- Dumplings topped the list as the overall customer favorite.
- New product winners highlight high-protein options and bold flavors.
- Seasonal and year-round favorites span snacks, meals and self-care.
Trader Joe’s is known for its year-round favorites and seasonal highlights. The store has everything from snacks to meals to desserts, plus home and beauty care, and loves to put its own twist on classic products. To shine some light on all those categories of delicious eats and fun finds, Trader Joe’s has crowned its 17th Annual Customer Choice Award Winners, and the list has some fun favorites and surprises.
Dumplings appear in multiple categories, which makes sense since they’re the perfect quick meal or hearty snack. Other meal favorites include single-serving microwavable meals inspired by Indian flavors. For the upcoming Super Bowl, there are lots of favorites in the chips and dip category, as well as cheese and produce. Plus, there are a bunch of appetizer favorites on the list, which can elevate your dinner party or mix up the usual fare.
Don’t forget the most important meal of the day! For breakfast, the winners’ list contains protein-rich pancakes, flaky croissants and crunchy hashbrowns, among other options. Finally, for beverages, there’s lots to enjoy for fruit lovers, from seasonal sips to dependable drinks you can find year round.
Best Overall: Steamed Pork & Ginger Soup Dumplings
The No. 1 overall pick is the Steamed Pork and Ginger Soup Dumplings, and it’s no wonder why. Six soup-filled dumplings come in a microwavable tray and the whole thing cooks up in only two minutes. They’re a perfect quick meal or snack and have the cozy warmth of restaurant dumplings straight from the freezer.
Runners-up in this category include the seasonal Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese, followed by the chicken version of the winner, the Steamed Chicken Soup Dumplings. Next up is the bakery-fresh Sourdough Bread, which is perfect for sandwiches and toast. Finally, the Butter Chicken with Basmati Rice makes an appearance on the overall winner list, though you’ll see it again in the lunch and dinner category.
Best New Product: Protein Pancakes
Jumping on the protein trend, the winner in the new product category is the Protein Pancakes, which come in a ready-to-eat pack of four and offer 20 grams of protein per serving. These pancakes are also gluten-free. The microwavable breakfast is perfect for busy weekdays when you need to power up.
The runners-up are all snacks. The first runner-up is the Sour Strawberry Candy Belts, which rival brand-name candy in terms of lip-puckering sweetness. Next up are the Garlic Butter Irish Potato Chips, which you’ll see again on the snack list. Capitalizing on another trend, the Hot Honey Popcorn made the top five. Finally, for an unusual flavor combo, the Ketchup-Flavored Lattice Potato Chips round out the new hits.
Best Beverage: Spiced Cider
Spiced cider is a seasonal favorite beverage that has been returning to Trader Joe’s each fall for 20 years. It’s a warm mix of apple cider, cinnamon, allspice and cloves, which is perfect for those chilly days when you need a hot mug to warm your hands.
Other beverages that ranked among the favorites are the classic organic, unfiltered Apple Juice and two seasonal drinks: Triple Ginger Brew and Sparkling Lemonade, which are delightful on their own or make great mixers. Finally, the 100% Tangerine Juice, a twist (see what I did there) on the classic orange juice, ranks among customers’ favorites.
Best Cheese: Goat Cheese
Goat cheese is a versatile dairy product, perfect in salads or in egg dishes, but also spread onto crackers for a cheese board and even in baked goods. So it’s no surprise that the basic chevre ranked No. 1 among customers’ favorite Trader Joe’s cheeses. It is rich and tangy, perfect for any and all goat cheese recipes.
Other cheeses that people love include the seasonal Syrah-Soaked Toscano Cheese Spread & Dip. Next in the cheese category isn’t even a cheese, but a Cheese Shopping Bag, a reusable bag with cheeky cartoon cheeses making goofy quips. The last two favorites are the Saint Andre Triple Creme Brie, a deliciously creamy, spreadable cheese, and the English Cheddar with Caramelized Onions, which takes grilled cheese up a notch or makes your morning cheesy scrambled eggs feel like a fancy brunch.
Best Produce: Teeny Tiny Avocados
The thing with avocados is that, if you don’t want to eat a whole one in a sitting, you often end up with a brown, unusable half. TJ’s Teeny Tiny Avocados solve this problem without sacrificing flavor. The six-count bag means you have a week’s worth of one-serving avocado toast meals in your future and don’t have to worry about wasting precious avocados.
The runners-up include the snackable Gone Bananas!, frozen dark chocolate-covered banana slices that taste fabulous all on their own or can be incorporated into other desserts. Classic blueberries make the cut, as do Honeycrisp Apples and, in the vegetable category, Organic Persian Cucumbers, which take tea sandwiches to another level or freshen up a homemade salad.
Best Appetizer: Creamy Spinach & Artichoke Dip
The perfect appetizer for a Super Bowl party or as a precursor to your next dinner party, the Creamy Spinach and Artichoke Dip is a classic from Trader Joe’s. Therefore, it’s no surprise that it’s No. 1 in the appetizer category. It tastes great with chips, but it’s also a great dip for veggies.
To round out the party, the Jalapeno & Cream Cheese Crispy Wontons come in second, a fantastic one-bite pairing with the others on the list. For a fun, dippable appetizer, next up are the Vegetable Bird’s Nests with Soy Dipping Sauce, followed by the game day classic: Parmesan Pastry Pups. Finally, what party would be complete without some Greek Spanakopita?
Best Breakfast and Brunch: Hashbrowns
For a classic breakfast side, Trader Joe’s hashbrowns do not disappoint. They come in rectangular pucks, which also make them a useful to-go breakfast. They crisp up nicely on the stove and are wonderful on the side of classic scrambled eggs.
The runners-up include the delectable Chocolate Croissants, which taste like they’re from a French patisserie, followed by another world cuisine, the Dutch Griddle Cakes. The list takes us back to France with the Almond Croissants, and the last runner-up is the new favorite, the Protein Pancakes.
Best Lunch and Dinner: Butter Chicken with Basmati Rice
For lunch and dinner, the Butter Chicken with Basmati Rice is a natural champ because of its flavorful, slightly spicy butter sauce and the aromatic rice. The entire meal is microwavable and ready in minutes, so it’s a perfect quick lunch on a busy day or a comforting warm meal for dinner.
The runners-up list in this category is populated by favorites from the overall winners’ list. The reigning champ, Steamed Pork & Ginger Soup Dumplings, comes in second, followed by another Indian-inspired dish, frozen Chicken Tikka Masala, which, like the butter chicken, is a slightly spicy chicken in creamy sauce over rice. The seasonal favorite, Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese, is a winner when it’s in store, and finally, also from the overall winners’ list, Steamed Chicken Soup Dumplings finish out the category.
Best Bath, Body and Home: Brazil Nut Body Butter
The seasonal Brazil Nut Body Butter is a winner because of the silky-smooth lotion and the sweet but not overpowering nutty scent. Since it’s not around all year, it’s a hot commodity when it’s in stock and makes for a great gift to your loved ones or yourself.
The runners-up list is just as strong. The Ultra Moisturizing Hand Cream is as luxurious and moisturizing as fancy French hand creams, but at a fraction of the cost for a big tube. Another bargain is the Daily Facial Sunscreen SPF 40, which is gentle and works great for everyday sun protection. Another body butter, the Coconut Body Butter, comes in fourth and is a great year-round body butter to tide you over until the Brazil nut variety returns. Finally, for the winter months, the seasonal Cedar Balsam Scented Candle rounds out the list—and makes the whole house smell cozy.
Best Snack: Garlic Butter Irish Potato Chips
A new product topped the favorite snack list, which means it must be pretty amazing. The Garlic Butter Irish Potato Chips are a perfect side for sandwiches, but are also delicious on their own as a movie night or game-day snack. The combo of garlicky butter and Irish potatoes is a natural pairing, so it’s no wonder it topped the list.
For other snack options, the Organic Elote Corn Chip Dippers taste fabulous with salsa, queso or guac. For a more seasonal favorite, pick up the Ridge Cut Potato Chips Seasoned with Horseradish & Chives, a strong combo of flavors that will be a crowd-pleaser. Or go with the more classic seasonal pick, the Patio Potato Chips. Finally, pack those lunch boxes with the World’s Puffiest White Cheddar Corn Puffs, a crunchy, cheesy riff on snacks like Pirate’s Booty.
Best Sweet: Sublime Ice Cream Sandwiches
The winner in the “sweet treat” category, the Sublime Ice Cream Sandwiches, really are sublime. Two soft chocolate chip cookies are sandwiched with rich vanilla ice cream and rolled in mini chocolate chips. They’re the perfect ice cream sandwich. They taste like they’re from a fancy ice cream shop, but they can chill in your freezer and be ready at any time.
The runners-up are no less mouth-watering. The seasonal Almond Danish Kringle Pastry is a huge hit when it comes to the bakery section. For more frozen delights, the Chocolate Hold the Cone! Mini Ice Cream Cones are just the perfect tiny dessert to satisfy a sweet tooth. For a variant on that winner, the Chocolate Chip Hold the Cone! Mini Ice Cream Cones come in next. Finally, Mint Chip Ice Cream has the bright, creamy mintiness of freshly churned ice cream and is available by the quart so you can keep it on hand at home.
