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!
FROM TRADER JOES: Dark Chocolate Wedges 73% chocolate in round tins by checkout Belgian Cacoa. TO DIE FOR AND GREAT IN THE PURSE
1. For laundry - sorry but it is a real activity - lavendar pack of softener packets
2. sponges - the little gold packets that are flat til they are hit with water....
3. FROZEN organic rice - so helpful when in a hurry for breakfast or lunch
4. Other marinara sauce in large green can - trader Joe's is the absolute best
I love so many TJ products but I am missing the TJ brand of ginger pear tea bags! Will they (please oh please) come back soon? It’s my very favorite tea!
Yikes, they discontinued the orange champagne vinegar....and the California olive oil, it was one of our faves?!
-Cowboy Caviar - great with the blue tortilla chips
-Vegetable Fried Rice in the frozen section is a great quick meal. Bonus if you pick up a rotisserie chicken and add some to the cooked rice. I do add a tad of soy sauce and sometimes some frozen peas and roasted corn to add more veggies.
-Balsamic Fig Salad Dressing
-Thai Peanut Salad Dressing (refrigerated in the produce section)
-Yogurt Smoothie drinks are great for kids
-Brioche Sliced Bread is perfect for French Toast
-Thai Chili and Lime Cashews/Almonds are both great chopped up as salad toppers for crunch without crutons
-The dried Blueberries are so good on a kale salad with toasted almonds and crumbled feta
-Dried Mango with Chili and Lime, great for snacking
-Gluten Free Everything Bagels are so good, won't even know they are gluten free
Trader Joe's is Now Available ONLINE!! Traderjoesonline.com
I always send Trader Joe's products to my relatives who don't live near one and now they can order online and not wait for me. Thought I would share the good news...
Thank you!!! I had no idea.
I haven’t noticed anyone mention the Kalamata olive oil. I always have an extra bottle in the pantry so I don’t run out. The fresh English peas are awesome and always added to the Basmati rice medley which is always on my list. I have to add that a trip to Trader Joe’s always includes flowers !! Oh, and don’t forget the 1 lb chocolate bars @ $5.00 !!
I love Trader Joe's.. Their raisin bread, cornbread mix and frozen meatballs are terrific. We also buy their breaded eggplant patties, meat lasagna, potato salad and dry cereals.
The one item we purchased recently which was HORRIBLE was their frozen turkey burgers. They were so rubbery and had a nasty taste.
What happened to the season lamb chops.? Boy they were absolutely fabulous. I am sooooo sad.
Love Trader Joe’s! I always pick up snacks for my grandkids, they adore the hummus (especially Rachel)
I love their bagged brussels sprouts. They are chopped up enevenly so when you sauté them in olive oil some of them get charred. My family loves Brussels sprouts but I hate prepping them. This is so easy and quick to cook since they are small pieces. It makes a sort of hash? They don’t always have them, but when they do, you should try them!
How did you not mention Burratta?
OMG DUH!!!!!!! I suck
Everything, including the produce!
Salted Carmel ice cream and panko bread crumbs. Avoid most of the produce too, but l do buy their lemons, limes, and avocados.
Trader Joes Fresh Bruschetta in the refrigerated section! I love it on so many different things - vegetables, chicken, salmon etc! Rather low in calories too!
Corn Salsa in a bottle, again it can be used on so many different foods. I love it on salmon and also sometimes use in my guacamole! Great to keep in the house for those unexpected appetizer parties!
The $0.99 cards - quality for price cannot be beat anywhere. Buy a big pile and never not have the perfect card on hand again! While your at it grab a box Pink and Whites cookies to munch on while you enjoy TJ coffee. I’m from Alaska so don’t get to go often enough but always shop there if I’m close.
Do you have this list of items in a printable format? Much love to WGC from Nebraska 🙂