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If you’re wondering what to buy at Trader Joe’s, these 11 customer-award winners are a useful place to start. They span meals, snacks, produce, pantry staples, dessert and a household item. “Always buy” is a personal recommendation, not a promise that every shopper will love each one—or find it in stock. The list draws on Trader Joe’s 13th Annual Customer Choice Awards; check your neighborhood store for current availability.
How to use this list
Trader Joe’s says customers voted through email, Instagram and its website, and that its marketing team counted votes using spreadsheets and manual counting. The transcript does not give a vote total or sample size, so treat the awards as a discovery signal rather than proof of universal preference or an objective ranking. The retailer’s transcript named these products as winners in their respective categories; it did not establish that every item is a best buy for every budget or diet.
Products and stock can vary by location and time. Trader Joe’s says its website does not represent every product and directs shoppers to their neighborhood store for complete product information. Check the package for ingredients and dietary details before buying.
11 Trader Joe’s items to consider
1. Mandarin Orange Chicken
This is the clearest repeat-favorite on the list: Trader Joe’s says it was introduced in January 2004, entered the retailer’s Product Hall of Fame in January 2023, and won Favorite Overall and Best Entrée multiple years in a row. The awards transcript also names it the overall winner. That record makes it a strong candidate if you want a customer-recognized meal option, though it does not tell you whether it suits your taste or budget.
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Trader Joe’s podcast transcript demonstrates cooking it in an air fryer for 10 minutes, compared with 18–20 minutes in a conventional oven. Those are times from the retailer’s demonstration, not a guarantee for every appliance; the speaker notes that air fryers differ. Follow the package directions and check the food as it cooks. See Trader Joe’s product information.
2. Non-dairy Oat Beverage
This award-winning beverage offers a non-dairy option for shoppers who want one. The award alone does not establish its ingredients, nutrition, allergens or suitability for a particular diet, so review the current carton label.
Rank #2
- Ideal for Gifting
- Ideal for a bookworm
- Compact for travelling
3. Unexpected Cheddar
Unexpected Cheddar was among the five products Trader Joe’s listed at the top of the overall awards results. It is a cheese pick for shoppers looking to try a customer-recognized item from the retailer’s cheese selection; the award is not a head-to-head quality or value comparison.
4. Hold The Cone! Mini Ice Cream Cones
These mini cones are a smaller-format dessert choice on the awards list. Consider them if you prefer individually sized treats, and use the package for serving, ingredient and storage details.
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5. Teeny Tiny Avocados
Trader Joe’s included these avocados among its customer-choice winners. Their small format may appeal if you want a smaller portion, but size, ripeness and availability can vary. Choose based on what you’ll use and the condition of the produce in store.
6. Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels
This sweet-and-salty snack won a place in the awards transcript. It may suit shoppers who want a ready-to-eat snack, but check the package for ingredients and allergen information rather than assuming it fits your needs.
Rank #4
7. Scented Candle Tins
Not every worthwhile Trader Joe’s pick is food: the awards also named scented candle tins. Fragrance preference is personal, so check whether the scent is available to sample in store and follow the candle’s safety directions.
8. Soy Chorizo
Soy Chorizo is the list’s plant-based savory option. Its award recognition can help you spot it, but the name alone is not a substitute for checking the ingredients and current package label if you have dietary restrictions.
Best Value
- It can be a gift option
- Comes with secure packaging
- Helpful in various ways
9. Everything But The Bagel Seasoning
This seasoning made Trader Joe’s top five overall. It is a pantry item to consider if you want a seasoning blend for foods you already make; the awards do not establish its price or value compared with other seasonings.
10. Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
These sweets also appeared in the top five overall, making them one of the more prominent dessert picks in the awards transcript. Whether they’re worth adding to your basket depends on your taste and the current label.
11. Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
This mac and cheese rounded out the overall top five. Trader Joe’s transcript described it as seasonally available at the time of that awards episode, so don’t assume it is stocked year-round. Ask your local store whether it is available now.
Quick Recap
What the awards can—and can’t—tell you
- Useful for discovery: The awards point to products customers voted for across a range of categories.
- Not a personal-fit guarantee: They do not establish what you will like, whether a product meets your dietary needs, or whether it is good value for your household.
- Not a stock checker: The awards transcript is historical, and Trader Joe’s says its online product information is incomplete. Confirm availability with your local store.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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