What I Buy at Trader Joe’s

by | LIfestyle | 33 comments

I get asked all the time what I bought at Trader Joe’s. I thought a blog post was the easiest way to show you!

Before the Trader Joe’s arrived in Dallas, I really never understood the hype. But I have to say that I love buying five bags of groceries for $150! When you love to cook and you mostly eat fresh food, it can get expensive. Especially if your family likes fruit the way mine does!

Here is the listing of the staples that I buy at Trader Joe’s on almost every visit:

Fresh flowers

Lots of organic produce: arugula, romaine hearts, tri color carrots, edamame, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, fresh basil, avocados, heirloom tomatoes in season, organic cherry tomatoes

Wright’s of Texas Fresh Salsa,  TJ’s Hot and Sweet Jalapeños, TJ’s Salsa Verde, TJ’s Restaurant Style White Corn Tortilla Chips, organic chicken stock, Miso broth

In the frozen section:

Chili Lime Chicken Burgers, Turkey Burgers, Egg Frittata, Tamales (in the fabric bag), frozen mango, pineapple, mixed berries, raspberries and blueberries

Dry Goods: Gluten-free Buttermilk Pancake and Waffle Mix (I buy 4 boxes at a time!), Gluten-free Chocolate Chip Brownie Mix, TJ’s Caramel Cheddar Popcorn, Individual bags of Kettle Corn, Inca Corn Nuts, Tapas Style Artichoke Hearts, Italian Chicken Sausage (It’s so good and freezes well, too. Made with no casing!), Balsamic Glaze, Garlic Aïoli Mustard Sauce (great as a dip or baked on fish), Pesto and Quinoa (a nut-free pesto for pasta and also great for a dip!)

There are always lots of great seasonal items as well. All of the fun fall items including salted caramel sauce and everything pumpkin are coming soon I will share those favorites in just a few weeks!

Hope you enjoy this post. I’d love to know your Trader Joe favorites also! Please leave them in the comments at the bottom of the post.

XO

Alicia

PS –   Remember to leave comments on posts to be eligible for my monthly Beauty and Gift Boxes!  Also, when you subscribe to the newsletter you receive the password to download my three FREE eBooks including the newest just released this month, Easy Summer Entertaining that has tips and recipes that are also good for Fall!

Photos by Audrie Dollins

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33 Comments

  1. Debbie Breard

    I’m not a big fan of frozen foods generally, but their frozen mashed potatoes and mashed cauliflower are such time savers. Separate or combined, they’re so good. Frozen gluten-free pancakes get us out the door quicker on school days. And their frozen Asian items (potstickers, dumplings, fried rice) are my boys favorite, and easy to prepare all together in the steam oven. Also, great selection of raw nuts.

    • Alicia

      Thank you so much for the great recommendations!
      xo
      Alicia

  2. Maureen

    My husband and I frequent the local Trader Joe’s at least once a week. There are items that we must have on hand and then others we pick up just because they look interesting.

    • Sara

      Love the cauliflower gnocchi, hot & spicy dill pickle chips, cookie butter, and chili lime seasoning, as well as most of the ones you posted. Trader Joe’s forever!

      • Alicia

        I want to try the Cauliflower gnocchi soon! How do you prepare it?
        xo
        Alicia

    • Alicia

      I am the same way. Their packaging is good marketing!
      xo
      Alicia

  3. Margaret Sherrer

    What do you do with the tapas style artichoke hearts? Do you use them in a recipe or just for tapas style appetizer?

    • Alicia

      I’ve put them in salads and also on a charcuterie board. They are so good!
      xo
      Alicia

  4. Katherine Smith

    Good post!! Can you one day do a hair tutorial how you get your soft big waves 😊

    • Alicia

      You are so sweet! One is in the works! I just need to finalize it 🙂
      xo
      Alicia

  5. Jennifer Crecelius

    My son and I also love the Everything but the Bagel seasoning!

    • Anne Tate

      What do you do with the Everything but the Bagel Seasoning?

    • Alicia

      I keep forgetting to pick that up but I know everyone LOVES it!
      xo
      Alicia

  6. Betsy

    So timely as I was making my TJ’s list as this email came in! Thank you for the new ideas. We love the pesto marinated chicken cutlets (meat section), soy chorizo (for breakfast tacos), frozen potato and pepper medley, gluten free toaster waffles, green goddess dressing and mango slaw.

    • Alicia

      Thank you so much for the new ideas! It’s so nice to get a recommendation from someone on good things! Love the Green Goddess Dressing, toO!
      xo
      Alicia

  7. beverlee

    Thanks for sharing this post. Like you, I prepare all our meals – I almost never buy processed food. When my youngest daughter visits, she complains that I have nothing but ingredients! However, at Trader Joe’s, I am tempted to purchase prepared foods – the descriptions sound so good!

    I just purchased the Garlic Aioli Mustard just because it sounded tasty and am grateful for your suggestion to use it on fish.

    Again, thanks for this post.

    • Alicia

      My girls say the same thing: “We need food!” When there is a ton of food it’s just not in a box! I hope you love the Garlic Aioli Mustard!
      xo
      Alicia

  8. Kelley

    Thank you for doing this post. I LOVE Trader Joe’s but there is SO much there that it is great to hear reviews of what others are loving. I got some good ideas and I am headed to TJ’s this afternoon!

    • Alicia

      There are so many things to try and I love to hear what others like, too!
      xo
      Alicia

  9. Roz

    TJ’s frozen Vegetable Bird’s Nests and the Tofu Edamame Nuggets make a great shortcut Asian hors d’oeuvres platter. Just add a soy dipping sauce and you’re good to go!

    • Alicia

      Oh! I love a good appetizer idea! I’ll look for these. I’ve never tried tofu but I will at your recommendation!
      xo
      Alicia

  10. Lea Singer

    Frozen chocolate croissants; perfect to keep in the freezer to serve when house guests arrive

    • Alicia

      That is such a great idea!
      xo
      Alicia

  11. Lisa

    Love the orange chicken and the portobello chicken with green beans from the frozen section. The whole grain brown rice goes great with it and seems like a “healthier” version of Asian food. I bake the orange
    Chicken vs, the usual fried type.

    • Alicia

      That sounds wonderful! I’ll have to try your recipe!
      xo
      Alicia

  12. Connie

    I know you have to be sensitive to gluten in your house. Are these products gluten free? Thank you.

    • Alicia

      Hi, Connie,
      Yes! These are all gluten-free!
      xo
      Alicia

  13. Linda

    Love TJ. Wish I lived closer. I copy your lists to use when I get a chance to go. I also
    Always get an orchid.

    • Alicia

      Their orchids are a great find! I love to take three or four small orchids and create a centerpiece in one of my large blue and white bowls or even my silver punch bowl!
      xo
      Alicia

    • Erin

      We love the buffalo hummus and vegan queso!

      • Alicia

        Hi Erin,
        I’ll have to try that!
        xo
        Alicia

  14. Amy D

    TJ’s frozen orange chicken is a quick weekday meal too.

    • Alicia

      Oooh! That sounds great! I’ll have to try it!
      xo
      Alicia

Alicia Wood

MEET ALICIA

AliciaWoodLifestyle.com is a lifestyle destination for everyday living written by Alicia Wood. Alicia’s goal is create a timeless, fresh way to approach fashion, entertaining, beauty, design and travel.

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Alicia Wood

Meet Alicia

AliciaWoodLifestyle.com is a lifestyle destination for everyday living written by Alicia Wood. Alicia's goal is create a timeless, fresh way to approach fashion, entertaining, beauty, design and travel.

Read More

33 Comments

  1. Debbie Breard

    I’m not a big fan of frozen foods generally, but their frozen mashed potatoes and mashed cauliflower are such time savers. Separate or combined, they’re so good. Frozen gluten-free pancakes get us out the door quicker on school days. And their frozen Asian items (potstickers, dumplings, fried rice) are my boys favorite, and easy to prepare all together in the steam oven. Also, great selection of raw nuts.

    • Alicia

      Thank you so much for the great recommendations!
      xo
      Alicia

  2. Maureen

    My husband and I frequent the local Trader Joe’s at least once a week. There are items that we must have on hand and then others we pick up just because they look interesting.

    • Sara

      Love the cauliflower gnocchi, hot & spicy dill pickle chips, cookie butter, and chili lime seasoning, as well as most of the ones you posted. Trader Joe’s forever!

      • Alicia

        I want to try the Cauliflower gnocchi soon! How do you prepare it?
        xo
        Alicia

    • Alicia

      I am the same way. Their packaging is good marketing!
      xo
      Alicia

  3. Margaret Sherrer

    What do you do with the tapas style artichoke hearts? Do you use them in a recipe or just for tapas style appetizer?

    • Alicia

      I’ve put them in salads and also on a charcuterie board. They are so good!
      xo
      Alicia

  4. Katherine Smith

    Good post!! Can you one day do a hair tutorial how you get your soft big waves 😊

    • Alicia

      You are so sweet! One is in the works! I just need to finalize it 🙂
      xo
      Alicia

  5. Jennifer Crecelius

    My son and I also love the Everything but the Bagel seasoning!

    • Anne Tate

      What do you do with the Everything but the Bagel Seasoning?

    • Alicia

      I keep forgetting to pick that up but I know everyone LOVES it!
      xo
      Alicia

  6. Betsy

    So timely as I was making my TJ’s list as this email came in! Thank you for the new ideas. We love the pesto marinated chicken cutlets (meat section), soy chorizo (for breakfast tacos), frozen potato and pepper medley, gluten free toaster waffles, green goddess dressing and mango slaw.

    • Alicia

      Thank you so much for the new ideas! It’s so nice to get a recommendation from someone on good things! Love the Green Goddess Dressing, toO!
      xo
      Alicia

  7. beverlee

    Thanks for sharing this post. Like you, I prepare all our meals – I almost never buy processed food. When my youngest daughter visits, she complains that I have nothing but ingredients! However, at Trader Joe’s, I am tempted to purchase prepared foods – the descriptions sound so good!

    I just purchased the Garlic Aioli Mustard just because it sounded tasty and am grateful for your suggestion to use it on fish.

    Again, thanks for this post.

    • Alicia

      My girls say the same thing: “We need food!” When there is a ton of food it’s just not in a box! I hope you love the Garlic Aioli Mustard!
      xo
      Alicia

  8. Kelley

    Thank you for doing this post. I LOVE Trader Joe’s but there is SO much there that it is great to hear reviews of what others are loving. I got some good ideas and I am headed to TJ’s this afternoon!

    • Alicia

      There are so many things to try and I love to hear what others like, too!
      xo
      Alicia

  9. Roz

    TJ’s frozen Vegetable Bird’s Nests and the Tofu Edamame Nuggets make a great shortcut Asian hors d’oeuvres platter. Just add a soy dipping sauce and you’re good to go!

    • Alicia

      Oh! I love a good appetizer idea! I’ll look for these. I’ve never tried tofu but I will at your recommendation!
      xo
      Alicia

  10. Lea Singer

    Frozen chocolate croissants; perfect to keep in the freezer to serve when house guests arrive

    • Alicia

      That is such a great idea!
      xo
      Alicia

  11. Lisa

    Love the orange chicken and the portobello chicken with green beans from the frozen section. The whole grain brown rice goes great with it and seems like a “healthier” version of Asian food. I bake the orange
    Chicken vs, the usual fried type.

    • Alicia

      That sounds wonderful! I’ll have to try your recipe!
      xo
      Alicia

  12. Connie

    I know you have to be sensitive to gluten in your house. Are these products gluten free? Thank you.

    • Alicia

      Hi, Connie,
      Yes! These are all gluten-free!
      xo
      Alicia

  13. Linda

    Love TJ. Wish I lived closer. I copy your lists to use when I get a chance to go. I also
    Always get an orchid.

    • Alicia

      Their orchids are a great find! I love to take three or four small orchids and create a centerpiece in one of my large blue and white bowls or even my silver punch bowl!
      xo
      Alicia

    • Erin

      We love the buffalo hummus and vegan queso!

      • Alicia

        Hi Erin,
        I’ll have to try that!
        xo
        Alicia

  14. Amy D

    TJ’s frozen orange chicken is a quick weekday meal too.

    • Alicia

      Oooh! That sounds great! I’ll have to try it!
      xo
      Alicia

Alicia Wood

Meet Alicia

AliciaWoodLifestyle.com is a lifestyle destination for everyday living written by Alicia Wood. Alicia's goal is create a timeless, fresh way to approach fashion, entertaining, beauty, design and travel.

Read More