Today's the day! Here are the BEST things to buy at Trader Joe's! My obsession with Trader Joe's is REAL. I insta-story my way around the store on a fairly frequent basis and and it's high time I spill my secrets. So here we go...31 TJ's products you can't live without!
What to buy at Trader Joes:
Greek Feta in the Brine. Trust me, this will change your life. You'll be buying feta in the brine forever and ever - it's the only way to go.
Port Salut - it's the best soft and creamy cheese for your cheese boards!
Dark Chocolate Caramel Balls!! Actually, you probably shouldn't get these if you don't want to eat all of them in one sitting. Addictive doesn't even come close to describing them,
Quinoa! I buy it in bulk because I go through about 1 bag a week!
The organic frozen blueberry selection at TJ's is fantastic. We go through 1 bag a day for our smoothies and these are reasonably prices and VERY delicious!
I know I said I don't buy produce at TJ's but I make an exception for 2 things... one of which is avocados! I buy them when they are rock hard so they can ripen on my counter at home. And if you need to speed up the ripening process, throw them in a brown lunch bag with a banana!
Chocolate Chips!! DUH! In case we need cookies, or banana bread, or melted chocolate... better to be safe than sorry!
And the 1 lb chocolate bars! OMG these are actually incredible
Sometimes we need Mandarin Chicken for dinner that tastes like Panda Express without having to leave the house. No judgement here - I love this stuff!
Refried Beans. Mandatory for nachos!
Some of my favorite crackers ever - perfect for a cheese board! And way cheaper than the variety at Whole Foods.
Easily the best blue corn tortilla chips on the market. The salt ratio is spot on
THIS Dark Chocolate Bar is basically everything you need in life!
The other produce exception I make at TJ's is their Broccolini! Mostly because I eat about a pound of it daily and I use it up so quickly!
Cauliflower Pizza Crust! It took me a while to get on the cauliflower pizza train but I'm into it!
Cauliflower Gnocchi. I didn't want to love it but I actually do!
TJ's has the best nuts at super reasonable prices! Their coconut cashews are my go-to 3pm snack!
Chocolate Covered Grahams. I mean, enough said!
If you've never had Garlic Spread before... you're missing out. It's that dip they put on the side of every order when you go out for Lebanese food. It's like the most pungent garlic sauce that you'll want to slather on EVERYTHING.
Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels. Literally my husbands life line.
Quick cooking farro - because with this dinner can be ready in 10 minutes plus a little prep time.
These savory thin mini crackers are THE BEST for dipping in hummus and my homemade tzatziki!
This is one of my fav nut butters because there is NO PALM OIL in it. Just the almonds. Perf for my morning smoothies!
Prosciutto - cause we need this for cheese boards!
Fresh Mozzarella. No explanation needed.
THIS is easily one of my favorite vinegars ever. It makes a killer salad dressing!
Don't tell anyone but sometimes I buy this spinach artichoke dip when I'm too lazy to make it from scratch and claim that it's homemade.
Sea Salt Butterscotch Caramels!! These are hands down one of the best things to buy at Trader Joe's. Great in cookies, brownies or just by the handful.
Roasted Corn!!! Use it in all of your recipes that call for corn. It's loaded with flavor from fire roasting and I want it all day, every day!
Zhoug Sauce. OMG this stuff is addicting. It's great in addition to hummus, on top of protein, with veggies, mixed into quinoa extra. I am fully hooked.
This Chili Onion Crunch is new and it's VERY delicious when spooned over just about everything.
What should I not buy at Trader Joes:
To be honest, I only buy a few kinds of produce from TJ's because I find that it goes bad rather quickly! So I get produce from the farmers market and other stores. But TJ's wins hands down for just about everything else...)
What did I miss at Trader Joes:
What did I miss? Any of your favorites miss my list? Shout out your best things to buy at trader joe's recs in the comments section so I can snag them and try them next time I pop in!
Love this! Regarding that frozen spinach dip...I love to cook, but TJ's frozen foods are the bomb. I love the gnocchi and orange chicken!
All of that looks really good, except I prefer to make my own hummus.
same!! and this recipe is the BEST! https://whatsgabycooking.com/hummus-and-herbed-baked-pita-chips/
I'm so delayed in responding to this post (I have a newborn!) - but I love it all. I didn't read thru all these comments (I must tho for other great ideas!), but wanted to mention the gone bananas. I'm sure someone else has noted them in this section. They are these heavenly sliced frozen banana discs covered in chocolate. You can find it next to the Mochi! Delicious 🙂
- try the burrata instead of mozzarella next time
- the frozen meatless balls are a staple for me, really delicious in everything from pasta to soups to chopped and sauteed for tacos
- chocolate coconut milk ice cream
- soyaki sauce (sesame soy teriyaki) is a great marinade for about anything
- cruciferous crunch greens mix, perfect sauteed for a quick side
- triple ginger snaps, maybe the best cookie ever made
Have you tried their Whole Grain Crispbread? They are also new...so good!
Dude their black tortilla chips are unreal. As are those chocolate caramels!! Love that you did this 🙂
a little late to the party! i love so many of the already mentioned items, but also love:
coffee ice cream (idk how much of it i've eaten while watching "grey's" re-reruns)
pound plus bittersweet chocolate (i use this in basically all of my baking)
frozen chicken gyozas (such a quick lunch!)
frozen vanilla and chocolate macarons (better than the colorful ones)
peppermint joe joe's (only during winter! i stock up usually)
belgian waffle cookies
I love all those and you should also try their Kale pre packaged salad, the Fire RoastedVegetables ,Curry Chicken tenders, and their Greek Yogurts
My life-changing and dangerous obsession...their Kona coffee shortbread biscuits....HEAVEN for those who love coffee and shortbread!!!!
Gotta love all things Trader Joes! Those peanut butter pretzels are seriously dangerous. Next time try the 5 seed almond bars - they sound lame but are totally delicious.
Can't believe nobody has mentioned their roasted plantains ( found in chip isle). The best!
Love the list - it's inspired my next blog: what to shop and have as staple items in your pantry!
A few other must have for me from Trader Joe's:
1. Organic Chia Seeds - I add them to oatmeal, my muesli, and yogurt
2. Organic Unsweetened Flake Coconut - good to have around for baking. Most recently added into my muesli.
3. Freeze Dried Strawberries (or whatever fruit): just added this to my muesli as well (wouldn't say it's a must have, but they are cheaper at TJ's)
4. Organic Tahini - it was a new item a month or so ago, gotta try it, but the price was spot on.
5. Creamy Almond Butter - price is right and a must have for me as a vegetarian protein source.
6. NUTS - you said it - best assortment around. I load up every time I go.
7. Toasted Sesame Oil - good price and flavor
8. AkMak crackers - my local grocery store doesn't have these, but they're a whole grain cracker that's packed with flavor. LOVE them.
9. Goat Cheese Log - I made an herb crusted goat cheese and am now obsessed.
10. BURRATA - I'm pretty sure I'm obsessed with burrata as well. The tomato peach panzanella was SO delish.
Try the TJ's Hatch Chile Mac & Cheese with Roasted Chiles from Hatch, New Mexico. So creamy and full of great flavor. I'm obsessed. I eat it for breakfast sometimes!
I also buy the frozen Organic French Green Beans and Blueberries to put as a topper for my two fur babies dog food.
Thanks for sharing this. I am a big TJ fan as well, but I discovered so new things with your post and everyone's favorites. The only thing not mentioned that I like are the green tea breath mints.
My 91 year old mother is obsessed with TJ Gorgonzola crackers! Always within reach of her hand and she travels with them as well!