30 Absolute Best Snacks From Trader Joe's, Ranked
There is no grocery store that we would rather go to than Trader Joe's, period. But especially when it comes to snacks, there is no grocery store that even comes close. There is everything you could ever need, but not too much to get overwhelmed (who really needs to spend the whole snack run staring in awe at a wall of different flavors of beef jerky, for example?) Instead, we end up buying way more than we needed, from classics we know and love like Unexpected Cheddar Cheese to fun new products like Spicy Tempura Seaweed Snacks.
To keep you from buying every single snack, spending your valuable time and money determining which you will go back for again and again, we decided to make out like bandits at Trader Joe's ourselves. We sampled all the snacks we could get our hands on and ranked them from worst to best.
30. Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter and Almond Bars
Obviously, a good basic granola bar is one of the smartest snacks you can pick. Naturally, Trader Joe's has its own store brand of granola bars that do everything a basic granola bar should do. At just $0.99, an individually-wrapped bar in two flavors (we really liked the dark chocolate, peanut, and almond one) gives you a balanced boost of protein, fat, and chocolate for good karma. As far as granola bars go, though, they are just fine, and we do prefer some other brands, so they aren't our favorite TJs snack.
29. Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies
Handing out bags of potato chips and pretzels is a pretty common practice at any casual get-together, but why doesn't the same go for cookies? Fix that ill-advised oversight, even on a personal level, by grabbing a bag of these Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies from Trader Joe's as you leave. Your future self will thank you for it. Crispy, crunchy, nicely chocolatey, and not too sweet, they are the joyful pick-me-up of a quality that rivals Famous Amos or Chips Ahoy.
28. Greek Yogurt
Greek yogurt had a breakout moment years ago, but there's no denying that it's still a powerhouse food. One small cup of creamy, thick, spoonable yogurt provides a ton of protein and healthy fats for a filling, satisfying snack. Trader Joe's has created a really nice one, but not the best of the best — read our yogurt ranking list to find what is. We always have a single-serve portion of plain yogurt on hand and can pair it with anything from honey to hot sauce.
27. Organic Dark Chocolate Truffle Bar
If you agree that a bar of chocolate is more than an acceptable snack, snap off the end of a Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Truffle Bar and see how it treats you. We were impressed by the quality, but we should know by now that Trader Joe's doesn't skimp on chocolate. We thought it missed the "truffle" memo, though, because it just tasted like good dark chocolate. It's not all that special, so if you're really more in the mood for a truffle, feel free to choose that Lindt Lindor truffle instead.
26. Organic Corn Chip Dippers
There is more to corn-based chips than just tortilla chips and Doritos. While a bag of Organic Corn Chips Dippers might not seem like the most Instagram-worthy, trendy snack to throw in your cart, they are actually a workhorse snack. Trader Joe's Corn Chips are the perfect thickness and shape for scooping up sauces and dips, plus come with tons of zesty seasoning. We would put them out alongside Tex-Mex dishes of all sorts because it's far better to wipe plates clean with your chips than your fingertips.
25. Cittario Genoa Salami and Provolone Cheese
Though we love plain cheese as a snack, sometimes your cheese needs some help to reach its full potential. Enter salami. These clever, convenient packs of Genoa salami and provolone cheese pair smooth, mildly smokey provolone with savory, peppery salami for a snack that quiets your hunger with a touch of protein and fat, plus provides all the sensory ambiance of an Italian cafe. All you need are some of this list's amazing crisps and crackers for your new favorite combination.
24. Gone Berry Crazy!
Gone Berry Crazy! Is the playful title of a balanced, fresh, and fruity frozen treat, even though it is hard to translate into the real world (try writing it on a grocery list and giving it to your partner). Also available with bananas, chocolate-covered strawberries take on a new format as frozen bite-sized poppers, like a Raisinet candy that you actually want to eat. It's so fun to have on hand in the freezer for a snack that doubles as dessert. Unfortunately, some bites tasted slightly freezer-burnt.
23. Fresh Mozzarella Cheese Snackers
These Fresh Mozzarella Cheese Snackers are almost too good to be true. Just when you were staring at the giant ball in your fridge that you had saved for that party, wondering if it's worth throwing your plans away for the sake of satisfying your snacking craving, Trader Joe's comes in with this clutch product. They taste almost as good as the full-size option but are much more practical. It's indulgence at its most accessible, and we're here for it. Sure, we can taste that it's not exactly the quality of a restaurant cheese course, but that would be asking for far too much from such a cute little snack.
22. Cauliflower Crisps
Trader Joe's Cauliflower Crisps are sneaky. We did not expect them to be so hard and crusty, almost like a cauliflower crostini rather than a buttery cracker. They definitely wouldn't break under the weight of a solid dip. It comes down to the basic taste for us, and these taste great. They have a fun nutty flavor, plus some hard-to-pin-down zestiness that other crackers often lack. Surprisingly substantial, they don't take the place of more lightweight mindless snacking favorites, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
21. Super Seedy Cheese Snack Bites
"Seedy" and "cheesy" aren't always great adjectives when you're talking about, say, a person. But they are terms of high praise when describing these Super Seedy Cheese Snack Bites. Made gluten-free with puffed quinoa and black peppercorns, they are an allergen-friendly, savory, hearty bite that tastes like a trail mix plus cheese. Though they do have "health food" vibes, they also would taste rustic and chic if paired with a slice of sharp cheddar cheese.
20. Everything But the Bagel Greek Yogurt Dip
This inventive dip is designed to perfectly reflect an everything bagel with cream cheese, just without either the actual bagel or the actual cream cheese. The newly infamous seasoning blend brings the flavor without the substance, and instead of just scattering it on a tub of New-York-Style shmear, thick Greek yogurt mimics the tang but keeps things lighter and more dip-able. We really like it, especially with TJs Everything But the Bagel Seasoned Crackers, but just know that it's definitely not purely seasoned cream cheese.
19. All Butter Shortbread Sandwich Cookies with a Raspberry Filling
All Butter Shortbread Sandwich Cookies with a Raspberry Filling come in a pretty pink box that's just as nice to look at as the contents are nice to eat. For store-bought cookies, these taste dainty and elevated. If it's hard to let go of the idea that cookies can't be snacks, look to England, where tea and "biscuits" is a glorified, regularly scheduled snack. Baking your own shortbread makes it even tastier, too.
18. Crispy Crunchy Okra
It's a lot easier to eat your green vegetables when you put them in the form of a snack. Basically, anything can taste great when roasted and salted, and these Crispy Crunchy Okra are no exception, plus there are plenty of nice vitamins and nutrients that something like a Cheetos lacks. But most importantly, it still tastes delicious. It even has the texture of a Cheeto, soft and sort of porous in a fun way that shatters when you bite into it. We could easily eat a whole bag (or two).
17. Jerk-Style Plantain Chips
Plantains, the cousins of run-of-the-mill bananas, are a staple in many cuisines. Starchy and meaty, we think they are somewhat like potatoes, which explains why they make such awesome "chips." Trader Joe's has regular plain Plantain Chips, of course, but our hearts will go on for the Jerk-Style ones. Like bananas, plantains are sweet, and with that toothsome bite to them plus the spicy seasoning, there's so much complexity in an unassuming snack. Give them a try, and though we'll understand if they aren't your thing, we'd put money on them being exactly your thing.
16. Rice Cracker Medley
This snack flies so under the radar at Trader Joe's that we had to pick it up and try it. Spoiler alert: It's woefully underrated. The Rice Cracker Medley has almost more flavor than we know what to do with, from the umami-rich seaweed-flavored sticks to the spine-tingling wasabi peas that creep into your handful without warning, so you've now been warned. We tasted salt, soy sauce, and chili, and we could easily continue. Put some on an Asian-inspired salad with a gingery dressing for an instant upgrade, or eat them straight out of the bag.
15. Perfectly Pickled Pups
Everything is getting in a pickle these days, especially at Trader Joe's, where the dill-icious seasoning craze has gone wild. In this case, it gives pigs-in-a-blanket a batter resembling a mini corn dog, but full of the fresh taste of dill and cutting-edge vinegar. The coating is the best part because the meat is pretty much the same as any frozen hot dog product. We also didn't get as many in a package as we'd hoped, but what we got was a delightful twist on a favorite frozen snack (or dinner).
14. Dark Chocolate Sunflower Seed Butter Cups
The good news is, if you're allergic to nuts, you don't have to avoid this genre of snack entirely when there is this wonderful alternative using sunflower seeds. The seeds get blended and sweetened as peanuts do, and the result might just be tastier than peanut butter. There's a brightness we really enjoy, plus a silky texture that even creamy styles of nut butter don't have. See if you like these enough to then buy a whole jar of Trader Joe's sunflower seed butter for sandwiches, apple slices, and anything else under the sun.
13. Breaded Cheddar Cheese Curds
Cheese curds are a squeaky-clean way to eat one of the best foods ever: Cheese. Like any good grocery purveyor, Trader Joe's sports many forms and flavors of cheese, and one of those options is fried. The commonly fried cheese is mozzarella, but cheddar has a more pronounced flavor and holds its texture better when in a curd. They are both indulgent and approachable, and by having a bag of frozen ones in your freezer, you can pop them in an oven or air fryer for a quick, hot, gooey snack.
12. Patio Potato Chips
We all know that a potato chip might be the quintessential snack food. And while a plain, unflavored chip furthers that classic definition, eating a bunch of them can get a little boring. You know the feeling — reaching into the bag again out of habit, not excitement. These Patio Potato Chips are here to spice things up because as we know, variety is the spice of life. A single bag includes many different flavors, like barbecue, ketchup, salt and vinegar, dill, and plain. We're particularly partial to getting two different flavors in one mouthful and coming up with our ultimate pairing.
11. Unexpected Cheddar Cheese
In any Trader Joe's article at this point, you simply must expect the unexpected. The Unexpected Cheddar, that is. This fan-favorite product is lauded for a reason: It's absurdly delicious. It's got the general size, shape, consistency, and sharpness of cheddar, but the nuttiness, age, and personality of an Italian Parmesan. That touch of cognitive dissonance we got in every bite never really wore off, and that was the whole fun of eating it. From grilled cheese to a charcuterie board to an apple pie, this is the cheese that can do it all.
10. Mediterranean Style Hummus
We've tried a lot of great hummus brands and flavors across stores, but Trader Joe's Mediterranean Style Hummus is one of our absolute favorites. Honestly, after eating this stuff, a spoonful of generic hummus pales in comparison. Both the taste and texture are superior. It's rich and thick, but somehow also vaguely fluffy, and full of that sesame and olive oil flavor requisite in authentic hummus. Watch closely at your next party, because this hummus will probably disappear long before the other snacks do.
9. Bamba with Hazelnut Creme Filling
Quick story time: For one of our team members, Bambas were the exact product that made us Trader Joe's-curious. One of these funky snacks is way better than it has any right to be, and you definitely will have a hard time disliking them if you have any affinity whatsoever for peanutty flavor. They have barely any sweetness, and toasty undertones, and aren't overly salty like potato chips. Trader Joe's then stuff them with a touch of hazelnut creme — basically Nutella. That's where the sweetness comes in, and it's perfect. Basic Bambas are great as is, but there's nothing like having a chocolatey core in the center of your snack.
8. PB & J Snack Duo
These PB&J snacks are much better than we thought they would be. They would have been our absolute favorites to find in lunch boxes had they been around when we were kids. The peanut buttery wands were light, flakey, and definitely wafer-like as promised on the package, and the creamy center was substantial and tasted like authentic, natural peanut butter. The jam, instead of reminding us of a jelly donut filling, had some nice brightness and tang. Also, the snack kit is just super fun and interactive. This is a highly important quality now that, as adults, we are officially allowed to play with our food when we feel like it.
7. Almond Butter Almonds
Nuts are a fantastic snack. They come packed to the gills with good stuff for our brains and bodies, and as long as they have even just a touch of salt to bring out their natural flavors, they taste great. Oh, and let's not forget that they are highly convenient. Wait, one more thing: They become one of the most delicious substances we can eat; nut butter. Now if only we could have both at once without having to get messy and open jars... Trader Joe's has cracked the code.
You've probably had chocolate-covered almonds, but we're arguing that these Almond Butter Almonds are even better. The creamy, sweet, and salty almond butter creates a little casing for the intact almond inside, like gift wrapping on a Christmas present. These are going to go way too fast, so buy a few bags.
6. Caramelized Onion Dip
As you know, we love our hummus. It's a classic nutrient-dense snack that naturally pairs well with other nutrient-rich foods like carrot sticks, celery, or whole-grain crackers. But there are so many other dips that are worth buying from Trader Joe's so that you don't get sick of hummus. Instead, dip those carrots into luxurious Caramelized Onion Dip every so often. You deserve a treat, and this stuff is a surefire snack.
The texture of the dip is both velvety and light, so you don't feel like you're eating a meal instead of a snack, and the toasty notes of slow-sautéed onions infuse every bite. You don't have to order it in cheese-topped soup or spend a long time over a hot stove to get that continental flavor; simply crack the seal on this container and get going.
5. Sour Cream & Onion Flavored Rings
Sour cream and onion is one of our favorite snack flavorings. Trader Joe's transfers that flavor combo over to some snacks that are made of, ahem, lentils. But they're actually delicious. They sport an impressive blast of hearty flavor for such small, crisp rings. If you don't mind the bit of "health" taste, give these a try. We liked that they taste wholesome yet moreish, and are gluten-free to boot. Sour cream always lends such an excellent depth and nuance to snacks, and the onion isn't too strong for those of you with sensitive palates.
4. Chile Spiced Pineapple
Dried fruit is often pegged as an old-people snack, especially when it comes in the form of a raisin. There are few avid raisin lovers in our lives. But widen your perspective a little and you get familiar with a whole world of other kinds of dried fruit, and there's nowhere better to buy your dried fruit than Trader Joe's. The store has an impressive variety of relatively inexpensive fruits.
One of our favorites is mango. It's already a naturally sweet fruit, but the process the drying it out accentuates and exaggerates that sweetness even more. How to handle that flavor profile best? Balance it with spice. The heat of chili perfectly plays off the tender, sunny notes of mango for a genuinely sweet and spicy snack. Texture-wise, it's both chewy and juicy. Dried fruit is cool again (or maybe it always was).
3. Speculoos Cookie Butter
You know those puzzlingly good, crumbly, piquant little cookies you get on airplanes, called Biscoff? They get their flavor from a mixture of spices including cinnamon, ginger, cloves, allspice, ginger, and a pinch of pepper. Cookie butter is essentially one of those cookies pulverized, in the same way peanuts are, to make a faux nut butter-type spread.
Trader Joe's offers both a creamy and a "crunchy," but we prefer the purity of the creamy. Come on; getting to spread cookies over your toast, dollop it on top of your yogurt, or make a very balanced snack by using it as a dip for your carrot sticks is just too good to resist. Ohhhh, wait, warm it up and put it on ice cream. Bake it in your brownies. Basically, the limit of uses does not exist.
2. Spicy Tempura Seaweed Snack
Seaweed is rich in several beneficial vitamins and minerals, making it a nutrient-dense super snack, but it actually can taste good. Especially if you buy it from Trader Joe's. These Tempura Seaweed Snacks are as thin as tracing paper but as packed with flavor as a... well, fill in with whatever your favorite thicker flavorful snacks are.
We enjoyed the funky seasoning blend and love the fun take on plain seaweed snacks, and it's uncanny how they indeed taste deep-fried like vegetable tempura. We can't promise you'll love them, but we can advise you to at least attempt to. They're super cost-efficient, too.
1. Mini (Almost) Everything Bagel Sandwich Crackers
If you like Ritz Bitz, you'll love these Mini (Almost) Everything Bagel Sandwich Crackers. If you like everything bagels, you'll love these. If you love mini snacks, you'll love these. Basically, we think you'll love these. The crackers are buttery, but elevated to umami and savory with the legendary Trader Joe's seasoning scattered on top. And the cream cheese keeps things cheeky, sweet, and a little tangy. They are honestly one of our new snack fixations. You think you can just eat a handful and put the box away, but maybe it's that salty finish that makes it really hard to implement. You just have to try them out for yourself. They are our new favorite product in the entire store!