The Popular Sweet And Salty Snack You Should Skip At Costco And Grab At Trader Joe's

Grab a glass of water: As the iconic "Seinfeld" episode famously observed, "These pretzels are making me thirsty!" Today, we're shining the spotlight on pretzels — peanut butter filled pretzel nuggets, to be specific. These poppable morsels are a hearty snack that actually satisfies, offering textural dynamism and all the "swalty" intrigue we're craving on the palate. They're versatile enough to pack in a lunchbox or munch during cocktail hour alongside a dirty martini. But, for all their greatness, not all PB pretzel nuggets are created equal, and some stores offer better options than other. In our lineup of 9 grocery items you should buy at Trader Joe's instead of Costco, the peanut butter filled pretzel nuggets are a standout product.

Trader Joe's Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Nuggets have been around since the early '90s (the oldest fan-favorite TJ's snack that shoppers can still buy today, in fact), and there's a reason why this classic treat has stuck around. The creamy filling is made from real peanut butter, the buttery pretzel shell is coated in coarse salt that melts on the tongue, and the crunch hits the spot. Perhaps best of all, the price is right. Trader Joe's PB pretzel nuggets currently cost $2.69 per 16-ounce bag. 

By comparison, Utz/H.K. Anderson is the big brand behind the Kirkland Signature Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Nuggets, which are stuffed with Valencia peanut butter. Valencia peanuts are a less-common variety grown mainly in Texas and New Mexico, prized for their exceptionally sweet flavor. But according to customers, even that rare peanut isn't enough to make Kirkland's pretzel nuggets keep pace with TJ's.

In a Reddit thread dedicated to the Costco product, foodies write, "Cheaper at Trader Joe's and just as good. You pay a lot for that plastic container." Indeed, a 55-ounce tub of Kirkland Signature's PB pretzel nuggets currently runs for $11.99. Buying in bulk might seem like the more economical move, but at $0.22 per ounce, Costco's product is actually a tad costlier than TJ's PB pretzels at $0.17 per ounce. 

This isn't the first time we've sung the praises of this TJ's product. In Tasting Table's definitive taste-test of 13 peanut butter filled pretzel brands, Trader Joe's swept the competition and ranked first. As we mentioned in our review, we're digging this longstanding snack for its harmonious balance of crisp, not-oversalted pretzel shell and abundant, perfectly sweet PB filling. In third place, Costco's Kirkland Signature peanut butter filled pretzels trailed for their comparatively scrawny amount of filling. We aren't alone in our adulation, either. Another Reddit post dedicated to the Trader Joe's product raves, "I believe these are easily among the top 100 inventions in the history of humanity." Other commenters call them "dangerously good," especially when paired with TJ's mango gummies for, as one foodie writes, a "peanut butter and jelly" inspired snack.