I think I've tried just about everything on the shelves at this point.
Hi, I'm Hannah and I spend way more time than I'd like to admit at Trader Joe's. I think it's safe to say that by now I am almost too familiar with the aisles at my local store, so much so that I can immediately identify when there's a new product or something that is noticeably missing.
Trader Joe's has some amazing products that I buy time and time again (and a few misses I avoid if we're being honest), but of course, not everything can be created equally. So I rounded up a list of my all-time favorite T.J's items (in no particular order). If you haven't tried these out yet, I highly recommend them.
1. Frozen Hashbrowns
2. Peanut Butter Brookie
3. Steamed Pork and Ginger Soup Dumplings
4. Peanut Butter Protein Granola
Hannah Loewentheil
As a peanut butter fiend, you can find my eating this stuff by the handful for breakfast and desert alike. For a protein-packed breakfast, mix the granola into a cup of whole greek yogurt!
5. Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
Hannah Loewentheil
Better than Reese's. There, I said it. Why buy candy at the movie theater when you can pack a whole tub from Trader Joes?
6. Hold The Cone Mini Ice Cream Cones
Hannah Loewentheil
Mini, decadent, and perfect for when a sweet craving strikes, these tiny ice cream cones are perfection. And a bad flavor does not exist! Holiday flavors include pumpkin and peppermint, make sure to grab a box before they're out!
7. Ranch Seasoning Blend
Hannah Loewentheil
Fellow ranch lovers, this one is for you. Try sprinkling this magic seasoning on anything from roasted vegetables to chicken wings.
8. Fully Cooked Pork Carnitas
Hannah Loewentheil
These fully cooked pork carnitas look a little scary upon opening the package, but give them two minutes in a hot skillet and they turn into instant taco magic.
9. Chocolate Lava Cakes
Hannah Loewentheil
Chocolate lava cakes are a real pain to make from scratch, but thanks to these, you literally never have to. They taste homemade, and no one needs to know the difference.
10. Sesame Crunch Chopped Salad Kit
Trader Joe's
This is the one T.J's salad kit I can't live without. There's something about the peanut dressing that is good on pretty much anything (so save the extra!).
11. Chimichurri Sauce
Hannah Loewentheil
Upgrade pretty much any protein with a scoop of this herb sauce. I love putting it on anything from meat or rice to eggs and roasted veggies.
12. Aioli Garlic Mustard Sauce
Hannah Loewentheil
An OG for a reason, this aioli garlic mustard is perfection.
13. Triple Cream Brie Cheese
Hannah Loewentheil
This nice, creamy, and spreadable Brie rivals any other in terms of quality except it's so much more affordable.
14. Squiggly Knife Cut Noodles
Hannah Loewentheil
These have become my go-to instant noodles. Oftentimes I leave out the accompanying sauce completely and whip up my own homemade blend, something like peanut butter, sesame oil, and soy sauce.
15. Mozzarella Sticks
Hannah Loewentheil
These mozz sticks are one of the most overlooked heroes of the frozen aisle. If you want a real treat, pop these into the air fryer.
16. Ube Mochi Pancakes and Waffle Mix
u/MilkTeaAddct via Reddit / Via reddit.com
Crisp on the outside yet chewy, light, and fluffy on the inside, I might exclusively eat mochi pancakes from here on out.
17. Frozen Chocolate Croissants
u/bubbleaurum via Reddit / Via reddit.com
Store-bought isn't usually anywhere near as good as the bakery version, but these frozen croissants are the exception. Let them rise at room temperature for a few hours and then bake them to golden, buttery, flaky perfection.
18. Nova Salmon Pieces
Hannah Loewentheil
Another bargain item I'm fully addicted to, this high-quality nova sells for double or triple the price at most other markets.
19. White Miso Paste
Hannah Loewentheil
I'm obsessed with miso. In fact, it's quite possibly the most-used cooking ingredient in my kitchen. And now I can stock up on it at Trader Joe's for just $3.
20. Frozen Cauliflower Gnocchi
Hannah Loewentheil
Pro tip: heat up this cauliflower gnocchi in the air fryer or in a skillet. That's the best way to achieve a golden exterior that stays crispy once tossed in sauce.
21. Chorizo de Bellota Iberico
Hannah Loewentheil
When I'm dreaming of a trip to Barcelona, Trader Joe's jamon ibérico is the next best thing.
22. Cheddar Cheese & Uncured Bacon Egg Bites
Hannah Loewentheil
These have become my favorite breakfast on the go. Two minutes in the microwave and they're ready to eat.
23. Strawberry Yogurt O’s
Trader Joe's
This is the one T.J's cereal I couldn't do without.
24. Organic Creamy Tomato Soup
Hannah Loewentheil
You'll never find my pantry without a box (or two) of this creamy tomato soup. It's so easy to dress it up into a super easy lunch that feels fancy and tastes so satisfying.
25. Kung Pao Cauliflower
Hannah Loewentheil
This Asian-inspired cauliflower comes with the sauce on the side, so you can actually use the battered cauliflower nuggets in any recipe from tacos to buffalo "wings." Just add your favorite condiment.
26. Dried Chile Spiced Mango
Amazon
I finish the bag before I realize it every. damn. time.
27. Green Tea Mochi
Hannah Loewentheil
TJ's mochi comes in about half a dozen classic flavors, plus some seasonal items (Thai, mango, etc.), and it's hard to go wrong with any of them. That being said, the green tea flavor is my personal favorite.
28. Sweet Picante Peppers With Creamy Cheese Filling
Hannah Loewentheil
My homemade salads have become infinitely more delicious since discovering these cheesy, stuffed sweet peppers.
29. Peri-Peri Sauce
Hannah Loewentheil
A little bit of this African-inspired sauce takes any basic entree and completely elevates it. Try it with simple roast chicken to see what I mean.
30. Butternut Squash Mac 'n' Cheese
Hannah Loewentheil
I may or may not wait until fall all year so I can re-stock up on this seasonal mac 'n' cheese.
31. Pumpkin Cream Cheese Spread
u/downadarkallie via Reddit / Via reddit.com
Bagel mornings in the fall just hit different, thanks to this sweet and spiced spread.
32. Chicken Tikka Masala
Hannah Loewentheil
I've said it before and I'll say it again: this rivals take-out. The only con is the relatively small portion size, but you can easily bulk it up with naan and your favorite veggies.
33. Cacio e Pepe Puffs
Hannah Loewentheil
Proceed at your own risk. These cheesy, peppery puffs are straight-up crave-worthy.
34. Corn Cookie Mix
Hannah Loewentheil
If you are a fellow cornbread lover, you'll love these slightly salty and ever-so-savory cookies. Just add butter and egg, and toss 'em into the oven.
35. Pastry Pups
Hannah Loewentheil
They're like pigs in a blanket on steroids.
36. Frozen Scallion Pancakes
Hannah Loewentheil
These frozen scallion pancakes are just like the take-out version. I personally love making them for breakfast with a fried egg🤤.
37. Chicken Cilantro Mini Wontons
Trader Joe's
Grab a carton of miso ginger soup and these mini chicken cilantro wontons and you've got dinner.
38. Gone Bananas
Hannah Loewentheil
These chocolate-covered frozen banana slices are a frozen aisle OG that I simply couldn't live without.
39. Herbed Tahini Sauce
Hannah Loewentheil
Try pairing this herb-infused tahini with crackers, crudité, pita bread, falafel, roasted cauliflower, fully cooked gyro slices...the list goes on.
40. Battered Fish Nuggets
Hannah Loewentheil
My ultimate feel-good, lazy night meal is fish tacos made with these crispy battered nuggets.
41. Truffle Marcona Almonds
Hannah Loewentheil
Come winter, the truffle products come flying onto Trader Joe's shelves, but these Marcona almonds coated in savory truffle seasoning are one of my favorite buys.
42. Vegan Feta Cheese Alternative
Hannah Loewentheil
I'm not vegan, but I find myself buying this dairy-free feta cheese in brine time and time again. It tastes so much like the real thing.
43. Organic Coconut Smoothie
Hannah Loewentheil
I've searched the world, and similar coconut smoothies cost five times as much. This Trader Joe's version is creamy, refreshing, and a complete bargain.
44. Smoked Chicken Tenders Dog Treats
Hannah Loewentheil
My dog might be single-handedly keeping Trader Joe's in business with his chicken treat consumption.
45. Tarte d'Alsace
u/signal_dr0p via Reddit / Via reddit.com
This take on the Alsatian tarteflambée has been a constant fixture in the frozen aisle for over a decade, and it's still a crowd favorite for good reason. Loaded with Gruyère cheese, caramelized onion, and thinly sliced ham, I can attest to the deliciousness.
46. Frozen Garlic Naan
Hannah Loewentheil
This frozen naan is an obvious side to pair with any of T.J's Indian-inspired frozen meals, but it also comes in handy for loaded flatbreads and sandwiches.
47. Thai Banana Fritters
Hannah Loewentheil
These are incredibly delicious, and they're even better with a scoop of ice cream on top. Bonus points if you make them in the air fryer.
48. Green Goddess Dressing
Hannah Loewentheil
Light, bright, and herbaceous, this cold-pressed dressing takes even the most boring salad to the next level.
49. Raspberry Mini Mousse Cakes
u/Detronyx via Reddit / Via reddit.com
T.J's comes out with different mousse cakes depending on the season (for example, pumpkins in the fall and flowers in the spring). They're all surprisingly tasty, but the raspberry flavor is my fave.
50. Cacio e Pepe Ravioli
Trader Joe's
Looking for the easiest weeknight meal ever? Grab a package of cacio e pepe ravioli, a little pat of butter, and some additional Parmesan cheese on top.
51. Mandarin Orange Chicken
Hannah Loewentheil
It's a cult favorite frozen meal for a reason, and I fully agree with the hype. Pop it into the air fryer for the best, crispiest results.
52. Salsa Verde Flavored Tortilla Chips
Hannah Loewentheil
Why can't I stop eating these?!?
53. Danish Kringle
Hannah Loewentheil
I never knew what kringle was before trying the Trader Joe's version, but I am now a huge fan. It's basically an oval-shaped Scandanavian pastry made with layers of flaky dough, sugary filling, and icing on top.
54. Brazilian Style Cheese Bread.
Hannah Loewentheil
There's something so satisfying about sinking your teeth into this seriously chewy, cheesypao de queijo.
55. Elote Corn Chip Dippers
Hannah Loewentheil
The seasoning on these corn chips is absolutely next-level.
56. Palak Paneer
u/Bullwinkles_progeny via Reddit / Via reddit.com
This frozen meal is essentially blocks of paneer cheese swimming in the Indian version of creamed spinach.
57. Arrabbiata Sauce
Hannah Loewentheil
Of all the T.J's jarred pasta sauces, this spicy one is always in my pantry. Try pairing it with your favorite seafood pasta to give it a little fra diavolo-inspired kick.
58. Wild Raw Argentinian Red Shrimp
Hannah Loewentheil
Dare I say this is the best quality frozen shrimp I've ever come across? Yes, I think I'll make that bold assertion.
59. Shawarma Chicken Thighs
Hannah Loewentheil
This pre-marinated chicken is so full of flavor, making it one of my favorite weeknight dinners.
60. Cold Pressed Green Juice
Hannah Loewentheil
Green juice can be seriously pricey, but this one's a great bang for your buck. It also happens to be incredibly restorative and thirst-quenching.
61. Caramelized Onion Dip
Hannah Loewentheil
If you grew up eating dips made with Lipton onion soup mix like I did, you'll appreciate this equally-as-indulgent Trader Joe's version.
62. Jalapeño Sauce
Hannah Loewentheil
Creamy and mild, it's the perfect accompaniment to anything from tacos to grilled vegetables.
63. Everything But the Bagel Nut Duo
Hannah Loewentheil
This is, IMO, the perfect snack.
64. Chili Onion Crunch
Hannah Loewentheil
Are there better chili oils out there? Sure. But not for $4. I stock up on a new jar every time I go to Trader Joe's, then I put it on anything and everything.
65. Frozen Chicken Tamales
Hannah Loewentheil
I never thought I was a "tamales person" until I tried these.
66. Italian Bomba Hot Pepper Sauce
Hannah Loewentheil
Proceed with caution: This pepper spread packs a serious kick, but a little spread of it on your sandwich bread takes it to the next level.
67. Vegan Thai Green Curry
Hannah Loewentheil
Grab a bag of frozen rice with this green curry and call it dinner (oh, and it happens to be vegan).
68. Pizza Bread Cheese
Hannah Loewentheil
All the flavors you love about pizza, minus the crust. Dip this deliciousness in anything from marinara sauce to pesto.
69. Rosemary Croissant Croutons
Hannah Loewentheil
I can confirm thesearethe greatest store-bought croutons I've come across. They are just as buttery and flaky as croissants, but in a crispy form perfect for topping soups and salads.
70. Fancy Cheese Crunchies
u/carmichameleon via Reddit / Via reddit.com
Tell me one single situation where mixing truffle and cheese is a bad idea.
71. Spicy Chai Tea Latte Mix
Amazon
One of my greatest joys of winter is cozying up with an oat milk chai tea latte.
72. Sublime Ice Cream Sandwiches
Hannah Loewentheil
It's a childhood classic that simply can't be beat.
73. Speculoos Cookie Butter Ice Cream
Hannah Loewentheil
This vanillaice creamloaded with chunks of Speculooscookie butter is the definition of crème de la crème.
74. Chocolate & Peanut Butter Joe-Joes Sandwich Cookies
Hannah Loewentheil
Of all the Joe-Joe's flavors (and all are excellent), this chocolate peanut butter medley is a game changer.
75. Balsamic Glaze
Hannah Loewentheil
I cannot imagine homemade salads without this thick, sweet and tangy stuff.
76. Bruschetta Sauce
Hannah Loewentheil
There is something so good about this bruschetta sauce. I could (and do) eat it straight by the spoonful. My favorite way to eat it though is on top of grilled chicken.