Trader Joe’s Employee: Popular Foods That Are Worth It, Not Worth It

Trader Joe’s Mandarin-orange chicken was consistently one of the most popular items at all three store locations I’ve worked at, and I believe it’s worth the hype.

This crispy chicken in sweet and tangy orange sauce is a quick and delicious weeknight meal.

Pairing this with white rice and steamed broccoli is a must because I love the way the orange sauce soaks into the vegetables like little sponges.

If you’re a fan of this style of chicken, you’ll certainly want to try this product.

This dark-chocolate treat was part of my life long before I worked at Trader Joe’s, though my relationship with the peanut-butter cup has evolved.

When I lived in the restrictive-diet mindset, I believed I couldn’t keep these in the house without feeling like I’d eat them all at once.

All these years later, as an intuitive-eating dietitian, I know that restriction leads to bingeing. Although it may seem counterintuitive, if you feel out of control around a certain food, it can be helpful to keep it around to normalize your relationship with it.

Now, as an intuitive eater, I’ll buy a big tub of Trader Joe’s peanut-butter cups, and they’ll hang out in my fridge for weeks.

These are the perfect afternoon pick-me-up or meal cap when you’re craving something sweet, so I think they’re 100% worth the hype.

When I worked the late shift at Trader Joe’s, I’d do my personal grocery shopping after the store closed. Trader Joe’s sweet-potato gnocchi would always be on my shopping list, but oftentimes, it was out of stock by the end of the day.

Similar to the Mandarin-orange chicken, I enjoy my sweet-potato gnocchi with broccoli, which soaks up the delicious sage-butter sauce. I also find fresh broccoli complements the rich buttery gnocchi very nicely.

This seasonal product has been in my weeknight-meal rotation for years now, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon, so it’s worth the hype.

I clearly remember the day Trader Joe’s chili-lime rolled-corn chips hit stores. They became an instant craze among customers, and when I tried them myself, I also thought they were a unique and delicious savory snack.

However, the spice is a little much for my personal taste, so I like to dip the chips in full-fat Greek yogurt, which is a game changer. The cold, creamy yogurt offsets the spice and serves as a refreshing contrast to the dry chips.

In my book, Trader Joe’s chili-lime rolled-corn chips are worth the hype, but I need the Greek yogurt to add to the satisfaction of the eating experience.

Growing up, one of my friends used to come over to make grilled-cheese sandwiches with this delicious Trader Joe’s product, so it still has a special place in my heart.

The cheese is topped with salt crystals, which adds a pleasant and unique textural experience.

I like pairing the Unexpected Cheddar with apple and crackers for a sweet and savory snack, grating some on top of my chili, or making a grilled cheese with sourdough bread.

If you’re a fan of cheddar cheese, I think this product is certainly worth the hype.

Trader Joe’s Everything but the Bagel Sesame blend truly changed the seasoning game when it was released.

People were adding it to everything, like roasted vegetables, avocado toast, fish, and eggs. When I tried this seasoning for the first time, I immediately agreed that it was worth the hullabaloo.

The Everything but the Bagel Seasoning’s crunchy seeds flavor and texture make it a unique addition to almost any dish.

I like to add it to roasted veggies and homemade dips. If you haven’t tried the famous seasoning yet, I believe you’re missing out.

If you are trying to swap cauliflower for potatoes, wheat, or rice in the name of “health,” you could end up feeling unsatisfied and may overeat later on.

This being said, Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi was flying off the shelves when it first hit stores, so I had to at least try it. I am sad to report that, in my opinion, this item wasn’t worth the hype.

I thought the smell was off-putting, and the texture wasn’t right, no matter how I cooked it. Unless you have a medically indicated allergy to wheat, opt for the real gnocchi instead of the cauliflower version.

When I finally tried Trader Joe’s peanut-butter pretzel nuggets, I wasn’t blown away.

My partner, on the other hand, always has this Trader Joe’s snack in his work bag because he loves the salty crunch of the pretzel and the satisfying creaminess of the peanut-butter filling.

I understand why they’re popular — these nuggets are a decent snack: the pretzel contributes carbohydrates, and the peanut butter offers protein and fat.

However, I still don’t think they’re anything to write home about.

Although I have nothing against oat milk, I prefer the regular whole version to this nondairy alternative.

In my opinion, Trader Joe’s nondairy oat beverage isn’t worth the hype.

As an intuitive-eating dietitian, I also want to emphasize that there’s nothing morally superior about nondairy milk as opposed to the regular version.

Go for the oat beverage if you genuinely enjoy the taste, but if you’re only drinking it because you feel like it’s somehow “healthier” than regular milk, you’re better off choosing the option that will satisfy your cravings.

Trader Joe’s is known for having delicious Indian-inspired frozen meals, and the chicken tikka masala is among the most popular items.

I’ll say it upfront: This dish has tons of flavor and lives up to its name.

I also love that this frozen meal comes with rice, so all you have to do is pop it in the microwave to create a balanced, satisfying meal.

However, I sometimes find that the chicken tikka masala isn’t enough to fill me up on its own.

I usually add a vegetable and a Greek-yogurt dip, which offers a refreshing component and cooling creaminess to go with the rich meal and the heat of the sauce.

This story was originally published on October 17, 2022, and most recently updated on January 12, 2025.