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Best Things to Buy at Trader Joe's in 2023, According to Loyal Shoppers

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Oh, the love that the KCL team has for Trader Joeā€™s food borders on intense. I honestly havenā€™t found one item that I donā€™t love from TJā€™s. To help make your shopping easier, weā€™ve compiled a list of the best things to buy at Trader Joeā€™s ā€” all for $5.50 or less. We dug into their list of the 2023 Customer Choice Awards Winners and put together all the best Trader Joeā€™s foods that youā€™ve gotta try, including frozen foods, bakery items, snacks, spices, condiments, dips, and more. Some of these items are seasonal, so I hope you find them before theyā€™re all snatched up!

We saw many of these goodies for the first time in Trader Joeā€™s Fearless Flyer. They publish the flyer in intervals throughout the year, and it will introduce you both to new items and familiar Trader Joeā€™s must-haves.

And a little KCL super shopper tip for you: donā€™t get fooled into buying Trader Joeā€™s products on Amazon. Theyā€™re sold by third-party sellers who will often inflate the price. I promise it isnā€™t TJā€™s trying to sell you that $10 bottle of Everything But The Bagel seasoning (normally $1.99 at Trader Joeā€™s).

So get out your shopping list and add these Trader Joeā€™s favorites ASAP!

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Best Overall Trader Joeā€™s Winner From the 2023 Customer Choice Awards

1. Chili & Lime Flavored Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips, 9 oz ā€“ $2.99

trader joes chili and lime-flavored rolled corn tortilla chips on store shelf

At the top of this yearā€™s list of the best things to buy at Trader Joeā€™s is their Chili & Lime Flavored Rolled Tortilla Chips. Made from ground corn masa thatā€™s been cut, rolled, fried, and then seasoned with a mix of chili and lime flavors, this snack was crowned No. 1 for ā€œFavorite Overallā€ in 2023. They also placed No. 1 in ā€œFavorite Snacksā€ for Trader Joeā€™s 2023 Annual Customer Choice Awards.

Related: See the list of Aldi fan-favorites in our best Aldi products roundup.

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Best Trader Joeā€™s Frozen Food

2. Trader Joeā€™s Hashbrowns, 22.5 oz ā€“ $2.49

A person's hand holding a package of Trader Joe's Hashbrowns in front of the price sign on the shelf.

In case you havenā€™t noticed, hashbrowns arenā€™t just a buck at fast-food drive-thrus anymore. You can get a whole box from Trader Joeā€™s that should last you a week for under $3. And they make them from potatoes grown in Idaho. They took second place in ā€œFavorite Overallā€ in Trader Joeā€™s 2023 Annual Customer Choice Awards.

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3. Trader Joeā€™s Butter Chicken, 12.5 oz ā€“ $4.49

person holding butter chicken with basmati rice product in trader joes

If youā€™re looking for a quick and tasty meal, you might want to try Trader Joeā€™s Butter Chicken with Basmati Rice. This dish features tender chunks of chicken in a mild curry made from crushed tomatoes, cream, onions, garlic, ginger, and butter, along with fragrant Basmati rice. Just heat it up and itā€™s ready to enjoy! This entree took first place in ā€œFavorite Entreeā€ in Trader Joeā€™s 2023 Annual Customer Choice Awards.

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4. Trader Mingā€™s Mandarin Orange Chicken, 22 oz ā€“ $4.99

A person's hand holding a bag of Trader Ming's Mandarin Orange Chicken above a display of them at Trader Joe's.

If you only buy one frozen food item from Trader Joeā€™s, please let it be this one. Said to be the best Trader Joeā€™s product in the whole TJā€™s universe (aka the most popular one), this bake-and-serve chicken will have you forgetting all about Chinese takeout. Serve it over some rice or veggies, and boom ā€” easy dinner. The Mandarin Orange Chicken even won ā€œFavorite Overallā€ in Trader Joeā€™s 2022 Annual Customer Choice Awards.

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5. Trader Joeā€™s Cacio E Pepe Gnocchi, 14 oz ā€“ $2.99

A person's hand holding a bag of Trader Joe's Cacio E Pepe Gnocchi above a display of them inside Trader Joe's.

This new item is soooo delicious. A 14-ounce bag full of creamy cheese sauce, black peppercorns, and gnocchi ā€¦ yum. I could eat only this for dinner and be satisfied.

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6. Trader Joeā€™s Creamy Spinach & Artichoke Dip, 8.82 oz ā€“ $3.49

A person's hand holding a box of Trader Joe's Creamy Spinach & Artichoke Dip in front of the display and price sign at Trader Joe's.

Thereā€™s something about a good, warm dip that makes everything alright. But this TJā€™s spinach and artichoke dip makes everything spectacular. It has the ideal amount of cheese and flavor. If youā€™re hosting, grab a few to put out. Your guests will love it, and youā€™ll love the value and price.

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Best Trader Joeā€™s Frozen Dessert

7. Trader Joeā€™s Mini Hold the Cone Ice Cream Cones, 7.9 oz ā€“ $3.79

A person's hand holding a box fo Trader Joe's Mini Hold the Cone Ice Cream Cones in front of a freezer shelf inside Trader Joe's.

Trader Joeā€™s is kind of known for these Hold the Cone ice cream minis, which won the title of ā€œFavorite Sweets/Dessertā€ in TJā€™s 2022 and 2023 Annual Customer Choice Awards. They come in three different flavors: chocolate chip with a chocolate cone, vanilla with a sugar cone, and chocolate with a chocolate cone. All three have a chocolate outer shell. Seasonally, TJā€™s brings out additional flavors to tempt us, like pumpkin ginger and coffee bean.

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Best Trader Joeā€™s Snacks

8. Trader Joeā€™s Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, 16 oz ā€“ $4.49

A person's hand holding a cup of Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups in front of a display of them on a shelf at Trader Joe's.

A pound of dark chocolate peanut butter cups. Need I say more? Try stashing them in your freezer, too. These won the title of best ā€œSweet Treatā€ in the 2021 Annual Customer Choice Awards, and they were a runner-up in the 2022 awards.

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9. Trader Joeā€™s Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Nuggets, 16 oz ā€“ $2.49

A person's hand holding a bag of Trader Joe's Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Nuggets in front of a shelf display of them at Trader Joe's

TJā€™s is pretty smart with giving us anything that has peanut butter in it in a full pound. If youā€™ve never had peanut butter and pretzels, now is the time to try this stellar combo. So good. These nuggets won the title of ā€œFavorite Snackā€ in the 2022 Annual Customer Choice Awards.

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10. Trader Joeā€™s Organic Olive Oil Popcorn, 5 oz ā€“ $2.49

A shelf of Trader Joe's Organic Olive Oil Popcorn at Trader Joe's.

Popcorn seasoned with olive oil? A whole new level of flavor. You wonā€™t be missing the greasy butter at all. Warning: you might eat the whole bag in one sitting, so grab two bags.

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Best Bakery Items at Trader Joeā€™s

11. Trader Joeā€™s Brownie + Cookie = Brookie, 11 oz ā€“ $4.49

A person's hand holding a container of Trader Joe's Brookie in front of a table inside Trader Joe's.

What could be better than when a brownie and cookie become one?! This one consists of a rich fudge brownie topped with a chocolate chip cookie, all baked together. If youā€™re a sweets fan like me, then this is a must-try. Top it with a bit of vanilla ice cream and you have yourself a sundae. The Brookie took fifth place in ā€œFavorite Sweets/Dessertsā€ in Trader Joeā€™s 2023 Annual Customer Choice Awards.

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12. Trader Joeā€™s Gluten Free Double Chocolate Muffins, 14 oz ā€“ $4.99

A person's hand holding a container of Trader Joe's Gluten Free Double Chocolate Muffins in front of a shelf of them at Trader Joe's.

I donā€™t follow a gluten-free diet, but I love these muffins. Theyā€™re made with a gluten-free flour blend, sweet cream buttermilk, and sour cream. The double chocolate ones are made with cocoa and chocolate chips.

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13. Cinnamon Coffee Cake Muffins, 14 oz ā€“ $4.99

A person's hand holding a container of Cinnamon Coffee Cake Muffins in front of a shelf of them at Trader Joe's.

Like the chocolate muffins we already talked about, these coffee cake muffins have a gluten-free flour blend, sweet cream buttermilk, and sour cream. Cinnamon bits and brown sugar take it up a notch higher.

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14. Trader Joeā€™s Cinnamon Coffee Cake, 16 oz ā€“ $5.49

A person's hand holding a Trader Joe's Cinnamon Coffee Cake in front of a table in the bakery at Trader Joe's.

A delicious sour cream cake with brown sugar swirl and a cinnamon crumb topping. It pairs perfectly with my morning (and afternoon) coffee.

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Best Trader Joeā€™s Spices, Condiments & Other Goodies

15. Trader Joeā€™s Everything But the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend, 2.3 oz ā€“ $1.99

A person holding a container of Trader Joe's Everything but the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend in front of the seasonings shelf at Trader Joe's.

If you shop at TJā€™s on the regular, you sure know about this seasoning. One of the best things to buy at Trader Joeā€™s in the spice aisle, itā€™s a perfect blend of sea salt, garlic, and onion. If you donā€™t have a Trader Joeā€™s near you, Aldi also sells a version of it (and you can check our Aldiā€™s deals page before you go). They took fourth place in ā€œFavorite Overallā€ in Trader Joeā€™s 2023 Annual Customer Choice Awards.

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16. Trader Joeā€™s Speculoos Cookie Butter, 14.1 oz ā€“ $3.69

Trader Joe's Speculoos Cookie Butter stocked on a shelf at Trader Joe's.

If youā€™ve never had cookie butter before, youā€™re in for a treat. A delicious blend of crushed Belgian biscuits and the warm flavors of holiday spices ā€” I wonā€™t lie to you, I eat this by the spoon. But if youā€™re trying to behave, pair it with a freshly cut apple or banana. We call that balance.

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17. Trader Joeā€™s Eggplant Garlic Spread with Sweet Red Peppers, 12 oz ā€“ $2.69

A person's hand holding a jar of Trader Joe's Eggplant Garlic Spread with Sweet Red Peppers in front of a shelf of them at Trader Joe's.

A delicious blend of fresh eggplant, dried garlic, sweet red peppers, tomato paste, sunflower oil, sea salt, and a pinch of sugar. This is one versatile sauce ā€¦ er, spread. Whatever you choose to use it on is up to you. It goes great with pasta, crackers, toast, or a crostini.

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Best Trader Joeā€™s Refrigerated Food

18. Trader Joeā€™s Cheddar Cheese with Caramelized Onions ā€“ $9.99 per pound

Trader Joeā€™s Cheddar Cheese with Caramelized Onions is versatile and can be enjoyed on its own with crackers or bread, as a topping for burgers, grilled cheeses, or pizzas, and even added to cream sauces for added sweetness. This cheese took No. 1 in the ā€œFavorite Cheeseā€ category in Trader Joeā€™s 2023 Annual Customer Choice Awards.

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19. Trader Joeā€™s Sweet Apple Chicken Sausage, 12 oz ā€“ $4.29

A person's hand holding a package of Trader Joe's Sweet Apple Chicken Sausage near a price sign on a refrigerated shelf at Trader Joe's.

This is a long-time fan favorite and said to be at the top of the list of the best things to buy at Trader Joeā€™s in the refrigerated section. They originally introduced the sweet apple chicken sausage back in 2004, and itā€™s still hanging strong. If you like a little bit of sweetness, this chicken sausage will check all the boxes. Itā€™s all natural with no artificial ingredients or preservatives, and itā€™s made with pure Vermont maple syrup. Plus, itā€™s fully cooked, so all you have to do is heat it up. Itā€™s lower in fat than traditional pork sausage, too.

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20. Trader Joeā€™s Unexpected Cheddar Cheese, 7 oz ā€“ $3.99

A person's hand holding a package of Trader Joe's Unexpected Cheddar Cheese in front of the price sign on the refrigerated shelf at Trader Joe's..

This isnā€™t your average cheddar cheese. Trader Joeā€™s variety is aged premium cheddar with hints of parmesan. It has a smooth creaminess but with a little tangy, crumbly texture. Youā€™ll see why it won ā€œFavorite Cheeseā€ in the 2022 Annual Customer Choice Awards.

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21. Trader Joeā€™s Black Bean and Cheese Burrito, 10 oz ā€“ $3.99

A person's hand holding a Trader Joe's Black Bean and Cheese Burrito in front of a shelf of them inside Trader Joe's.

Skip the Taco Bell drive-thru and pick up this vegetarian black bean and Monterey jack cheese burrito instead. It heats up quickly, and you can take it to the next level by smothering it with jalapeno sauce.

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