingredient label on the package that I had.

But keep in mind that a company can change the ingredients that they use in a product over time, so please check your package as it might be different.

As for portion size, this bag of the Trader Joe’s Ricotta & Spinach Filled Ravioli says that it serves 3.

Personally, I felt that the contents was good for about 2 main dish servings, assuming you were also serving some veggies on the side like this wilted spinach recipe or some grilled asparagus.

It all really comes down to individual appetite.

If you are dining on your own or need a quick meal for 2, this is a good choice.

On the other hand, one package of this ravioli is not going to be enough for a large group of people – if you are looking to feed a crowd, check out our tips for hosting a pasta party here.

Would I Buy It Again?

Yes, I would buy the Trader Joe’s Ricotta & Spinach Filled Ravioli again.

It is quick to prepare and since you only use one pan, clean up is a breeze.

Now that we are empty nesters (for the most part) I am always looking for easy meals for two – and this fits the bill perfectly!

Have you tried this ravioli? Tell me what you think in the comments below.