I've been a solo shopper at Dealer Joe's for over 10 years. Listed below are the 16 meals that maintain me coming again.

The broccoli-kale slaw works as a facet or a standalone meal.

bags of Trader Joe's broccoli-kale slaw in produce section

I typically serve the broccoli-kale slaw with burgers, pizza, and tacos.

Savanna Swain-Wilson


I all the time like having healthful lunches round that I can throw collectively at a second’s discover, so this salad is ideal. Plus I can eat it as a light-weight meal or as a facet with burgers, pizza, and tacos. 

I am keen on this salad equipment because it comprises elements I get pleasure from however by no means purchase by myself. The mix of kale, broccoli, dried cherries, sunflower seeds, and creamy dressing satisfies my longing for a crunchy, recent, and flavorful plate. 

Better of all, it requires zero prep work — merely open the bundle and throw all the things right into a bowl.

Every bag comes with sufficient for 2 to 3 servings of slaw.

Dealer Joe’s natural, recent basil is a lifesaver.

clear container of Trader Joe's fresh basil on shelf

I take advantage of recent basil virtually day by day.

Savanna Swain-Wilson


Basil is a aromatic herb that provides a pop of recent taste to any dish. I take advantage of it virtually day by day as a topping for meals like pasta, pizza, salad, and soup. 

As somebody who’s been unable to efficiently maintain a basil plant alive for various weeks, this field is a complete lifesaver.

This baked tofu will severely improve your meatless-protein recreation.

packs of trader joe's baked tofu on shelf in store

Dealer Joe’s sells Sriracha and teriyaki baked tofu.

Savanna Swain-Wilson


I’ve nothing in opposition to common tofu, however making it style good and eliminating all the extra moisture could be a bit of labor. So I am going to gladly pay $3.69  for this prebaked, agency possibility. 

Dealer Joe’s at the moment sells two varieties — Sriracha and teriyaki — which might be nice for including a kick of taste to dishes the place meat is often the star, like lettuce wraps, tacos, and salads.

I am an enormous fan of the teriyaki tofu’s soy and ginger flavors with a refined contact of sweetness. I merely lower it into cubes and add it to a stir-fry.

I can typically get two to 3 servings out of every bundle, plus the tofu shops effectively as leftovers.

I prefer to mix Dealer Joe’s berry medley into smoothies for a dose of antioxidants.

bag of trader joe's fancy berry medley

These frozen berries are an incredible value.

Savanna Swain-Wilson


I like that I can get a bag of preservative-free blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries for lower than $5. Blended right into a smoothie, they style simply nearly as good as recent fruit for a fraction of the value. 

As a midmorning snack, I prefer to mix half a cup of it with a banana, some greens, almond milk, and a little bit of honey. I need not add ice to it because the berries are already chilly, so the tip result’s all the time deliciously thick and creamy.

Dealer Joe’s additionally sells a number of packs of frozen fruit, so yow will discover a mix that works for you.

 

This herbed pizza dough deserves an award.

bags of Trader joe's herbed pizza dough on shelf at store

Dealer Joe’s pizza dough tastes home made as soon as cooked.

Savanna Swain-Wilson


All this pizza dough wants is a bit of little bit of proofing and rolling to whip up a meal that tastes prefer it was created from scratch. It is so good.

You may cowl the rolled dough with no matter recent toppings you are craving — I like to make use of Dealer Joe’s spinach-artichoke dip and sliced mozzarella — then bake it within the oven for quarter-hour. 

It tastes just like the sort of pizza crust you’d order at a top quality restaurant, with a garlicky, herbaceous taste and an ethereal texture that is completely divine.

Better of all, the dough makes a reasonably good-sized pie, so I all the time have leftovers. 

These garlic naan crackers are the one crunchy snack I would like.

green Boxes of trader joe's garlic naan crackers on shelf at store

These naan crackers go nice with Dealer Joe’s hummus.

Savanna Swain-Wilson


Ever since I discovered these garlic naan crackers, I have never gone again to purchasing common pita chips.

They style like chain’s frozen garlic naan — full with precise garlic flecks — shrunken into deliciously crunchy, bite-sized items. 

Their gentle buttery, garlicky taste pairs effectively with just about all the chain’s dips, particularly the hummus. Although they’re additionally delicious on their very own.

 

The chain’s fire-roasted peppers and onions make cooking dinner simple.

hand holding a red bag of trader joe's fire-roasted pepper and onions

These frozen peppers style like they only got here off of the grill.

Savanna Swain-Wilson


Fajita-style peppers are certainly one of my favourite meals, and this product has made it potential for me to get pleasure from them with out a cast-iron skillet or an open flame.

Every bag comprises a melange of precut onions and yellow, crimson, and inexperienced peppers which might be the proper measurement for tacos, salads, and burrito bowls. The peppers have a slight char that makes them style as in the event that they got here straight off of the grill.

I merely warmth them on the range with some further seasoning and throw them in a tortilla or rice bowl. Better of all, I feel they’re moderately priced. A 14-ounce bundle prices about $4, which is a good deal contemplating particular person peppers can promote for $1 apiece. 

The soy chorizo is among the tastiest vegetarian merchandise I’ve ever had.

trader joe's soy chorizo on shelf at store

Dealer Joe’s soy chorizo may be very versatile.

Savanna Swain-Wilson


I’ve beforehand written about my devotion to Dealer Joe’s soy chorizo, and I am going to proceed to sing its praises. It is the one vegetarian product I consider might sway even essentially the most devoted carnivore. 

I have been shopping for it for years, although I am now not a complete vegetarian.

With an enormous burst of spicy, savory taste in each chew, it really works effectively with eggs in a breakfast scramble, although additionally tastes glorious in chili, tacos, sandwiches, and salads.

 

Pita bread is a flexible carb to have readily available.

hand holding a pack of pita bread at Trader Joe's

I typically use pita bread as the bottom for a private pizza.

Savanna Swain-Wilson


One among my favourite objects to have readily available, pita bread could be a automobile for hummus, tzatziki, and falafel or a stand-in for a wrap.

It might probably even work as a base for a small pizza, merely prime the pita with a bit of little bit of sauce, mozzarella, and no matter else you would like, then throw it within the oven for a fast broil. 

Every bundle comes with six pitas.

This is among the finest instantaneous falafel mixes I’ve ever tried.

hand holding box of trader joe's falafel mix in front of shelf

Dealer Joe’s falafel is really easy to throw collectively.

Savanna Swain-Wilson


This instantaneous falafel combine has been a complete game-changer. You’d by no means guess it got here from a powder as soon as it is cooked — it tastes home made.

I merely add water and bake the rolled balls within the oven, serving them alongside hummus, pita, roasted crimson peppers, onions, and tzatziki for a scrumptious meal.

In addition they keep collectively and crisp up completely within the fryer. This handy combine is among the meals that maintain me from ordering takeout. 

Dealer Joe’s cheese tray is ideal for snacking alone or with visitors.

Trader joe's cheese platter on shelf in cheese section

This tray has the proper quantity of every cheese.

Savanna Swain-Wilson


I first obtained this cheese platter as a last-minute snack for a celebration a number of years in the past and cherished it a lot that I saved shopping for it, even after I wasn’t having visitors over. 

It comprises simply the correct quantity of the 4 sorts of cheese: colby jack, pepper jack, cheddar, and Swiss.

I take advantage of the Swiss and cheddar for sandwiches whereas snacking on the pepper jack and colby jack with mustard and crackers, or vice versa. One among my favourite meals is an open-faced croissant with a slice or two of Swiss, scrambled eggs, and avocado.

It is a bit expensive in comparison with particular person blocks of cheese, however because it’s presliced and able to eat, I feel it is well worth the cash. 

This spicy peanut French dressing makes me get pleasure from consuming salad.

hand holding a bottle of trader joe's spicy peanut vinaigrette

This dressing doubles as a salad topper and a marinade.

Savanna Swain-Wilson


Nothing beats a dressing that makes me fall in love with consuming salad.

It has a barely candy, peanut taste that is irresistible, together with a powerful kick of spice helmed by the addition of cilantro and jalapeño.

I like pouring this dressing over a easy iceberg-lettuce combine with numerous carrots or on a bitter leaf like kale with some precise peanuts or chopped almonds. It is also scrumptious drizzled over hen or tofu lettuce wraps and chilly noodle salad.

I’ve heard it really works splendidly as a marinade, too. 

I’ve spent many nights attempting to whip up peanut dressing from scratch and it is by no means been fairly nearly as good as this one. 

Dealer Joe’s hot-and-sweet pepper jelly is all the time a crowd-pleaser.

hand holding jar of trader joe's pepper jelly in cheese section

I like so as to add this pepper jelly to charcuterie boards.

Savanna Swain-Wilson


I have been serving this pepper jelly on cheese boards for years and somebody is all the time blown away by it.

Its mixture of candy and spicy is totally divine and tastes fantastic with a wide range of cheeses, crackers, and meats.

My favourite method of having fun with it’s with plain goat cheese and certainly one of Dealer Joe’s Social Snackers. It is also fantastic with the chain’s fig crisps and Brie.

At lower than $5 per jar, it is an unimaginable deal for an ingredient that may flip your cheeseboard into one thing folks will discuss for days. It additionally retains for a very long time within the fridge. 

I am going by way of hummus prefer it’s no person’s enterprise, so this 1-pound tub is a family staple.

huge tubs of hummus on shelf in trader joe's

Hummus works as a snack or an addition to dishes.

Savanna Swain-Wilson


With an excellent easy, creamy texture and gentle chickpea-tahini taste, Dealer Joe’s hummus is the proper snack and topping for a lot of dishes.

Along with consuming it with carrot sticks and crackers, I unfold it on bread, tortillas, and pitas for various sandwiches and wraps.

I am additionally an enormous fan of Dealer Joe’s different varieties — just like the spicy and eggplant hummus — however nothing compares to the traditional. It additionally is available in a smaller container, however I go for the larger one since I eat a lot of it. 

 

I prepare dinner quite a lot of vegetarian meals, and these steamed lentils are superior for bulking them up.

Trader Joe's steamed lentils on shelf at store

These lentils are able to eat from the pack.

Savanna Swain-Wilson


Lentils are a well-liked plant-based staple due to their excessive protein content material. Most grocery shops promote them dried or in a can, so this steamed, ready-to-eat pack is tremendous handy.

The legume can also be loaded with fiber, so a serving is tremendous filling. You may add them to soup, salad, curry, and extra.

I like utilizing them as a base for veggie-burger patties or vegetarian sloppy joes since they’ve a barely meaty style that works effectively as a swap for floor beef.

Every field comes with 5 1/2-cup servings.

This balsamic glaze is certainly one of Dealer Joe’s finest merchandise.

Bottles of balsamic glaze on shelf at Trader Joe's

I add this balsamic glaze to many meals.

Savanna Swain-Wilson


Ever since I first found this product, it is remained my all-time favourite factor Dealer Joe’s sells.

The glaze’s wealthy, candied-balsamic taste by no means fails to improve a meal to an ideal 10. I apply it to just about something I can, like Caprese paninis, salads, Brussels sprouts, grilled summer time veggies, fish, and hen.

And since this glaze is basically a super-concentrated lowered balsamic, a bit of bit goes a good distance.

I am an OK house prepare dinner, at finest, however every time I take advantage of these items, I really feel like I’ve made one thing I would pay for.

Click on to maintain studying Dealer Joe’s diaries like this one.

This story was initially revealed on March 7, 2022 and most lately up to date on Might 10, 2023. 

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