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If you’re lucky enough to live near a Trader Joe’s, you know how it goes: walk in, grab a cart, fawn over the flowers, hit the new products and proceed to put everything into your cart that isn’t on your list. The Monrovia, California-based grocery chain has millions of die-hard fans, a popular quippy newsletter that can be delivered right to your door and even a podcast with secret insider information revealing new product drops on the regular. So, whether you’re an ordinary seaman or you’re rockin’ your Hawaiian shirt in solidarity, here are the 31 must-have items from Trader Joe’s to buy in 2024 .
31 Best Things to Buy at Trader Joe's in 2024 1. Chili & Lime Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips Parade Voted #1 for two years straight in the 2024 TJ's annual Customer Choice Awards, we think these Chili & Lime tortilla chips are a most deserving winner. They're spicy, crunchy and just plain fun to eat.
Perfect with a beer or a glass of wine—or as sustenance while bingeing your favorite TV show. 2. Peanut Butter-Filled Pretzel Nuggets Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel These bite-sized salty morsels with creamy peanut butter filling are made in pretzel country—Pennsylvania—and are the perfect, poppable size for a party or a night at the movies.
Have a peanut allergy? Try the version filled with almond butter! 3. Unexpected Cheddar Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel In two versions (shredded and block-style), plus an Unexpected Cheddar Broccoli Soup, Unexpected Cheddar Spread and Unexpected Cheddar Chicken Sausages, this cult-fave is, indeed, unexpected. The combination of sharp cheddar and crystally aged Parmesan fight for a spot on your tongue as you let the flavors marry together in true deliciousness.
This is one cheese you won’t be able to stop eating. Related: 51 Best Trader Joe's Food Items to Buy 4. Steamed Chicken Soup Dumplings Trader Joe's Sure you've had Chinese-style dumplings before, but have you ever tried dumplings with a savory burst of soup? These are based on the traditional Chinese specialty called xiao long bao (meaning "little dumpling in a basket").
Don't knock it til you've tried it; they're deliciously comforting as well as fun to eat. The pork and ginger flavor is a particular favorite. 5.
Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese Trader Joe's Mac & cheese is of course the ultimate comfort food, but this genius product levels it up with a sophisticated blend of cheeses (Gouda, Parmesan, and cheddar) as well as the sweet and savory flavor of butternut squash. Have your mac & cheese and vegetables, too, all in one tasty dish! 6. Mandarin Orange Chicken Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel The stock on this one is low constantly .
And once you’ve made it, you’ll understand why: the delicate crispy morsels of juicy chicken bathed in a sweet orange sauce can be on your dinner plate in less than 20 minutes for a fraction of the cost of takeout. You should have a bag or two in your freezer. 7.
Everything but the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel Not just for bagels anymore, this seasoning blend goes on everything from avocado toast to poke bowls to steak to cottage cheese. It’s a well-balanced blend of sesame seeds (white and black), poppy seeds, dried garlic, dried onion and sea salt flakes. And sure, you could make it yourself, but for a couple of bucks, why would you want to? (While you're at TJ's, look for other EBTB-seasoned products like cheddar cheese, crackers, potato chips.
Oh, and bagels—because of course!) Related: 25 Trader Joe's Everything but the Bagel Seasoning Recipes 8. Soft & Juicy Mango/Chile-Spiced Mango Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel Trader Joe’s harvests Chokanan mangos grown in Thailand, peels and slices them and then adds in mango juice to give them a satisfying sweetness without being too tough. The chile-spiced version makes for a spicy snack on its own, a fiery addition to a trail mix or a garnish for a fancy cocktail.
9. Roasted Garlic & Pesto Pizza With Deep Fried Crust Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel Taking a bite of this popular pizza is not like eating your standard DiGiorno in front of the TV but rather a round-trip adventure to a state fair, Italy and back again—a pillowy, fried dough crust with dollops of burrata, fresh pesto , roasted garlic, mozzarella, provolone and Parmigiano Reggiano. 10.
Organic Jasmine Rice Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel Rice can be notoriously tricky to cook, but not this rice. Pop this baby into the microwave for three minutes and you’ve got an instant base for meat, veggies, tofu or your favorite Trader Joe’s sauce. 11.
Cauliflower Gnocchi Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel This may be one of the greatest hits ever at Trader Joe’s. Their gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free gnocchi is made with 75% cauliflower along with cassava flour and potato starch. The trick, however (and devotees will tell you this as well), is to ignore the package directions and follow alternate cooking methods to ensure your gnocchi is pillowy but crisp and not at all soggy.
12. Joe-Joe’s Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel It’s dangerously easy to eat through a sleeve of these cookies, and with all of the different kinds available year-round, it’s hard to pick a fave version. The chocolatey cookies are perfect for snacking and for dunking and are (dare we say it?) better than an Oreo .
Related: 35 Best Trader Joe's Snacks for Mid-Day Munchies 13. Triple Ginger Brew Trader Joe's If you're a fan of ginger, you've got to try this beloved seasonal treat. Where other ginger ales may leave you wondering if someone forgot to add the ginger, there's no chance of that happening here.
Make no mistake: this ginger brew will satisfy your sweet and spicy gingery cravings once and for all! (At least until you get your hands on another bottle...
) 14. Speculoos Cookie Butter Courtesy Jessica Wrubel Get a spoon and get ready to go to your happy place. This little jar of heaven is a spectacular stand-in for your favorite hazelnut spread.
Dollop on pancakes, spread on toast or even make a cookie butter latte . The uses are endless and delicious. Can't get enough? Look for Speculoos cookies and even beer.
Yes, beer. 15. Chocolate Chip Hold the Cone Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel Mini in size but big on flavor, these tiny cones are the perfect size for when a craving for the sweet stuff strikes but you don’t want to down a whole pint.
Bonus: The chocolate-lined cones prevent the ice cream from leaking out (if they last long enough to melt). 16. Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel Fans say these are better than the original (you know, the one that rhymes with “nieces”) and that’s because of peanut butter that’s made with slowly roasted and ground Virginia peanuts, chocolate that’s made from high-quality cacao beans and the omission of artificial flavors or preservatives.
Try a side-by-side comparison and see for yourself. Prefer milk chocolate? Trader Joe's carries that version, too. Related: 19 of the Best Keto Foods at Trader Joe's, Because You Can Stick to Your Eating Plan AND Eat Delicious Food 17.
Green Goddess Seasoning Blend Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel If you only have a handful of seasonings on your spice rack, this blend should be one of them. Made with minced onion, salt, granulated garlic, black pepper, dried chives, green onion, spinach powder and dried parsley, this sassy green shaker makes anything special—veggies, garlic bread, chicken, fish and, of course, mixed into yogurt for a delectable dip. 18.
Creamy Spinach & Artichoke Dip Trader Joe's This versatile dip pulls off the neat trick of feeling vintage and contemporary at the same time. First popularized in the 1950s, spinach and artichoke dip has been updated by TJ's with their blend of cheeses, herbs and spices. Think beyond the tortilla chip—consider using this dip as a spread on a sandwich or burger, or as a sauce to jazz up steamed vegetables or baked potatoes.
Or, if you insist, as a dip with your tortilla chips. Nothing wrong with going back to a classic pairing! 19. Hashbrowns Trader Joe's When you need to get breakfast on the table in a hurry, these hashbrowns come to the rescue.
Bake them in the oven or pan-fry them; either way they come out perfectly crisp and delicious. Always a crowd-pleaser! 20. Alcohol Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel Depending on what state you live in (and what the laws are surrounding alcohol purchases), you’ll probably be able to find a TJ’s brand beer, wine or even liquor.
The chain’s famous “Two Buck Chuck” is a repeated favorite, whether it’s for cooking or sipping, and many of their other wine offerings are exclusive to the store and are really good. Their bourbon and vodka also score rave reviews, and for the price, you really can’t afford to not stock your bar cart. Related: 12 Wines Best Wines at Trader Joe's 21.
Soy Chorizo Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel The vegetarian-friendly version of this Spanish sausage is as versatile as they come. Made with a blend of paprika, sea salt, vinegar, red pepper and garlic powder, this vegan protein has 60% less fat than traditional chorizo and is delicious on a baked potato, added into tacos or sprinkled into scrambled eggs. Just remember to take the plastic casing off first.
22. Teeny Tiny Avocados Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel For just a few dollars, six emerald gems in a little net bag can go home with you ready for whatever your heart desires: avocado toast, guacamole or nachos. Heck, just eat it out of the peel with some sea salt and call it a day! Related: 10 Genius Ways to Use Trader Joe’s Chile Lime Seasoning—AKA the Greatest Invention of All Time 23.
Plain Unsweetened Organic Creamy Cashew Cultured Yogurt Alternative Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel Made with just four ingredients and considerably cheaper than most other non-dairy yogurts, this one is a star addition to smoothies or topped with berries and granola. Use it as a sub for sour cream or as a non-dairy base for a dip! 24. Crispy Crunchy Mochi Rice Nuggets Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel These come in a resealable bag.
..but you won’t need it.
That’s because these cute little crackers are salty, chewy and crunchy all at the same time. Eat as-is or blend up and use as a coating for chicken, tofu, or fish and level up your lunchtime in a serious way. 25.
Crunchy Chili Onion Courtesy Jessica Wrubel This tiny jar of liquid gold goes on everything : pizza, pasta, eggs, toast and even vanilla ice cream. You’ll be stopping yourself from finishing the jar completely on your own within a week; it’s that good. And it’s about a quarter of the price of other big-name brand chili crisps.
26. Lemony Arugula Basil Complete Salad Kit Trader Joe's When you're looking for a light but satisfying summery salad, this mix of peppery arugula, crunchy carrots, roasted almonds, shaved Parmesan and bright and herby vinaigrette will more than fit the bill. The best part? You can feel virtuously healthy with no chopping required! 27.
Elote Corn Chip Dippers Trader Joe's Sure you can book a ticket to Mexico to get some traditional street corn (elote), but what if you just want that spicy citrusy flavor without the drippy mess? TJ's to the rescue: these organic elote corn chip dippers are the perfect way to celebrate Mexican flavors while scooping up your favorite dip. 28. Gone Bananas! Courtesy Jessica Wrubel These delicate slivers of frozen chocolate-covered banana are melt-in-your-mouth delicious.
As a topping for ice cream or straight out of the package, you can’t go wrong with a box of these in your freezer at all times. 29. Soyaki Courtesy Jessica Wrubel Never eat a plain piece of chicken or fish again with a bottle of this sweet and sticky sauce in your fridge.
Used as a dipping sauce, marinade or basting sauce, the original, with garlic and ginger, or Island (with pineapple) will be tough to put down. 30. Toscano Cheese Courtesy Jessica Wrubel The two versions of this creamy, nutty wedge are a Syrah wine-soaked block and a black pepper-rubbed rind (which TJ's says gets punchier and spicier toward the edge because of the pepper-speckled rind).
Both are equally delicious and should be in your cart, waiting to be sliced up for your next cheese plate. Related: 31 Types of Cheese to Add to Your Next Charcuterie Board 31. Hummus Dip Courtesy Jessica Wrubel A classic for lunchtime, snacktime or party time, you can’t go wrong with this TJ's classic, which has won the number one spot in many store-bought hummus taste tests.
And because it’s basic, you can add in anything you want to suit your style—a squeeze of lemon, a dollop of horseradish or a dash of EBTB seasoning. Up next: The 15 Best Korean Groceries to Buy at Trader Joe’s, According to a Korean-American Recipe Developer.
