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A composite image of a hand holding a pint of Trader Joe's non-dairy brown-sugar-oat-milk creamer and a hand holding a bottle of Trader Joe's organic French-roast cold-brew coffee concentrate.
When I shop at Trader Joe's, I love picking up items like the non-dairy oat-milk creamer and cold-brew coffee concentrate.

Beth Heyn

  • I used to think Trader Joe's was overrated, but now, I shop there once a week.
  • I love adding the brown-sugar oat-milk creamer to my morning coffee.
  • Trader Joe's fire-roasted peppers and onions spice up every meal.

If you asked me my opinion on Trader Joe's a few years ago, I would have said the store was overrated. The only thing I really knew about the popular grocery chain was that it sold some tasty snacks.

But when I moved a mile from a Trader Joe's location, my curiosity got the best of me. Now, I go at least once a week and can see why Trader Joe's makes an estimated $16.5 billion in sales each year.

Here are 10 items I never leave the store without buying.

Trader Joe's spicy meat pizza has the perfect balance of flavors.
A box of Trader Joe's spicy-meat pizza.
Trader Joe's spicy meat pizza is topped with smoked sausage, meatballs, and grilled red-bell peppers.

Beth Heyn

Trader Joe's spicy meat pizza has gotten me through many nights when I spent all my energy elsewhere and couldn't imagine having to make dinner from scratch.

It's perfect for a weeknight pick-me-up, and I like it even more when I add some pepperoni on top before throwing it in the oven. It also has a great balance of sweet and spicy flavors.

The Unexpected cheddar chicken sausage is surprisingly versatile.
A hand holding a package of Trader Joe's Unexpected cheddar chicken sausage.
I like to add the Unexpected cheddar chicken sausage to mac and cheese.

Beth Heyn

I use the Unexpected cheddar chicken sausage in so many recipes. My favorite way to use this item is to chop it up with some potatoes and fire-roasted veggies, throw it all on a baking sheet with a little bit of avocado oil, and bake it until the potatoes are crispy.

Sometimes, I use it as an addition to mac and cheese for a lunch that's full of childhood nostalgia.

The Rainbow’s End trail mix makes the perfect midday pick-me-up.
A hand holding a package of Trader Joe's rainbow's end trail mix.
Trader Joe's Rainbow's End trail mix is the perfect blend of sweet and salty snacks.

Beth Heyn

I find that the trail mix at Trader Joe's tends to be cheaper than the versions at other stores, but there's no sacrifice in quality.

Though Trader Joe's offers multiple options for this particular snack, the "Rainbow's End" version includes some candy-coated milk-chocolate pieces reminiscent of M&Ms, making it the perfect blend of sweet and salty.

The brown-sugar oat-milk creamer is the perfect addition to my morning brew.
A hand holding a pint of Trader Joe's non-dairy brown-sugar-oat-milk creamer.
I like to mix Trader Joe's brown-sugar oat-milk creamer with cold brew.

Beth Heyn

I don't typically avoid dairy, but Trader Joe's brown-sugar oat-milk creamer is such a good addition to my coffee that I use it every morning. I especially like it mixed with cold brew.

Trader Joe's cold-brew concentrate is a lifesaver.
A bottle of Trader Joe's organic French-roast cold-brew-coffee concentrate.
I usually get about six cups of coffee from Trader Joe's cold-brew concentrate.

Beth Heyn

Sometimes I feel like having a cold brew but don't want to spend the money on a cup from a coffee shop. That's when Trader Joe's cold-brew concentrate comes in handy.

At less than $10 a bottle at my local Trader Joe's, this product is worth it every time. I typically end up getting about six cups out of one bottle.

I use Trader Joe's fire-roasted peppers and onions to spice up every meal.
A bag of Trader Joe's frozen fire-roasted bell peppers and onions.
Trader Joe's fire-roasted peppers and onions bring the perfect amount of flavor to any dish.

Beth Heyn

The fire-roasted peppers and onions, found in the frozen section, can be added to just about any meal to spice it up and bring some depth of flavor.

I personally love it in hashes, scrambled eggs, and cheesy pasta. I also like to use it as a topping on burgers.

Trader Joe's roasted potatoes with peppers and onions make the perfect side dish.
A bag of Trader Joe's frozen roasted potatoes with peppers and onions.
I like to pair Trader Joe's roasted potatoes with peppers and onions with kielbasa.

Beth Heyn

Trader Joe's frozen roasted-potatoes and peppers make a great side dish with dinner.

I love having it with kielbasa or another type of sausage, but it's also a good choice to eat with a burger or some salmon.

The beef-and-broccoli meal from Trader Joe's is better than the versions I've had at some restaurants.
A bag of Trader Joe's frozen beef and broccoli.
Trader Joe's beef-and-broccoli meal satisfies my cravings for Chinese food.

Beth Heyn

Another quick dinner I love whipping up is Trader Joe's beef and broccoli. I crave Chinese food somewhat often, and this always hits the spot.

The garlic-and-herb dough makes pizza night simple.
A package of Trader Joe's ready-to-bake garlic-and-herb pizza dough.
I love Trader Joe's garlic-and-herb pizza dough.

Beth Heyn

Homemade pizza is one of my favorite foods, and thanks to Trader Joe's, it's easy for me to make it relatively often.

Both of Trader Joe's' premade pizza-dough options are delicious, but I prefer the garlic-and-herb version for the extra flavor.

With just one package, I can make a large enough pizza for dinner and still have leftovers for lunch the following day.

Trader Joe's salad kits are the perfect addition to dinner.
A hand holding a bag of Trader Joe's southwestern chopped salad.
Trader Joe's Southwest chopped-salad kit is my favorite.

Beth Heyn

If I leave the store without picking up a salad kit or two, I immediately regret it.

My favorite is the Southwest chopped-salad kit, which is fine on its own but even better if you add some of the ready-to-eat chicken available in the same section.

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I used to think Trader Joe's was overrated, but now it's my go-to for quick, ea…