You don’t need me to tell you how amazing Trader Joe’s is, especially if you’re a broke college student or you hate cooking. However, you may be missing out on some of the best products they have to offer. Next time you are shopping for groceries at TJ’s, keep an eye out for these products because I eat them every week and need others to have the same obsessions. Check out this list of eight must have Trader Joe’s items.
Sea Salt Crystals – $1.99
I live for flaky salt! Whether you are an avid cooker who wants to give your dish a fancy feel or you want to make your buttered noodles even better, you must have this product in your pantry. It’s $1.99, so barely even a splurge and totally worth it.
Buffalo Chicken Dip – $4.99
I’m not being dramatic when I say that this is God’s greatest gift to women. Trader Joe’s sells both vegan and regular, which you really cannot tell the difference between, and are the perfect items to bring to a get-together. So, for your next girl’s or movie night, grab this quick $5 delicacy.
Pork or Chicken Gyoza Potstickers – $3.99
My roommates introduced me to these, in the sense that she made them all the time and the smell was so incredible that I had to start buying them for myself. The gyoza can be popped in the microwave for three minutes and is perfect for a quick lunch or snack.
Family Style Meat Lasagna – $6.99
I got this randomly one day and have been obsessed with it ever since. While I normally prefer to make lasagna from scratch, I highly recommend this for an easy (and delicious) group meal.
Cacio e Pepe Ravioli – $3.99
If you are looking for a pasta dish that needs no air, this is it. Add oil and cheese and this ravioli is good to go (or peas and bacon if you want a veg and protein). I could eat these raw they’re so good.
Vegetable Fried Rice– $2.99
Like the gyoza, TJ’s fried rice is a quick and easy lunch or snack choice. When I was working in an office this and the gyoza were my lunch nearly every day. Just add to a pan with oil and you have amazing rice in less than 10 minutes.
Crunchy Chili Onion Oil – $4.49
You may have seen this product on TikTok as people love using it to cook with eggs. While I have tried this and I can take it or leave it, what this oil was intended for was meat. Add this to steak or chicken (or anything really) while you’re cooking it for an extra bit of flavor.
Reusable Canvas Bag
Hanging by the exit and costing around three dollars, this is the best one-time purchase I have ever made at Trader Joe’s. Because it has a short strap you can easily throw it over your shoulder and carry a ton of groceries at once. And as someone who has to take a train every time they want to shop at Trader Joe’s, this is the perfect bag.