If you’re looking for specialty foodie finds, look no further than Trader Joe’s! In this post, I’m divulging all of the best food at Trader Joe’s so you can stock your cabinets without breaking the bank!

I don’t know about you, but I used to be intimidated by Trader Joe’s because I thought it was only for fancy foodies. However, after I went there for the first time one afternoon, I was blown away! The amount of different categories of food they had compared to traditional grocery stores is amazing!
After my first experience, I must say that Trader Joe’s fans have been right all along. It’s now my new personal favorite grocery store for finding unique hidden gems at an affordable price. So, if you want to discover the best Trader Joe’s foods money can buy, keep reading.
Update: It’s been a few years since I originally discovered Trader Joe’s in California, but since moving, it hasn’t been on my usual route. However, I recently applied the methods I teach in Grocery Budget Bootcamp (enrollment is currently closed, but you can join my FREE 5-day Crush Inflation Challenge and start saving money on groceries tomorrow!) to see if it was worth adding Trader Joe’s back into my shopping routine. And it is! See the results HERE. And here’s how Trader Joe’s actually compares to one of the more expensive health food stores.
THE BEST FOOD AT TRADER JOE’S
The following list isn’t in any particular order. And I didn’t include prices since it varies greatly from place to place. However, if you’re following the methods I teach in Grocery Budget Bootcamp, then you’ll know why these are some of the best foods at Trader Joe’s!
Chocolate
Let’s just start with one of my favorite products, shall we? A good portion of Trader Joe’s chocolate is fair trade and organic (I didn’t have time to check every label). The fair trade label means that the farmers are getting paid a fair wage for their hard work, and the organic label gives me peace of mind that the sweeteners used in the chocolate aren’t HFCS or other artificial sweeteners (here’s why I avoid those ingredients)
I buy the darkest chocolate they have at 85% cacao or 72% and use it in my favorite sweet treat – Chocolate Chip Cookies. It is also delicious in Chocolate Pumpkin Brownies, Peanut Butter Chocolate Muffins, and Homemade Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.

Baking Powder
My regular local grocery stores don’t offer aluminum-free baking powder, so this is the best way to purchase it (unless I order a big 2 lb tub from Amazon).
100% Hardwood Briquettes
This is my favorite new product from Trader Joe’s for a good reason! These briquettes don’t come with the chemicals that treated charcoal does, but stores charge a pretty penny for briquettes. Fortunately, these briquettes are not only affordable, but you get three times as much as the typical bag of charcoal!
Coconut Oil
Although I currently buy coconut oil from Amazon, this has been a monthly staple for a long time. It’s not only the best price in the area, but it’s the best tasting too!
Sesame Oil
Trader Joe’s sells smaller bottles of sesame oil which is nice considering you use just ½-1 tsp in each recipe. I don’t use sesame seed oil in every stir fry I make, but it’s a must in Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli and Chinese 5-Spice Chicken.

Gluten-free Pasta & Pasta Alternatives
I didn’t take specific note of the prices on every gluten-free item here, but I did notice a very good selection of gluten-free foods. Organic corn pasta, quinoa pasta, brown rice pasta, and even polenta were on the shelves, and this is likely the favorite aisle for gluten-free folks. I know that gluten-free foods tend to be more expensive anyway. While the first line of defense would be to eat more naturally gluten-free foods (like fruits & veggies), it’s nice to know there’s an affordable place when you just want a bowl of pasta.
Dried Garbanzo & Dried Black Beans
Dry beans tend to be cheaper than canned beans. And when I can find them for under a dollar a pound, I’m excited to stock up! These beans are packed with protein, making them the ideal choice for crafting well-rounded complete meals. (Here’s how I cook beans in the Instant Pot!)
Coconut Milk
It’s incredibly easy to make your own coconut milk at home, but we used to buy this before I knew that was even possible! There’s no added anything to this can of coconut milk, which is a win in my book. Plus, its smooth texture is one of my favorite things about it, especially for those who have aversions to textures. Canned coconut milk works better for recipes like No-Bake Blueberry Pie and Mashed Cauliflower.
Parmesan Cheese
Parmesan cheese adds a very “fancy” flavor to ordinary meals like Tomato Basil Soup, and Trader Joe’s has the best price in my area. It far surpasses Costco’s price, and the smaller wedges are perfect for our monthly budget and recipes.
In fact, many of the cheese options at Trader Joe’s are at a great price. Unexpected cheddar cheese is one that I like to buy in a block. It has hints of Parmesan flavors too!
Gorgonzola
We often buy Gorgonzola instead of blue cheese because you can use it interchangeably in recipes. True blue cheese is pretty pricey, but like Parmesan, this cheese is very affordable. The per package price is very affordable, too, making it easy to get just as much needed for the month or recipe, as opposed to a huge brick from Costco that you put in a drawer and end up forgetting about and gets moldy… *ahem*
Organic Whole Wheat Pasta
The pasta here is just a little bit more than the per-package price at Costco, which is great if you only need one package of spaghetti instead of nine. It’s also MUCH better than what I’m able to find locally. Bonus points for being whole grain and an added bonus for being organic (which means it’s not enriched with synthetic vitamins). Plus, you can get several varieties of pasta too… spaghetti, fettuccine, rigatoni, spirals, macaroni…
Sunflower Seeds
We use sunflower seeds in our salads for a crunch, as protein in our granola bars and protein bars, and use it to make Sun Butter when we’re out of peanut butter. These right here are always on my shopping list.
Spices
Trader Joe’s has a decent selection of spices, and while some can be found elsewhere for a better price, they’re all priced low – even the “fancy” ones. When you’re shopping for spices, definitely check out their selection first because most grocery store prices for spices start AT LEAST a few bucks higher.
Raw Honey
I was SHOCKED to see this on their shelves, but they have raw honey for super affordable prices. The only downfall is that it wasn’t local. The smaller jar was from India, and the larger jar was from Mexico. However, if you don’t have a source for affordable local honey anyway, you might as well consider these!
Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
It is REALLY hard to find affordable unsweetened cocoa, let me tell you! Unsweetened cocoa powder is vital in sweet treats like Triple Fudgy Paleo Brownies and Chocolate Avocado Mousse.

White Balsamic Vinegar
Oddly enough, this was on my “to find” list when, lo and behold, Trader Joe’s carries it! I know this specialty vinegar would cost at least $4 at my local grocery store, not to mention what other health food stores might charge. As a lighter sister to the traditional balsamic vinegar, this would make some delicious salad dressings!
Balsamic Vinegar
I’m reluctantly adding this one to the list because I’m a bit bitter that Trader Joe’s has such a great deal on balsamic vinegar. Costco charges much more for the same thing! Consider this trip a lesson learned. I’ll get my balsamic vinegar (and likely all vinegar) from Trader Joe’s from now on.
Uncured Nitrate-free Bacon
This isn’t the best price I’ve seen for nitrate-free bacon, but the cool thing about Trader Joe’s is that their prices are consistent. If no one has a sale or Grocery Outlet runs out of our favorite brand, I know I can get some here. They sometimes have the “ends and pieces” variety of nitrate-free bacon, which sells for less. It’s definitely fattier than regular slices, but it’s an easy way to get some real bacon bits and bacon grease to keep those taste buds satisfied.
Best Food at Trader Joe’s Food Runner Ups
These are items that are priced great, but I wouldn’t normally buy them. I either make them at home or skip them for something cheaper.
Organic Corn Taco Shells
Sometimes taco night needs a crunchy taco instead of a plain old corn tortilla, and these shells are the best bang for your buck. You’re getting organic corn and avoiding GMOs, plus you’re getting two more shells than most other boxes. Win!
Sweet Chili Lime Sauce
This sauce has some added sugar, but I couldn’t help but write the price down after buying something similar for more.
Orange Marmalade
It’s really hard to find marmalade, jams, or jellies without High Fructose Corn Syrup. And they usually cost two arms and a foot! This one isn’t cheap but it was worth buying.
Organic Chocolate Syrup
We literally buy maybe two of these a year, so it’s just worth the extra few bucks to me. Besides, the organic variety again means there are no HFCS or other artificial sweeteners. It’s the perfect balance for curing that sweet tooth while sticking to your health goals.

POPULAR TRADER JOE’S PRODUCTS
These popular Trader Joe’s products are items I have not bought and might be on the pricey side. They tend to be processed and not as healthy so you may want to check the ingredient list. Sometimes a grab-and-go snack fits in with 80/20 real food goals!
- Everything Bagel Seasoning
- Green Goddess Salad Dressing
- Mandarin Orange Chicken
- Mini Ice Cream Cones
- Cauliflower Gnocchi
- Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
- Pork & Ginger Soup Dumplings
- Butter Chicken
- Chicken Tikka Masala
- Gone Bananas Frozen Treat
- Jicama Wraps
- Rolled-Corn Tortilla Chips
- Avocado Toast Spread
- Butter Cookies
- Mediterranean Style Hummus
- Mac and Cheese Bites
- Cauliflower Pizza Crust
TRADER JOE’S MUST HAVES IN A NUTSHELL…
- Trader Joe’s is an excellent place to shop when you want better foods but don’t need the quantity that buying in bulk comes with.
- When you’re looking for a very specific “specialty” item, there’s a good chance they have it, AND it will cost less than your local grocery store.
- Trader Joe’s is NOT the place to buy fresh produce. I thought their produce section lacked much diversity and was also on the expensive side. You could easily find better deals at your local farmers market or even your grocery store if need be.
FAQs about the Best Food at Trader Joe’s
What is Trader Joe’s famous for?
Trader Joe’s is known for their unusual flavor combination. For example, I’ve seen Crunchy Chili Onion Peanuts and Pumpkin Butter. I highlight more of the fun foods and shopping experiences in this post.
Is Trader Joe’s considered expensive?
That depends. Like any grocery store, deals can be found! I did find many really good prices on foods I normally buy. The processed foods and unusual finds will be more expensive. Using your price book is always helpful.
Best Products at Trader Joe’s
So, the next time you decide to go grocery shopping, hit up your local Trader Joe’s! Who knows? You might find some new favorites you never would have thought to purchase before!
Whether trying to save money or pick up a few new items, Trader Joe’s is a great option! It’s the ideal grocery chain for finding specialty items that a traditional grocery store wouldn’t have. Have you tried any of these Trader Joe’s products? Let me know in the comments!
More Helpful Posts
- What is Cheaper: Trader Joe’s vs. Whole Foods
- Best 11 Things to Buy at Whole Foods
- Ultimate Guide to Shopping at Trader Joe’s
- 9 Practical Ways to Save at Whole Foods

I don’t know why, but I can’t locate the printable complete list at the bottom of this post. 🙁
It’s emailed to you when you enter your email address Tony. Did you check your spam folder?
Hi I was wondering which location this data is from and how recent is it?
Hi Valerie! It’s from a location in Monterey and is about a year old. Prices are verified periodically, but we haven’t done a full blown walk through yet. 🙂
I’m trying to find the Trade Joe price for their Thai Lime Shrimp Skewers. Please let me know…. Thanks!!! :-)))
Hi! While all this looks VERY interesting (as I’d LOVE to cut our monthly grocery bill, so would my hubby), as I guess I’d be considered a food geek, I’m wondering about your thoughts on the items on the Trader’s download list you provide. I used to buy all our groceries at Trader’s, until I started learning more about real food, and reading their labels. Sadly, most all of the foods at Trader’s contain soy and sugar, as well as items I can’t pronounce. And their produce, even organic, is so bottom of the barrel they go bad very quickly, or often times I find them moldy at the store. And most every time I go in there, they have a recall on one or more of their Trader’s labeled items. 🙁
Thanks so much! I’m enjoying getting some wisdom from you. 🙂
Blessings.
Colleen, which item(s) are you concerned about in particular? I will say that most of the pre-packaged items at TJ’s like the cake mixes and such are just as processed as any other store. Buying them at Trader Joe’s doesn’t make them healthy! The majority of the items on my personal TJ shopping list are whole foods (specialty cheeses, nuts/seeds, etc.) too!
I agree, TJ’s is NOT a health food store, you still have to read labels. Many of their items are organic and natural, but many are not. Most everything, though is high quality.
Fermented kraut is healthy, taste and about a 3rd the price of Sprouts.
YUM – thanks Debs!
Trader Joes is my “go to first” store on shopping day. I love their frozen fish, coffee, bananas, organic sugars, healthy trail mixes, cheeses, and so much more. When I need a nibble food for the girls in my writers’ group, I buy their blondie, brownie, or pumpkin bread mix. There’s nothing in them that I wouldn’t use if I were making them from scratch (although for family I use more organic ingredients). They are fast and easy to bake.
I like their pizza dough, I used to buy their cream-at-the-top milk but TJ said their supplier lost their supplier of raw milk and shut down. There’s no substitute. This kind of milk is three times the price anywhere else, so I now buy their organic milk. Will check if UHT or not. I wasn’t aware of the difference until I read your blog.
I buy their creamline organic yogurt when I don’t have time to make my own. I like their heirloom cherry tomatoes. Usually we grow all of our own tomatoes but when off season, I like TJ.
They have organic blue corn chips that I love. I sometimes buy their frozen pie crusts for when I don’t have time to make my own. I wish you would write a blog on making pie crust. Mine is always so hit and miss. Even when I do everything right, i.e. add lemon juice or AP vinegar to retard gluten, keep everything icy cold, etc.
Mrs. Crumb, you are the woman I wish to be. Thanks for all your wonderful work.
I, too, love TJ’s and am fortunate that they opened one about 5 min. from my house in September of this past year. Since I am retired and my husband is working part-time, we have to watch our spending. I did want to mention that the price you quoted for parmesan is for the US made parmesan. The Italian Parmiggiano Reggiano is much, much more expensive. I do understand that for those living on a strict budget, why you would choose the less expensive one. However, having lived in Italy for many years, Parmiggiano Reggiano is the only one I buy, because once you eat it for 20 years, you can’t go back to a US made. It’s just important to keep this in mind when comparing prices. I was so happy to find that TJ’s carries some real cheeses from European countries at prices that beat any other source. I also buy Swiss Emmantelar, Swiss Gruyere, and Holland Gouda there. As to balsamic vinegars, it’s important to read labels when comparing prices. The real deal will only have grape must and is aged for a minimum of 12 yrs. and comes from Modena, Italy, which is why it is so expensive. Another really good balsamic vinegar is a mix of grape must and aged balsamic vinegar. Still very good, but it doesn’t have to age as long because they add some aged with the new. If you see one that has caramel coloring, preservatives, or anything else on the label, then it’s imitation and that is why they can sell it so much cheaper. I am not judging anyone for what they buy. I think it just helps to know when you are comparing prices, exactly what you are comparing. I always enjoy your posts, Tiffany. Thanks for sharing with us. I found some new things to look for at TJ’s.
Thanks Tiffany for this platform!
You’re most welcome Jasmine! Thank you for your encouragement!
Hi – I’m a Fellow Foodie, Mom, and concerned about my grocery spending, so I’m happy to find your article about Trader Joe’s and some of the items it offers. I also work at a Trader Joe’s and wanted to remind you that TJ’s food has no preservatives (other than salt) or artificial colors or flavors and no GMO (genetically modified organisms) in its ingredients. For a Mom who is concerned about the food she feeds her family that takes a lot of pressure off knowing I can choose anything and know that it’s wholesome. I’m tempted each week to spend too much on the fun stuff so I’m learning with you to curb my spending while making tasty, wholesome meals for the family. I’m eager to read more of your postings. Thanks! Deb
Thanks for your comments Deb. Are you saying that ALL TJ products are organic?
Jasmine Flame
Organic is different than GMO. GMO has to do with the seeds or reproductive part of the plant used not having its genes scientifically altered. Organic has to do with pesticides and fertilizers used while growing a food. While some foods may be very wholesome, the grower may use a fertilizer that is not considered “organic,” so some pretty healthy foods don’t qualify for the organic label. Organic is more stringent. Still, foods at Trader Joes are basically purer and safer than from a non-GMO store, and TJ’s really tries to keep chemicals out of the food they sell.
Last I checked, certified Organic cannot be GMO.
OMG yes love TJ’s!!!! However I’ve found that for yr now (like over a half decade) in opposite ends of the country, TJ’s has lowest price for organic fresh strawberries. Their organic selection is good and unless Aldi has avocados on sale, they’re the best bet. They also have organic sprouted grain bread that’s cheap (it’s their knockoff of Ezekiel which they also sell). The ice cream is divine and hormone free. Oh and the yogurt so good! They have good meats- organic chicken (the family pack is a steal) and grassfed ground beef a little less than other stores. And why oh why have you not mentioned the wine??? Green Fin organic- like $4 and it’s awesome! Seriously that store is so dangerous to my bottom line and my waist line but I love it!
LOL, thank you for all the great tips! I didn’t mention the wine because living in CA, I thought the prices wouldn’t necessarily the same across the country. But that’s great information on the bread and beef!
Yes, the ice cream is divine, BUT the Coffee ice cream is even beyond that-the best I have ever tasted..
LOL – thanks Marlene!
I was trying in vain to remember the cost of asparagus and sheperd’s pie from Trader Joe’s. A Google search showed me a mention of your “massive Trader Joe’s price list”. I signed up, above on this page, to download it. The link you emailed me got me a list of maybe 120 items. Somewhere along the way you said “Want a near complete list of the entire Trader Joe’s store in a handy dandy download?” and I think that brought me back to this page.
I’m still looking for anything like a “near complete list” of TJ prices. Do you have such a thing, and if so, where?
Hi Mark – if you downloaded the printable at the bottom of this post, that’s the list I’m referring to. All of those prices were hand-written down by me and seen with my own eyes – not trolled from the internet. In terms of real food at Trader Joe’s, it’s the most complete list I’ve seen!
OK, so that is it. Thanks for the info, and for the list.
So excited to have the Trader Joe’s list handy. We are trying to watch our spending and this list makes it so helpful. Thank you.
You’re most welcome Ann!
A major kudos for the Chocolate bar is that is does NOT contain soy lecithin. Hooray!!
Yes! Cheers!
I always tell my friends that Trader Joes is Whole Foods choices at Walmart prices. Finding organic food is very expensive in Dallas. I usually shop at Tom Thumb for everyday needs (they have local, organic food at my Tom Thumb) and Trader Joes for stocking up on stuff like coconut oil, nuts for granola, and dairy (they have Kerrygold grass-fed butter – which I haven’t been able to find anywhere else). Our TJs is very small and always a bit crowded but it’s definitely worth a trip if you can drag yourself out of bed at 8 am on a Saturday.
I too didn’t shop TJ’s for a long time as the people that I knew that shop there were always raving about their frozen foods and I didn’t (still don’t much) use much frozen stuff. I thought all they sold was frozen foods. That being said, their frozen foods are usually quite tasty and really make meal prep on super busy nights a breeze. We don’t do it often but it’s nice to know the option is there. I prefer their fruit to Costos because (except for berries) we don’t get through the large bags or boxes before they go bad. AND the bananas are normal sized, not mondo sized.
I agree with the previous poster about the organic potatoes and apples. I also really like the packages of fresh basil. Nowhere else can I get that amount for so little.
They also carry live basil in pots at an incredibly low price. I buy these and plant them in my garden. Just pinch off the flowers and they will grow for a very long time. The only trick is that you have to introduce them to the great outdoors slowly before planting. I think they are grown in a greenhouse and setting them outside in So Cal’s hot sun right away puts them into shock.
Anita – basil is also a “warm” plant. It thrives in warm, non-breezy weather!
Okay so I wasn’t the only who thought Trader Joe’s was a bit artsy-fartsy at first—PHEW! But once I actually went into the store, I noticed that the items were reasonably priced and I actually buy a lot of the stuff they sell. I’ll be pinning this for future use. Thanks so much for sharing this!
LOL, you’re definitely not alone! And dare I say, it’s actually fun? 😉
This is wonderful. Pinning it to my group boards – hope it brings lots of new friends your way. This is SO helpful! Thanks, Tiffany! xo
Thanks so much sweet friend!!
I shop at Trader Joe’s once a week as my regular grocery store because of many of the prices you list. I do purchase their bags of organic potatoes – red, gold and russet. Also, bags of organic apples. When they carry these items, the prices are great and it’s hard to get organic potatoes and apples at better prices at other grocery stores.
I’m not yet making my own yogurt. So, their $2.99 plain European style organic yogurt is a good deal for a large container, too.
19 cents per banana has worked out to be a better price for me on bananas than the other grocery stores – unless they’re running a really big sale.
There are some great prices and so many organics at TJs. I find it more consistent than Costco and other grocers.
Thanks for featuring some of my favorite products!
Thanks for adding your buys Kristin! Their yogurt is a fair price – very competitive with Costco’s. I forgot about the bananas! It’s toss up between TJ’s and Costco for those, like you said, if no one else is having a sale.
Sadly I don’t have a TJ’s near me, but I do love orange marmalade, and it’s pretty easy to make yourself! (And tastes soooo much better than store bought!) My favorites are apricot orange and triple citrus.
YUM! I browsed a few recipes, and it does look incredibly easy. It’s on my summer bucket list for sure!