Loyal Trader Joe’s shoppers often have their favorite hidden gems at this popular grocery store. Yes, we all keep coming back for the low prices and creative, seasonal snacks, but there are usually a few items that each customer loves than anything else and always keeps stocked in their kitchen.

While strolling through the bountiful frozen food aisle at TJ’s one afternoon, I couldn’t resist grabbing one of its most popular frozen pastasa dish I’d heard both friends and content creators rave about. My expectations were low — I wondered if the sauce would have the same depth of flavor as a homemade pasta — but once I tried it, I quickly realized this would become my new go-to at Trader Joe’s.

Now, I never leave the store without a bag of the Cheese Filled Fiocchetti with Pink Sauce. After my first bite, I immediately texted friends to declare that I’d finally found a frozen pasta that tastes like it’s from a restaurant. Even better, it can be on the table in less than 10 minutes, and you’ll score three servings in each package for just $4.79.

Everything you need to know about Trader Joe’s Cheese Filled Fiocchetti with Pink Sauce

Delicious as these filled, purse-shaped pasta bundles are, I’d never considered making fiocchetti from scratch. Filling each piece of pasta is labor-intensive, especially for a casual weeknight dinner — which is why I let Trader Joe’s do the work for me. These frozen parcels are already filled with a cheesy blend of ricotta, Taleggio, and mozzarella, all wrapped in tender egg pasta dough.

The stuffed pasta comes with frozen cubes of a velvety pink sauce, reminiscent of a classic vodka sauce. The creamy, tomato-based sauce is flavored with onions, Parmesan, garlic, parsley, black pepper, and a touch of lemon juice for just a little acidity and brightness.

According to the package instructions, you can either microwave the fiocchetti or heat them in a pan — I prefer the latter because it gives you control over the sauce’s texture. Simply add extra virgin olive oil and water to a pan, then add the frozen pasta and the sauce cubes. (While the package calls for ⅓ cup of water, I recommend starting with slightly less. If you find that the sauce is too thin for your liking, just simmer the pasta a bit longer to help it reduce, or you can add a handful of grated Parmigiano Reggiano.)

Unlike many other frozen pastas, these cheese-filled morsels retain their texture after cooking, rather than becoming mushy or falling apart. The sauce is also rich and well-seasoned, with a silky smooth consistency.

One fellow fan even exclaimed on Reddit that “The sauce has me scooping it out when there’s no pasta left because it is SO good. Why (isn’t) it sold individually in jars like vodka sauce or tomato and basil? What can I do to get them to sell the sauce?”

This dish is easily customizable

There’s nothing wrong with customizing a premade dish to fit your taste, and this frozen pasta lends itself well to a few easy modifications. I found that the sauce is nicely seasoned and salty, but if you want something spicy, red pepper flakes or Calabrian chiles would make great additions.

Want protein? Brown some Italian sausage to stir into the sauce. Other delicious additions could include spinach, kale, or mushrooms. And of course, you can never go wrong with sprinkling a handful of grated Parmesan on top.

Once you take your first bite of this easy, creamy pasta, I guarantee you’ll want to keep it on hand at all times, too.