I Asked Trader Joe's Shoppers To Share The Most Underrated Products They've Tried, And Here Are 23 They Swear By
As someone who buys almost all her groceries from Trader Joe's, something I really love about the store is just how many different products they have to offer. From rotating seasonal items to new TJ's innovations, I feel like there's always something new to try. I've made it a personal goal of mine to grab something new whenever I can fit it in my grocery budget, but I feel like there are soooo many underrated goodies I've been missing out on! So, I took to the BuzzFeed Community and asked readers like you to share some of their favorite Trader Joe's items they believe don't get the hype they deserve. Here are 23 products people swear by:
1.Pancake Bread
"My sister and I are *religiously* devoted to the pancake bread. We each buy two or three loaves every time we go shopping. It's so yummy — the maple flavor is strong but not overpowering, and it doesn't taste artificial at all. It's soft, moist, and more like cake than bread, which makes it even better when you eat a piece for breakfast. Any time someone mentions TJ's, we beg them to try it because it's genuinely one of the best things in the entire store!!"
2.Crunchy Chili Onion
"The Crunchy Chili Onion (in olive oil with garlic and peppers) jars. I bought two jars today, and the cashier said, 'OMG, I put that on everything!' I laughed because I do, too. The customer behind me said her family loves it on top of avocado toast! It's JUST THAT GOOD!"
3.Daily Facial Sunscreen
"After having skin cancer last year, I have tried just about every sunscreen, from Bullfrog to Banana Boat. Trader Joe's daily facial sunscreen is the best. It's SPF 40, goes on clear so you don't look like a mime, and dries fast."
—Jules Hyde
4.The Chocolate Croissants
"My all-time favorite — and, personally, one I feel like we don't talk about enough — is their frozen chocolate croissants. They need to rise before you bake them, so all you've gotta do is pop them in your oven overnight (which, honestly, makes me feel like I ~made~ them even though I did nothing at all), then turn the oven on while you get ready in the morning! Boom, you've got a yummy, gooey, warm chocolate croissant for a fraction of the price of one you'd get at a bakery or a coffee shop."
5.Chile Spiced Mango
"The dried chili mango is DELICIOUS. It's such a good blend of spicy and sweet and tastes like summer in a bag. I have to buy one bag at a time because I will eat the whole damn thing in one go. Also, really yummy paired with a margarita or limeade."
6.Peanut Butter Chocolate Granola
"So ridiculously underrated, so ridiculously amazing tasting. This is basically what I ate for breakfast, lunch, and dinner last week. Best. Food. Ever."
—Sylvie Eichel, Westchester, NY
7.Giant Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce
"Not to be dramatic, but I'm obsessed with these. They're a little sweet, a little salty, and super filling. The hint of dill flavor brings them to a whole new level. I love cracking open a can of these (no heating required!) with some feta, cucumbers, and pita bread for a quick, tasty dinner or a lil' picnic. 10/10, cannot recommend enough."
...We Interrupt This Program To Bring You A Very Important Deal Alert...
This fearless vampire laughs in the face of garlic — and literally crushes it in the cutest and most efficient way! Add him to your kitchen ASAP with this ~scary~ good deal.Hurry up and grab it for only $14.95 (that's 50% off) on Amazon before the deal ends.
Ok, back to the show.
8.Multipurpose Umami Seasoning Blend
"It makes almost every savory dish you are cooking more delicious!"
—Diana VdK, Oughterard, Ireland
9.Almond Butter Filled Pretzels
"They are perfect for when you a craving something salty! I definitely recommend!"
10.Mango Cream Bars
"It's a delicious bar with mango sorbet and sweet vanilla ice cream on the inside."
11.Shea Butter & Coconut Oil Hair Mask
"It's only $4. It's thick but not greasy and makes my hair so soft. It is the best hair mask I've ever used. Who would have guessed?!"
12.Garlic Naan
"So good on its own, but I use this more often than I'll admit to make easy weeknight pizzas or flatbreads with leftover veggies and odds and ends from the fridge."
13.Tarte d’Alasce
"The Alsatian Tarte with bacon and onions. I swear this is one of the best easy dinners you can make for yourself. It's basically bacon and onion pizza with Gruyère, but lighter! I'd recommend serving with a simple side salad with a tart lemon dressing to cut through the richness of the tart!"
—Lucia, Los Angeles
14.French Vanilla Ice Cream
"Trader Joe's vanilla ice cream is the best in the entire world. I've had many a worldly ice cream or ice cream variant, but in terms of vanilla, nothing is better than our big man Joe's."
15.Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
"They're horribly addicting and non-seasonal. My nearest Trader Joe's is two hours away, so I only go about once every three months, but I always buy two packs."
16.Scallion Pancakes (Pa jeon)
"Trader Joe’s scallion pancakes are delicious!"
17.Spanish Cheese Tapas Sampler
"It's such a great deal, a generous portion, and pre-sliced. What's not to love?"
—Manchego Enthusiast, Los Angeles
18.Garlic Spread-Dip
"A personal favorite of mine is the garlic spread, which is TJ's take on toum. Sooo good on sandwiches, with fries, or as a base for a fun lil' flatbread. I never hear anyone talk about it, but it's underrated and delicious!"
19.Five Cheese Greek Spiral
"The Greek spiral is a favorite! We bake it and then wrap pieces of Trader Joe's prosciutto around segments of it. It creates an umami flavor and adds balance to all the cheese."
—Anonymous
20.Portuguese Custard Tarts
"They are so flavorful and so easy to make — just pop them in the air fryer for 10 minutes for a mouthwatering sweet treat. So, so good."
—Sydni, South Carolina, USA
21.Vegetable Fried Rice
"I swear by it. When I need something for lunch or dinner, I'll grab it and heat it up. One of their best!"
—Sylvie E., Westchester, NY
22.Dark Chocolate Sunflower Seed Butter Cups
"The perfect, peanut-free alternative to Reese's peanut butter cups if you're allergic to peanuts."
—Kelsey C, Kentucky, USA
23.Marinated Fresh Mozzarella
"The mozzarella is moist and very flavorful. And after the cheese is used up, I use the leftover oil and herb mixture on bread, in pasta, on chicken, and in other dishes as a huge flavor enhancer."—Anonymous
Now it's your turn! Is there a TJ's product you swear by that you think is so, so underrated? If so, tell us about it in the comments below or via this anonymous form. Feel free to tell us how you like to use them or include photos, too!
Note: Submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.
