Food & Drink

We Asked 5 Chefs What Trader Joe's Products They Love-and We're Taking Plenty of Notes

By Fred Hernandez Parade - Food and Drink Stories

Updated June 4, 2026 4:30 PM

I'm a regular at Trader Joe's, but I tend to stick to my usual fridge staples, whether it's the frozen orange chicken, whole crimini mushrooms, or the garlic and herb pizza dough. But it's fun now and then to mix things up with products that have been right under my nose the entire time.

To expand beyond my Trader Joe's comfort zone and be inspired by the versatility of some of its most beloved products, I asked five chefs what they actually buy when shopping at the cult-favorite grocery chain. Their picks range from freezer-aisle staples and specialty cheeses to pantry shortcuts and flavor-packed condiments.

😋😋SIGN UP to get delicious recipes, handy kitchen hacks & more in our daily Pop Kitchen newsletter🍳🍔

Part of what makes Trader Joe's so popular is its ability to offer affordable ingredients alongside unique products you won't find at most grocery stores. One trip can leave you with everything from frozen dinners and charcuterie essentials to globally inspired sauces, seasoning blends and restaurant-worthy ingredients.

For chefs, Trader Joe's isn't just a place to stock up on basics. It's a source of reliable shortcuts, quality ingredients and products that can serve as the foundation for surprisingly impressive meals. Whether they're building quick breakfasts, weeknight dinners, party boards or elevated comfort food, these chefs have found plenty of TJ's favorites worth keeping on hand.

If you're looking to shake up your shopping routine, these are the Trader Joe's products professional chefs say are absolutely worth adding to your cart.

Our Panel of Chefs

These are the five chefs we spoke with to learn their TJ's go-tos.

Chef Nicole Andrea Guzman is a Los Angeles-based celebrity chef, podcast host, and founder of Mystic Meals and Mystic Seasonings.
Chef Michael Goodman is the executive chef of Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas, bringing decades of luxury hospitality and culinary experience to the kitchen.
Chef Maya Walton Patel is a private superyacht chef who cooks for yacht owners, guests and crew members around the world.
Chef Phillip Dewayne is a Memphis-based chef, culinary personality and owner of Park + Cherry at Dixon Gallery and Gardens.
Chef Raul Duarte is a New York City-based sous chef whose résumé includes acclaimed restaurants such as NOMA and Quixote at LaFayette.

What to Look for When Shopping at Trader Joe's

After talking with these chefs, one thing became pretty clear: They aren't necessarily shopping Trader Joe's the same way most people do.

Sure, they appreciate the frozen meals and ready-to-eat options, but what caught their attention most were products that could pull double or even triple duty in the kitchen. Think versatile cheeses, seasoning blends, frozen staples and ingredients that can help turn a simple meal into something a little more interesting.

Several of the chefs also mentioned keeping an eye on seasonal releases and limited-time products. Trader Joe's is constantly bringing in new items, which means there's usually something worth discovering beyond your usual shopping list.

In other words, don't just look for what you're making tonight. Look for products that can inspire a few meals throughout the week.

5 Chefs' Favorite Trader Joe's Products

Our panel of chefs shared some of their Trader Joe's favorites to stock up on.

1. Hashbrowns

Chef Michael Goodman always keeps Trader Joe's frozen hash browns stocked at home.

"They're simple and reliable, but also versatile," Goodman says. "For me, breakfast is all about creating dishes that feel comforting but still thoughtful, and hash browns are a great example of that balance."

To upgrade them, Goodman cooks the hash browns extra crispy in a cast-iron pan with olive oil, then tops them with soft scrambled eggs, avocado, fresh herbs and either crème fraîche or hot sauce.

When he wants something heartier, he'll add roasted mushrooms or smoked salmon.

2. Unexpected Cheddar Cheese

Another Trader Joe's staple Goodman keeps on hand is Unexpected Cheddar, a fan-favorite cheese known for combining the sharpness of aged cheddar with the crumbly texture of Parmesan.

"It melts beautifully into omelets or breakfast sandwiches, and adds a richer, more complex flavor than standard cheddar," Goodman says.

One of his favorite tricks is grating it into scrambled eggs right before they finish cooking. According to Goodman, this helps the cheese stay creamy instead of becoming greasy.

3. Trader Giotto's Fettuccine Alfredo

Chef Nicole Andrea Guzman says Trader Giotto's Fettuccine Alfredo is one Trader Joe's product she keeps coming back to because of how easy it is to customize.

"It's great on its own, but even better when you get creative," Guzman says. "The pasta's al dente, the sauce is really delicious and is just a versatile item that shows how even a frozen item can be a canvas for kitchen sorcery."

To make it even better, she recommends adding proteins like chicken, sausage, bacon or shrimp, along with vegetables such as mushrooms or spinach.

A sprinkle of Cajun seasoning is another easy way to give the dish a completely different flavor profile.

4. Sweet Potato Fries

When Guzman is looking for a side dish with a little more personality, she reaches for Trader Joe's Sweet Potato Fries.

"I don't know what sorcery they're doing in the TJ's test kitchen, but there's just something about the seasoning on these that sets them apart from other frozen sweet potato fries I've had," Guzman says. "They have a sweet and salty crackling type coating on them when they're fried, and I can't say enough about them."

While they're a natural pairing for burgers and sandwiches, Guzman also likes turning them into chili cheese fries for a heartier meal.

5. Spanish-Inspired Charcutería

For an easy appetizer, grazing board or quick lunch, Guzman recommends Trader Joe's Spanish-Inspired Charcutería.

"I feel like this item is self-explanatory for when you just want to make a yummy grazing board," Guzman says. Plus, she notes that it can do much more than anchor a charcuterie spread.

One of her favorite ways to use it is in sandwiches and grilled cheese. She likes pairing the meats with Trader Joe's ciabatta bread and roasted red peppers for an easy and tasty meal. "With the flick of a cheese knife, you can conjure up an amazing spread with little effort and big flavor," Guzman says.

The charcutería also works well on flatbreads and in wraps, making it a versatile option to keep on hand for everything from entertaining to quick weeknight meals.

6. Organic Polenta

Chef Maya Walton Patel loves keeping Trader Joe's Organic Polenta in her pantry because it's versatile and can quickly round out a meal.

"It's shelf-stable and great to have in my pantry when I'm in a rush to add to an Italian dinner," Patel says.

One of her favorite preparations is slicing the polenta and arranging it in a baking dish with olive oil, Parmesan cheese, and fresh or dried herbs before baking until warmed through and lightly crisped. She'll often serve it with marinara sauce, vegetable caponata, ratatouille or simple roasted vegetables.

"It always gets really great reviews," Patel says.

7. Seasonings

If there's one section of Trader Joe's Patel never skips, it's the seasoning aisle. In particular, she's a fan of the store's spice blends, which she says can instantly add flavor to everyday meals.

Her top pick is the Mushroom & Company Multipurpose Umami Seasoning Blend. "It's made with ground dried mushrooms and a little dried red peppers for a little heat. It works on everything," Patel says. "I add it to soups, vegetables, grains and salads."

She's also a longtime fan of the Everything But the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend. "I grabbed it to add some interest to some avocado toast for the crew with a little lime once, and now it's the only way I make it," Patel says.

8. Shredded Kale

Shredded kale might not be the most exciting item at Trader Joe's, but for Chef Raul Duarte, it's one of the store's most versatile ingredients.

"My favorite product for now is the shredded kale," Duarte says.

One of his favorite uses is adding it to scrambled eggs. He starts by sautéing garlic, onion and the kale in a little oil before adding a squeeze of lemon juice. Then, he folds in eggs along with Trader Joe's Reduced Guilt Spinach & Kale Greek Yogurt Dip, which adds extra creaminess and savory flavor.

The result is a simple breakfast that's packed with flavor and comes together with just a handful of ingredients.

9. Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips Chili & Lime

Trader Joe's Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips Chili & Lime Flavored aren't just a snack for Duarte-they're a nostalgic favorite.

"As a Mexican-American, these chips instantly throw me back to childhood because of their high-acid profile," Duarte says.

"I enjoy them by themselves; however, I love a high-acid moment, to which at times I add some lime juice and eat them like that."

10. Wild Raw Argentinian Red Shrimp

Chef Phillip Dewayne says Trader Joe's Frozen Argentinian Red Shrimp is one product he regularly keeps on hand thanks to its quality and versatility.

"The quality is consistently impressive, and it cooks quickly," Dewayne says. "It's a great option for when I'm cooking a meal at home."

For an easy weeknight dinner, he likes preparing the shrimp with garlic butter and fresh herbs, or tossing it into a light pasta with lemon, white wine and seasonal vegetables. Dewayne says the shrimp "has a sweetness that works beautifully in dishes where you want the seafood to be the star."

When he's looking to elevate it even further, he'll serve the shrimp over creamy stone-ground grits with roasted corn and smoked tomato butter, or pair grilled shrimp with a fresh peach and tomato salad during the summer.

11. Crunchy Chili Onion

When Dewayne wants to add flavor without a lot of extra work, he reaches for Trader Joe's Chili Onion Crunch.

"My favorite product from Trader Joe's is definitely their Chili Onion Crunch," Dewayne says. "I keep it stocked at home all the time. It's one of those products that can completely wake a dish up without you having to overthink it."

Dewayne loves the combination of crispy onion, garlic and chili, which adds heat, texture and savoriness in a single spoonful. He uses it on eggs, roasted potatoes, grilled salmon, noodles, rice bowls, vegetables and sandwiches.

One of his favorite upgrades is finishing roasted vegetables or crispy potatoes with Chili Onion Crunch, fresh herbs and a squeeze of lemon. He'll also stir it into aioli or vinaigrettes to add "a little edge and complexity" without having to make a sauce from scratch.

12. Green Chickpeas With Parsley and Cumin

Duarte discovered Trader Joe's Greek Chickpeas With Parsley and Cumin while browsing the aisles and was immediately intrigued by the flavors.

"When I opened the can, I got a subtle fragrance of parsley and cumin," Duarte says.

While his chef instincts initially pointed him toward a salad, he decided to take a different approach and blend the chickpeas into a quick hummus. To finish it, he tops the dip with fresh parsley, Trader Joe's Main Squeeze Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Trader Joe's Crunchy Chili Onion.

For dipping, Duarte recommends Trader Joe's Pita Chips. To make them even better, he suggests warming them in a 300-degree oven for five to seven minutes, then finishing them with flaky salt and toasted sesame seeds.

4 Chef-Approved Tips for Making Trader Joe's Products 10x Better

After talking with these chefs, a few themes came up again and again.

Don't treat Trader Joe's products as the finished dish.

"My biggest tip with Trader Joe's products in general is not to rely on them to do all the work for you. Use them as tools," Dewayne says.

Goodman shares a similar philosophy. "My biggest tip with Trader Joe's products is to use them as a starting point rather than the final dish. A few fresh herbs, citrus, good olive oil or seasonal ingredients can completely transform something convenient into something that feels restaurant quality."

Think in combinations.

Duarte recommends building meals around complementary ingredients rather than focusing on a single product.

"I recommend that any time an item is purchased at Trader Joe's, think of it as a triangle and find two extra items that will go with it; there is always an answer for that," Duarte says.

Browse before you shop.

Trader Joe's is known for its rotating selection of seasonal and limited-time products, which is why Guzman recommends slowing down and taking a look around before filling your cart.

"I always browse the store first before I start filling up that shopping cart," Guzman says. "TJ's is known for having fun seasonal items that can really change the trajectory of your shopping extravaganza in the best way."

Look for versatile products.

While the chefs had different favorite products, they all gravitated toward ingredients that could be used in multiple ways throughout the week. Whether it's Unexpected Cheddar, Chili Onion Crunch, frozen hash browns or a favorite seasoning blend, versatility was a recurring theme throughout their recommendations.

Whether you're stocking up on freezer staples, searching for a new weeknight shortcut or simply looking to break out of your Trader Joe's routine, these chef-approved picks prove there are plenty of gems hiding beyond the usual favorites.

The next time you're wandering the aisles, consider tossing one of these products into your cart-you might just discover a new staple of your own.

This story was originally published June 4, 2026 at 3:22 PM.