Trader Joe's Tried & True Grocery Staples
Organized & Hosting-Approved
This past weekend, my parents were in town and I wanted a few simple, delicious things on hand — anything to make hosting feel easy and relaxed.
A friend of mine insisted I grab the croissants (a non-negotiable), and of course I planned to pick up flowers. But I needed more ideas. So I turned to Instagram and asked for your tried-and-true Trader Joe’s staples.
The response? Incredible, as always. Truly — our Instagram community is the best place to go when you need recommendations.
I ended up grabbing quite a few of these, and now I have a running list for future trips.
If Trader Joe’s feels overwhelming, consider this your narrowed-down guide.
Frozen Section Favorites
Let’s start with the freezer aisle — arguably the crown jewel of Trader Joe’s.
Pastries & Breakfast
Chocolate Croissants (fan favorite for hosting)
Almond Croissants
Mini Croissants
Puff Pastry Sheets
Mini Quiches
Frozen Rustic Apple Tarte
Frozen Belgian Waffles
The croissants are especially loved — flaky, buttery, and perfect for overnight guests.
Flatbreads, Pizza & Savory Bakes
Truffle Flatbread / Truffle Pizza
Any TJ Flatbread or Pizza
Five Greek Spiral
Gnocchi
Easy Dinner Staples
Mandarin Orange Chicken (consistently one of TJ’s most loved items)
Kung Pao Chicken
Japanese Edamame Fried Rice
The Mandarin Orange Chicken is probably one of the most reviewed and repurchased frozen items at Trader Joe’s — a true staple.
Frozen Desserts
Mini Ice Cream Cones
Ice Cream Sandwiches (especially love the cookie ones with the mini chocolate chips around the edges)
The mini cones are wildly popular and perfect for portion-controlled desserts when hosting.
Cheese & Charcuterie Board Staples
If you’re hosting, this section alone is worth the trip.
Unexpected Cheddar (cult favorite)
Triple Crème Brie
Blueberry Chèvre
Honey Chèvre
Blueberry Vanilla Goat Cheese
Pepper Jam (perfect pairing)
Unexpected Cheddar is consistently one of Trader Joe’s top-rated cheeses — sharp, slightly nutty, and endlessly snackable.
Bakery & Bread
Blueberry Muffins (so many of you said these are dangerously good)
Cinnamon Coffee Cake Muffins
Ciabatta Baguette / Dinner Rolls
Maple Pecan Granola
Sweet Treats & Snacks
Trader Joe’s truly excels here.
Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups (the “dangerous” classic)
Dark Chocolate Pretzels
Sea Salt Chocolate Covered Almonds
Chocolate Coconut Covered Almonds
Milk Chocolate Laceys
Key Lime Cookies
Baton Cookies
Vanilla Meringues
Cookie Butter
The Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups and Cookie Butter are two of TJ’s most iconic, top-selling sweets.
Dips, Sauces & Pantry Staples
Perfect for grazing boards or easy meals.
Bruschetta
Cashew Pesto
TJ Organic Marinara & Pasta
Romesco Dip
Everything But The Bagel Dip
Buffalo Hummus
Green Goddess Salad Dressing
Peach Salsa
Pepita Salsa & Corn Chips
Yellow Curry Sauce
Aioli Garlic Mustard Sauce
The Green Goddess Dressing and Everything But the Bagel Dip are especially well-loved and frequently repurchased.
Proteins & Savory Add-Ons
Sweet Apple Chicken Sausage
Balsamic & Rosemary Steak Tips
Scalloped Potatoes
The Sweet Apple Chicken Sausage is one of those easy weeknight staples many people always keep on hand.
Drinks & Extras
Lemon Ginger Seltzer Water
Venetian Moon Wine
Flowers (beautiful and affordable — always worth grabbing)
Trader Joe’s flowers truly deserve their own category — affordable, fresh, and perfect for hosting.
If You’re New to Trader Joe’s…
I know how overwhelming that first trip can feel. There are so many unique products, seasonal items, and cult favorites that it’s hard to know where to start.
If I had to narrow this down to a “can’t miss” starter list, it would be:
Mandarin Orange Chicken
Unexpected Cheddar
Croissants
Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
Green Goddess Dressing
Sublime Ice Cream Sandwiches
Flowers
Start there — you really can’t go wrong.