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When you work for Trader Joe's for any amount of time, you inevitably become some sort of culinary librarian. Think of it this way: Crew members live by a curated seasonal calendar, sample hundreds (perhaps thousands) of items, and develop a lot of strong opinions on which ones are the absolute best. Feathers have been known to get a little ruffled when naming your absolute favorite Trader Joe's Items of all time, too.
It really took a lot of deep contemplation to narrow this list down to just 35 items. The process was not unlike filling out a March Madness bracket - so many permutations and combinations to consider! I had to apologize to several of my besties in the process (namely, many seasonal faves).
These are, without a doubt, the groceries I can't imagine going without any time of the year. Maybe these are some of yours, too? If they aren't, let me know which items I need to try ASAP for myself.
Pantry
1. Organic Tomato & Roasted Red Pepper Soup, $3.49 for 32 ounces
In the World Series of Trader Joe's Soups, Organic Tomato & Roasted Red Pepper is my own personal dark horse favorite - it's kind of like the Mets (sorry)! While it's not as flashy as, say, clam chowder or lobster bisque, it's a delightful, hard-working soup. Not just relying on the savory-sweetness of the tomato, this soup does one better by adding a bit of earthy, jammy flavor with roasted red peppers.
Add a glug of milk (or cream!), blend it all up, and a highly adaptable soup is born. Dunk your grilled cheese in a bowl of this liquid comfort, and top with a drizzle of really good Greek yogurt or some homemade croutons. Maybe all three? Knock yourself out.
2. Organic Vodka Sauce, $3.29 for 25 ounces
I first stumbled upon this after my friend (who has her own honest-to-goodness Italian American nonna) sang its praises. She couldn't believe how close it tasted to the jar given to her by the aforementioned nonna. We did a taste test of both and could truly not tell much of a difference - it's really that good!
It's one of my favorite pantry "little luxuries" to break out when I'm feeling like a fancy-ish dinner in. It's great with penne pasta, and it's also a next-level genius move to use it for topping pizza, dipping breadsticks, or tossing with lobster ravioli.
3. Dolmas, $3.49 for 9.9 ounces
It's not often you can just crack open a can and, bam, lunch is basically already halfway made. Well, these stuffed grape leaves will have you on your way to an elite mezze platter just by popping off the top of their unsuspecting can. In a very scientific taste test I conducted, I've decided I truly cannot taste the difference between these grape leaves and that of my usual Greek spot.
This packed can contains perfectly briny grape leaves, with tender rice and plenty of herbs, already basically ready to accompany your Mediterranean feast. Please, by all means, do your own taste tests. I look forward to hearing your results.
4. Quartered Marinated Artichokes, $2.99 for 12 ounces
When I worked at Trader Joe's, shoppers would frequently admit that they drove well across town to pick up a few jars of these artichokes, and I now do too. Each artichoke quarter is nestled in a herb-packed brine that is a magic elixir on its own.
My weeknight stand-by pasta dish is one I learned from an old, thrifted copy of Alice Waters' cookbook: Chez Panisse Pasta, Pizza, and Calzone (with a few of my own liberties, of course). My take includes tossing together an entire jar of these artichoke quarters, crisped up pancetta, and degreasing the pan with a bit of the leftover artichoke brine. Toss that magical mixture with your favorite wide noodle (I like fresh pappardelle or fettuccine), and then shower with plenty of Parmesan. It's a dish worthy of a dinner party - or leftovers you'll really look forward to.
Refrigerated
5. Uncured Black Forest Bacon, $6.49 for 12 ounces
Don't lie: You love it when a Trader Joe's employee compliments the contents of your cart. Having worked at Trader Joe's, I, too, shamelessly complimented anyone who had this in their cart. With a thick crust of spices that makes it ultra-reminiscent of a honey-baked ham, this pack puts all of the other bacon in the section to shame (and trust me, I tried them all in my two years at TJ's).
This extra-thick cut bacon improves basically everything it touches: shrimp and grits, a BLT, black beans, and yes, breakfast tacos. Don't toss that bacon grease, either! It's liquid gold, perfect for roasting vegetables, frying burgers, or drizzling on popcorn.
6. Pastrami-Style Smoked Salmon, $5.99 for 4 ounces
I'll never get tired of singing the praises of this Pastrami-Style Smoked Salmon. It's got a sweet-smoky char that really upgrades a cream cheese-schmear bagel, and a nearly infinite number of uses.
Make weeknight-friendly poke bowls with it and vinegary sushi-style rice, roll it into teriyaki-seasoned seaweed sheets as a snack, or fold some into an omelette with plenty of dill. My new favorite use involves using it in an L-E-O-style scramble (lox, egg, onion) that'll surely have you feeling like you've been transported to a New York-style diner instantly.
7. Garlic Spread & Dip, $3.69 for 8 ounces
You know how, in the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding, the dad always thinks Windex improves everything? Well, that's absolutely how I am with Trader Joe's Garlic Spread & Dip. Also known as toum, this fluffy, creamy spread is likely a familiar sight at your neighborhood Lebanese takeout spot.
More complex than the sum of its parts, Trader Joe's Garlic Spread is made with garlic, lemon juice, and oil, whipped into a light, mayo-esque spread. It's great for topping kebabs and avocado toast, tossing with roasted vegetables or pasta, or stirring into rice or mashed potatoes. My new favorite use? Using it in a grilled cheese.
8. Artichoke & Jalapeño Dip, $3.99 for 10 ounces
Let me get you in on a little secret: I can make this dip … disappear. And not just by dunking lime tortilla chips, baby peppers, and carrots in it. Or adding it to breakfast tacos and topping burrito bowls with it. Sure, that's cool and all, but this creamy-spicy dip that's packed with briny artichokes is meant for much, much more.
Fun fact: Did you know it makes the perfect binder for a rice and beef mix for filling cheesy stuffed peppers, too? Well, now you do. And now you know why this dip is key to the ultimate disappearing act!
9. Cheddar & Gruyère Melange Cheese, $7.49 per pound
The nuttiness of the Gruyère mixed with the buttery, crumbly English-style cheddar makes this cheese solidly That Girl; a cheese that can be snacked on solo, but also a culinary MVP addition to any manner of recipes. I like shredding it into a macaroni and cheese, slicing for any and all grilled cheeses (especially with a layer of either toum, apples, or cherry jam), or cubing into a kale-apple salad tossed with a garlicky vinaigrette.
10. Comté, $12.99 per pound
If you're unfamiliar with my cheese bestie, Comté, it's my absolute pleasure to introduce you both! While you might think that brie is the number one most popular cheese in France, it's time to set the record straight. Comté is the big cheese, so to speak, and Trader Joe's has some deliciously affordable bricks of this nutty, buttery, lightly fruity one.
A close cousin to Swiss Gruyère (they basically can wave at each other from over the Alps), Comté is my ride or die when it comes to gussying up an omelet, cheese board, mac and cheese, or simply snacking right off the rind.
Frozen
11. Dutch Griddle Cakes, $3.49 for 14.11 ounces
The pinch of maple-y sweetness in these silver-dollar sized "pancakes" means they can go in nearly any savory or sweet direction. In my case, I save a pit stop and use these fluffy griddle cakes to recreate my own version of the iconic McGriddle at home (just add sausage patty, an over-medium egg, and a slice of cheddar cheese).
12. Garlic Shiitake Mushroom Green Beans, $2.69 for 10.58 ounces
I know it's unexpected to be so passionate about a frozen vegetable from Trader Joe's, but here we are. Whatever you do, don't let this humble bag - that first appeared on shelves in February 2025 - pass you by; the plump, crisp green beans are equal parts gingery and garlic-slicked, with an ultra-savory shiitake mushroom sauce coating each tender bean. I regularly hover over a pan of these beans like a vulture, and I might be still circling the pan as I type this (I'll never tell).
13. Kung Pao Tempura Cauliflower, $5.99 for 24 ounces
Cauliflower is having a major glow-up moment, and I especially am all about it when it's coated in tempura batter, fried to golden and crispy perfection, then slicked with a sweet-spicy sauce (and maybe a drizzle of chili crisp for good measure). I've also been known to forgo the sauce provided and toss these florets with a buttery Buffalo sauce, too, and they're a pretty delicious canvas for riffing. It's never been easier to eat my vegetables, honestly.
14. Raw Argentinian Red Shrimp, $11.99 for 16 ounces
I'm not sure what kind of technology the Trader Joe's development team has in their lab, but somehow they've taken the experience of lobster and shrunken it down to shrimp-form (and at shrimp prices). One bite of these luxurious little shrimps will have you wondering how you got a buttery, sweet lobster-esque meal at a fraction of the price.
Plus, they're much easier (and way quicker) to cook up. It's nearly impossible to mess these guys up: grill these on skewers with your favorite glaze, add to a creamy risotto, or stir into your next seafood paella ASAP.
15. Beef Birria, $7.99 for 16 ounces
Unfortunately and fortunately, living in Los Angeles has ruined me for any other tacos in my life, especially when it comes to good birria, the savory, spicy Mexican meat stew that is often served at celebrations like birthdays and Christmas, or, in my case, many a Los Angeles street corner. The birria is ridiculously tender, brothy, and needs no embellishment outside of perhaps some fried tortillas, a bit of chopped white onion, and cilantro. Throw in a Michelada, and it's basically like you're eating a street taco fresh from the stall.
16. Pork Gyoza Potstickers, $3.99 for 16 ounces
I love using Trader Joe's items as a foundation on which to build a fancy-adjacent dinner. Namely, the gyoza selection is perhaps the most delicious of all starting points. In a pinch, TJ's Pork Gyoza Potstickers are great, simply fried until crispy and ready to take a dive into soy sauce.
But one should never just stop there. I like to pop these in a hot and sour-style soup, sauté in a stir-fry, or even use for topping an Asian-style slaw or salad.
17. Japanese-Style Fried Rice, $3.79 for 16 ounces
I'm here to tell you this is the only bag of frozen rice (amongst its many varieties!) I'll buy at TJ's. Why, you might ask? Well, this Japanese-Style Fried Rice has so much going on: shreds of hijiki seaweed, crispy bits of fried tofu, and plump green edamame beans.
Each bite is different and not at all "same-y" (a very technical term, I swear), that I'd use to describe other premade bags of fried rice. It's great whether you serve it on the side of soy-marinated steak, scramble a few eggs into it, or, honestly, just on its own. 12/10, has never disappointed me.
18. Pistachio Baklava, $9.99 for 16 ounces
Modeled after a Turkish-style baklava (with pistachios in lieu of the walnuts you'd find in a Greek version), TJ's Pistachio Baklava easily looks like the $20 ones that come fresh out of the pastry case at my favorite Middle Eastern bakery. Not to mention, it was a hit at my Thanksgiving table, enough so that I may never serve pie again.
19. A Dozen Sweet Bites, $5.99 for 9.16 ounces
Google the term "sleeper hit," and you'll see a picture of this selection of little sweet bites. Each box of frozen bites contains four individual pieces of three distinct mini desserts: a light and crackly raspberry cake (macarons aux framboises), a chocolate and coffee "Opera"-style cake, and a chocolate and caramel layer cake reminiscent of a chocoflan.
No matter the flavor, you'll find that each slice is just the right amount of richness for a bite and feels like a perfect (and affordable) dessert to set out instead of those often-overpriced premade ones from the grocery bakery. It also saves you from any dessert-related FOMO, and aren't we always trying to avoid that?
20. Miso Black Cod Sablefish, $9.99 for 10 ounces
This frozen cod isoften out of stock, but that speaks to just how good it is. It's a dupe of Nobu's famous miso black cod, and it's packed with savory umami flavor while remaining sweet and buttery. It's a must-try.
Snacks
21. Deli Sandwich Potato Chips, $2.99 for 7 ounces
Trader Joe's mastery of the potato chip has previously featured flavors like Thanksgiving stuffing, a jar of pickles, blue cheese - all of which boggled (and delighted!) my brain. The latest and greatest kettle-cooked, potato-y simulacrum are these Deli Sandwich Potato Chips that basically took a meaty, vinegary Cuban sandwich (ham, cheese, mustard, pickle and all) and miniaturized it. Grab a handful and you'll get equal parts smoky, vinegary, cheesy, and a punchy little kick, a full sandwich experience in an incredibly efficient mouthful.
22. Dark Russet Potato Chips, $2.99 for 7 ounces
These chips are delicious proof that you, too, might be able to wish your favorite snacks back from the Land of Discontinued Items. ICYMI: These objectively perfect chips were rumored to be a casualty of a Canadian potato chip factory fire, but they're not gone for good, popping up intermittently throughout the year (I usually spot them in the summertime).
They're so key to many dishes, especially Spanish tortillas. Roasted to an earthy crispy crunch, these hearty chips make chips and dip feel like an event, which it definitely is.
23. Chili & Lime Flavored Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips, $2.99 for 9 ounces
On the long list of words I really do not like, "Unputdownable" is an adjective that's really up there, but then again some words really succeed in describing one of my favorite snacks. I'm not sure what happens between my first bite of these rolled tortilla chips and the last, but I definitely enter some bliss-like state. Each spicy, salty, crunchy, curly chip is a level of sour that I've likened to "eating pure lightning," and yet I gladly eat handful after handful.
24. Truly Tortilla Chips, $2.79 for 9 ounces
Not a week goes by where I don't re-up my stock of the Truly Tortilla Chips. Each thick chip is coated with plenty of tart lime and sea salt, thankfully void of that unpleasant chemical lime taste you've maybe experienced from other lime-flavored tortilla chips.
You can't go wrong with dipping these into my favorite dip of choice (ahem, Trader Joe's Pepita Salsa) or using a hearty handful as a nacho base, of course. But they're good for so much more, namely Alison Roman's recipe for short-cut chilaquiles that'll make your next weekend brunch feel deluxe.
25. Piquant Popcorn, $2.99 for 5 ounces
Look, "nutritional yeast" might just be the least appetizing combo of words possible, I get it. Still, Trader Joe's Piquant Popcorn - coated in a mix of cheese-like "Nooch," sea salt, onion powder, and garlic powder - is so good it will make sure you never turn up your nose at nutritional yeast again. The savory onion and garlic amplify what I call the "movie theater sprinkle cheese" essence of the nutritional yeast, and I highly recommend you sneak it very slyly into a cinema very soon.
26. Chile Spiced Mango, $2.99 for 8 ounces
I love the original slices of dried mango, but these really keep me going when I'm in need of a bit of a pick-me-up on those last miles of a road trip. They're sweet, spicy, a bit smokey and very reminiscent of getting a bag of freshly sliced mango (dusted with chile-lime salt) from a street vendor on a sunny New York day. Big fan, don't want to live without them.
27. Thai Lime & Chili Cashews, $7.99 for 16 ounces
Speaking of ride-or-die road trip snacks, meet my other BFF: Trader Joe's Thai Chili Lime Cashews. Alternate a handful of these tangy, herby cashews with the Chile Spiced Mango (sensing a theme here?) and you're in for a real (albeit spicy!) good time. When you reach the bottom of your bag, don't chuck out any remaining seasoning; I like to use any leftovers to sprinkle over freshly popped popcorn.
28. Spicy Sweet Pecans, $4.49 for 5 ounces
These roasted pecans - coated in the ideal 50/50 mix of sugar, spice (in this case, cayenne, ancho chile, and paprika), and everything nice (that perfect sprinkle of salt) - are reminiscent of those freshly roasted nuts you'd get at the mall, but a bit more elevated. Just be sure not to make the same mistake I often do when it comes to these nuts: Buy two bags. One will quickly become your post-grocery snack, and the second is for this kale salad with apple and cheddar recipe I make on repeat if just for this crunchy topper.
29. Triple Ginger Snaps, $4.79 for 14 ounces
I can't be the first one to tell you that these gingery cookies pack the most memorable punch in the whole cookie aisle at Trader Joe's. Packed with three different kinds of ginger (fresh, dried, and crystallized), Trader Joe's Triple Ginger Snaps are not just for eating straight up.
When I worked at TJ's, a crew-favorite way of snacking on these involved sandwiching a dollop of sweet-tart lemon curd between two of these very cookies. The kick of ginger mixed with the tang of lemon will send your tastebuds to the stratosphere.
30. Sea Salt & Turbinado Sugar Dark Chocolate Almonds, $4.79 for 10 ounces
Do you have those snacks that, without realizing, you truly don't remember grabbing them by the handful, but there you are, deep in bliss and snacking with reckless abandon? Well, that's how I usually describe just how delicious these almonds are. It's easy to see why, too.
Each roasted almond is coated in a layer of dark chocolate that's then studded with flaky crystals of sea salt and crunchy turbinado sugar, before then being covered in, yes, more chocolate. What else could you want in a snack? I'll wait.
Drinks
31. Fresh Squeezed Lemonade, $3.99 for 52 fl. ounces
Many people look forward to pumpkin-spice latte season, but I wait all year for another, completely opposite season: Arnold Palmer Season. Trader Joe's Fresh Squeezed variety tastes just like the lemonades of my childhood (especially those sold at baseball fields and state fairs), with the right amount of sweet-to-tart flavor that comes from only lemons, sugar, and water - no powdery ingredients in sight. I love muddling this with a bit of mint or basil, but my summertime standby is mixing up a 1:1 ratio of lemonade and iced tea with this and freshly brewed Mango Black Tea.
32. Everything but the Bartender Canned Cocktails, $2.50 for 250 mL
I've sampled over 100 different canned cocktails over the years, and have found that so many are hiding flavorings and additives behind all those bubbles. But not Trader Joe's; these convenient little cans have nothing to hide - they're just plain good, with a quality liquor backbone and fresh-tasting ingredients, like this very Carrie Bradshaw-approved sweet-tart Cosmo. Be sure to grab their canned spicy mango margaritas that came out last year and canned gin & tonics (that snuck in this fall). They are also very impressive and worthy of some fridge real estate.
Bakery
33. Mini Sheet Cakes, $5.49 for 18 ounces
The mini sheet cakes at Trader Joe's always manage to taste semi-homemade, and are that Goldilocks just-right size. Each cake is technically "six" servings, or "three, but likely two, let's be real" servings if you're in my home. You'll find a delightful parade of delicious flavors throughout the year, too, like lemon (my favorite – it's pure sunshine to the square inch), Pumpkin Spice Mini Sheet Cake (a fall must-have), the Gluten-Free Yellow Mini Sheet Cake, and this vanilla bean number.
34. Morning Buns, $4.99 for 8.4 ounces
Mara, our director of groceries and shopping, loves these morning buns. She says that "delicate shards of pastry crackled" as she took her first bite, and she adores their buttery flavor. The buns require proofing for seven to nine hours (or overnight) before they're ready to bake. But with orange zest, cinnamon, and brown sugar in these morning buns, they are absolutely worth it.
35. Sliced Cracked Wheat Sourdough Bread, $3.69 for 16 ounces
Micki, our shopping writer, declared this $4 loaf of sourdough as the "best bread you can buy at Trader Joe's." She went on to wax poetic that "the bread itself has that signature sourdough tang with a slightly nutty wheat-forward flavor," and, when toasted, it remains soft on the inside while getting a nice crisp on the outside. Even better? It's a fraction of the cost of an artisanal loaf, but with all of the taste.
Did your TJ's favorites make the list? Sound off in the comments below.
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