The 10 BEST Trader Joe’s Items You Won’t Find Anywhere Else
Wonder what the best Trader Joe’s gotta-have-it items are?
We love Trader Joe’s because there’s value around every aisle, including the most innovative, hard-to-find, and great tasting foods you won’t find at other grocers. Here are the top 10 best finds you just won’t find anywhere else!
1. Seasonal Sensations
Trader Joe’s should be your go-to stop for all the seasonal essentials throughout the year. From a pumpkin explosion of products in the fall to just about anything you could need for a holiday spread, there’s an endless array of fun and delicious options for everyone.
Hip Tip: Curious about what Trader Joe’s offers each season? Check out these posts for all their must-have holiday, summer and fall goodies!
2. Flowers
Love sprucing up your home with fresh flowers? We love the seasonal floral arrangements that Trader Joe’s offers year round. With beautiful bouquets starting at just $3.99, there’s something here perfect for any occasion. And if you have a big party (or even a wedding) coming up, they also take large flower orders upon request!
3. Everything But the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend
This versatile blend of sea salt, garlic, sesame, and onion can be used in a variety of ways and is absolutely delicious. It’s so affordable at only $1.99, especially when compared to other name brand seasoning blends!
Hip Tip: Want a fun way to use this Trader Joe’s seasoning? Make these crazy simple 2-ingredient air fryer bagels and sprinkle on top for a delicious and easy breakfast or anytime treat!
4. Speculoos Cookie Butter
If you haven’t tried Trader Joe’s cookie butter, you haven’t been living! The first time I actually went to Trader Joe’s was to try this popular treat, and I may or may not have finished the whole thing in a few days! 😂 These delicious cookie spreads are so good, you could just grab a spoon and eat it alone. And if you’re a fan of frozen desserts, TJs has this flavor available in ice cream form as well!
5. Mandarin Orange Chicken
Recently Trader Joe’s fans voted their Mandarin orange chicken their favorite overall item to purchase at Trader Joe’s; that’s enough of a reason to add it to your shopping list right now! We love this quick and easy meal with its savory chicken and addictive sauce. Serve it over steamed rice and veggies or go the no-fuss appetizer route by sticking a cup of toothpicks next to a platter of the tangy bites!
6. Toasted Coconut Pancakes
These toasted coconut pancakes are downright delicious — and all you have to do is add water! Spread some butter on a sizzling griddle, pour the batter over the pan, and you will have fluffy toasted coconut pancakes with a perfect crust on the outside. This box of goodness is perfect for whipping up a quick snack or for any morning.
7. Vegan Kale, Cashew, & Basil Pesto
Trader Joe’s vegan kale, cashew, & basil pesto is an impressively versatile condiment that can be tossed with pasta or chicken, spread on a wrap or sandwich, or enjoyed as a dip on veggies or crackers. This is a fresh staple item that makes adding flavor to any dish extremely simple!
8. Coconut Body Butter
Trader Joe’s is so much more than just food products. Their body butter is rich and ultra soothing. I love that after applying it on my skin, there’s no oily residue left behind. It’s great to keep on hand year-round to keep skin feeling silky soft all day!
Hip Tip: In the fall, make sure to scoop up some of their popular Pumpkin Body Butter, which is only available seasonally.
9. Dark Chocolate Bars
These Trader’s Joe’s dark chocolate bars are irresistibly good and come in unique, fun packaging. They’re so appealing, they’d even make a great gift – although the delicious flavors of caramel with black sea salt, toffee with walnuts and pecans, and coconut caramel may find you munching away, free from prying eyes so you don’t have to share them!
10. Wine
While these may not be available at every location due to state liquor licenses, the wine at Trader Joe’s is a total steal! They’re known for their “Two Buck Chuck” because it’s actually just $2.99 AND it’s pretty good for what you’re paying for. If you like trying new wines, many come with recommendations from the Trader’s Joe’s staff. And if you end up not enjoying your pick, Trader Joe’s takes returns on anything you don’t love. What do you have to lose!
What is your favorite thing to buy at Trader Joe’s?
Please let us know in the comments below!
The thin Ginger snap cookies with pieces of real ginger are incredible! They smell amazing too and the sweet/spicy flavor lingers in your mouth long after the cookie is gone 🙂
Where to begin…shredded Parmesan cheese, white cheddar puffs, organic foursome frozen veggies, green tea mints at register, garlic dip, frozen brown organic rice, Balsamic salad dressing are just to name a few. Love this place! The fresh flowers, the seasonal goodies which are always so delicious and the samples! So lucky to have one within a mile from my home!
I had to stop buying the white cheddar puffs because I could easily put away an entire bag over the course of a day….they’re SO good!
We have a tjs down the street and do 85% of
Our shopping there – some favs :
Individual pouches of guacamole
Frozen breaded chicken tenderloins – awesome on salads or just plain – my kids love them
The mocha coffee dessert bars – 40 calories I believe and to die for
So many inexpensive organic options – allows us to eat mostly organic without breaking the bank
Great organic SOFT bread
The organic grape jelly is delish
Chili lime seasoning and their Himalayan salt
Bavarian chocolate pudding in the refrigerated section- thick and delicious
Chocolate croissants that you proof overnight and bake
New Zealand grass fed cheddar
All of their Asian food is great – fried rice, orange chicken
If you don’t like something they refund you no questions asked
I also love their lite mozzarella cheese and their cauliflower pizza crust in the freezer section
And if anyone didn’t know , tjs brand products are all non gmo – see their website for more info
I’m like a kid in the store at Trader Joe’s. I love their beauty products especially the body butter which I have been using it for years. I love the organic coffee beans, wantons and dumplings. I always get their cheese puffs and milk dunkers for my children.
Love their fresh produce, it’s the best tasting and the best prices anywhere! Bags of organic apples and pears for $2.99?? Wow 👍TJ also has the best meat section imo.. freshest poultry for a good price.. juices, cheeses, snacks, chocolates, condiments, ice cream, I get all my groceries from TJ n best pizza dough I’ve found, just add toppings and heat for 9 minutes.
The seasonal Danish Kringles. Delicious!!
Just off the top of my head…Mango and peach yogurt (my picky eaters, husband and kids love it), Gouda cheese, candied ginger (real ginger that tastes like candy, good for nausea too), golden raisins and all sorts of seeds, such as raw pumpkin seeds (shelled), dried shredded coconut ( no sugar added)
We are obsessed. So many things….
Organic Banana Chips
Sesame Rice Crackers
21 Seasoning Salute and all their spices
Their Teas
Yummiest Half&Half
Ghee Clarified Butter
Maple Bran Flakes Cereal
Peppermint Joe-Joe’s
Pumpkin Gluten Free Pancakes
Orange Cranberry Sauce
Cilantro Salad Dressing
Baked Cheese Crunchies
Lavender Hand&Body Lotion
It goes on and on.
I’ve never had anything I didn’t love… Gluten free waffles, PB and jelly bars, Almond butter, crunchy okra snacks, soy ice cream sandwiches, Gluten free Mac n cheese, their gluten free turkey stuffing, organic grape jelly, organic raspberry spread, watermelon cucumber juice, their laundry detergent is amazing, gluten free joe joes, mini chicken tacos are the greatest ever!
Their organic chicken broth is the best chicken broth I’ve ever had! Wonderful for soups and cooking.
I love their horseradish aioli. Unfortunately, it’s only out October and November! It’s great on steaks!
I’m so sorry and excuse me but TJ’s…it’s not a membership type store, you can just go in? This post is serious making me consider a drive to (over an hour from me and I’m in a suburb of a big city that is always THE LAST to get anything…we just finally opened a Costco!) 🤷🏼♀️😳. Thank you!
No membership for Trader Joe’s! It is definitely worth the drive but I suggest you maybe write down some of the items people suggested because things are sometimes hard to find in the store. However, you can always ask staff to help you.
Another tip I know about TJ is you can sample anything to see if you like the taste of it before buying it. I have never done it because I always just take my chances. Lol!
Thank you!!
I think you are getting confused with BJ’S ? I think that’s a membership store. We don’t have one BJ’S here but they just opened one Trader Joe’s (TJ’s) not that far from my house!!! I am going today to show my daughter what I use to buy when I lived in So. CA. The banana chips and the ginger snaps and candy bring so many memories. Thanks Hip2save.
I’m vegan and Trader Joe’s has some definite staples for me. One is their soy chorizo. I’ve been told by many people this is some of the best chili they’ve ever had: https://veggiechick.com/soy-chorizo-chili/. Also love the vegan kale pesto and their store brand of extra firm tofu. Another favorite is the tiny avocados they carry. Oh, also, they have the best prices on pine nuts. You can even buy them already toasted, which is so awesome! And during the summer months, they have vegan marshmallows that you wouldn’t know are vegan-friendly when you try to toast them. 🙂
I love Trader Joe’s carne asada it’s delicious, no need to add anything, it comes pre-seasoned. Also their chocolate covered frozen strawberries. So good! My absolute favorite are their soaps, olive oil and lavendar triple milled soaps are the best! I feel so fancy when I use them and they leave you smelling so fresh and skin so soft. In the flower dept. You can’t go wrong but their sunflowers are absolutely gorgeous and low priced.
I was disappointed with their chocolate covered frozen strawberries. There were so few in the box! and the pieces were quite small. It might have been the only miss that we’ve encountered.
The Lavender Salt Scrub is great. I also go there for greeting cards. They’re really cute and only $1.
Lovr their coconut milk!! Best I have ever had!! And the Cheddar Puffs.
Island soyaki!!!
The chili. T.J’s chicken chili is the best I ever had…
My 7 year old loves the PB &J bars and my hubby loves the almond butter.
The candy corn popcorn is to
DIE for!
We totally love the chocolate croissants (freezer section). When you eat them warm out of your own oven they are better than ones you can get in france!!!
I love, love, love the bagel topping! I like to just use cream cheese and that on toast.
Mahi burgers
Turkey burgers
Cauli pizza
All the seasoning mixes
Oh a pointer- in things like pumpkin bread mix, buy at aldi- identical and 1/2 the price!
I just read through many of the comments here looking for this sort of info as I am quite distant from a TJs. I was wondering if there are any other Aldi comparables?
The maple sandwich cookies in the fall.
TJ prices are crazy high in my area. Not worth the trip or fighting the crowd.
Definitely the flowers. I think I’ve gotten even better deals with Aldi’s $3.99 bouquets lately. It’s hit or miss more than TJ’s, but awesome when they’re fresh.
Mandarin Orange Chicken – not at Aldi, but IMHO the brand sold at Costco is better. More identifiable white meat, fewer odd chewy chunks. (I know, heresy for a TJ’s devotee; I wish it wasn’t true, but it is.)
As for some of the other specialty items, watch for seasonal “limited time” items at Aldi. In January, for example, I’ve noticed a selection of plant-based, vegan “meat” and “cheese” products that they don’t normally carry.
Meanwhile, keep writing to TJ’s and asking for a local store; it worked for my area (Grand Rapids, MI) eventually!
Love TJ’s. It’s 5 minutes from my house so I’m there at least once or twice a week. It’s the only store where I can find Melatonin in the 500 mcg dosage. The lowest dosage that I’ve found elsewhere was 1mg.
I think you are getting confused with BJ’S ? I think that’s a membership store. We don’t have one BJ’S here but they just opened one Trader Joe’s (TJ’s) not that far from my house!!! I am going today to show my daughter what I use to buy when I lived in So. CA. The banana chips and the ginger snaps and candy bring so many memories. Thanks Hip2save.
cookie butter sandwich cookies. yum yum
We do not have a TJ where we live so every time we are in a town with one (closet is 3 hours) we always buy about 20 taco seasoning packets. Use half a package with a can of rotel –add to chicken and steak and instant fijitas!!! Never any leftovers!!! I love their chocolate drizzled popcorn, dark chocolate almonds, and so much more!!! I always grab an orchid or plant–nabbed mistletoe this year!!! Love it!!!!
A few of my regular buys:
Pineapple juice
Strawberry / banana yogurt cups for kids
Reduced Guilt guac made with greek yogurt
Mini chicken tacos (frozen) to dip in above
Chicken taquitos (also frozen) to dip in above
Reduced Guilt frozen mac n cheese
Organic riced cauliflower (use in stuffed peppers, etc) – frozen
Frozen berries for smoothies
Reduced carb tortillas
Reduced Fat cheese puffs
Salsa verde
Mini chicken won tons (frozen)
Organic unsweetened applesauce
What do you do with the mini chicken wontons? I’ve heard others talk about them.
The rosemary chicken breast in the refrigerator section, over bagged field green salad with their mozzarella balls. I also love their jarred antipasta items and keep those stocked in my pantry. Add some roasted peppers, artichokes, and sundried tomatoes to the salad and you have a gourmet dinner.
I’m not sure what it’s called but the seasoned peppers, onions, potatoes in the freezer section are amazing. I use them with shredded cheese and eggs to make frittatas. Great for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Other favorites not already mentioned by others…
Corn salsa (jar)
Chocolate crepes (frozen)
Banana chocolate chip protein muffins (bread aisle)
Frozen apps for parties
White bean hummus
Snickerdoodles (free of all major allergens firvwhen you need an allergy free snack to share)
Frozen French toast (high in protein)
Roasted pepper tomato soup
Trail mix mini snack packs
If you love Everything Bagel seasoning, Costco now carries a huge bottle of it. I just bought some and I love it just as much as Trader Joe’s brand.
The lacey’s cookies are to die for!! 😋
Trader Joe’s Premium 100% Greek Kalamata EVO is fruity, never bitter.
I agree about the flowers– they are beautiful and priced great. When my son got married last year, they over ordered roses so they would have a bunch for the wedding rehearsal dinner. I had about a dozen white roses on the middle of all the tables at the rehearsal dinner. We put different colored roses on the tables where the parents and bride and groom sale. The entire place was gorgeous, I have to say, and I didn’t spend a fortune like I would have if I had gone to a florist. It was really amazing!
Omg Trader Joe’s is seriously the best!!
Orange Chicken is our weekly staple in our house! My boys can’t wait till it’s OC night every week. We pair it with Tjs jasmin rice and it’s amazing and easy! I eat the fried “riced cauliflower” and Kung Pao chicken for reduced carbs.
Also love their pesto Gouda, guilt free guacamole and pub cheese dip.
And TJs is the only place I’ll buy flowers. They are cheap and live much longer than any from a grocery store!
Thanks for sharing hip2save!
I’m that person that goes in and buys 10 boxes of Trader Jie’s Corn bread mix one time a year. If you haven’t, you really must. You’re welcome.
Also love their blueberry covered goat cheese.