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!
I love trader joes!!! And I have tried alot I rec their bbq chicken pizza, and the thin pizzas in the green and red box!! Their filet mignon is the bomb!!!!!
Has anyone tried the pancake bread?
The grape leaves in the can are AMAZING (good for cheese boards too!) and I've tried a lottt of grape leaves.
Loving TJ’s Israeli feta! After Pastures of Eden feta was discontinued, i was so bummed! But they kept saying TJ's version was on it's way!! I love mixing it with cream cheese and lemon to make a whipped feta dip! SO good on a cheese platter!! Also, love so many of your recipes! Thank you for making meals fun, easy and delicious!
OH MY GOODNESS!! Have you tried their Ghost Pepper Potato Chips? Talk about addictive:)
Their eggs, orange juice, low fat cottage cheese and Tejava Ice Tea are great. Also their Cold BRew Coffee Concentrate.
TJ’s guacamole dip made with yogurt is better than regular guacamole!
The Hummus Dip ( I too use it as a cheat)
The Mirepoix (great soup starters)
Totally agree on the Muscat Vinaigrette! It needs very little oil.
The Organic Rustic Italian bread, makes epic garlic bread.
The GF Rice Crumbs are epic
🙂 Chef Heidi Rae
I love the Ancient Grains Granola
I'm from Canada so I only get to Trader Joe's once or twice a year. I was just there on the weekend and bought a ton of goodies! My kids love the Smores Bites. Also really enjoy the Ground Blue Corn Tortilla Chips with Sprouted Amaranth, Quinoa, and Chia Seeds, Pita Crisp Crackers, Cowboy Caviar salsa and Dark Chocolate Almonds with Sea Salt and Turbinado Sugar. This time I also bought the Umami Seasoning, Black Truffle Alfredo Sauce, Buffalo-Style Hummus, Chili-Lime Rolled Tortilla Chips, green Thai curry sauce, 21 Seasoning Salute and more! Plus, I finally was able to buy the Mandarin Orange Chicken because I went to the store right before I drove home and put the bags on ice - can't wait to try it!
How do you eat all this and stay thin?
Dark chocolate peanut butter cups
Dark chocolate bar filled with speculoos cookie spread
Peanut puffs
Multigrain Blend with Vegetables, I let it sit out to thaw then add avocados, scallions, and tomatoes. Sometimes I add Greek cheese. I dress it with olive oil, lemon, salt & pepper.
So many things I need to try! Thank you for the list!
I know you aren’t thrilled with their produce, but I loooove getting their trimmed leeks. Leeks are one of my favorite things to cook with but I typically find them such a pain to cook with. Problem solved with them already trimmed by TJs!
The Italian Bomba Hot Pepper Sauce is so good. I love it with hummus.