Food - Drink
15 Dry Pastas At Trader Joe's, Ranked
By SAMANTHA MAXWELL
15. Spaghetti
Trader Joe’s has a wide range of dry pastas, but their whole wheat spaghetti isn't the most versatile pick. Whole wheat pasta has a denser texture that doesn't soften much, which is odd for long noodles like spaghetti, and this product has a more earthy flavor that doesn't play as well with some recipes.
14. Lenti Rice Spaghetti
Trader Joe’s yellow lentil brown rice spaghetti also isn't our favorite. The flavor is quite nice, with the yellow lentils giving it a certain complexity that's almost a slight spiciness, but its density makes it less appetizing than a refined pasta, and it cooks up only slightly more tender than the whole wheat spaghetti.
13. Quinoa Spaghetti
Trader Joe’s brown rice and quinoa spaghetti is a gluten-free option with a decent texture that actually turns nice and soft once cooked. It still tastes a lot earthier than standard, refined pasta, but this means that it plays well with complementary ingredients like root vegetables or a creamy sauce.
12. Penne Rigate
If you're looking for a standard penne, Trader Joe’s penne rigate is basically everything that you'd expect from a standard pasta. Try pairing it with an oil-based sauce or a heartier ragu, which will get caught in the noodles, making each bite even more flavorful than the effect of, say, spaghetti.
11. Brown Rice Penne
The flavor of Trader Joe’s brown rice penne is a bit simpler than that of the brown rice and quinoa blend. You can prepare it like you would any refined wheat pasta: Just choose a flavorful sauce, maybe some veggies, and consider throwing a protein into the mix to make a simple, satisfying meal that's quite filling.