We love a stop at Trader Joe’s! It doesn’t feel like grocery shopping to me. Because I really do not enjoy grocery shopping, but I like Trader Joe’s. Maybe Trader Joes’ is fun because I know I get flowers every time or a little plant. Maybe because it is a smaller scale grocery store it goes quicker. Or maybe it is because the food you buy is specialty you feel special and excited for what you get to eat! What is it??
I shared a post HERE about what I buy from Trader Joe’s and recipes we make over and over. And a lot of request came after for a Shopping List. Also none of the things I shared were the frozen food items or treats. So this time around after being asked by several of you to do a Trader Joe’s Shopping List I finally did it! And not only did I share what we enjoy at our home but what over 500 of you told me is your favorite things to buy. Your list was so fun because it pushed me to try a few new things. Although I will say I did not try everything. Only the most popular items that kept coming up and things that I would actually buy to eat for our my family or at least one time to try.
Make sure to print the Free Trader Joe’s Shopping List at the end of the post!
The Top 40 Items from Trader Joe’s from over a 500 person survey-
#1- Trader Joe’s recommended item- Mandarin Orange Chicken
I couldn’t believe how many of you recommended this item! And after researching it is actually the most popular item sold at Trader Joe’s. This is not something I would ever purchase on my own. But we decided to test it for “research” and it was good. It isn’t the healthiest, maybe when guests come over I would buy again if I need something quick!
#2- Trader Joe’s recommended item- Peanut Butter Cups
Again surprised by this! I have bought these before and of course loved them. I have given them as gifts as well. Do I buy these every time? NO. I bought them and kept them in the fridge, surprisingly they lasted about two weeks. I would have one if I wanted a treat after dinner, saved me from eating something worse I guess.
#3-6- Trader Joe’s recommended items- Chips and Breads
This is where I lost track. A lot of these things were recommended more than once. I would say the #3 recommended item is the item I personally buy every single time I go to Trader Joe’s and that is the #3- Plantain Chips. They are inexpensive, paleo friendly and I buy at least three bags. Finn loves to dip them in avocado and I love them as a snack too. #4- Blue Corn Chips another kid and hubby favorite along with the #5-Honey Wheat Pretzels my girls love to dip in hummus for a snack. #6- Gluten Free Bread came highly recommended. I did buy it obviously to try and it is great Gluten Free Bread. I don’t normally eat bread, but this was a soft and yummy bread. Great option if you have celiac’s or a gluten intolerant.
#7- Trader Joe’s recommended items- Almond Butter
My kids don’t normally love Almond Butter over Peanut Butter. But the Trader Joe’s brand they really like! The crunchy is my favorite! I refrigerate after opening. And used this to make our Paleo Friendly Brownies .
#8-13- Trader Joe’s recommended items- Frozen Foods
#8- Sweet Potato Fries there isn’t a sweet potato fry I won’t try. And I thought these are great! I would buy them again. It is a small bag, it feed our small family of 5 as a small side. #9- Chicken Potstickers my kids FAVORITE! I don’t feel too bad letting then eat these as a side-dish to the #10- Riced Cauliflower Stir Fry this is an easy quick and healthy dinner if you add some shrimp and or scrambled eggs to it. I personally still like to make my Cauliflower Rice Stir Fry, but I can see buying this again to have on had for a quick dinner. #11- Sweet Potato Gnocchi this was a fun different dinner. I added some of the Chicken Sausage below to it and added some Marinara to the top. Everyone liked it. #12- Cauliflower Gnocchi- (shown below) we have made this several times. The biggest tip is to not do the boiling method. Cook the Gnocchi on the stove top. We added sausage and the Vegan Pesto sauce below. #13– Garlic Naan this was recommended a lot, would I personally buy it? NO. Was it good? Yes! It was for sure a “treat” not something I plan on buying again unless we have guests and want a yummy garlic bread to go with our meal. I have had it before at Indian Restaurants and it tasted exactly the same. (We already talked about the popular Orange Chicken).
#14-16- Trader Joe’s recommended items- Meats and Sea Food
#14- Sea Scallops we all loved these so much!! And we buy them often. We had them with Kevins Smashed Sweet Potatoes. Trick is to make sure the scallops are dry and the pan is hot before cooking them. #15-Red Shrimp we cooked these to go in our Cauliflower Rice, they were really good. And we typically buy a bag whenever we go to Trader Joe’s. #16- Chicken Apple Sausage another item we always buy. My favorite is actually the Italian Chicken Sausage. We eat them with salads, with marinara sauce or just alone.
#17-24- Trader Joe’s recommended items- Sauces, Dips and Seasonings
#17- Kosher Dill Pickles the only place I will buy pickles, no dye. #18- Fresh Bruschetta Sauce a lot of you suggested this! On top of baguettes or pasta. I think I am going to try it over chicken. (check expiration date, it expires quickly) #19- Vegan Kale Cashew & Basil Pesto another popular suggestion. I used it on top of Cauliflower Gnocchi, it was awesome! #20- Reduced Guilt Chunky Guacamole this is always a winner! I buy it for parties especially. #21- Tomato Salsa and Mango Salsa were both a popular suggestion. I haven’t met a salsa I didn’t like, so I always grab a bottle. #22- Green Goddess Salad Dressing very healthy dressing that is Paleo too. I buy it almost every time I go to Trader Joes. #23- Everything but the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend no brainer. Buy it. Put it on eggs, homemade bread, chicken! Use it on THIS recipe. #24- Coconut Aminos- we use this instead of soy sauce. I use it in the recipe shown below, our homemade Cauliflower Stir Fry with the fresh chopped cauliflower rice in the produce section at Trader Joe’s.
#25-27- Trader Joe’s recommended items- Salads and Veggies
#25- Crunch Collection I like to add this salad mix to a basic greens to stretch the salad and break it up! I shared what I eat with it HERE. #26- Tropical Mango Kit really any of their seasonal salad kits are always good! I grab these to mix in with other salads or for parties. #27- Teeny Tiny Avocados many of you recommended these and say you always buy them. I do too! Love that they are tiny, Finn will eat a whole one for lunch with the Plantain Chips!
#28-33- Trader Joe’s recommended items- Sweets
#28-Hold the Cone perfect size mini ice-cream cone for kids. I don’t buy them every time but I prefer getting these over ice-cream because it is more of a controlled size! #29- Peanut Butter Cups already talked about these! #30-Scandanavian Swimmers Kevin loves these, if you like a gummy treat then you will like these. #31- Honey Mints– My personal favorite treat. I typically buy a bag when I go and they last us a long time. I will have one when I am craving a sweet or my family is all having cookies and I want something. #32- Dried Fruit Mangos so many of you recommended these A LOT! I like them but they still have sugar, so not really a healthy treat, they are a sweet treat. #33- Chocolate Croissants š„ we looked for these and couldn’t find at our Trader Joes- but holy cow a lot of you love these!
#34-40- Trader Joe’s recommended items- Non-Food
#34- Tea Tree Tingle Shampoo and Conditioner I have read before this is a popular item- especially if you have young kids in school to help prevent lice, tee tree is good for that. I tried it for the first time and I am hooked! It smells amazing and your head does tingle! #35- Plants and Succulents always love their selection! I actually prefer to buy a plant more than flowers because they last longer and they are affordable at Trader Joes.#36- Gift Cards for $1! I always stock up on some of their unique cards to have on-hand. #37- Argan Oil– I use this after I wash my face or I will use it to take off my makeup. And it is a great oil for your hair before you flat-iron it and or after you curl it. I use it on the ends of my hair, as a smoother. #38- Facial Cleansing Oil not a harsh cleanser, I use it on my girls too. An oil is so much better for your face. #39- Facial Toner I apply this toner after I wash my face, before I go to the gym and don’t want to put make-up on. Also I spritz some on after I put on my make-up to take-away from that make-up face. You know….too powdery. #40 Fresh Flowers you can’t really go wrong for less than $5 for a bunch of flowers. I personally love to get eucalyptus when they have it for $3
Want to print this info out? You are in luck! The talented @apletters and I created a Trader Joe’s FREE Shopping List for you! You can also add items to it.
Click HERE Trader Joes Shopping list- Free Printable to print your own Trader Joe’s Shopping List
Happy Shopping! Let me know what you buy or your favorites from Trader Joe’s!
Head HERE for Trader Joe’s Meals I like to make often!
My son loves Tea Tree shampoo too. We use tPaul Mitchell. We get it at our salon. You can get it at Ulta and even at Stop & Shop. It was the only shampoo that worked to control his dandruff. The nearest Trader Joe’s is almost an hour drive from my house. But based on your list, I may have to make a trip.
oh good to know!! I am sold on Tea Tree Shampoo!!
Its definitely tingly.
My fav non food item has got to be the FLOWERS at Trader Joeās!! But Joe Joeās cookies have got to be a clooooose second š
Such a great list! I will say, you have to try the “Just Mango Slices” that doesn’t contain sugar. It’s only dried mango. I personally don’t like any dried fruit with added sugar! We love to snack on it during our sons’ baseball games!
I miss Trader Joeās so much!!! We moved from Tucson, AZ where we had at least six to Augusta GA were we have none!!! You never realize how much you appreciate something until itās gone …
Love your flatware…who is the company? Thank you.
Love and appreciate the list! Several things on there I would never have tried. My favs on my TJ list is their nuts, dark chocolate covered raisins, black olives, artichoke hearts and sun-dried tomatoes. A trip there is always an adventure as what you might find that you never saw before. Am so excited that closer one is opening in Manchester, CT in Sept!
I’m surprised their wines aren’t on this list?! For $5 or less you can find a great bottle. Green fin, i think is the brand, we always love
We LOVE the World’s Puffiest White Cheddar Corn Puffs! Like popcorn, but no kernels to get stuck š
Sure wish we had a Trader Joeās. But I am Thankful We have an aldi.
A few faves of mine missing from your list are: dried ginger chunks or slices! & Dark chocolate covered ginger (yum ! If you š§” ginger ) & Dark chocolate covered almonds + love everything else on your list! šThe flowers are always a temptation š