Insider has tried 18 of those award-winning staples to see if they were truly worth the hype — and some definitely are.
The Unexpected Cheddar cheese is the perfect addition to any charcuterie board
Trader Joe's Unexpected Cheddar is a beloved cheese at the chain.Savanna Swain-Wilson
At just $5, this chunk of cheddar has been crowned the chain's best cheese seven years in a row.
It tastes like something you could find on a cheese plate from a fancy wine bar, with a distinct, yet nuanced flavor that boasts notes of Parmesan.
This cheese would make an excellent addition to sandwiches or pizzas, but also has a great enough texture — both crumbly and soft — to hold its own on a platter.
Consisting of toasted sesame and poppy seeds, minced onion, dried garlic, and sea salt, this umami blend tastes great on avocado toast, burgers, and more.
Trader Joe's is known for its seasonal products, perfect for everything from summer cookouts to Halloween festivities.
Trader Joe's pink-and-white shortbread cookies would be great at any spring picnic
Trader Joe's pink-and-white shortbread cookies are nice and sweet.Savanna Swain-Wilson
These colorful cookies are both adorable and tasty, with a cute floral shape, creamy yogurt coating, and rainbow sprinkles. Swain-Wilson compared them to the "frosted circus-animal cookies" she ate as a kid.
In addition to their sweet taste, they sport a crumbly texture similar to that of a graham cracker.
The candy-coated almonds are a satiating dessert or snack
Blue and yellow bag of trader joe's candy almonds with some spilling out
These chocolaty nuts are cute and tasty.Savanna Swain-Wilson
Covered in a pastel candy shell, these chocolaty almonds are both crunchy and delicious.
The healthy fats from the nuts make them more filling than some other treats, and they'd be a welcome addition to spring picnics or snack tables.
The chain's candy-cane Joe-Joe's ice cream is like a winter wonderland
Trader Joe's candy-cane Joe-Joe's ice cream can be found in the winter.Savanna Swain-Wilson
This seasonal vanilla ice cream combines peppermint flavor, dark-chocolate fudge, and chocolate-peppermint Joe-Joe cookies into a delicious winter dessert.
It also sports a rich texture while maintaining the right amount of softness, making it difficult to put down.
Trader Joe's sells a Danish almond Kringle in the winter
This Kringle comes from a bakery in Wisconsin.Savanna Swain-Wilson
These Kringles often sell out fast, and for good reason.
Imported from a bakery in Wisconsin, these large pastries are flaky and sweet. Swain-Wilson deemed it "a cross between a traditional Danish and croissant."
Plus it's quite large, so you can enjoy it with your morning coffee for days.
Trader Joe's has a variety of options for at-home entertainers who want to impress their guests. Insider has tried over a dozen of them to find the best options.
The mac-and-cheese bites are solid, especially if you add a sauce
Trader Joe's mac-and-cheese bites can be cooked in an air fryer.Lucien Formichella
The mac-and-cheese bites have a crispy breading and creamy center. Food writer Lucien Formicella was a fan of these bites, especially for a party, and wrote these can be enhanced if they were paired with a tasty sauce for dipping.
Trader Joe's pastry bites with feta and caramelized onions are also a hit
Trader Joe's pastry bites have caramelized onion and feta.Lucien Formichella
The pastry bites come with melty cheese and flavorful onions and a flaky crust. As a bonus, they can be prepared in an air fryer in just a few minutes.
Even though the Mandarin orange chicken won best entrée at the 12th annual Customer Choice Awards for the seventh year in a row, the chain also offers some worthy contenders.
The Mandarin orange chicken is impressively good
Trader Joe's Mandarin orange chicken is a regular fan-favorite item for a reason.Savanna Swain-Wilson
The mushroom ravioli comes with a tasty truffle sauce
Bag of trader joe's mushroom ravioli beside cooked white plate of it
The ravioli's filling is savory and tasty.Savanna Swain-Wilson
This frozen ravioli pairs soft pockets of mushroom-ricotta filling with a rich truffle sauce. The combination boasts an impressively buttery and savory quality.
If you're craving an easy comfort meal, look no further than this option.
The garlic-and-pesto pizza cooks well in the oven
dark-colored box of Trader Joe's roasted garlic and pesto pizza on wood table
This pizza's crust is great.Savanna Swain-Wilson
With dollops of pesto, four Italian cheeses, and garlic, this pizza is simple, yet delicious.
The crust is also impressive for a made-at-home pizza, as it's airy and buttery enough to seem fresh.
Swain-Wilson deemed it one of the best frozen pizzas she's ever had.
The yellow jackfruit curry is a great frozen, vegan option
Trader Joe's box of jackfruit curry beside bowl with cooked entree
This yellow jackfruit curry comes with jasmine rice.Savanna Swain-Wilson
This yellow curry includes jackfruit as its plant-based source of protein, as well as a mix of tasty bell peppers, onions, and eggplant.
The curry and rice are separated in the package, so you can choose to alternate bites or mix the meal together.
It comes together in about five minutes in the microwave.
Trader Joe's date, coconut, and chocolate bar is the perfect on-the-go breakfast
Trader Joe's date, coconut, and chocolate bar is easy to grab and go.Savanna Swain-Wilson
Swain-Wilson described these tasty bars as an impressive "cross between a brownie, Clif Bar, and luxurious candy."
The unsweetened chocolate bring out the caramelly undertones of the dates without being too sugary, and the coconut serves as a great binder.
The strawberry-yogurt O's are a unique twist on classic cereal
Trader Joe's strawberry-yogurt O's pair well with milk.Savanna Swain-Wilson
This morning treat combines circular cereal with tasty strawberry-yogurt bites, and the addition of freeze-dried strawberries takes this meal to the next level.
The combination of ricotta, bread crumbs, and lemon zest with the light pasta makes for a delicious and refreshing meal.
Plus it doesn't need a heavy sauce, just some oil or butter, pepper, and extra lemon zest.
Trader Joe's caprese ravioli is wonderfully simple
clear and black package of trader joe's caprese ravioli
Trader Joe's caprese ravioli is classic.Savanna Swain-Wilson
Boasting the beloved combination of tomato, basil, and cheese, these pasta pockets sport a rich blend of ricotta, Parmesan, and mozzarella while still feeling light.
Simplicity at its finest, this meal can be whipped up in a matter of minutes.
The chain's cacio-e-pepe ravioli is a standout option
black package of trader joe's cacio e pepe ravioli on wood counter
Trader Joe's cacio-e-pepe ravioli has pepper-infused pasta.Savanna Swain-Wilson
This specialty ravioli stuffs the iconic flavors of cacio e pepe in pepper-infused pockets with ricotta.
Both creamy and salty, the combination is rich and decadent.
Best of all, it cooks up in less than six minutes and doesn't even need a sauce to taste good.
Trader Joe's three-cheese pomodoro sauce, which includes Romano, Asiago, and Parmesan, has large chunks of tomato and a rustic, home-cooked, slow-cooked feel to it.
If you want something that tastes like it was hand-crafted with ingredients from a garden in the Italian countryside, go with this sauce.
Trader Joe's creamy tomato-basil sauce is rich and tasty
Trader Joe's creamy tomato-basil sauce is herby and tasty.Isabel Fernandez Pujol/Insider Photo
Trader Joe's creamy tomato-basil sauce tastes more decadent than your usual marinara, with Parmesan that adds a layer of salt to round out the sauce.
Add a sprig of fresh basil to bring out the herbs even more, and this stuff is pure gold straight out of the jar.
The chain's roasted-garlic marinara has an impressive depth of flavor
Trader Joe's roasted-garlic marinara
Trader Joe's roasted-garlic marinara sauce is perfect for a last-minute meal.Savanna Swain-Wilson
The roasted garlic truly elevates this sauce into a league of its own by adding an extra dimension of irresistible flavor.
Though the flavor us prominent, it doesn't overshadow the tomatoes or other herbs so it tastes quite well-rounded.
The chain sells a variety of unique seasoning blends, including options that imitate a condiment like ketchup or dishes like Mexican corn.
Each blend was mixed into sour cream and used as a dip for carrots and water crackers.
The Cuban Style Citrusy Garlic Seasoning Blend has strong flavors
Trader Joe's Cuban Style Citrusy Garlic Seasoning Blend has acidic and salty notes.Chelsea Davis
Per the seasoning's label, the Cuban Style Citrusy Garlic Seasoning Blend is supposed to be "an homage to the Mojo sauce," a Cuban marinade made with orange and garlic.
A little bit of the tart, citrusy seasoning goes a long way and can be used to make an amazing dry rub on meats.
Trader Joe's Ranch Seasoning Blend works great in a dip
Trader Joe's Ranch Seasoning Blend can be used alongside vegetables or even popcorn.Chelsea Davis
The ranch flavor can work for a variety of snacks, including vegetables and crackers.
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