Lifestyle
We Asked, And You Delivered AGAIN – Here Are The Best Trader Joe’s Appetizers, Dips, And Food Hacks (With NEW Additions!)
It’s potluck season, what with all the fall gatherings, back-to-school stuff, and of course, holidays coming up. We tend to host a pre “Trunk or Treat” party (our last one since Elliot is in 5th grade!!) and lots of football-watching get-togethers (Brian and Charlie are in like 3 fantasy football leagues), so we are enthusiastic about easy-to-make, crowd-pleasing foods (my soups are NOT the popular choice, apparently). A few years ago, I asked for your favorites, and you delivered. Every year I update this post with new ones that I’ve tried or friends swear by – all from Trader Joe’s. I bookmark this page and come back to it ALL OF THE TIME. Thanks to you and Trader Joe’s (totally non-sponsored), I have gatherings covered. Let’s go.
Ok, first the new additions!
I love that they continue to innovate with different country foods (i.e., those Kimchi potstickers and the Turkish bread rings that look so gourmet).
Trader Joe’s Perfectly Pickled Pups
What they are: Mini uncured beef franks infused with dill seasoning, vinegar, and garlic, then wrapped in a crispy, pickle-dusted crust. Y’all, this is a crowd pleaser and a conversation starter in one. I know that pickles are having a moment, and we are here for it.
Trader Joe’s Mandu Korean Kimchi Potsticker
These were DELICIOUS but a little spicy, so one of my kids avoided them. But the grownups all love these.
Dietary Info: 100% vegan and plant-based; the kimchi uses a vegetable broth base instead of traditional fish sauce or shrimp paste.
Filling Ingredients: Napa cabbage kimchi, textured soy protein, chives, sweet potato starch glass noodles, and radish.
Simit Turkish Sesame Bread – These are the ones that look so gourmet and taste great. Oh, and they are also plant-based, which is always nice to have as an option.
Mini French Baguette – These were highly recommended and are not only so cute but can be used in so many ways – little sandwiches, charcuterie boards, for dipping, etc. They are both crispy on the outside and chewy in the middle. Oh, and since they are in the frozen section, you can portion them out if you want to avoid food waste and freeze the rest for later. Big fan.
Potato Cheese Sticks – Who doesn’t love potatoes and cheese? Very tasty and the kids love them. I did get a tip that if you want the ideal texture, bake instead of microwave. That will keep the crunch. But hey, in a pinch, do what you need to do:)
Vegetable Dumplings – These are pretty and thankfully have some veggies. They are filled with chives, shiitake mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and cabbage and are the perfect bite to throw in your mouth!
Handheld Chicken Pot Pies – What a perfect little fall meal that’s warming but not too filling. Only two come in a package, so maybe not ideal for a huge party:)
Mandarin Orange Chicken – 10/10 for our kids (they only love Panda Express better). So delicious.
Chicken Spring Rolls – A great grab-and-go snack that has a little more sustenance…but doesn’t skip on the flavor.
1. Unexpected Cheddar Cheese Spread: This was maybe the #1 suggestion when we asked people for their new favorite Trader Joe’s dips and spreads. Gretchen also made SURE it was on the list because she thinks it’s incredible. That’s a lot of praise across the board so y’all this should probably be on all of our shopping lists if you eat cheese.
2. Chunky Artichoke & Jalapeño: This was a big repeat suggestion and it’s easy to see why. Artichokes and jalapeños are incredibly delicious so matched in a dip only makes sense. Then grab a bag of delicious chips and you are set.
3. Vegan Carmelized Onion Dip: Another big repeat suggestion! This also sounds delicious and it’s always nice to have a vegan/dairy-free option for people that doesn’t skimp on flavor.
1. Organic Corn Chip Dippers + Everything and the Elote: Everything and the Elote dip was suggested A LOT. Very excited to try it. But when someone suggested the corn chip dippers, it sounded like such a fun and easy combo that would be a huge crowd-pleaser.
2. Organic Jalapeño Seasoned Corn & Rice Puffs: This combo was actually a Gretchen rec! As stated before, the Unexpected Cheddar Cheese Spread is a crowd favorite, to say the least. But there weren’t a ton of recommendations on what to eat it with. However, Gretchen says they are incredible with the Jalapeño Seasoned Corn & Rice Puffs. According to her, “The puffs have just the right amount of spice, and the spread finished it off perfectly”. She also loves the texture combo together!
3. Buffalo Style Chicken Poppers: These poppers were also recommended by a bunch of you, and man do they look good! Fried, lots of flavor, and melted cheese? Sign us up.
1. Fig & Olive Crisps + Cream Cheese + Fresh Cranberry Orange Relish: Talk about a perfect seasonal appetizer! Who doesn’t love those fig and olive crisps? And then you add that seasonal relish on top of a little cream cheese? Try to keep me away:)
2. Triple Ginger Cookie Thins + Goat Cheese + Fresh Raspberry Jam: Another little delicious snack to assemble yourself or put on a cheese board for others to make themselves! This one is a little more of a dessert since the base is a cookie, which I don’t think anyone will complain about. Ha.
3. Raisin Rosemary Crisps + Goat Cheese + Honey: If you love the fig and olive crisps and you for some reason haven’t tried the raisin rosemary, then you are in for a treat! This combo is a total crowd-pleaser.
Baked Lemon Ricotta Cheese: I keep hearing about this cheese and how it’s more like a dessert! Y’all recommended pairing it with a berry compote, which sounds so good. Definitely is a dish that is going to look and taste fancier than the price tag.
1. Spanakopita: So many of you recommended this. Everyone swears it’s a party hit and is great to have in a pinch.
2. Parmesan Pastry Pups: Sign me up for fancy pigs in a blanket any day of the week. Great for kids and adults!
3. Samosas: The samosas were another greatest hit in our DMs. You guys insist they are super popular at parties or for a quick and easy snack.
1. Fried Stuffed Olives: I can’t wait to try these. They are breaded, fried olives with cream cheese, so I can imagine they would be gone very quickly at any gathering.
2. Bacon-Wrapped Dates with Goat Cheese: I am not at all surprised to hear these are fantastic. Jess Note: They are actual pieces of heaven in your mouth.
3. Chicken Cilantro Wontons: I know the frozen chicken potstickers are great, but I haven’t tried these yet. I am excited to buy them next time I go to TJ’s.
4. Feta Cheese and Caramelized Onion Puffs: Oh, these sound so delicious. A LOT of you said these are the best, so I am very excited to try.
1. Buffalo Chicken Dip: This buffalo chicken dip is another clear winner. Y’all suggest pairing it with bread or crackers, and I imagine there are some great recipes you can use this in too.
2. Vegan Tzatziki Dip: You all said this is great paired with veggies and is a perfect vegan alternative for a dressing or dip.
3. Truffle Dip: If you have had anything truffle-based, you know it is RICH, so I bet this dip would pair so well with celery or carrots.
1. Baked Brie: This baked brie en croûte looks delicious. It looks and tastes fancy, and everyone loves bread and cheese, right?
2. Corn Salsa: I didn’t realize tomato-less salsa is such a thing, but now I know. We are told that pairing the corn salsa with their blue corn tortilla chips is absolutely delicious.
3. Spinach Artichoke Dip: Almost everyone in the DMs noted that the frozen spinach and artichoke dip is killer.
1. Cooked Lentils + Crumbled Feta + Bruschetta Sauce: We were all blown away by how many of you recommended this combination. You guys suggest putting the mixture on a crostini, crackers, or just serving it as a salad. I can’t wait to try.
2. Croissants with Spinach Artichoke Dip: YUM. Bread
+ creamy spinach and artichoke dip never misses.
3. Triple Cream Brie with Raisin Rosemary Crackers: So many of you swear by the triple cream brie cheese, and a huge number also suggest pairing it with the raisin rosemary crackers.
1. Roll Goat Cheese in Everything But The Bagel Seasoning and Serve with Crackers: I knew Everything But The Bagel Seasoning was popular, and now I am so excited to try it with goat cheese the next time we do a charcuterie board.
2. Pair Brie with Fig Butter on Crackers: Again, the triple cream brie was a very popular suggestion, and the fig butter is supposed to pair with it perfectly.
3. Blueberry Goat Cheese and Pepper Jelly: This is a very interesting pairing that I am intrigued to try! A TON of you told us the pepper jelly is a staple and pairs well with so many things.
Hope you enjoyed the new Trader Joe’s offerings, and as always, a big thanks to everyone who sent us their recs. Please, if you have more, drop them in the comments. xx
Opening Image Credit: Photo by Kaitlin Green
Chocolate humus??? What? It didn’t make the cut?
If you live in Oregon, the only appropriate thing to bring to a get-together is Toby’s Tofu Pate with some really good tortilla chips (i.e., not Doritos)!!! I don’t know where it is avail in Portland – in Eugene it is pretty much everywhere. In Seattle, my mom can get it in the vegetarian section of Fred Meyer.
Second the Toby’s, widely available in Portland!
And the tortilla chips must be Juanita’s!
THIS! Or with a really good baguette. When I visit my mom in Seattle she has to get like 4 tubs for me.
When I host I usually shop Trader Joe’s with a theme in mind- Greek night, Tex-mex night, Asian night, cheese board night, it adds a unifying touch that makes the party spread feel so put together. I have discovered so many fun new products that way.
One year I hosted a holiday champagne party and wanted to serve heavy food without doing dishes, so the theme became all hand held items- no fork and knife and must be able to hold glass of champagne in the non eating hand! People were floored by the spread and kept remarking what a fancy party it was, even though I didn’t make anything myself.
Oh!! And the chocolate mousse cakes they make are amazing. At Christmas time they are in the shape of presents, at Halloween time pumpkins, at easter time eggs, during the summer flowers. So you can have a delicious and seasonally adorable dessert any time of the year!!!
“Asian night”?! Would you serve Shepard’s pie and Brie and Hefeweizen and call it “European night”?
Um, I think we would all agree that Shepherd’s Pie pairs with an ale or stout. And sign me UP for English Pub Night!
Agree that Asia is a huge place with wildly different types or cuisine, but I took this as a reference to the Asian fusion restaurants like P.F. Chang’s and Pei Wei that are so popular in the States. They c
So many tasty-looking ideas! Just wanted to mention that the samosas and vegetable spring rolls are both vegan. My vegan husband also loves the TJ frozen vegetable burritos, Japanese fried rice, vegetable fried rice, and their soy chorizo (so great in tacos).
They also have a vegan feta! I’ve never looked at that bruschetta sauce so I’m not sure if it has cheese or something, but it looks like it may be vegan. They also have a vegan boursin cheese spread that is sooo good on crackers.
The vegan Romero sauce is really good. Also the falafel with the vegan tasiki and hummus. I also love their zhong dip on everything.
I have def heard the soy chorizo is beloved by many! My hubby loves the spring rolls too!
Will try the lentil/feta cheese/bruschetta sauce combo but, FYI, the lentils are so good I usually just gobble them up alone.
My new fave combo is the tomato pesto with the lentils – kind of a lentil hot pot. Add rice and some greens. Easy, delicious dinner. We always have those lentils in the fridge for easy dinners.
I haven’t seen the tomato pesto! Where is it in the store?
Corn salsa spread on cream cheese and served with crackers is a real favorite.
Love, love this kind of post. Don’t forget a bowl of the chocolate sea salt-covered almonds.
You can also use our (in a box next to the chicken broth ones) Miso ginger broth with the dumplings as a soup! YUM!
And both of the frozen soup dumplings are the BEST! SO SO GOOD!
I use the Miso Ginger Broth, 4 or 5 mini chicken wontons, half a large sheet of roasted seaweed, small amounts of vegetables of your choice (spinach, red bell pepper, broccoli..), seasonings (like their onion salt blend, umami mushroom, garlic, ginger, red pepper flakes, furikake..) to make yummy single serve bowls of soup. Sometimes add a few roasted pepitas, and green onion at the end.
Omg I just moved five mins from a TJs too and was JUST telling my girlfriends that sometimes I get anxious walking around in the store because I feel like I’m missing some secret that everyone knows and that there is a hole in the blogosphere for entire recipes/weeknight hacks (esp for parents) w TJs ingredients so please do that as a follow up post. A few more: – jarred olive tapenade on goat cheese with pita chips, I now always have a jar of the stuff I’m the pantry, it’s like a fancy appetizer when neighbors come over for a surprise play happy hour/date – General Tso sauce + grape jelly + frozen party meatballs over rice and steam-in-bag broccoli = easy weeknight kids dinner – Can’t get enough of their Fall stock: their Fall Leaf tortilla chips w pepita salsa is AMAZING, my brother is a giant foodie and said this salsa may be his favorite ever. – Also their pumpkin bread mix is surprisingly good…I’m a snob about quick breads but our nanny made it with the kids one weekend and I called her after to ask for the recipe…not knowing it was TJs. – How has… Read more »
There are a lot of TJs whole meal recipes on Pinterest! On Instagram, Trader Joe’s List is a good follow. My kids also love the frozen orange chicken 🙂
Hey! I love the frozen orange chicken, and I’m a loooooooong way from being a kid! ?
Love this post! But I agree about feeling like you’re missing the secret! Cup of Jo did a great Trader Joe’s meal hacks a while back
This is so timely because I’m heading to TJ’s today! One thing I didn’t see was the spinach kale greek yogurt dip, which is a lower-fat version of that spinach dip you put in a bread bowl, but it’s really good. Planning to serve it as a lighter app option (along with other stuff) before our heavy dinner. TJ’s also has great cured meats and fancy cheese, and we’re going to stock up for a Christmas Eve charcuterie platter. Those rosemary raisin crisps are perfect for that!
Just had to follow up that aside from all the food, they also had a really cute red/white/green felt pompom garland there too! Super cute … I got two.
I love going to the recipes section on their website for amazing combinations and new recipes to try using all Trader Joe’s! Their Fearless Flyer is a fun way to find new things at TJs!
I’m shocked – SHOCKED – to see that this article left out the undisputed best party cracker in the world: TJ’s fig and olive crackers. If you know, you know.
I’m a big fan of the fig & olive with goat cheese but honestly, all those little Rainforest Crisp-wannabe crackers are pretty great.
We eat them with cream cheese. Decadent and good. No need to add anything else — just the crackers and the cream cheese.
The caramelized onion dip not being on here is CRIMINAL. I could eat the entire container in one sitting with a spoon. Divine.
YES I forgot that too-DEF REC!!!!!!!!
I’m a big TJ’s fan but found the Fried Olive Bites pictured above to be disappointing. I’ve made fried, stuffed olives and they are delish but a pain so I was excited when I saw these but these are little balls of olive paste that surround a dab of cheese. Not awful but not as good as actual stuffed olives.
Agreed. I was so excited to try them but ended up actually throwing away the whole pan. They tasted mildewy and I love olives
Agreed. I was so excited to try them but ended up actually throwing away the whole pan. They tasted mildewy and I love olives
The feta cheese and onion pastry puffs are SO good! We also like the mini quiches. Comes with two kinds, one is bacon & some kind of cheese and the other is mushroom. Both yummy!
We make big batches of that lentil salad and add roasted butternut, and some of their cooked beets, then portion out with greens and add a poached egg and half of an avocado for lunches. I can easily eat it every day of the week. Easy, filling and cheap!
If your cheese plate doesn’t have the Truffle Marcona Almonds you are missing out, they are insanely good.
Easy dip: mix the olive tapenade with cream cheese. Use the TJs frito style chips (so much better than the others!)
The TJs sweet/hot pickled jalapenos are an absolute staple condiment in our house. They are good on basically everything from eggs to chili to burgers to hummus – not too sweet, not too hot, not too tangy – and at $3, they are a steal!
I am eating the bruschetta, lentils, as we speak! So good ? oh this time I am using goat cheese instead of feta-yum!!
I can’t find a PINTEREST button in the post to save to my boards. Can you point me in the right direction please? Thanks for this post.
All the at the top- under the initial heading
We love the tempura cauliflower in the air fryer. Easy to eat with toothpicks or bamboo skewers and dipped in the warmed sauce.
Hi EHD peeps! I wanted to throw my two cents in on this as I work part-time at a TJ’s in LA (when I am not getting my hours as an AMFT therapist) and also have shopped there since 1998! I agree with all of these except the olive and cream cheese bites-NO ONE at our store liked them=yuck! And two of my fav foods are olives and cream cheese! The fresh bruschetta is one of my FAV store items! It doesn’t have raw onions which is great as some of us can’t take raw ones! 🙂 It’s good as that, as a pasta sauce, etc!!! I DEF REC the artichoke dip AND another hack is it is great to use as a baked dish with chicken breasts or thighs in the oven=easy delish dinner!! I would also DEF REC these apps not seen on here: Camembert Cheese With Cranberry Sauce Fillo Bites, Chicken soup dumplings (actually come out perfect in the microwave and I usu don’t cook anything in the micro), the Mini Quiche trio, the Creamy Roasted Cauliflower & Onion Dip (like the artichoke one-its in the freezer section=so good!), MY FAV dip of all is the (holiday… Read more »
Oh and the holiday cheeses that come in are amazeballs! My fav is a brie type one, but it isn’t stinky for those who don’t like that (I do but I like all cheese! lol), its more buttery tasting-it is in a little box and says Formage I think on it? The aged gouda’s and all the Toscano’s!
Wanted to add as a former supplier of TJs…. They will drop any product that doesn’t sell a lot within a certain period of time to make space for something new. If you love an item that seems to be getting huge mixed reactions or dislikes (like the Fried Olives & Cream Cheese), load up because there’s a good chance it will not be getting reordered once the contract is fufilled.
Blueberry Goat Cheese and Pepper Jelly combination was super delightful. Thank youu
Fig & olive crisps + Jarlsberg cheese + fig butter. To die for!
TJs Cauliflower pancakes, Everything but the Elote seasoning, chipotle black bean dip, pecorino cheese.
Place frozen cauliflower cakes on baking sheet & sprinkle both sides with Everything But the Elote seasoning. Bake as directed.
Spread with chipotle black bean dip & top with shredded pecorino. Place in warm oven and warm through. Tasty!!
The frozen wontons are delicious. Sometimes I will make chicken soup and put a bag of these in (and shredded chicken) instead of regular noodles. They are so delicate and tasty!
I make the spanakopita as a snack/ movie night app and make an easy fresh cucumber dip to go with it; sour cream, fresh lemon, grated cuke, fresh garlic or dried, salt and pepper). Yum! Thanks for the new recs. That new cheese looks so good!
Ok but have you tried that TJs vegan kale pesto? It’s the absolute best to throw in homemade soup, toss on pasta, or mix with yogurt to make a thinner creamy dip for crudite. I swear I evangelize about this stuff but it is so good!
Well, I just can’t with anything that has jalapenos and/or raisins . . . but I’m keen to try the majority of these yummy looking T.J.’s things!
That combo of bruschetta, feta, and lentils….it’s our family go to for last minute appetizer or lunch/dinner. A pal suggested adding lime juice and some chopped cilantro…..we do…its delicious! Top it with avocado slices and call it a meal. So very good.
We’ve been eating those fig-olive crisps with cream cheese for ages now, but that cranberry relish sounds like a perfect addition!
Greek American here! The spanakopita triangles are far superior to the spiral. Crisp with a better balance of spinach and feta.
I prefer the triangles to the pie too. I know their supplier revamped them so they present nicer but I love the old ones best. Oh…and my dog LOVES them. She is the pickiest eater but will beg for ages for the Span (as we call it).
Greek American here! The spanakopita triangles are far superior to the spiral. Crisp with a better balance of spinach and feta.
I prefer the triangles to the pie too. I know their supplier revamped them so they present nicer but I love the old ones best. Oh…and my dog LOVES them. She is the pickiest eater but will beg for ages for the Span (as we call it).
I used to work at TJ’s so I knew about most of these and the combos, but learned a few new ones-cool! I have to say I WOULD DEF NOT TRY the Fried Olive and cream cheese ones-I know it DOES SOUND good but they are GROSS! I have a very good palate as a long time foodie…I don’t know WHO likes these but EWW! We get holiday items in the cheese section too, and I def would want to rec the Toscano Cheese Dusted with Cinnamon! Sounds odd, but it’s so so good ya’ all! You can pair it with many of the crackers, I like it with the holiday cranberry crackers or the pumpkin ones (these two are from the same maker as the fig ones)! I def like our bries with the fig crackers-always a win! Also a holiday arrival–if you are a cheese lover, OMG, def try the little square box of a French type of Brie that tastes like heavenly butter! Def grab it while you can. Your welcome! 🙂 Many of our customers would tell us combo’s they loved. They also reported that the many of the vegan dips tasted even better than the reg ones! I… Read more »
I actually also like the jarred bruschetta sauce. It’s salty so I add it as an addition to a tomato sauce but it is so flavorful, a little goes a long way.
If you like Trader Joe’s and their wine selection you HAVE to give Sam the No Snob Somm a follow on Instagram. She does great wine and snack pairings from TJs.
This is such a helpful list for anyone planning an easy get together. I really liked the simple food combinations and practical ideas for making party food without spending hours in the kitchen.
open faced sandwhich: toasted sourdough and pepper jack cheese + guacamoles number + arugula + traders sauerkraut + traders chimicurri . This combo lights up my tastebuds
forgot the sliced red onions