Mini Trader Joe’s Vegetable Samosas in the Air Fryer!

A samosa is a savory pastry of sorts, with seasoned vegetables wrapped in a crunchy, flaky shell that makes a perfect appetizer or snack. Instead of the hard work of making my own, I just make Trader Joe’s vegetable samosas in the air fryer for an easy, delicious version!

What Are Trader Joe’s Vegetable Samosas?

Trader Joe’s vegetable samosas are a popular frozen food item available at Trader Joe’s grocery stores. These samosas are small, triangular pastries filled with a savory mixture of vegetables and spices, inspired by the traditional Indian snack.

The filling typically includes potatoes, peas, carrots, and a blend of Indian spices that give the samosas their distinct flavor. TJ’s even makes a pumpkin samosa variation during the fall months, which works the same as the vegetable ones for this recipe.

On the outside, you’ll find a crispy pastry shell that becomes golden brown when cooked. These vegetable samosas are often served as an appetizer, snack, or side dish and are commonly enjoyed with chutneys or dipping sauces, such as mint chutney or tamarind sauce.

Samosas can be prepared quickly and conveniently by baking in an oven or air fryer (though I prefer the air fryer for crispiness and speed), making them a go-to option for those looking to enjoy a taste of Indian cuisine at home without the need for extensive cooking!

Vegetable samosas are revered at TJ’s because of their authentic taste, convenience, and the balance of spices in the filling, which delivers a flavorful experience without being overly spicy!

What You’ll Need to Make Trader Joe’s Samosas

• 8.5-ounce box frozen mini Trader Joe’s vegetable samosas
• Chutney for dipping (optional)

Trader Joe’s Samosa Air Fryer Cooking Instructions

1. Remove the frozen samosas from all packaging and place into your air fryer’s basket or rack in a single layer, allowing air space between each one

2. Cook on the air fry setting at 400°F for 10 minutes, pausing halfway through cooking to flip the samosas over, until crisp and heated through (for the chicken tikka ones, make sure the center reaches 165°F for food safety)
3. Serve with a side of chutney for dipping, or other Indian dishes to complete your meal!

What to Serve With Samosas

• Chutney
• Raita
• Tamarind sauce
• Chicken tikka masala
• Lentils
• Chickpeas
• Pakoras
• Naan
• Biryani
• Paneer
• Aloo gobi
• Korma
• Butter chicken
• Chai tea
• Lassi

Really, you can’t go wrong with most Indian-inspired dishes and a great dipping sauce to go with Trader Joe’s vegetable samosas. Check out my collection of amazing Air Fryer Indian Recipes to get started!

For some of my favorites, though, try my crispy Air Fryer Chickpeas With Indian Seasoning, Air Fryer Chicken Tikka Masala, Air Fryer Pakoras, Trader Joe’s Naan in the Air Fryer, or a Spiked Mango Lassi.

Recipe Tips For the Best Air Fried Vegetable Samosas

• Cook Trader Joe’s mini samosas directly from frozen (no defrosting required). You do not need to add any oil, as there is plenty already in them from their original preparation
• I do not preheat my air fryer for this recipe, since the samosas get flipped during cooking. In my Ninja air fryer, 10 minutes total was absolutely perfect. Other air fryers may vary slightly, so adjust as needed for your specific model
• Cook as many samosas at a time as fit in a single layer in your air fryer’s basket or rack. I can easily fit the entire box (12 mini samosas) in my 8-qt air fryer

Storage and Reheating of Samosas

• Store any leftover samosas in an airtight container or zippered bag in the refrigerator for 3-4 days
• To reheat Trader Joe’s samosas in the air fryer, use a lower temperature of 350F and cook for 3-4 minutes, until warmed through and recrisped. I still usually flip them when reheating for the most even heating

Trader Joe’s Samosas Review

Here are my thoughts on Trader Joe’s mini vegetable samosas after trying them! Note that I have not tried the pumpkin or tikka masala chicken variety, so I cannot speak to those.

I made my samosas in the air fryer (obviously), which delivered a nice, crispy exterior and warm interior without drying them out. It saves time over the oven and gives a far better texture than the microwave, so the air fryer is definitely my preferred choice for preparation method!

Outside, the wrapper was thin, crispy, and a little flaky. The filling is mixed vegetables, which you can clearly see when biting into the samosas (if you even bite in, since they’re pretty much bite-sized).

The predominant flavor from the filling is potato and cilantro, so if you’re someone that tastes soap when you eat cilantro, these are probably not worth it! I did not find them spicy at all, just a little kiss of heat and a warm Indian-inspired spice mix.

My personal opinion was that these samosas needed some salt, but I know a lot of that is personal tastes. However, you may want to be prepared to add salt, or pair them with a dipping sauce to add the needed balance.

I served my samosas alongside some butter chicken and rice for a complete meal, and felt it was a great combination. All in all, I recommend these samosas!

Even though I think they could use salt, they are easy to make, still pretty flavorful, and great texture. If you’re looking for a quick snack or appetizer, or planning a meal featuring Indian cuisine, I feel these samosas are a great addition!

Final Thoughts

The air fryer is my favorite way to make Trader Joe’s frozen mini vegetable samosas! They come out hot, crispy, and delicious, with perfectly heated filling in way less time than the oven, and with a much better texture than the microwave.

Samosas are a great appetizer for your Indian cuisine night, but they can be enjoyed as a snack, or even added to your party foods for game day! They’re flavorful, crispy, and dippable in chutney, raita, or even just cilantro lime sauce.

Trader Joe’s makes it easy by doing all the hard work for you, so all you need to do is heat and enjoy!