There are TJ’s runs, and then there are TJ’s runs — the kind where you drive an hour, grab a second cart “just in case,” and end up debating how many frozen croissants one freezer can hold.
We asked our community which Trader Joe’s items they simply can’t live without, and the responses came in hot: legendary snacks, weeknight lifesavers, wines sweeter than they probably should be, and a few discontinued heartbreaks we’re still processing. If you’ve ever walked those tiny aisles and wondered what’s actually worth hoarding…start here.
1.
“Organic sparkling rosé tea. I have never had something non-alcoholic that was so yummy and sophisticated.”
2.
“The ‘Love, Olivia’ wine. So sweet, cheap, and gives a great buzz. They now have a watermelon flavor, and it is SOOOOO good.”
3.
“Piquant popcorn!!!!!!!!!!!! It’s the most savory thing I’ve ever eaten!!!”
4.
“Sour Scandinavian swimmers.”
5.
“The goat cheese (rolled in blueberries) on the date crackers. So good.”
6.
“My husband works at TJ’s, so I have a million answers to this, but my current favorite is the Spicy Mexican-Style Riced Cauliflower (in the frozen section). So good on its own, but I like to add black beans, green onions, jalapeños (because I like things extra spicy), and guacamole on top. Super filling and delicious!”
7.
“The Chili Onion Crunch. I use it on everything from noodles to pizza. The taste is amazing!”
8.
“It was the Spicy Chunky Tomato and Pepper Pasta Sauce, but it was discontinued (RIP). Now it’s the Creamy Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce and the Spicy Mexican-Style Riced Cauliflower.”
9.
“The brown butter biscotti and the garlic jalapeño-stuffed olives!”
10.
“The Aioli Garlic Mustard Sauce is my favorite thing everrrr. Also, their BBQ Toscano Salad.”
11.
“Their scallion pancakes are *chef’s kiss*.”
12.
“I am living without this… they used to have tubs of shortbread cookies with globs of either chocolate or fruit jam in the middle. They got rid of this a few years ago, and it was wonderful. So sad it’s gone. Also, they had great frozen spinach lasagna that’s gone. A current item that I can’t live without is the frozen chocolate croissant or the seasonal lemon zest Madelines.”
13.
“The obvious is the dark chocolate peanut butter cups…but I absolutely love the hatch chili mac ‘n’ cheese.”
14.
“I don’t live near a TJs — it’s about a 90-minute drive for me — but when I do go, I stock up on the flatbread pizza crust. I cut it into smaller portion-sized squares and freeze it to grab when I want some. A little sauce, cheese, and toppings, pop in the air fryer/toaster oven, and I’ve got ‘homemade’ pizza anytime.”
15.
“The Pizza Parlanno and their pesto tortellini bowls.”
16.
“Cookies & cream pretzels.”
17.
“Three words: TRADER JOE’S TAKIS!!!!!!!! 😍😍😍😍.”
18.
“Gluten-free chocolate donut holes.”
19.
“Cacio e Pepe Puffs! I get at least three bags when I go — TJ’s is an hour away, sadly!”
20.
“The pizza ranch salad kit.”
21.
“Frozen chocolate-covered banana slices.”
22.
“They had double chocolate croissants at Christmas time that were divine and chocolate hazelnut wafer cookies that I could not stop eating, and I don’t know if they’re a rotational item or my store just doesn’t have them in stock, so I’m sad.”
23.
“Almond croissants. Mini chocolate sheet cake. The cruciferous crunch (found in bags with the salads) makes an excellent addition to stir fries.”
24.
“The blueberry lemon sparkling water.”
25.
“Trail Mix Crackers. They are secretly cookies.”
26.
“Gorgonzola gnocchi.”
27.
“Frozen veggie fried rice. Makes the easiest last-minute meals.”
28.
“I’ve been eating the maple pecan ‘just the clusters’ granola for like a decade.”
Those are the current holy-grail picks keeping carts full and cravings quiet, even if a few favorites are now in the great Discontinued Beyond (RIP spicy chunky pasta sauce).
What can’t you leave Trader Joe’s without? Drop your ride-or-die purchases in the comments or share them — no judgment, ever — through the anonymous form below. Your pick might show up in a future post and give the rest of us one more excuse for an extra-long TJ’s run.
For hundreds of recipes you can make to use up your stash of TJ’s groceries, download the free Tasty app to access our library of 7,500+ recipes — no subscription required.
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