Trader Joe’s Paneer Tikka Masala

EDITOR’S NOTE: Updated for 2025. 

Indian food is one of my family’s favorite meals. We enjoy getting it takeout-style from a local restaurant, but when we can’t order from a restaurant we like to try different Indian dishes from local grocery stores, whether it’s Aldi, an international grocery store, or even Trader Joe’s. Most of the time, grocery store Indian food does not compare to restaurant Indian food, but every once in a while we find something that is a good attempt.

One of my favorite Indian entrees at Aldi’s cousin, Trader Joe’s, is this paneer tikka masala. I get down to Trader Joe’s only occasionally, and this is something that finds its way into my shopping cart at least half of the time when I shop at Trader Joe’s.

Trader Joe’s Paneer Tikka Masala cost $3.69 for a 9-ounce package in 2025. That’s up from $2.99 for a 9-ounce package when I first wrote about it in 2021.

This consists of paneer cheese cubes in a tikka masala sauce, with a side of spinach basmati rice. It is sold frozen and is a vegetarian product. It’s also gluten free.

Ingredients are mostly straightforward, including tomatoes, onions, water, paneer, canola oil, heavy cream, instant nonfat dry milk, spices, cashews, garlic, butter, sugar, salt, tapioca starch, ghee, fenugreek leaves, cilantro, turmeric, oleoresin of paprika, basmati rice, spinach, and carrots.

If you’re avoiding allergens, this contains milk and cashews.

This has undergone some minor tweaks to calories and nutrition since I last reviewed it. One package is one serving. One 255-gram serving now has 410 calories (up from 390 in 2021), 22 grams of total fat or 28% DV (down from 23 grams), 8 grams of saturated fat or 40% DV (up from 6 grams), 750 mg of sodium of 33% DV (down from 760 grams), 36 grams of total carbohydrates or 13% DV (down from 39 grams), 5 grams of dietary fiber or 18% DV (down from 6 grams), 5 grams of total sugars (down from 6 grams), 2 grams of added sugars 4% DV (up from 1 gram), and 14 grams of protein (down from 15 grams).

Another change I noticed between 2021 and 2025 is that this the food tray inside the box is now made of a cardboard type of material rather than plastic.

The box has instructions for heating in the microwave or in a conventional oven.

To microwave, remove the tray from the carton and puncture the film 2-3 times. Heat on the high setting for 2 minutes. Carefully peel the film back enough to stir gently. Then heat for an additional 2 minutes. Let the tray sit for 2 minutes. then carefully remove the film to avoid steam burns, and serve.

To heat in the oven, preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Place the tray on a baking sheet on the center rack, leaving the film intact. Heat for approximately 20-25 minutes or until heated through. Carefully remove the film and gently stir before serving.

I baked this the first time I bought it years ago, but I microwave it whenever I buy it these days. My family thinks this dish is as good. There are plenty of paneer cubes swimming in a generous amount of tikka masala sauce. It’s not spicy but it is flavorful. While the rice looks unusual because it is green, it tastes a lot like normal basmati rice to us.

I like eating this during days when I need an easy lunch for one. It makes an easy and delicious meal whether you’re eating at home or taking it to microwave at work or school.

The Verdict:

Trader Joe’s Paneer Tikka Masala has generous amounts of paneer and sauce, and it’s flavorful and easy to heat. This is one of our favorite quick single-serve meals from Trader Joe’s.