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Disney claims to be “The Happiest Place on Earth,” but for grocery shoppers the true happiest place on Earth is Trader Joe’s. Trader Joe’s has an unrivaled selection of distinctive, high-quality goods at reasonable prices. No matter the diet, you can find something: The market has meat, gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options, and many of its products are organic.
Unfortunately, a lot of people aren’t taking advantage of Trader Joe’s fantastic selection of food — and there are a TON of amazing choices.
We’re here with a mega list of our favorite food selections from Trader Joe’s to help you discover everything you’re missing, so the next time you’re on the go, you can pick up some snacks, meals and everything in between.
And if you’re looking for additional food tips, check out the following articles:
Get Months of Cheap Meal Kits With This Easy Trick.
Your Health Is Wealth. Try Meatless Mondays to Save Money.
10 Tips for Budget-Friendly Meal Prepping (That’s Still Healthy). Snacks
Organic Elote Corn Chip Dippers
These are pretty straightforward corn chips with a respectable amount of heat and a touch of lime, but that combination is a genuine weakness of mine. Couple these chips with the Trader Joe’s Curry Chicken Salad and you’ve got a lunch with a ridiculous amount of flavor for not a ton of cash.
–Russell Holly
Crunchy Salted Peanut Butter
Peanut butter is a great healthy staple — I eat it for breakfast every morning. But commercial brands are loaded with unnecessary sugars and oils. (Even the so-called healthy versions). Usually you have to pay an arm and a leg for a jar of just ground peanuts — but TJ’s usually has it for under $2.30 a jar. I suppose you could get creamy, too, but I love the texture of the crunchy variety.
–Dan Avery
Maple Leaf Cookies
When you grow up on the Canadian border, it’s easy to fall in love with all things maple. These leaf-shaped cookies, which are a product of our neighbor to the north, are reminiscent of treats I used to pick up in Ontario. Both the cookies and the cream sandwiched between taste like real maple syrup without being too sweet. Even better, my New York City-born kids don’t see the appeal so more for me.
–Bree Fowler
Dark Chocolate-Covered Espresso Beans
I used to keep a jumbo container of these in my office for visitors. For coffee lovers who need a quick pick-me-up, there’s nothing better. The bitterness of the crunchy bean contrasts perfectly with the creamy dark chocolate coating. They’ll give you the zing you need to get through a long afternoon without having to perk a pot of your favorite brew.
–Bree Fowler
Giant Peruvian Inca Corn
These are one of my favorite snacks to eat when everyone else has gone to sleep and I’m up late watching TV. The giant kernels, which put standard Corn Nuts to shame, have a corny, salty and greasy flavor kind of like Fritos, but offer a big, satisfying crunch. As a result, eating them can be a very loud activity even for the most demure snacker. So, unless you’re going to share a bag with a like-minded partner, they’re best consumed alone.
–Bree Fowler
Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips Chili and Lime Flavored
My kids are obsessed with Takis — those brightly colored spicy corn treats that are, unfortunately, filled with artificial colors, preservatives and other nastiness. Trader Joe’s makes a similar snack that eliminates most of that garbage, but is still weirdly red thanks to vegetable-based food coloring and packs a punch that’s spicy and tart at the same time. My kids love them and so do I.
–Bree Fowler
Mediterranean Style Hummus
My family goes through tubs of this stuff. It’s great on baguette slices, and a bit on bread spruces up an otherwise boring turkey sandwich. In my store, it’s just a few steps from the packaged cut-and-peeled carrots, so I grab both and have what I tell myself is a healthy snack when I get hungry between meals.
–Clifford Colby
Fig & Olive Crisps
These square little crackers — made with flax, sesame and sunflower seeds — have a satisfying snap when you bite into them, and the pieces of dried figs and brined olives are a tasty sweet-and-savory complement to cheeses. Great with Trader Joe’s Mediterranean Style Hummus too (see above). If you are looking to mix it up, the Raisin Rosemary Crisps are just as good.
–Clifford Colby
Trader Joe’s Corn and Chile Tomato-less Salsa and Organic Elote Corn Chip Dippers
In need of a tasty snack? This Trader Joe’s pair does not disappoint. One day when I was having an adventurous food moment, I stumbled upon these two in the isles. My life has been forever changed. The corn salsa is a balance between sweet and spicy. Each bite is like a burst of flavor goodness. Then to pair it with the corn chip dippers, it’s literally game over. The chips give you the savoriness you’ll want when eating the salsa.
Honestly, whatever your chip and salsa experience was before, this will elevate it times ten. It’s so delicious and doesn’t cost a fortune. Each item is sold separately. The corn salsa goes for $3 and the corn chip dippers run for $2.69. So whether you host a gathering or go to one and need something quick to bring, I totally recommend these items. Trust me, it will be all the rave and where you got it from can be our little secret.
–Arielle Burton
Mixed Nut Butter
I could go on and on about how much I love Trader Joe’s for removing decision fatigue from my grocery shopping experience; but for now, I’ll simply rave about the newest addition to their line of nut butters. The mixed nut butter is a blend of almonds, cashews, walnuts, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, and pecans, with just a bit of sea salt. I usually have nut butter as a snack with sliced apples, drizzled over chia seed pudding, or spread over toast with bananas.
I saw this product on the shelf a few months ago and decided to give it a try. Trader Joe’s niche products are usually a home run. But this particular nut butter is special. Each nut brings its own flavor profile to the table without overwhelming the palette.
