The best products at Trader Joe’s follow a typical trajectory. First, they’re released and snatched up by overzealous fans. And then, after a few months of hype, they either disappear (ahem, Belgian chocolate pudding), or the product’s quality takes a hit, the victim of a supplier or recipe change (we’re looking at you, mandarin orange chicken).
Of course, there are a few exceptions — top-tier Trader Joe’s favorites that are as good as they were on day one. Trader Joe’s superfans recently shared some of those consistent hits on Reddit.
Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
$4.49
Trader Joe’s peanut butter cups are at the top of the list, but is anyone surprised? Even if you tried, it’s nigh impossible to mess up this salty-sweet combo. Like cookies and milk or cream and coffee, peanut butter and dark chocolate are just meant to be together.
Tandoori Naan
$2.99
It’s not an exaggeration to say that Trader Joe’s tandoori naan is a perfect product. It’s cheap, easy, and quick to make, and it comes out of the oven with that irresistible tandoori leoparding. As one commenter writes, you can do “a billion things” with it, and it’s “always the same great naan.”
World’s Puffiest White Cheddar Corn Puffs
$2.49
Trader Joe’s “world’s puffiest” white cheddar corn puffs are a perennial favorite. In a separate thread, superfans suggest pairing a bag of these cheesy snacks with a bottle of cheap Charles Shaw pinot grigio.
Soy Chorizo
$2.69
Whether they’re Trader Joe’s fanatics or Costco superfans, brand loyalists don’t just hate change — they detest it. That’s why it speaks volumes that one Redditor says that Trader Joe’s soyrizo has “gotten even better.”
Even if you’re not vegan or vegetarian, it’s worth eating this meat substitute for the nutritional profile alone; each serving has 60% less fat than traditional chorizo and zero cholesterol.For more Trader Joe’s coverage, please sign up for our free newsletters.
Peanut Butter
Prices vary
Peanut butter is one of those Trader Joe’s staples that fans have been buying for years without trying other brands. It’s cheap (the creamy peanut butter is just $2.49), and there’s plenty of variety, with the store offering crunchy, creamy, organic, and salt-free versions.
Related: I Tried 9 Types of Trader Joe’s Hummus — Here’s How They Ranked
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Vanilla Meringues
$2.99
Although the chocolate chip meringues have been discontinued, superfans can still enjoy the vanilla meringues. These fan favorites have been around for at least a decade — I remember shopping for them when I was a kid — and they still hit the spot.
Related: Best Store-Bought Desserts from Trader Joe’s
Traditional Whole Milk Ricotta Cheese
$3.99
Although a coagulated cheese curd hardly sounds appetizing, anyone who’s had ricotta knows that this fluffy, Italian sweet cheese may be one of the best dairy products on earth. Trader Joe’s insists that its ricotta is produced “the ‘traditional’ way,” and while we’re not exactly sure what that means, one fan says that it’s “the best whole milk ricotta” you can find.
Related: The Best Trader Joe’s Cheeses, According to a Professional Cheesemonger
Chicken Tikka Masala
$4.49
Like the vanilla meringue cookies, Trader Joe’s frozen chicken tikka has been around for more than a decade. Nevertheless, it’s remained unscathed by recipe changes and product discontinuations. It was even a runner-up in the 14th Annual Customer Choice Awards Winners for best entree.
Related: The Best Frozen and Ready-to-Eat Meals from Trader Joe’s
