Sharing an easy Trader Joe’s meal featuring their seasonal burrata, corn, & basil ravioli. It’s the best summer flavors combined and ready in 15 minutes!
In my humble opinion, Trader Joe’s summer seasonal ravioli is the vastly superior option out of their other seasonal raviolis. I stock up as soon as I spot Trader Joe’s Burrata, Corn, & Basil Ravioli on the shelves. It’s only available for the summer so you have carte blanche permission to enjoy this dish as many times as possible this summer!
I’m pretty sure this ravioli salad was the first “elevate Trader Joe’s” dish I came up with more than a decade ago. I was inspired to pack as many summer flavors as possible into this meal while keeping it light and satisfying. Think farmstand on a plate!
And great news: This ravioli salad takes about 15 minutes (most of which is waiting for the water to boil), uses minimal equipment, and turns an already delicious ravioli into a dish that feels like you would enjoy on a restaurant patio. Warm, cheesy ravioli filled with sweet corn and tossed in pesto, piled onto a quick-wilted arugula salad, and garnished with shaved palm and ribbons of fresh basil. No fancy technique required, just an assembly line. And maybe a glass of rosé.
Trader Joe’s Burrata, Corn, & Basil Ravioli Salad
Recipe At a Glance
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes-ish
Total time: 15 minutes
Servings: 2 as a main, 4 as a side
Difficulty: Easy
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
It’s so quick to throw together! You just need about 15 minutes from start to finish so it is genuinely weeknight-friendly. My husband and I love to have Trader Joe’s fresh ravioli on hand for Friday nights when we are both exhausted from the week, don’t want to put so much effort into cooking or clean-up, and we don’t want takeout or delivery.
One seasonal ingredient does the heavy lifting. Trader Joe’s Burrata, Corn, & Basil Ravioli is rich and packed full of incredible summer flavors that you really don’t need many ingredients to zhuzh it up. This is definitely a recipe where the ingredients list is short but it’s best to be like Ina in this case and make sure you are using high quality ingredients to really bring out the full flavors of this summery meal.
The wilted arugula trick. A simple lemon vinaigrette does double duty as a dressing and as a quick-wilt technique, meaning no extra pan or extra step.
It looks and feels elevated. This is a simple and delicious “serve to guests” dish without the stress of prepping and cooking.
Ingredients
1 package, Trader Joe’s Burrata, Corn & Basil Ravioli (seasonal, summer only)
Pesto, store-bought or homemade
Arugula (or your favorite greens)
1 lemon
Shaved parmesan
Olive oil
Salt
Pepper
Fresh basil, for garnish
Note: No arugula on hand or it’s not your favorite green? Baby spinach or a spring mix will both work. I have a Substitutions section below for more swaps and ideas.
How To Make Burrata, Corn, & Basil Ravioli Salad
Step 1: Prepare the vinaigrette
While the salted water is coming to a boil, whisk together 2 parts olive oil to 1 part fresh lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Step 2: Cook the ravioli
Prepare the ravioli according to the package instructions.
Step 3: Dress the arugula
Place the arugula in a large bowl and drizzle with the vinaigrette. Toss well and use a handful of arugula more than you think you’ll need, the acidity from the lemon will naturally soften and shrink the arugula. Think of cooked spinach but less dramatic.
Toss with shaved parm.
Step 4: Toss the ravioli in pesto
Return the cooked and drained ravioli to the pan and toss with your favorite pesto until well coated.
Step 5: Assemble and garnish the salad
Plate the dressed arugula first and then top with the pesto ravioli. Garnish with extra shaved parm and fresh basil ribbons. Serve right away.
Pro Tip: Why the Arugula “Cooks” Without Heat
Courtesy of the lemon juice’s acidity, the vinaigrette in this dish is pulling double duty here. It’s a light, fresh dressing for the greens AND breaks down the structure of the arugula leaves the same way heat would, just more gently. You’ll notice the greens soften and shrink slightly after you toss them in the vinaigrette. It gives you the just-wilted texture without adding another pan to the stovetop (A big relief, especially when you’re in the heatwave). Just remember to add a little more arugula to the mixing bowl than you expect to use. A great trick to keep in your back pocket!
Substitutions & Variations
Greens: Baby spinach, spring mix, or baby kale would all work great in this dish.
Ravioli: Any ravioli filled with simple ingredients (like Trader Joe’s cacio e pepe) can step up and sub in once the summer season is over.
Pesto: Sun-dried tomato pesto or a dairy-free pesto.
Lemon juice: Fresh is best for flavor but bottled lemon juice can work in a pinch.
Add protein: Since protein is very in vogue right now, add grilled chicken to this dish to turn it into a heartier main.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Trader Joe’s Burrata, Corn, & Basil Ravioli available year-round?
Sadly, no. I wish! It’s a seasonal item Trader Joe’s carries during the summer months while corn is in season. Once it sells out, it won’t return until next summer.
Can I make this salad ahead of time?
The vinaigrette and ravioli can be prepped ahead of time but really it’s best to dress the arugula just before serving so it doesn’t over-wilt and turn soggy. Learned that the hard way with leftovers.
What can I substitute for arugula?
I happen to love the peppery flavor of arugula but I understand it’s not for everyone, my husband isn’t a fan. If arugula isn’t available or isn’t your favorite, I’d suggest baby spinach, spring mix, or baby kale as great substitutes.
Is this recipe vegetarian?
Yes, this recipe is vegetarian. But definitely not vegan with the shaved parm and cheese in the pesto.
What pesto works best for this recipe?
The pesto you love the best! TJ’s has multiple jarred and fresh pestos, their jarred classic pesto sauce is my personal favorite so that’s what I use. A basil pesto keeps the flavors bright and summery but if you want to switch things up and add a bit more richness, I’d go with a sun-dried tomato pesto. While Trader Joe’s does have a lemon pesto, I would avoid that one because it would be too much when combined with the lemon vinaigrette.
Can I add protein to make this a heartier meal?
Absolutely! Grilled chicken would be a delicious addition. Personally, I find this dish filling on its own so I prepare it as is.
Storage & Leftovers
This ravioli salad is best enjoyed fresh since the arugula will continue to wilt the longer it sits in the vinaigrette. If you have leftovers, store the ravioli, greens, and vinaigrette separately.
Bon appetit!
