It’s safe to say our team is obsessed with Trader Joe’s. On a recent team meeting, we wandered into the topic of all our favorite things from TJ’s, and accidentally talked about it for so long, we decided it deserved its own blog post to share the love! Below are our team’s 24 favorite things from Trader Joe’s that we buy over and over again– we’re sure you’ve tried a lot of these before, but maybe you’ll discover a new favorite on this list you’ve never even heard of. Challenge accepted!
$1.99 French Baguette: I’m not much of a bread person, but this perfectly crisp, lovely baguette has completely changed my mind. I buy it every single week and use it to make prosciutto and mozzarella sandwiches (with plenty of butter). Chef’s kiss. –Kelly
4 Chocolate Croissants: You can find these croissants in the freezer section in both plain and chocolate, although my family is partial to the chocolate. Take them out the night before you want to cook them, and come morning place them in the oven for a few minutes and voila you have a delightful treat that will impress guests at brunch. –Katie
I look forward to having a yummy pastry on a Saturday morning with my coffee and these chocolate croissants are some of my favorite pastries that you can make in your own oven. They do require a little bit of work, you have to remember to set them out the day before so they rise overnight, but it is soooo worth it. These are delicious and taste as good as one you would find in a bakery. –Jayme
Brussels Sprouts Saute Kit (Seasonal!): We cook a lot in my house, so anything that saves time is welcome. I find chopping vegetables very therapeutic, but sometimes I want something quick and ready to go. This kit provides all you need for a really special vegetable side dish that I assume even picky kids will like; they are crunchy but slightly sweet, and have the addition of roasted hazelnuts and shaved parmesan on top. This side goes perfectly with TJ’s BBQ Atlantic Salmon. –Lisa
Traditional Olive Tapenade: The best add to any cheese board. Perfect with cheese or by itself on a table cracker with a nice bottle of red wine. –Alyssa
Truffle Potato Chips: I’ve never been the “eat a bag of chips in one sitting” type of girl, but these completely changed that. –Shobi
Roasted Garlic & Pesto Pizza: This is the best frozen pizza out there and you can’t change my mind. The crust has the perfect crunch, the garlic and pesto explodes with flavor but it isn’t too strong, and it’s overall an amazingly balanced pizza. –Jayme
Gnocchi al Gorgonzola: I’ve never been much of a cook, so I spent most of my early twenties living off of frozen food. Trader Joe’s Gnocchi al Gorgonzola was THE best frozen item to have on hand at any given time. Whether I was tired and wanted to throw something simple together for dinner or wanted to add a side dish to something more substantial, this frozen pasta dish consistently knocked it out of the park. –Steph
Crispy Crunchy Chocolate Chip Cookies: These tiny, bite-sized cookies are something that truly brings me joy. It’s hard to eat just one, but to me, they are perfect. –Kelly
BBQ Cut Atlantic Salmon: Our big go-to during the week, we buy three of these at a time. These salmon filets have an incredible taste (not fishy, not bland), and are perfect for a household of two or two and a half (sometimes one of the filets is larger and I have half!). My favorite way to make these is pan seared in ghee with a little 21 Seasoning Salute. –Lisa
Fresh Squeezed Lemonade: While I was pregnant, I was addicted to lemonade and tried pretty much every store bought lemonade out there. This one is by far the best one and I wish it came in a bottle double this size! Trust me when I tell you that it is perfectly tart and sweet and tastes extremely fresh! It drives me crazy when lemonade is so sweet that you can’t taste the lemon or so tart that it isn’t enjoyable or if it’s too watered down, etc. Making a good lemonade is an art form and gosh darn it Trader Joe’s, you nailed it! My husband will literally drink this whole carton in one sitting so I always need to buy two. Make sure you get this lemonade from the fridge area and not mistake it for the one in the juice area (it’s not as good!). –Jayme
Trader Joe’s Green Salsa: The perfect green salsa, it’s a staple in my house. I can’t describe it, it’s just so good. Add it to fish tacos, a breakfast burrito, or just eat with chips. –Katie
Everything But The Elote Seasoning: This can literally be put on everything! I love the flavor it adds to chicken, turkey or even tilapia. Sprinkle it over a salad or into a soup or stew. I buy this just as much as I get salt or pepper. –Shobi
Red Pepper Jelly: This is always in my fridge. I use it to add some sweetness to my cheeseboard or spread it on top of a hot Brie and grilled cheese sandwich! –Alyssa
Tarte au Brie et aux Tomates: This is just a fancy frozen pizza, but it is delicious. There’s something about the thin crust that’s almost pastry-like that makes this something I buy almost every time I’m at TJ’s. –Kelly
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dunkers: I will preface this by saying I do not typically have a sweet tooth, but there’s something about Trader Joe’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Dunkers that are truly addictive. They’re the perfect combo of salty and sweet, and I have never been able to have just one. –Steph
Caramelized Onion Dip: Ok, wow. I love classic onion dip mix that you dump into a tub of sour cream, but this is really special. The caramelized onion flavor gives it a slightly sweet kick which pairs perfectly with a salty cracker on a cheese board. Our favorites to pair with this dip are Persian cucumbers, baby carrots, radishes and of course any type of ruffled potato chip. They offer a vegan version as well! –Lisa
Zhoug Sauce: This is my husband’s hands-down favorite. We snack on this with some fresh pita or lavish. An easy and flavorful snack. –Alyssa
Organic Popcorn with Olive Oil: I wouldn’t normally say that I am a popcorn person. I enjoy the occasional tub of buttery popcorn at the movies, but that is pretty much it. HOWEVER, this organic popcorn with olive oil from Trader Joe’s has me under some kind of spell to make me a popcorn person. It is surprisingly so delicious and light; perfect for a movie night at home or when you are on the verge of being hangry and need a quick snack. –Jayme
Gone Bananas Frozen Chocolate Bananas: I am a sucker for a frozen chocolate banana and these bite sized goodies are delightful! –Katie
Pork Gyoza Potstickers: Though simple, these little bundles of joy are delicious and I’ve been eating them for years. Easy to make and so good with just a little soy sauce. –Kelly
Balsamic Glaze: I am a huge pizza person and love to drizzle this on top. Also a good topping to a bruschetta. –Alyssa
Gluten Free Breaded Shrimp: I have loved the frozen raw shrimp from Trader Joe’s for a long time, but my sister (who works at Trader Joe’s!), told me about the frozen Gluten Free Breaded Shrimp she uses for tacos at home. You can heat these from frozen in your skillet for a foolproof outcome; shrimp tacos, on top of a salad (fave here!), or on top of a rice and veggie bowl. Truly delicious and easy to make!–Lisa
Fig and Olive Crisps: These are a dupe (if dupes for food is a thing?) for Lesley Stowe’s crackers that I love… they are just as good, and the price is a little more reasonable. –Alyssa
Chocolate Mini Sheet Cake: A crowd favorite! Can’t go wrong having this chocolate sheet cake when people are over or you need to bring a dessert to a party. So rich and moist, there is also a hint of nostalgia just having a slice of plain chocolate cake. –Jayme
