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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Chefs interviewed by Parade named a mix of freezer staples, pantry shortcuts and flavor boosters they like to keep on hand. Their picks aren’t a universal chef list or a guarantee of what’s in stock, but they offer practical ideas for turning convenient Trader Joe’s ingredients into more than one meal.
What chefs recommend at Trader Joe’s
The recommendations below come from five individual chefs interviewed by Parade on June 4, 2026. They describe personal shopping and cooking habits, not a ranked list or product test. The common thread is usefulness: many picks can serve as a base, then take on different flavors with a few additions.
Frozen and ready-to-cook picks
- Frozen hash browns — Michael Goodman. The executive chef of Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas keeps them stocked and cooks them extra-crispy in a cast-iron pan with olive oil. He tops them with soft scrambled eggs, avocado, herbs, crème fraîche or hot sauce; roasted mushrooms or smoked salmon make the plate heartier.
- Trader Giotto’s Fettuccine Alfredo — Nicole Andrea Guzman. The Los Angeles-based chef treats it as a customizable base, adding chicken, sausage, bacon, shrimp, mushrooms or spinach. Cajun seasoning is another way she changes its flavor.
- Sweet Potato Fries — Nicole Andrea Guzman. Guzman describes their coating as sweet-salty. She suggests serving them with burgers or sandwiches, or making chili-cheese fries.
- Wild Raw Argentinian Red Shrimp — Phillip Dewayne. The Memphis-based chef and culinary personality says they cook quickly. His serving ideas include garlic butter and herbs, lemony pasta, grits with roasted corn and smoked tomato butter, or a summer peach-and-tomato salad.
Cheese, meat and pantry shortcuts
- Unexpected Cheddar — Michael Goodman. Goodman says it melts well in omelets and breakfast sandwiches. For creamy scrambled eggs, he grates it in near the end of cooking.
- Spanish-Inspired Charcutería — Nicole Andrea Guzman. Guzman uses it for grazing boards, sandwiches, grilled cheese, flatbreads and wraps. One sandwich combination highlighted in the feature pairs the meats with ciabatta and roasted red peppers.
- Organic Polenta — Maya Walton Patel. Patel values it as a shelf-stable shortcut. She slices and bakes it with olive oil, Parmesan and herbs, then serves it with marinara, caponata, ratatouille or roasted vegetables.
- Greek Chickpeas With Parsley and Cumin — Raul Duarte. The New York City-based sous chef blends them into hummus and finishes it with parsley, olive oil and Chili Onion Crunch. Warmed pita chips are suggested for serving.
Seasonings and flavor boosters
- Mushroom & Company Multipurpose Umami Seasoning — Maya Walton Patel. Patel uses the blend in soups, vegetables, grains and salads.
- Everything But the Bagel Sesame Seasoning — Maya Walton Patel. Her suggestion is to sprinkle it on avocado toast with lime.
- Chili Onion Crunch — Phillip Dewayne. Dewayne uses it on eggs, potatoes, salmon, noodles, rice bowls, vegetables and sandwiches. He also stirs it into aioli or vinaigrette.
A breakfast built from kale and dip
- Shredded kale and Reduced Guilt Spinach & Kale Greek Yogurt Dip — Raul Duarte. Duarte sautés the kale with garlic and onion, adds lemon, then folds it into eggs with the dip for a creamy, savory breakfast.
A snack pick
- Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips, Chili & Lime Flavored — Raul Duarte. Duarte likes them on their own and sometimes adds lime juice; that’s his personal preference, not a general tasting verdict.
How to turn a shopping pick into more than one meal
The chefs’ advice points toward a flexible shop: choose a convenient base, then add fresh ingredients or a complementary flavor rather than expecting one packaged item to make a complete dish. Goodman’s tip is to treat Trader Joe’s products as “a starting point rather than the final dish,” and to use fresh herbs, citrus, good olive oil or seasonal ingredients to transform them. Dewayne similarly advises shoppers to use products as tools rather than rely on them to do all the work.
Duarte offers a simple planning prompt: think of each purchase as a triangle and find two extra items that go with it. For example, the chefs’ combinations pair polenta with a sauce or vegetables, shrimp with pasta or grits, and chickpeas with parsley, olive oil and chili crunch. Guzman’s practical shopping advice is to browse the store before filling the cart.
#1 Best Overall
Other chef lists—and what they do and don’t tell you
A Delish roundup published November 12, 2025, also reports chef picks such as canned dolmas, Pound Plus chocolate bars and freeze-dried fruit. Its examples include using chocolate for baking and freeze-dried fruit in fillings, toppings, batters and buttercream. An older Kitchn list from January 22, 2021, mentions seasonal coffee, truffles, kefir and non-cow dairy yogurt, condiments, plantain chips, taquitos, pretzels, mini ice cream cones, butter, wine, salami sticks and the Super Seed & Ancient Grain Blend. That 2021 list is historical inspiration, not confirmation of current stock.
These chef interviews answer a different question from Trader Joe’s customer-voted awards. The retailer says Product Hall of Fame inductees have each won their category’s Customer Choice Award at least five times; its 17th annual awards are based on customer voting. Those are retailer-reported popularity signals, not proof that chefs universally prefer a product or that it will suit every shopper.
Rank #2
- Ideal for Gifting
- Ideal for a bookworm
- Compact for travelling
Check availability before building a meal plan
Trader Joe’s selection includes seasonal and limited-time products, and the cited chef features do not establish current prices, local inventory or regional availability. Check your local store before planning around a specific item. Formulations and availability can change, so treat the combinations as adaptable ideas rather than promises about what you will find.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- It can be a gift option
- Comes with secure packaging
- Helpful in various ways
Rank #4
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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