Top Trader Joe’s Products Worth Buying Every Visit

I know—I’ve been meaning to do this forever, Sandlot style. Finally.

If you didn’t know, I’m a self-proclaimed Trader Joe’s junkie. I could spend all day in that store. Every time I go, I wander the aisles like someone discovering a grocery store for the first time—embarrassing, yes, but I don’t care. Over the years I’ve shared a few posts about my trips, but one question I get constantly is: “What should I buy at Trader Joe’s?”

There are so many great items that I could list, but I narrowed this down to everyday basics—things I almost always buy or will make a special trip for. These are my favorites for each category: when I run out of lite coconut milk, I’ll go to Trader Joe’s before buying another brand at the supermarket. Sound familiar?

I tried to organize the list roughly by where items are found in the store. I also put a printable list in the box so you can save or print it for shopping. I’ll keep adding to this over time, and I probably forgot a few things—so please add your suggestions in the comments.

I cook a lot, so some fun-but-less-practical products didn’t make my core list—like cake and quick bread mixes that are apparently amazing. Mostly, I want to hear about your Trader Joe’s faves so I can try them next time I shop (and so I can share more ideas with everyone).

Notes to keep in mind:

1. Pennsylvania is an alcohol-controlled state, so my local Trader Joe’s doesn’t carry beer, wine, or liquor. For the first couple of years I had no clue what “two buck chuck” referred to. That explains the lack of boozy items here.

2. I don’t buy many frozen meals because many come in small portions, and my household eats like a crowd. Frozen items can be great for solo nights—tell me your favorites and I’ll try them on my next single-lady shopping trip.

3. I didn’t include much produce because availability varies by location, and produce is produce—an apple is an apple. That said, Trader Joe’s often carries organic items and some produce is consistently cheaper than at other stores. I usually stick to buying produce from the dirty dozen list only if needed, and I buy local when I can. Items I regularly buy at Trader Joe’s because they’re affordable: pomegranates, bananas, and avocados.

4. I don’t list many meats because “fresh” varies by location, and portion sizes don’t always fit my household. Occasionally I’ll buy an organic free-range whole chicken for roasting.

5. I love their seasonal cheeses—think chocolate cheddar or syrah-soaked Toscano—those are the first cheeses I grab. Trader Joe’s also has a nice selection of goat milk cheeses.

I could keep listing favorites forever, but I had to stop somewhere. For quick reference, this post is filed under the Crumbs category; to find other Trader Joe’s posts, use the category dropdown in the sidebar and choose Trader Joe’s.