The Best And Worst Trader Joe's Snacks

If you're a snackivore like myself, you know Trader Joe's is where you go to stock your kitchen with munchies. The company has a well-deserved reputation for value and innovation. From Trader Joe's soup dumplings to their pickle corn dogs, the California-based chain develops most of its products in-house. This gives TJ's the latitude to try out creative snack recipes and cuts out the middleman, passing the savings onto the customer.

But not all snacks are created equal. For all the creative (and sometimes outlandish) snacks that line the shelves of your local Trader Joe's, there are bound to be some misses. I got snacks that represent a range of flavors and textures — salty, sweet, nutty, crunchy, spicy, chewy, and everything in between — and I tasted them to find out which snacks are worth buying, and which you can skip. I cover the best snacks first, rounding out the list with those that may be better off left on the grocery store shelves. 

If you're at Trader Joe's and you can't decide whether you feel like a sweet or savory snack, grab a bag of dark chocolate almond butter pretzel nuggets. I know, the name is a mouthful, and you won't be able to finish saying it, because you'll be too busy eating these salty, chocolatey morsels. The lightly sweet dark chocolate exterior gives way to the malty, roasted taste of pretzel, which is studded with salt crystals that provide a perfect contrast to sugar. And inside a core of creamy, gently floral almond butter that rounds out the snack and prevents it from being too dry.

You may not think these puffs are spicy at first, but give it a few minutes. Even when the heat hits, the salty jalapeño flavor is so savory and delicious, that I may or may not have finished the bag in one sitting. Better yet, these puffs are made with rice, corn, and quinoa flours, so they're vegan and gluten free, not to mention organic. Put a bowl of these crunchy, puffy snacks out at your next party and they'll get eaten in no time — but be ready with glasses of water. 

If peanut butter and chocolate invited me to their wedding, I'd be the guest of honor. My faith in the union is so strong that I can't resist picking up a little bag of Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups in the checkout line. The sweet peanut butter center is perfectly encased in a cylinder of dark chocolate that adds a slight cacao bitterness to balance out the sugar. There's also a milk chocolate version for those who like their peanut butter cups a bit sweeter. Each bag contains just a handful of them, which is perfect for me, because they won't last long in my pantry.

If you like bold flavors and the buttery crunch of cashews, get to Trader Joe's right now and buy a bag of Chile & Garlic Cashews. But these spicy nuts are not for the faint of heart. Chile and garlic are hardly subtle flavors, and these cashews leave a funky heat in your mouth that may make you less than kissable. The cashews are roasted, so you get a satisfying crunch that gives way to the nut's signature buttery richness. Cashews are the perfect vessels for the dusting of seasoning — their mellow, fatty flavor enhances the experience of the salt and spice. By the time I finished the bag, I was reaching for a glass of water and wishing I had another bag of these cashews.

If you like Mediterranean food, these dolmas are one of the Trader Joe's canned foods you should always have in your pantry. Dolma means "stuffed" in Turkish, and these dolmas are grape leaves stuffed with rice that's seasoned with dill, mint, black pepper, and onions. They're packed in oil, which makes them super soft and they fall apart in your mouth. They come in a can, but they look super fancy when you plate them up and serve them as a snack or appetizer.

I'm a longtime fan of Joe-Joe's, Trader Joe's' answer to Oreo cookies, but when I saw the strawberry lemonade version, I was suspect. How could Trader Joe's turn these classic beverage flavors into a solid sandwich cookie? But I was pleasantly surprised when I took a bite, revealing a spot-on representation of strawberry lemonade. The lemon flavor of the biscuit was pronounced, but not overwhelming, and the strawberry cream tasted like real fruit. There were even flecks of real strawberry. The cookie's sweetness was balanced out by the natural acidity of lemon and strawberry, which gave the cookie a gently tart edge.

Straight from the cheese-loving nation of Italy, these oven-baked cheese bites are strictly for those who love a seriously pungent salty crunch. Made with Grana Padano cheese (Parmigiano Reggiano's more delicate cousin), these crispy little discs are packed with savory, umami flavor that reminded me of the crunchy edges of a baked ziti. Since they're made with cheese and only cheese, they're a little greasy, even though they're oven baked. That said, they're packed with protein. You can eat them on their own or if you want to give your mac and cheese a little extra flavor, try crushing some up and sprinkling them on top.

I'll admit, even being the foodie that I am, I'd never heard of mee krob before. The attractive pink and orange packaging caught my eye and I'm so glad I went for it. Mee krob is a Thai snack made with crispy noodles, chunks of cashew, and slivers of garlic and shallots fashioned into bite-sized squares that crunch when you bite into them. Tamarind makes them a tad sweet and vinegar and lime juice gives them a pleasant tartness. While they're a little pricier than the average TJ's snack, the adventure is worth it (and so is the garlic breath).

When I bit into one of these rings, my mouth was bursting with sour cream and onion flavor. This snack seems loosely based on Funyuns, but the key differences are that these are baked instead of fried, and they're made with lentils and rice instead of corn. This means they've got less fat and more fiber and protein, not to mention a unique, intense taste. The earthy flavor of the lentils comes through and the rings are so crispy that every bite feels deeply satisfying. The brown color is not the most attractive, but don't judge a ring by its cover!

If you're a fan of Swedish Fish, you'll probably like Scandinavian Swimmers from Trader Joe's. They're soft like fruit snacks and they come in a few different flavors, each with a unique shape (seahorses, lobsters, and starfish, to name a few). While not all the flavors were entirely discernible, they each had a sweet fruitiness that satisfied my sweet tooth. These undersea sweeties are also free of artificial coloring and they come in a big bag and offered at a super low price. So if you're looking for a chewy, sugary, nautical-themed good deal, look no further.

No list of Trader Joe's snack would be complete without old reliable: a tiny tub of lowfat Greek yogurt. This simple snack is exactly what is seems like, which is why I love it so much. No bells and whistles, just a few tart, thick spoonfuls of protein-packed yogurt perfect for a nutritious snack when you're on the go. Greek and European-style yogurts are strained, which is why they're thicker and more tart that most American yogurts. In terms of quality, the Trader Joe's brand ranks among Greek yogurt powerhouses like Fage and Chobani, but is priced significantly lower. Quality snacking doesn't have to mean junk food!

Seeing these pickle potato chips at Trader Joe's confirmed what I already knew to be true: pickles are having a moment and I'm here for it. These dill pickle potato chips are made kettle style with russet potatoes, giving them an extra thickness that translates to a more robust crunch. The added texture puts them in a playing field above the average pickle chip. A strong taste of vinegar hits your tongue, followed by the mellower, grassy aroma of dill. The pickle flavor isn't overwhelming, but definitely conjures the taste of a jar of full sours. If you're a pickle lover, a chip lover, or both, then get your hands in a bag of these crunchy delights.

I feared the worst with these raspberry filled shortbread cookie sandwiches. Would the jam be too sweet? The shortbread too dry? The ratio all wonky? But One bite of these divine little sandwich cookies and my fears evaporated. The raspberry jam has just enough acidity to cut the sugar and is the perfect gooey union between the two perfectly crisp, buttery shortbread cookies. The package only comes with 10 cookies, which is why I ate only 10 cookies. These would be a perfect accompaniment for tea time, an afternoon pick me up, or a light dessert.

Some people are allergic to peanuts, but I'm allergic to prep work, which is why I never make overnight oats. Luckily, the overnight oats at Trader Joe's are super affordable and can be eaten immediately. I've tried all the flavors of these oats, and peanut butter is my favorite. The subtle saltiness of the peanuts contrasts the sugar in the dates and pairs superbly with the gentle earthiness of the rolled oats. The snack is vegan, gluten-free, and has a balance of complex carbs and protein that makes it an ideal mid-morning munch. Stock your fridge with a few of these perfectly portioned cups to fuel your day.

If you're looking for a healthy, low-calorie snack to keep on hand, then maybe your pantry could use more seaweed. The roasted seaweed snack at Trader Joe's is super affordable and provides just enough of a salty, umami crunch to give you some satisfaction without the guilt of downing a bag of chips. The catch: You have to like seaweed, and the taste is not for everybody. The flavor is vaguely reminiscent of a tide pool, which works for some people, myself included. These thin sheets of seaweed are delicious on their own and they also pair well with rice.

For snackers with peanut allergies who look longingly at ads for Reese's, you've found your alternative. These peanut butter cups crumble in your mouth when you bite them. The dark chocolate gives just a hint of bitterness that offsets the sweet sunflower seed butter interior. You can grab a two-pack of these delightfully dainty dessert snacks on your way out of the store (they're usually near the checkout lines). While you can also get a larger bag of mini cups, I prefer the two-pack, because no amount of these luscious chocolatey cups would last long in my kitchen.

Plantain chips are not for everybody. With the starchy earthiness of a potato chip and the dry crunch of a banana chip, the texture can be a bit elusive. Plantains are a staple of Caribbean cooking, so it follows logically that spicy jerk seasoning would be a fitting flavor. But make no mistake: These chips are for those who like it spicy. The jerk seasoning has a strong, warm aroma that includes allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and red pepper. Once I started eating these chips, I had to seal the bag off and put it in a different room so that I wouldn't eat the whole thing. If you're into spicy Caribbean flavor, you'll love these chips.

It's great news when a salty snack packs a bit of protein. Pop one of these pretzel nuggets in your mouth, and you'll notice the salty, roasted, slightly-malty pretzel flavor give way to the lush, rich flavor of peanut butter. Flavor-wise, this is a star snack, but the peanut butter core and the pretzel shell are both dry and eating a bag of these without a glass of water at hand would be difficult to say the least. The bag is large (16 ounces!) and a great value, and these morsels make a great afternoon snack.

With its line of "everything but the bagel" seasoning and snacks, Trader Joe's filled a hole in the market. The mix of seeds, spices, and salt is a crowd favorite, but in this context, it fell flat. These little sandwich crackers are filled with cream cheese, and cream cheese has its time and place, but here it was just too sweet. Instead of reminding me of an everything bagel, these crackers reminded me of an overly-processed gas station snack. I'll be skipping these in favor of other everything bagel snacks available at TJs.

Dried fruit and nuts are some of the most remarkable deals at Trader Joe's. I've been buying their dried mango for years and I love a spicy snack, so I decided to mix it up with this fancier-looking Chile Seasoned Dried Mango that's made with organic Kent mango. Unfortunately, this snack was a letdown. While the mango itself was perfectly delicious, the seasoning was barely noticeable. A dash of chile really makes this gorgeous summer fruit shine in all its chewy glory, but there just wasn't enough, and I felt like I was eating a regular bag of dried mango, which comes at a significantly better deal.

I chose these chips because of my deep love for elote. The Mexican street snack made with corn, lime, mayonnaise, cheese, and chili powder has roots all the way back to the Aztecs. I have super high standards for Mexican food, and while these chips were satisfyingly salty and crunchy, they just didn't give me that zingy elote flavor I was hoping for when I busted the bag open. They taste quite a bit like Fritos, and they definitely deliver the strong taste of corn chip. I could see these curly, crunchy chips paired perfectly with a creamy dip, but on their own, they weren't enough for me.

Eggplant can take many forms. It can be smoky, leathery, meaty, or, in the case of the Grecian Style Eggplant, slimy, shapeless, and drowning in tomato sauce. When you open the can, it's difficult to discern what's eggplant and what's sauce. I got this thinking it would be a nice, healthy snack, but the flavors run together and it just tastes like mid-tier marinara sauce with too much oil. Maybe it's better if you dump it on some pasta and use it as a sauce, or top it with grated Parmesan cheese, but as a standalone snack, it doesn't sing.

One of the newer snacks on this list, Trader Joe's Pizza Seasoned Crackers are undeniably cute. But while these crunchy mini pizzas would be perfect for a teddy bear pizza party, the flavor doesn't match up to the visual appeal. The flat rounds have a nice crunch and a decent, subtle tomato flavor, but the herbs on top give the snack a grainy mouthfeel and too much bitter flavor. All of the elements are pretty dry, so without a moist topping of some kind, they turn your mouth into a desert in no time. I'll skip them next time and get a real slice down the street.

These rye chips had all the makings for greatness. A rich dark brown, they came all the way from Norway and are studded with seeds and nuts. The crackers are thin and light and have a crisp texture, but the rye flavor was conspicuously absent. The bag implores wise eaters to enjoy these chips with smoked salmon or cream cheese, and I see why. They're a little too salty and oily to enjoy on their own. So if you pick these up on your next grocery run, be sure to grab some accouterments to go with them.

Just thinking about the savory crunch of a baked cheese bite makes my mouth water. The crispy, puffy texture of these little squares was ideal, but they contain whole peppercorns, which competes with the sharpness of the Parmesan cheese. While they are indeed super seedy (they contain pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and sesame seeds), you can't taste any of these delicate seeds behind the intensity of cheese and peppercorns. If you want a piquant, protein-rich cheesy crunch, I'd stick with the regular oven-baked cheese bites, which provide a similar taste, but respect the majesty of cheesy flavor.

Compiling a shopping list for this tasting was a process near to my heart. As a lifelong Trader Joe's fan, there are some snacks that I've been eating since I was a kid. Others I've never even heard of since the store is constantly churning out new products. I got a mix of sweet and savory snacks that struck an even balance between classics and new releases.

To get a sense of what the most popular snacks are, I perused websites like Reddit, and I even asked a TJ's employee what's flying off the shelves. I also consulted the Fearless Flyer, Trader Joe's' newsletter, to learn about new products. I ended up with a diverse bag of snacks that represented the legendary grocery store chain in all its glory.