This Trader Joe’s popcorn is so good, I finished the bag before I got home

I regret nothing.

It’s no secret that Trader Joe’s is the snack GOAT of all American grocery stores. The list of TJ’s snacks with cult followings grows longer every year, and as someone who recently took a solo journey across the entire country, I can say that any long drive will be improved by a ready supply of Chili Lime Rolled Tortilla Chips, Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, and Everything But The Bagel Nuts.

But I recently added a new TJ’s specialty to my road-trip repertoire, and it may be my favorite snack ever released by this supermarket chain. I’m talking about Buffalo Ranch Popcorn, a bite so perfect that I’ll openly admit to eating an entire bag while driving back home from my local Trader Joe’s. And I’m not sorry about it at all.

Trader Joe’s Buffalo Ranch Popcorn first debuted in Spring 2025.

Because I’m such a Buffalo Ranch Popcorn devotee now (and because I’ve bought such an embarrassing number of bags at this point), it’s hard to believe that this treat hasn’t been on the TJ’s shelves for very long at all. In fact, Buffalo Ranch Popcorn launched just one year ago.

It joins Trader Joe’s long tradition of flavored popcorns; other popular flavors have included Maple Sea Salt, Hot Honey, and Piquant (which is tossed with garlic and onion powders, sea salt, and nutritional yeast, which contributes cheesy and savory notes).

One characteristic of Buffalo Ranch Popcorn that makes it so easy to eat in large quantities is its light texture. Trader Joe’s pops this corn in a mixture of coconut and sunflower oil; coconut oil results in an airier and fluffier quality than popular alternatives like canola oil, while sunflower oil contributes an appealing crispiness. That’s why I can consume an entire container of Buffalo Ranch Popcorn in one sitting (at least, that’s what I tell myself).

The seasoning isn’t overly spicy.

Even though the words “Buffalo” and “ranch” are right in the name, the popcorn doesn’t taste exactly like either ingredient. Instead, it provides flavor elements that are present in Buffalo wings dunked in ranch dressing.

But if you’re not a fan of either, you can still fully enjoy this snack. You’ll get tanginess, a bit of dairy creaminess, a trace of allium, and the very slightest trace of spice. But above all else, I was impressed by Buffalo Ranch Popcorn’s savory notes. They’re deep and well-developed, which are qualities in a snack that doesn’t involve obvious umami bombs like dried meat jerky, Parmesan cheese, or nori. Umami is known for its “addictive” properties, which fully checks out for Buffalo Ranch Popcorn.

Fun Ways to Use Trader Joe’s Buffalo Ranch Popcorn

Trader Joe’s Buffalo Ranch Popcorn doesn’t need any additions; it’s excellent just as it is. But if you want to play around with ingredient combinations to fully customize your popcorn, here are some tried and true options.

• Blend equal parts of Trader Joe’s Buffalo Ranch Popcorn and Hot Honey Popcorn for a sweet, spicy, and savory mix.
• Add Buffalo Ranch Popcorn to your favorite Chex Mix recipe for a new textural dimension and a welcome burst of flavor.
• Sprinkle some Buffalo Ranch Popcorn over a bowl of corn chowder or broccoli-Cheddar soup for a touch of spice.

Read the original article on Southern Living