Best New Trader Joe’s Products of 2023
I am back with a new list! The Best New Trader Joe’s Products of 2023! Last year I made a list ranking the best Trader Joe’s products that came out in 2022, and this year I did it again. Actually, this is my 4th annual Best New Trader Joe’s Products list. If you are interested in reading all my previous lists, here is my 2021 list and here is my 2020 list.
In order for a product to make it to this list, they have to have come out as a new product during this calendar year. That is really the only requirement. These are not my favorite Trader Joe’s items of all time. These are only my favorite new items of this year.
I consider myself “qualified” to make this list because I am married to a Trader Joe’s employee and Trader Joe’s is our default grocery store. Also, I am not a picky eater, nor do I think I am too good for frozen food, so I feel like I give everything a good try. I aim to try every new product that comes out, but I don’t always get around to everything. So, I guess this list is really only the best new items out of the new items that I have tried, but trust that I have tried mostly everything that comes out at Trader Joe’s. If I have missed something that you are really passionate about, leave me a comment below so that I can give it a try.
What are the most popular items at Trader Joe’s?
I am in a lot of Trader Joe’s groups on Facebook and one thing I notice is that their frozen foods and snacks seem to be the majority of people’s favorites! People always rave about the Orange Chicken and Party Meatballs. You won’t find either of those items below because they are older items, but without further ado scroll down to see my choice for the Best New Trader Joe’s Products of 2023.
10. Autumn Candle Assortment
This is the first time I have an added a non-food item to my annual list. I am a hard-core candle enthusiast so when I saw this candle trio pop up in September I was so excited! These scents were included in the candle advent calendar that came out in 2022, however I didn’t like more than half of the candles included in the advent calendar, so this trio of candles appeals to me more. I absolutely love two of the scents and the third one is “good enough”. But still, for the price of $8.99 this is a good deal.
9. Holiday Cheer Unexpected Cheddar Spread
I don’t love adding seasonal items to this list but sometimes it is a must! In 2022, Trader Joe’s came out with their famous unexpected cheddar in a spreadable form. This year they added to that by making a couple of variations. They made a hatch chile version in the summer and they made this Holiday variety one for the Holidays.
This spread has notes of cranberry, cinnamon, and riesling in addition to the sharp unexpected cheddar. It all really works together. The sweetness isn’t too sweet, which is probably why I love it so much. It adds just a good amount of Holiday cheer. Cannot wait to enjoy this one again next year.
8. Kimbap
This was one of the most popular TJs items this year so I feel like I couldn’t leave it off the list. That being said, it made this list due to its ability to create a fun and healthy meal on a budget. If you are unfamiliar with Kimbap, it is similar to sushi but it is bigger, and is usually made with meat and pickled vegetables. Also, the rice is seasoned with sesame oil, unlike sushi rice which has vinegar.
The trader joe’s version of Kimbap is vegan so it makes it an easy choice to bring for lunch without the worry that it will go bad during transport. I thought this product was good, and it is a good option to have in your freezer. This isn’t traditional, but my wife and I bought wasabi paste and we made a soy sauce/wasabi dipping sauce for this as if it were sushi. Others have chosen to pan fry each side on a frying pan, or dip in an egg batter and then fry. Lots of options with this!
7. Butternut Squash Italian Lasagna
This is like the butternut squash mac and cheese’s cousin. It is egg pasta layered with a butternut squash béchamel sauce and sharp Italian cheese topped with breadcrumbs and pumpkin seeds. The sauce is a creamy savory béchamel sauce, with the slight sweetness of butternut squash.
I love the crunchy pumpkin seeds on top, and thought they gave the dish the texture it needed. There is microwave instructions on the box, but this is something you want to cook in the oven. Serve it with some pork chops and a side of brussels sprouts for the ultimate Fall inspired meal.
6. Breaded Cheese Curds
I knew these had a good chance of being delicious before I even tried them. As far as snack foods are concerned, Trader Joe’s knows what they are doing so I just knew I might be addicted to these. And I was right. These were so good, had great air fryer cooking instructions and were just the real deal! Not healthy in the slightest but definitely the type of food I could consume the whole package in its entirety if I didn’t have self control. Definitely give this one a try if you have some friends coming over! Pairs well with hotdog and hamburger type of food.
5. Cinnamon Sugar Toffee Trio
I LOVED these! It is just like the perfect little piece of sweetness I need after dinner. There are three varieties in the bag, and they are all delicious. Bite sized pieces of toffee are covered in either white, milk, or dark chocolate. Then each piece is coated in cinnamon sugar. All of the flavors just go so well together and it creates the perfect little treat.
If you love Heath bars, these are for you! They are even better in my opinion and great to leave out in a bowl when you have people over. Everyone can grab a couple and it is just the perfect amount of sweet treat after a meal or while sipping some warm coffee.
4. Pretzel Bread Pudding
This one was a stunner! I tried it during the last few days of the year and it creeped into this list! It is excellent! Maybe not the prettiest looking thing, but it makes up for it on taste and the fact that it cooks in under a minute in the microwave. There are two individual portions in the box, so it is the type of dessert you eat alone on the couch after a long day. Not the type you serve for Thanksgiving. But all in all, this is definitely the best dessert that came out this year!
3. Spicy Tempura Seaweed Snacks
These snacks are a dupe of the kind sold at the Asian Market. Trader Joe’s hit a home run with this one. They are mini seaweed snacks, coated in tempura and seasoned. They are perfectly crispy and the flavor is incredible! I cannot remember how many bags of these I went through this year but the number is high! My only critique is that it may be a touch too spicy for some people, but I do think that adds to how good they are! It is definitely a product I am excited to continue buying in 2024.
2. Dutch Griddle Cakes
These are a gem! They are fluffy and sweet and honestly, they just don’t taste like the freezer pancakes I’ve had in the past. Im not usually into pancakes that come from a freezer, but these are so fluffy and delicious and I am a huge fan! They make great buns for a “McGriddles” or just eat them alone! Either way, these are a great addition to the Trader Joe’s breakfast item lineup this year! If you like pancakes, I think you will really appreciate these.
1. Garlic Asiago Dip
Trader Joe’s came out with this and the Cheddar Hatch Chile Dip around the same time, and they were both incredible but if I had to choose, the Garlic Asiago Dip was just a little bit better. The garlic taste is strong, which is how everything with the word “garlic” in the title should taste. And the asiago cheese is sharp and delicious. I love warm food, especially warm dips and I spend a lot of time creating dips as a food blogger. This dip reminded me of something my mom would make and for that it automatically feels special.
I served this dip for Christmas eve and it was a hit. Super flavorful and delicious. This dip is super versatile too. I have seen people mix this into some pasta and add some chicken breast. I have seen people use it as a spread on a sandwich, which sounds so good. And then, of course, you can use this as a dip which is how it was intended to be used. It’s taste, convenience, and versatility make it the number 1 product this year for my Best New Trader Joe’s Products of 2023 list.
Honorable Mentions
I am adding this section to my “Best New Trader Joe’s Products of 2023” list this year to add a few items I really loved but just did not have what it takes to make the list. 1. Mee Krob Snackers – I loved the flavor of these. They are super delicious, but it just isn’t want I want to snack on very often. 2. Beef Bulgogi – This probably would have made it on the list if I had the chance to buy it more than once. The overall flavor and ease of this product is incredible, but there were a few too many chewy/gristly pieces in the package I bought which is a little off-putting. If I try this again and the package has better meat, this product would definitely be good enough to make the list because the flavor is delicious! 3. Cheddar Jalapeño Pull Apart Bread – I really liked this product but it absolutely has to be heated through. When it is piping hot, it is delicious, but as a fresh bread to eat at room temperature, I didn’t like it.
And that’s a wrap for the Best New Trader Joe’s Products of 2023! I have so much fun creating this list every year and I hope you enjoyed reading it!
TJs is now a must stop in my food shopping routine. Costco and Wegmans also make my list.