The 15 Best Trader Joe's Snacks, According to Our Editors

Yahoo

7 days ago

PureWow's red-hot love for our collective imaginary boyfriend, Trader Joe, knows no bounds. He keeps our editors' fridges fully stocked with all sorts of new items, he supplies all the canned wine for alfresco events and he's always showering us with gorgeous (and actually affordable) peonies. But the glue of our relationship is no doubt his selection of enticing, one-of-a-kind snacks.
Here, you'll find 15 more reasons that show why our love for TJ's is eternal. Whether it's a random product that someone added to their cart on a whim or a go-to that's as essential as salt and pepper (in their kitchen, anyway), these grocery picks are sure to impress—and keep you satisfied between meals. Behold: the best Trader Joe's snacks money can buy, according to our team.
The 8 Best Trader Joe's Frozen Foods, According to Our Editors
Trader Joe's
These are hands-down my top pick as both a food editor and snack lover. Whether you crush them up to bread chicken or nosh on them straight from the bag (with guacamole, obvi), you'll swoon hard over these zesty chips, which are inspired by Mexican street corn. They're smoky, citrusy and tangy, thanks to buttermilk in the seasoning, and very generously coated, so have napkins at the ready.
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Trader Joe's
Umami-rich, crispy and loaded with togarashi-style flavor, these are a must-try for anyone who's into seaweed snacks, according to PureWow associate editor of news and entertainment Nakeisha Campbell. 'They're made with crispy tempura and have a flavorful, spicy seasoning that gives it a nice kick. I can easily finish a bag in a matter of minutes,' she raves.
PureWow SEO editor Marissa Wu also sings the praises of TJ's seaweed snacks in general. 'I treat them like potato chips; they're salty but much lighter,' she explains.
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Trader Joe's
'The white cheddar popcorn is elite,' PureWow executive managing editor Catrina Yohay alleges. 'It's the perfect mid-day snack that's light and airy with just the right amount of sharp, cheesy flavor. I stock up every time I make a TJ's run.'
If you'd prefer it plain, go for the olive oil popcorn. 'It has just the right amount of salt, and the olive oil flavor is subtle,' Campbell says. 'It feels so light when I snack on it, so I don't feel as full when I finish most of the bag in one sitting.'
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Fact: No one turns down onion dip at a party. This one is deeply jammy and a cult-favorite for good reason. 'I'm partial to the yellow corn tortilla chips [for dipping], because they're thicker and not too salty, and I can taste the corn,' Campbell explains. 'But the caramelized dip is the real star. It's savory and flavorful with a touch of sweetness. It's like a comfort snack that can make any raw veggie, pretzel or chip taste better.'
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As far as Trader Joe's snacks go, these have been on shelves for what seems like forever. 'I now consider them a must-have for charcuterie boards, but they're just as good as a standalone snack,' Campbell asserts. 'I love the crunch and that they taste like real cheddar cheese. They're extra yummy with the pimento cheese dip, also from TJ's.'
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Trader Joe's
Lentil flour and potato starch unite with oil and salt to create a potato chip substitute that just might dethrone the O.G. 'I wasn't sure if I'd like them,' PureWow executive editor Alexia Dellner admits, 'but they're super light and crunchy, and because they're made with lentils, I can convince myself that they're healthier than regular chips.' Go ahead, finish the bag, friend.
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Trader Joe's
Seasonings like allspice, cinnamon, black pepper, coriander, ginger, garlic and onion infuse every crumb of these sturdy, starchy plantain chips with tropical splendor. 'As a lover of jerk chicken, I was so happy to discover this one,' Campbell writes. 'The flavor is so, so good, and I love that every chip is generously coated with the spicy jerk seasoning.'
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Taryn Pire
Cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, flatbread, mac and cheese—at this point, I'll bet that the cheese-and-pepper treatment makes everything better, and these corn and rice snacks are no exception. They're lip-smackingly savory and cheesy (thanks, Romano and cheddar), and the black pepper's sharp heat shines through gorgeously. Good luck not devouring the whole bag in one shot.
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Taryn Pire
I hope I get to savor these ridiculously simple—and obsession-worthy—chips again. (As far as I know, they're still available, but they aren't currently listed on the TJ's site.) I truly can't decide what I was most infatuated with upon trying them for the first time: the silky sweetness of the onions, cooked in rice bran oil, or the inexplicably satisfying texture that's like, um, light-as-clouds Styrofoam? (But in the best way!)
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Trader Joe's
'I'm not a salty/sweet person, and I don't like chocolate-covered pretzels and the like, but Snacky Clusters are where it's at,' PureWow editor Abby Hepworth claims. 'Somehow, TJ's nails the combination of potato chips, corn chips and pretzels in milk chocolate to be neither too sweet nor too salty. They're also just the right size to feel like a true mouthful, so if you're able to limit yourself to just one or two, it's actually satisfying. That said, they're best when you eat seven or more in one sitting—just FYI.'
PureWow beauty and cultures editor Chelsea Candelario also attests to their irresistibility: 'I had to stop buying them because they were way too good. A great combination of sweet and salty.'
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Trader Joe's
This is hands-down our staff's most beloved Trader Joe's snack. 'The dark chocolate peanut butter cups are the stuff of dreams,' PureWow editor-in-chief Jillian Quint says. 'The dark chocolate shell is harder and richer than a leading brand that shall go unnamed, and the peanut butter center is gooier for a taste that's less like candy and more like an actual dessert.'
Made from high-quality cacao beans and slow-roasted peanuts, the cups have a cult following for a reason. 'The dark chocolate isn't too sweet, and the peanut butter isn't grainy at all,' Campbell adds. 'It's nice and smooth and there's a slight saltiness that pairs well with the chocolate. They taste ten times better when they're frozen.'
PureWow VP of editorial Candace Davison is a fan as well. 'I can't walk past the checkout without buying them. The chocolate is so rich, the filling is creamy—not gritty—and they're just...perfection.'
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Trader Joe's
These crunchy, fragrant shortbread sandwich cookies are the real deal, and there's no need to wait for autumn to indulge in them. 'The maple cream is light and packed with sweetness, though not cloy,' Wu adds. 'I can eat a sleeve in like, 30 minutes. It's horrible.' (She says that with love, Joe.)
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Taryn Pire
This nostalgic treat transported me to my elementary school cafeteria, back when people still said 'chillaxing' and, seemingly, no one was allergic to peanuts yet. These peanut butter-filled wafer sticks are very similar to Pirouline wafers in that they're delicately crisp and flaky. The sweet-tart raspberry fruit dip takes it from tasty snack to divine throwback.
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Amazon
A long cookie that's designed to be wholly dunked into a glass of milk without wet fingers? Don't mind if I do. My dad always had a container of these bad boys on hand. They're sweet but a touch salty, plus offer both crunch and chew in every bite, due to the softer dried fruit.
If you think you don't like oatmeal cookies, these will change your mind. That said, Yohay also recommends the Chocolatey Coated Chocolate Chip Cookie Dunkers. 'They're so addictive and satisfying if you're a cookie lover or have a sweet tooth,' she says. 'They're crispy, crunchy and oh-so dunkable, and for some reason, I can't get enough of the packaging. It reminds me of a cookie jar!'
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Trader Joe's
If you're a snack mix stan or want a righteous-adjacent addition for your noshing drawer, look no further. 'I'm not a fruit-and-chocolate gal, but these?! So addicting,' Campbell raves. 'The tartness of the dried fruit (a mixture of açai, blueberry, cranberry and pomegranate) pairs well with the dark chocolate. I always buy them intending to try them with granola or yogurt, but they're so good to snack on as is.'
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11 Trader Joe's Items Our Food Editors Always Have on Hand