Trader Joe’s Must-Haves: Quick and Easy Meals & Snack Ideas

Everything You Need to Know About Trader Joe’s

I would love to say I am a Trader Joe’s enthusiast and with that title comes knowing the best Trader Joe’s finds and must-haves. This may be an unpopular opinion but I LOVE to grocery shop. Sometimes I would rather wander around Trader Joe’s than the mall… is that crazy?

If you have never been to Trader Joe’s let me give you a quick rundown. It’s much smaller than your average grocery store which may be why I love it. Everything is easy to find. There are also not many options and the ones they do have you know are going to be good. 

Trader Joe’s is also THE PLACE for all frozen and premade meals. My love for Trader Joe’s started when I was in college which makes sense as their selection of easy-to-make frozen meals is huge.

A downside to Trader Joe’s is that you may not have one close to you and you may be wondering: is the drive worth it? Coming from me who spent all 4 years driving 45 minutes just to grocery shop there, I am here to say YES, at least give it a shot. 

What to Buy at Trader Joe’s: Sauces and Staples

Bruschetta: This dip is incredible with the balsamic glaze on a piece of toasted fresh bread (preferably sourdough).

Balsamic Glaze: I LOVE THIS STUFF! Drizzled on the bruschetta bread, in pasta, on salads, or flatbreads. This is great when you want to stay low on fats but still have a ton of flavor. I seriously would get this for the rest of my life.

Green Goddess Salad Dressing: this is a MUST! It has insane macros and is great on salads but I like it more as a dipping sauce for sandwiches. 

Pimento Cheese & Pita Chips: a healthy (ish) snack and a great staple for the house. Definitely a fan favorite if you love pimento cheese.

Jalapeno Limeade: Perfect for a margarita on a taco Tuesday.

A Few Favorite Frozen Food Items

Sweet Potato Fries: The all-time best sweet potato fries in the business. So crispy and so good…and now I’m hungry. 

Pork Soup Dumplings: Warning, after you microwave these your whole house will smell like a dumpling. My biggest pet peeve actually…but these are too good to not make. They only take a minute and a half to microwave. Try it with the crispy chili flakes sauce- unreal.

Shrimp Bao: I actually have never seen these before so they must be new. I am glad I got them when I did, they are delish! 

Beef and Broccoli: Easy to make and serves 2, great over rice. I crave this at least once a week.

Trader Joe’s Staples: The Unhealthy Side

There are certain things I get every time I go grocery shopping at Trader Joe’s. These are my ” I can’t leave the store without them” items:

Buffalo Chicken Dip: Without a doubt the best chicken dip and (this may be controversial) way better than Publix. This was one of the first things I ever tried at Trader Joe’s and now I can’t live without it. 

Chile Lime Chips: Just like a Taki, but way better. If you like spice, definitely try these. 

Vanilla Sheet Cake: People rave about these sheet cakes, and for good reason. Some people on social media will share ways to make these better and look homemade. For example, stacking them, decorating them, etc. 

Ice Cream Sandwiches: If you are an insane ice cream lover like me, these truly are the best ice cream sandwiches I have ever tried. I am a sucker for a sweet treat after dinner and these never fail to hit the spot. 

Cookie Butter: This was good enough that they even made an ice cream with cookie butter in it. Think of peanut butter but cookies! (sounds weird but so good)

Trader Joe’s Finds: Best Guide to the Best Food at Trader Joe’s 

Trader Joe’s has the best bank for your buck. The prices are so affordable and you can get great things. The best part about it is that these are easy and quick meals. These are great for packing lunch if you work in the office or want some fun snacks for a boat day. 

I’d like to think that since it comes from Trader Joe’s it’s healthy…which isn’t always the case but they do have better/healthier options than most grocery stores. 

If I could write about all the Trader Joe’s must-have items I would be writing for days, and if you haven’t been to Trader Joe’s, this is your sign!