37 Trader Joe’s Items That Have a Cult Following
Find out the best Trader Joes food and the best Trader Joes products to buy during your next trip!
Oh, how we love Trader Joe’s!
Wondering what the best Trader Joes food is? We’ve put together the top cult-favorite Trader Joes products you won’t find anywhere else! It’s not hard to find something to fall in love with at Trader Joe’s. In fact, there are so many options (even beyond food) that it’s easy to become overwhelmed and you may not even know where to start! From frozen foods to seasonings and dips, there’s certainly something for everyone on this list!
Check out our TOP TEN on Instagram here!
1. Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi is gluten-free, simple to whip up in a few minutes, and easily one of Trader Joes best items.
Stop what you’re doing and go buy this cauliflower gnocchi. It’s been deemed one of the best Trader Joes products of all time, hence why it made our #1 spot which also tends to fly off the shelves. In fact, Delish said in their article, your best bet is to shop for this item before noon if you even want a chance to snag it….unless of course, you get there on truck delivery day (which for my store is Sunday afternoons). 😉
Not only are they ridiculously easy to whip up in a pan, but with everyone searching for healthier alternatives and obsessing over everything cauliflower, this bag of goodness is a must-try! Your only regret will be that you didn’t grab more bags when they were available.
“This is by far my favorite thing Trader Joe’s sells and I always grab as many bags as I can! The ingredients are simple, I love that it’s gluten-free, and they’re such an easy dinner idea! Sauté them with some extra virgin olive oil, diced up bacon, and scallions, and you have what tastes like a gourmet dinner!” – Sara, Hip sidekick
2. Trader Giotto’s Linguine with Pesto & Tomatoes can be whipped up in one pan for easy cleaning.
When it comes to a quick dinner, you can’t beat this frozen linguine with pesto sauce and cherry tomatoes. It’s a frozen dish that gets defrosted on the stovetop in one skillet, which means only cleaning one dish! The delicious pesto sauce overflows the entire dish, so, if you love pesto as much as we do, you’ll love this flavorful, mouthwatering pasta!
3. Trader Ming’s Mandarin Orange Chicken bags are the best things to buy at Trader Joe’s since they’re the #1 selling item.
Over the years, Trader Joe’s fans have voted Mandarin Orange Chicken as their favorite overall item to purchase. That’s enough of a reason to add a few bags to your cart the next time you head to the store! Plus, it’s loved by kids too, so stock up on these bags tenfold if you have a large family, and be sure to serve it over rice with a side of broccoli for the ultimate takeout dupe! 🙌🏼
“Orange Chicken is a weekly staple in our house! My boys can’t wait till it’s Orange Chicken night every week. I pair it with Trader Joe’s Jasmine rice and it’s amazing and so easy to make!” – Heather
4. Trader Joe’s Gyoza Potstickers will have you skipping takeout.
With these potstickers, you’ll be skipping takeout! My Hip teammate Kaitlyn makes these along with some homemade fried rice, and she swears by it! They have pork, chicken, shrimp, and just vegetables, and, trust us, they are ALL delicious. Trader Joe’s also has this delicious potsticker soup recipe that is just plain irresistible.
5. Kaitlyn loves how crispy the Trader Joe’s Breaded Fried Ravioli gets in the air fryer.
Kaitlyn also found these breaded fried ravioli on TikTok when they were first released, and she’s never stopped adding them to her cart regularly since. She deems them as her all-time best Trader Joes food item! The best way to make them, which is even mentioned on the packaging, is to throw them in the air fryer. You can’t beat the crispiness! 🙌🏼
“I could go on for hours on how much I love these breaded fried ravioli. I eat them at least once a week along with some marinara sauce, and they’re seriously delicious! It’s easiest to throw them in the air fryer and they get super crispy!” – Kaitlyn, Hip sidekick
6. Jicama Wraps are Trader Joes must haves if you’re eating a low-carb lifestyle and they’re the perfect tortilla shell substitute too.
While homemade flour tortilla shells are fun to whip up for Taco Tuesday, we’re huge fans of these low-carb jicama wraps at Trader Joe’s! Plus, they’d be almost impossible to make on your own so they’re more than worth their weight in gold, making them another one of the best Trader Joe’s items you’ll find.
They’re thick enough to hold whatever food you put inside and considering they’re literally only made of jicama, they’re completely guilt-free!
Hip Tip: Interested in reading more about these wraps? Hop over to our sister site, Hip2Keto, where Collin shares her love for these low-carb and keto-friendly jicama wraps!
7. The Carne Asada Burritos won our taste test for best-tasting frozen burritos.
These Trader Joe’s Carne Asada Burritos actually won our recipe blogger, Lina’s frozen burrito taste test! She compared them to tasting like a restaurant-style burrito in the comfort of your own kitchen! Pair it with some salsa or hot sauce of your choice, and you’ve got a golden burrito!
8. Trader Joe’s Jerk Plantain Chips are flavorful and a great gluten-free option for your salads.
This is a big win I use to top my salads! These plantain croutons are only made with a handful of ingredients: Plantains, high-oleic sunflower oil, dried garlic, and sea salt. I love that I know exactly what I’m eating. They’re packed with flavor and a fun alternative to traditional croutons that are naturally gluten-free too!
9. Trader Joe’s 3 Seed Sweet Potato Crackers are more like chips and amazing with hummus.
We can’t get enough of these sweet potato crackers! They still have that classic salty cracker taste along with a hint of sweetness and the perfect crunch making them more like a chip. Plus, they’re gluten-free, but you’d never know by the taste! 😉 My favorite way to eat these is dipped in hummus and they go great on a charcuterie board too. 🙌🏼
10. Trader Joe’s Many Things Snack Mix is one of the best things at Trader Joes if you’re a snack mix junkie.
My Hip sidekick Emily can’t get enough of this snack mix. It features honey-roasted peanuts, spicy and honey butter cereal squares, cornsticks, pretzels, and savory bread chips. This is pretty much the perfect savory treat!
11. Grab the Everything But the Bagel seasoning for literally everything you’re whipping up in the kitchen.
This versatile blend of sea salt, garlic, sesame, and onion can be used in a variety of ways such as sprinkling it on delicious avocado toast or using it for the best cream cheese appetizer. Plus, it’s super affordable at only $1.99 a jar! It’s become so popular that Trader Joe’s launched Everything But The Bagel Nut Duo in 2020 – its super nutty and delicious counterpart.
Don’t have a Trader Joe’s? ALDI recently started carrying a similar seasoning too!
Hip Tip: Want more ideas for this Trader Joe’s seasoning? Make these incredibly simple 2-ingredient air fryer bagels and sprinkle this seasoning on top for a delicious and easy breakfast or anytime treat!
12. Trader Joe’s Creamy Jalapeño Sauce will have you ditching your old tried and true hot sauce.
Made with real jalapeños, this creamy jalapeño sauce is going to be the perfect addition to any hot sauce lover’s next meal. While Trader Joe’s realizes people tend to stick with their hot sauce of choice, this one is considered to be one of the best Trader Joes products that are making everyone step outside their comfort zone.
13. Elevate your peanut butter and jelly with this Crunchy Peanut Butter with Flax & Chia Seeds.
If you’re a person that loves incredible textures when you’re enjoying your food, then this jar of crunchy peanut butter with flax and chia seeds is going to take your peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to the next level! It’s high in good fats, and protein, and contains almost no sugars. Plus, you can enjoy this amazing butter with apples, on toast, or by the spoonful. Just keep in mind, that it does need to be refrigerated after opening.
Hip Tip: Skipping on the store-bought butter? Here are 3 easy ways to make your own peanut butter at home.
14. Trader Joe’s PB&J Bars are loved by kids and perfect for on the go.
Don’t feel like making an entire peanut butter and jelly sandwich? Trader Joe’s has got you and your kids covered with these deliciously soft and chewy PB&J snack bars! They’re almost always in stock and are such a fun and easy snack to take with you anywhere!
15. The Vegan Kale, Cashew, & Basil Pesto is such a versatile condiment to have for your weekly meals.
Trader Joe’s vegan kale, cashew, & basil pesto is an impressively versatile condiment that can be tossed with pasta or chicken, spread on a wrap or sandwich, or enjoyed as a dip on veggies or crackers. This is a fresh staple item that makes adding flavor to any dish extremely simple!
16. Trader Joe’s Smoked Salmon Dip with Capers is perfection on bagels.
This dip is a mix of smoked salmon, capers, and cream cheese. If you’re a fan of salmon bagels, add this as a topping on your bagels. You’ll be thanking me later!
17. Trader Joe’s Three-Layer Hummus is irresistible on crackers and packed with amazing flavor.
This hummus is made of three different types: traditional, cilantro jalapeño, and spicy hummus. It’s a balanced flavor that is pretty much irresistible along with some crackers. 😋
18. Fig Butter is a unique condiment to have in your pantry and Trader Joe’s has the perfect recipe ideas for it too.
Trader Joe’s has reinvented this simple condiment with unique recipe ideas like Buffalo Fig Burgers and Fig Butter Cream Cheese Bagels. Need we say anymore?
Hip Tip: This butter spread will pair perfectly with a Charcuterie Board, too!
19. Trader Joe’s Raspberry Preserves is packed with real fruit and so much flavor.
This raspberry preserves jam is made with fresh raspberries, giving it the most delicious fruity flavors possible! It has a smooth texture that pairs well with cream cheese, on toast, or even with a delicious PB&J!
Hip Tip: Try using it to make a peanut butter and jelly milkshake!
20. Cam puts this Trader Joe’s Caramel Sauce on nearly everything for breakfast and dessert.
This caramel sauce is one of Cam’s favorite things to buy at Trader Joe’s! She said she puts it on her french toast, pancakes, yogurt, and sauteed apples and granola…just to name a few. Do you even need another reason to add this affordable topping to your next shopping trip?! 😍
21. Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups will have you exercising every ounce of self-control.
Now, I realize Trader Joe’s isn’t the only place to sell these, but I can tell ya one thing – they’re the best-tasting peanut butter cups around – hands down! 🙌 In fact, even CNET.com stated in their article that they’re like Reese’s but infinitely better. 🤯 (And perfect for exercising your self-control.) 😆
You’ll also find various sizes around your store from large tubs to travel-sized packs and even mini cup versions of this treat.
Plus, if peanut butter isn’t your thing, they also have dark chocolate almond butter cups which is a personal favorite of mine! Regardless of which ones you scoop up, all of them taste extraordinary when stored in the fridge for a late-night treat.
22. Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Filled Pretzel Nuggets are a sweet and salty lover’s dream come true.
The ultimate sweet yet savory treat comes with these delicious treats. These pretzel bites are wrapped with some silky almond butter which is covered in dark chocolate. Doesn’t that sound like heaven?!
23. The Gone Bananas! Dark Chocolate-Covered Banana Slices are just 100 calories per serving.
These chocolate-covered bananas are so delightful and fruity that they’ll drive you bananas! Plus, they’re only 100 calories per serving, so you’re still able to indulge in this sweet guilt-free!
24. Sublime Ice Cream Sandwiches have been voted the best Trader Joes products to buy if you love out-of-this-world desserts.
When it comes to the best Trader Joes products, this is probably the best dessert! Considering frozen sweet sandwiches, these are truly spectacular. Vanilla ice cream is rolled around a bunch of semi-sweet chocolate chips sandwiched in between two chocolate chip cookies. TJ actually taste-tested and altered this recipe for months until it was satisfied with equal chewy yet crunchy flavors! 🤤
25. Trader Joe’s Hold the Cone Mini Ice Cream Cones are a delicious small treat you won’t regret buying.
While we’re on the topic of the best Trader Joe’s products in the dessert asile, you might as well grab a box of these Hold the Cone ice creams too. The perfect size for kids to enjoy a cold treat and perfect for you when you’re watching your sweets intake. Choose from traditional vanilla or chocolate, both dipped in a chocolate coating — you simply can’t go wrong!
“They’re perfect ice creams for kids! I love that I can give my 4-year-old a treat that won’t melt everywhere before he can eat it.” – Taryn
26. Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Bars are decadent and have the perfect balance of sweet and salty.
Before you checkout with all the other best Trader Joes products you’ve scooped up, make sure to swing by the shelves near the cash registers to scoop up a few of these Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Bars! They’re irresistibly good and even come in unique, fun packaging making them perfect for a gift basket too!
While the Caramel and Sea Salt are our favorite, they also have Toffee with Walnuts & Pecans and Coconut Caramel too. Don’t be shy about grabbing a few because they’re only $1.99 and chances are you’ll eat half of it before you even get home. 😉
27. The Speculoos Cookie Butter is a famous treat you can’t forget in your Trader Joe’s cart.
If you haven’t tried Trader Joe’s cookie butter, you haven’t been living! I’ve never spooned it out of the jar…said no one ever. 😂 In all seriousness though, this delicious combination of Belgian biscuits with flavors including cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, cardamom, and white pepper is so heavenly and many consider it the best Trader Joes products hands down.
On our team, this is an ultimate favorite! It’s perfect on toast, blending into shakes, dipped in apples, or as I said, all on its own. 🙌 And if you’re a fan of frozen desserts, Trader Joe’s even has this flavor available in ice cream form as well! Yum!
28. Dü Good Keto Fudge Bites are a keto treat that is gentle on your stomach.
These keto-friendly creamy and dreamy fudge bites are made with pure and real ingredients so you can have your after-dinner treat without all the unwanted tummy problems. Packed with 7g of fat and 6g of protein, there’s no wonder everyone’s scooping these up!
Read more about these keto treats on our sister site, Hip2Keto!
And now for some honorable mentions of non-food Trader Joe’s must-haves:
29. Trader Joe’s Bouquets of Flowers are always affordable and guaranteed to last long.
Love sprucing up your home with fresh flowers? We love the seasonal floral arrangements that Trader Joe’s offers year-round (in spring, they even have gorgeous bunches of peonies for just $7.99 – our favorite!). 😍
With tons of other beautiful bouquets starting at just $3.99, these flowers are some of the best Trader Joes products to pick up and are perfect for any occasion. If you’re having a big party (or even a wedding), they accept large flower orders upon request! Just note that oftentimes you won’t get to choose the color of the flowers.
Check out our other favorite places to buy flowers and the best deals on them too!
“Trader Joe’s flowers are beautiful and priced great. When my son got married last year they over-ordered roses so they would have a bunch for the wedding rehearsal dinner. I had about a dozen white roses in the middle of all the tables, and we put different colored roses on the tables where the parents and bride and groom sat.
The entire place was gorgeous and I didn’t spend a fortune like I would have if I had gone to a florist. It was really amazing!” – Kathy
30. Trader Joe’s Plants & Succulents are adorable and make great gifts.
Aside from flowers, Trader Joe’s also has the cutest succulent and plant selection! You’ll find all sorts of one-of-a-kind vases like this one that Lina has!
31. Trader Joe’s Whipped Coconut Body Butter isn’t oily and often sells out.
Trader Joe’s is so much more than just food products. Their body butter is rich and ultra-soothing. I love that after applying it to my skin, there’s no oily residue left behind. It’s great to keep on hand year-round to keep skin feeling silky soft all day!
In the fall, make sure to scoop up some of their popular seasonal varieties of Body Butter, as they’re always the first skincare item to sell out!
“I’m like a kid in the store at Trader Joe’s. I love their beauty products, especially their body butter which I have been using for years.” – Mary
32. Trader Joe’s sunscreen made our top sunscreen list for summer.
The Trader Joe’s sunscreen provides UVA & UVB protection, contains skin-nourishing ingredients like aloe, vitamin E, and coconut oil, and it’s water-resistant! The best part? It’s only $6 a can! 😱 All the more reason to love Trader Joe’s!
Hip Tip: Check out our other top sunscreen picks for summer that are all kid and baby safe!
33. Trader Joe’s Daily Facial Sunscreen is the best Unseen Sunscreen dupe for just $9.
Why spend nearly $40 on Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen when you can spend just $9 on this Trader Joe’s dupe?! I tested both and the comparison (and ingredients) and nearly identical! This is a great product to scoop up for summer and is great for priming your face before makeup application.
Read more about the comparison between these two facial sunscreens here!
34. Trader Joe’s Seasonal items are always on point and maximize our favorite foods.
Some of the best Trader Joes products can be found in their selection of seasonal essentials throughout the year. From lemon ice cream in the spring to Decked Out Tree Cookies in the winter, there’s an endless array of fun and delicious options for everyone.
Hip Tip: If you’re curious about what Trader Joe’s offers all year long and what we’re currently obsessing over, make sure to follow our Trader Joe’s page so you can stay up to date on all the delicious news.
And now onto the drinks!
35. Trader Joe’s Ethiopian Whole Bean Coffee is an affordable fair trade variety we love.
Score this whole bean fair trade coffee the next time your in Trader Joe’s. It’s filled with sweet, floral aromas and ready to help you kick off your day! Plus, at just under $10, it won’t cost you much more than two Starbucks drinks.
“This is hands down one of the best Trader Joe’s items and my favorite coffee! The earthy flavor is so good and it’s such a smooth, yet strong blend. I love that it comes in whole beans and I can just grind it myself at Trader Joe’s. For good, quality coffee, this stuff is really affordable and it doesn’t give me a headache like other coffees sometimes do. Yay! If you’re a coffee lover like me, you’ve got to try this stuff! Oh, and you can also repurpose the canister that it comes in for storage or for a craft project!” – Taylor
36. Trader Joe’s Sparkling Green Tea is so refreshing during warmer weather.
This may not technically be the best Trader Joes food, but it is the best beverage! Whether it’s with pineapple or peach juice, Lina swears by this sparkling green tea beverage. It’s both fruity and refreshing. As the weather gets warmer, we can’t imagine anything more relaxing than sipping one of these on a warm sunny day!
37. Trader Joe’s Wine is known for its cheap and delicious wines so don’t miss the opportunity to stock up.
It wouldn’t be a Trader Joe’s lineup unless we shared the tasty and inexpensive “Two Buck Chuck” they’re so well known for! While not every location will have wine due to state liquor licenses, it’s a total steal (starting at just $3.99 a bottle) if you’re lucky enough to have it! Plus, so many of them taste absolutely amazing!
We’ve rounded up all the best Trader Joe’s wines for ya!
Grab a wine that you’re not crazy about? Here’s what one reader suggested:
“Bad wine makes the best sangria. Add some fruit, brandy, and housewives of NJ. Awesome night in.” – Daniela
My family loves their hot sauces! They have a jalapeño sauce that’s creamy. It’s got a bite to it but is luxurious too. Their ghost pepper bbq sauce is perfect for a low cal option flavor is on point. And can’t forget their green Siracha style sauce. We absolutely love them all. My mom requests them when we visit.
Cowboy Bark is our fav too! 🤤
Chili Lime seasoning!
Is this like Tajin- for fruits?
Yes. We use it in fruits, veg and meat.
Chili Onion Crunch! OBSESSED!!!
Yes!!!! My all-time favorite snack is whole wheat crackers with hummus and chili onion crunch on top. Amazing.
Is the mandarin chicken spicey? I mean even the slightest bit? I’m the spice detector. Spice really bothers my kids and I.
No, not spicy at all!
I would say it does have a slight kick to it. My hubby disagrees lol.
Darn. It is hard to find good food that isn’t spicy. With our heartburn and acid reflux and crohns my brothers and I can’t eat any spicy food. Last time I had some I was in the ER. Heartburn sucks.
try the tempura chicken then. It has sweet and sour sauce. We like it better than the mandarin.
Better to make your own food. Especially when you have reflux
not spicy at all. no kick..
Aldi has been selling everything but the bagel seasoning too!
Thanks for the reminder! We’ve seen it there too!
Ikr…Trader joe’s and Aldi are sister stores..one comes with the price tag the other doesn’t
Actually they are not sister stores. The brothers own it but they are separate just like they separated Germany due to their non-agreement over selling cigarettes. I was in Germany when their parents died and left the business to them. They separated the country into North and South because of the cigarette disagreement. It was all over the news.
Also Aldi used to sell the PB cups and they were to die for! I hope they return!
YUM! We’ll have to keep an eye out!
Too bad they discontinued their most awesome refrigerated ready made HOLLANDAISE SAUCE. It was so good on their skin roasted frozen potatoes and on Benedict’s too. I do not forgive them! Sad – if you did not get to enjoy it. Mom would drive 35m to get it. Just for that.
I agree the Hollandaise sauce was super do not understand discontinuing it
The mandarin chicken is not spicy whatsoever.
I love their other seasonings like 21-spice salute and Everyday seasoning. We use them on everything. Also, they have great wines for under $7 like Chariot! I don’t like 2-buck chuck but to each their own😊
Some other items that I ahead but when I go are the corn puffs, corn chips, cinnamon square cereal, organic hummus, chocolate hummus, stuffed shells frozen meals, pop tarts, naan bread, split pea soup and a variety of their cheeses!!
Oh and their turkey corn dogs!!!
Always buy**
Thanks for sharing your list with us, Rose!
Trader Joe’s is about an hour away from our house so we always go there when we are in the area. Occasionally we just go when we have some down time. We keep a list of things that we have to buy every time we go. My mom always liked their Colombian coffee. I have a close friend who always wants me to pick up some shampoo and conditioner for her. One of our sons loads several jars of cookie butter into the shopping cart.I like the dehydrated coconut. I still to this day look for the dark chocolate covered caramel it was discontinued quite a while ago and I just want to cry every time we go. Like a bag of chocolate covered caramel balls they were AMAZING and I always picked up like ten bags every time we went.
Love the mini cones and the mandarin chicken. Other favorites are the frozen potato pancakes, the small everything crackers and the chicken fried rice
The Mandarin chicken sounds amazing! If served with jasmine rice and broccoli would one bag be enough for a family of 4?
As long as the kids are small
Ha! Hungry teenage boys over 6 ft tall. Maybe 1.5 bags. I hear aldis has a similar item under the Asian fusion name. Supposed to be just as good!
Probably not. My 9 year old daughter and I can just about finish off 1 bag by ourselves. And we are petite. But she really loves the orange chicken, more than even Panda or Pei Wei, and she barely touches the rice or veggies I make on the side.
We make 2 bags for 3 adults LOVE IT
Omg the cookie butter is completely YUM!!! I can only buy it once in a while and only one jar at a time because I will eat it up in days. (Not the best thing for the hips) i love it on waffles and pancakes! I do love the orange chicken but recently found orange chicken at the 99cent store. Its 3.99 but its a bigger bag than trader joes…and I feel tastes better.
Love TJ, my go to for groceries, but lately paying more attention to cholesterol and sugar, and their stuff can be off the charts with both, regardless of thought process that everything they sell is healthy. Especially their desserts 🍨 🤤
TJ used to carry bags of dried bean mix for bean soup, for less than a dollar- a great deal but no longer there. They told me it was discontinued b/c they were looking for a more reliable supplier. Keeping my fingers crossed on that one. Long, long ago they also used to have mint chocolate discs, used for baking Starlight Mint Surprise cookies, which were an early winner of the Pillsbury Cookoff competitions. Man, those cookies were good, but hard to make them now w/o a major ingredient (the discs) nowadays. Would love to locate another source for them now.
I really like White Zinfandel wine— the only one that tastes pretty close to lemonade to me. It’s been hard to find the smaller bottles of inexpensive WZ for some years, but recently TJ started to carry it in their Two Buck Chuck brand. Yay! It’s very good, and it’s beautiful in a wine glass, too. I hope they don’t discontinue that, too!
Thanks, H2S, for these informative posts!
I’m curious which brand of WZ tastes like lemonade to you? I’d love to taste it!
I love the little ice cream cones! It’s a good way to fulfill my urge for ice cream, but not go crazy 🙂
Zhoug sauce and garlic spread-dip are excellent. Trader Joes also usually has the cheapest frozen fruit (except for Dollar Tree).
Two of our favorites are the Chicken Breast Medallions w/Coconut Red Curry Sauce & Thai Shrimp Gyoza…Yum
Do you know the price of the cauliflower gnocchi at Traders Joes compared to Aldi? It sounds delicious!
The Cailiflower Gnocchi was $2.69 at our TJ’s.
Trader Joe’s and Aldi’s are owned by two brothers. They are run as separate divisions. One owns TJ’s the other owns Aldi’s. You can read more here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/walterloeb/2012/05/17/aldis-trader-joes-is-a-winner/#642b47fc220f
Flowers for 3.99 at Aldi, too. We prefer the wine at Aldi over TJ.
The coconut lotion is my favorite!
The orange chicken sauce isn’t a sauce. It’s more like juice.
I loved the mango waffles they had in May 2015. I loved the full size mango mochi ice cream that they used to have. I don’t like the mini mango mochi ice cream. I loved the cookie butter cheesecake bites they no longer carry.
I used to love the cheese enchiladas. They recently changed the recipe and packaging. It has less calories in it now. That’s the nicest thing I can say about it now.
There are more diced peppers on top. I can taste the corn tortillas now. It’s distracting. It also has a kick it didn’t have before. I won’t buy it again.
I love the freezer aisle. I regularly buy sweet potato gnocchi with butter and sage, jasmine rice, butter chicken with basmati rice, palak paneer, mango sticky rice spring rolls, brie and tomato tarte, bacon wrapped dates filled with goat cheese, and bacon wrapped scallops. I also buy crispy crunchy okra, strawberry lemonade, coconut aminos, chili spiced mango slices, and their version of spicy Cheetos.
I would also buy the cookie butter if I wasn’t on a diet. I would devour that in two days. I’ve lost 40.6 pounds since 10/21/19 without changing what I eat. I still have 71.4 pounds to go. I use MyFitnessPal and just eat less. I would have lost that much 6 weeks sooner, but I’ve been on three 7+ days vacations since I started this diet.
I’ve been doing the same–it’s just not realistic to me to go “on a diet!” and eat foods that I wouldn’t normally eat (and that my family won’t eat). Instead, I just try to add in more veggies, cut back on portion sizes and do things like adding a little less butter, cheese, cream, etc to dishes I’m cooking.
I buy at least half of those 10 items LOL, one of my favorite seasonal Trader Joe’s items are there key lime short bread cookies. They melt in your mouth,I store them in the refrigerator.
Have to agree about the jalapeño sauce it rocks.
They also have some of the best pricing on Lenny and Larry cookies at Trader Joe’s.
Anyone ever try the cauliflower gnocchi? If so, is it good? I love regular gnocchi.
Yes! Be sure and pan fry it. Boiling it doesn’t give right consistency
Green Giant makes two types of cauliflower gnocchi – regular cauliflower and cauliflower/broccoli. They’re both really good, especially for someone like me who can’t eat potatoes. Jus tan option for people who don’t have a Trader Joe’s nearby.
I like green giants cauliflower gnocchi also. Tried it one day on a whim an was impressed.
My top 3 items are chicken shu-mai, kung pao chicken and palak paneer. My 3 year old loves chicken shu mai. This are must in my every trip to TJ.
We don’t have a Trader Joe’s close to where I live and was wondering can you order online and have shipped?
Hi Laura! These items are available in store only. Hoping you get a Trader Joe’s near you real soon! 🤞
Love their mango, raspberry cream bars, so goood! Love the naan, malabar paratha, orange chicken, dark chocolate pretzels and dark chocolate marshmallows, flavored yogurt, wheat english muffins, seasonings, dark chocolate, Tiramisu, chicken tikka and vegetable samosas,dark russet potato chips, olive oil popcorn etc
The Mandarin Chicken is great. I always have a bag in the freezer for quick meals. I like to add fresh carrots, green beans and/or broccoli to mine instead of rice.
In the frozen section they have roasted potatoes with grilled peppers and onions. I love to add some bacon or sausage and top with crumbled goat cheese and a cooked egg. I have used it for a quick brunch side.
Their seasonal Popcorn in a Pickle is a HUGE hit at my house. I try to stock up since it’s only around for the summer.
The 6 cheese Greek spiral is available year round. You peak of the top and bake it in the oven. It tastes AMAZING and no dishes to clean up. I love to have it with soup. It is also impressive at parties.
Their Bacon Cheddar dip will go quickly. We have even tried it as a spread on sliders. It was pretty good.
YUMMY! Thanks so much for taking the time to list these tips and suggestions! We sure appreciate it!
Their Greek spiral is SO good. I serve that and Spanakopita from Costco when we have Greek food! I think I am the only person that does not like the Mandarin chicken. Actually, my entire family disliked it. Maybe we were unlucky? We found lots of fat on the chicken. With these rave reviews, I am wondering if I should try again.
I have never tried it. I’m making a special t Trip up there. Dang. Sounds like heaven in a bag.
My go to list at TJ’s is Jalapeno Chicken Sausages (we love them!), chocolate covered orange sticks (kids are obsessed with these), haricort vert in the package (I love those skinny green beans:) the most amazing butter like cheese that is so stinky but omg amazing is the Le Delice de Bourgogne its the triple cream soft ripened cheese.
Thanks for sharing your favorites with us, Laura! Good to know the items you have enjoyed!
Last time I went I bought the watermelon fruit spread, to die for! (I love anything watermelon). My son sucked it down. I went back this morning to get more and there is NONE on the shelf, I asked when they will get more in and they tell me no more, it’s seasonal!! I am so bummed! I was gonna buy 10!! I mean the season has barely started!
Oh darn! Sorry to hear it is seasonal. Hoping it pops up again next year!
We love, love. love their meatless Mandarin Chicken. It is great with their frozen fried rice.
YUM! Thanks for sharing with us, Debbie!
I love their plantain chips as well
Glad to hear it!
Thin pretzels covered in dark chocolate are my fav! I put them in the freezer and grab the bag for a salty/sweet treat 🙂
What a great idea, mrsdfig! YUM!
Bomba!!!!!!!!
They have a sriracha bbq sauce that is amazing!!
Not a fan of many Trader Joe items. However, I do love the mandarin orange chicken- only thing I actually buy there now. I will try that bagel seasoning soon though.
Traders joe vanilla wafers dipped in cookie butter is heaven sent!😋😋😋
Thanks for the yummy tip! It sure sounds good! 😋
I can’t leave Trader Joes without heading to their frozen food section and picking up a box of chocolate croissants and a box of almond croissants to bake. It’s the next best thing to homemade from scratch that I’ve ever tasted. $4 a box for four croissants is an amazing deal! You won’t regret trying these!
Those do sound delicious, Amy! Thanks for the suggestion!
Their Unsweetened Vanilla Pea Protein Powder is such a deal! I can’t remember exact price, but it’s around $15-$16 for a huge tub of it – mixed w/ unsweetened vanilla almond milk = filling breakfast without being overly sweet…love it!
YUM! Thanks for sharing, Christa! Glad to hear you’ve enjoyed it!
Thanks!! There goes my diet along with the grocery budget😄 It’s been a while since I went to T’s due to everything going on. This great list -and- the amazing suggestions in the comments just blew me away! Feel truly blessed to be a part of this awesome H2S community. God Bless you all!!
Aww, You’re so welcome! We sure are thankful to have you here with us, Gina! Thanks a bunch for the sweet comment. 💖🤗 Happy shopping!
I like TJ’s and they’ve become a regular stop to stock up on things like their frozen jasmine rice (super to keep on hand for a quick dinner along with something I’ve simmered in the crockpot all day). If you see kringle in the baked goods section, grab two! Doesn’t matter what kind, they’re all good and they all sell out fast! I don’t care for the cauliflower gnocci, though. I love both of those things but put them together and it was a big “meh” from me. They weren’t necessarily BAD but I wouldn’t really call them GOOD, either.
I love their pub mix – not sure if that is the correct name. it’s in a black can – sesame sticks, cheddar fish, honey mustard pretzels… so good.
I don’t have a store nearby, so when I visit one I stock up on their greeting cards for $0.99. They always have such cute designs and it’s such a great price! Nice to have some on hand. I can’t keep spending $6 on a card for each special occasion.
I love love love Trader Joe’s! ♡
I can’t believe no one has mentioned the chocolate covered powerberries or maybe I missed it. I also love their tea. The new blood orange tea is my new go to for afternoons!
I’m right there with you on their tea. I know you can buy Chai just about anywhere, but theirs is absolutely the best in my opinion.
Love their Scandinavian Swimmers—fish shaped gummies—so much better than gummy bears. These are very juicy and flavorful!
I love trader joes dill pickle popcorn and the Sonora dill pickles and I love their kitchen sponges.