I Tried Dozens of New Groceries Hitting Shelves This Month — These Are the 8 I’m Most Excited About

May is a surprisingly busy month for my family of four. It always kind of sneaks up on me, and then all of the sudden my calendar is booked solid with teacher appreciation days, end-of-the-year performances, Mother’s Day festivities, and a ton of social get-togethers. Lucky for me, there are some excellent, convenient groceries that hit the shelves this month, just in time to make my life a little easier (and more delicious).

We’re talking a gluten-free boxed mac and cheese that’s shockingly delightful, frozen bao buns that go from steamer to dinner in 10 minutes, and a chocolate-packed peanut butter that I can eat right from the jar when life feels like it’s moving too fast. I tried dozens of new groceries for May, and here are the ones you need to add to your cart.

1. Jell-O Churro Delicioso Zero Sugar Pudding

I love a freshly fried churro, sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar, and I’ve been pleased to see an uptick in churro-related products available lately (Hello, Oreo). I know I’m not alone. Jell-O must have noticed the trend, too, because it just dropped a pudding cup that channels the churro and happens to be sugar-free. Churro Delicioso brings all those sweet cinnamon notes to the pudding in a cup that’s great for a little midday treat.

Buy: Jell-O Churro Delicioso, $3.99 for 14.5 ounces at Instacart

2. Laoban Frozen Bao Buns

My bamboo steamer basket sees a lot of action because we’re a family of dumpling lovers, but now I have a new reason to use it, thanks to Laoban’s Frozen Bao Buns. I’ve been enjoying Laoban’s frozen dumplings for a while now, and like its dumplings, these bao buns pack a ton of flavor in every bite. Of the three varieties — Chinese BBQ Pork, Spicy Beef, and Sesame Chicken — I lean toward the BBQ pork; the sweet and tangy bbq flavor is reminiscent of the classic char siu buns I love to get when I go for dim sum.

Find it in stores: Laoban Frozen Bao Buns, $8.99 for 4 buns at Whole Foods Market

3. Jovial Organic Gluten-Free Truffle Mac & Cheese

I’ll be honest, when something is labeled “truffle,”” I always give it the side-eye because I’ve been burned many times by products and dishes that use too much truffle oil in all the wrong ways. But this organic, gluten-free truffle mac and cheese from Jovial was a pleasant surprise. The subtle black truffle flavor harmonizes with the cheese for a nutty, rich sauce that clings to the brown rice pasta to create a satisfying, cheesy bite.

Find it in stores: Jovial Organic Gluten-Free Truffle Mac & Cheese, $4.99 for 6 ounces at Whole Foods Market, Kroger, and The Fresh Market

4. Annie’s Sour Bunnies

We go through a lot of fruit snacks at my house, between packed lunches and after-school snacks, and Annie’s is always a favorite. My kids and I were excited to try the new sour bunnies, which come in cherry, lemon, and orange flavors. These gummies have the same soft, squishy texture we love, plus a slightly sour pucker that falls somewhere between a SweetTart and a Sour Patch Kid.

Buy: Annie’s Sour Bunnies, starting at $6.29 for 5 count at Amazon and other retailers nationwide

5. Velveeta Queso Blanco

When I think of queso, and I often do, I remember learning to make it the old-fashioned way, with a block of Velveeta cheese and a can of Rotel tomatoes with green chilies. It’s a throwback recipe that still has me completely under its spell, so I was delighted to see that the folks at Velveeta have saved me a step with this new jarred queso. Now, when I want a single serving of ooey, gooey cheese, I can pop the top, dip to my heart’s content, and put the rest back in the fridge, should there be any left.

Find it in stores: Velveeta Queso Blanco, $3.99 for 15 ounces at retailers nationwide

6. Little Sesame Tahini Sauce

I actually gasped when I saw Little Sesame’s Tahini Sauce in a gourmet food shop. Little Sesame makes my favorite store-bought hummus, with all of the other brands trailing distantly (very distantly) behind. So I had high hopes for its tahini, and those hopes were met. Nutty tahini is complemented perfectly with bright lemon and earthy roasted garlic with just a hint of sweetness from date molasses. I like to spread it on pita wraps and use it as a base for a big pile of roasted vegetables so I get a little bit of the tangy tahini sauce in every bite.

Buy: Little Sesame Tahini Sauce, $5.99 for 8 ounces at Instacart

7. Bobo’s Strawberry Lemonade Stuff’d Oat Bites

We are big Bobo’s fans at my house. My husband and I both work from home, and we usually meet each other at the snack drawer around 3:00 p.m. every day for our daily oat bar. My kids, 12 and 6, each have their own favorite flavors for adding to lunchboxes and grabbing between school and extracurriculars. Bobo’s has done it again with its Strawberry Lemonade Oat Bites, which combine the signature soft oat bar with a pop of lemon and a sweet strawberry filling. 

Buy: Bobo’s Strawberry Lemonade Stuff’d Oat Bites, $29.99 for 30 (1.3-ounce) packs at Bobo’s

8. Jif Peanut Butter and Chocolate Flavored Spread

There are some culinary combinations that just make sense — beans and rice, peas and carrots, and of course, chocolate and peanut butter. Jif’s Peanut Butter and Chocolate Spread gives its classic peanut butter a chocolatey upgrade in a spreadable format that’s perfect for spreading on Ritz crackers or for dipping pretzels. In addition to the 15-ounce jars, you can use 1.1-ounce to-go cups, which are are ideal for tucking into lunch boxes.

Buy: Jif Peanut Butter and Chocolate Flavored Spread, $3.19 for 15 oz at Target 

Which of these are you most excited about? Tell us about it in the comments below.