• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Joy the Baker
Joy the Baker
  • Cookies
  • Bread
  • Cakes
  • Pies
  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Cookies
    • Birthday Cake Recipes
    • Biscuits
    • Muffins
    • Cupcakes
    • Drinks
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Fruit
    • Nuts
    • Buttermilk
    • Chocolate
    • Vanilla
    • Holiday
    • Healthy
    • Gluten-Free
    • Vegan
  • Blog
    • Baking 101
    • Tips
    • Beyond the Kitchen
    • Let It Be Sunday!
    • New Orleans
  • Camp Joy

Trader Joe’s Haul Fall 2022

October 18, 2022 by Abby Mallett 51 Comments

trader hoe's haul in bags on the kitchen counter
trader joes haul - the cheese selection


October is by far my favorite month of Fall. It’s perfectly placed in the middle of the season and oscillates between still too warm and suddenly cool. It’s spooky and cozy and makes me want to nest. All my social activities are the most fun during October, especially Open House Chicago, where old architectural establishments open for free touring. Once November hits it’s all holidays all the time and time goes on hyper drive.

This is also Prime Time™ (and my favorite time) to go to Trader Joe’s. October through December they serve up hit after hit resulting in mild hysteria from their customers. Pumpkin everything from ravioli, to samosas, to cinnamon rolls, to cream filled sandwich cookies and even dog treats. I am in a Trader Joe’s Facebook group and it’s twenty posts a day filled with exclamation points over their products.

Well, I am here to spread the good gospel of Joseph the Tradesman today. It’s overwhelming presenting favorites because there’s just so much! I can’t give you every option (because this is not an anthology and you probably have other things to do) and thank goodness. My encouragement would be to shop at Trader Joe’s like you shop at Target – let it tell you what you need – no plans, only vibes. Each category has a few favorites and a couple honorable mentions, so I don’t overdo it, and you don’t spend $200 like I did.

salad mixes at trader joe's

Abby’s Trader Joe’s Haul

Essentials

• Mandarin Orange Chicken & Veggie Fried Rice – this is a longtime staple of TJ’s and the perfect dupe for that restaurant with a panda on it that serves orange chicken. Liked by kids and adults alike, it is the perfect weeknight meal. Pro tip: put that chicken in the air fryer for extra crunch!

• Salad mixes – I keep a rotation of their salad mixes in my fridge for quick lunch or dinner pairings. My favorites right now is their Miso Crunch salad and their Vegan Peanut Crunch salad. If I’m going to eat a salad it better have a lot of crunchy toppings.

• Sauces & spices – spend a lot of time in this aisle because treasures abound here, my friends. Their spice blends are legendary and great in variety. My faves are (obviously) Everything But the Bagel seasoning, Everything But the Leftovers seasoning (makes everything taste like Thanksgiving dinner!), their Italian Sofrito (so spicy and flavorful), and South African Smoke. Top sauces for me include: Sweet Asian Chili Sauce, Spicy Taco Sauce (tastes exactly like Taco Bell’s mild sauce) and their coconut aminos.

Honorable mention: pre-chopped mirepoix and frozen garlic cubes, pumpkin pancake & waffle mix (grab several boxes!)

chicken thighs from trader joes

Impromptu Dinner Guests

• TJ’s cheese section – it’s hard not to get lost in the cheese section. They have my current favorite cheese, Délice de Bourgogne, a triple cream that paired with baguette slices and warm strawberry preserves is edible luxury. Don’t pass up their blueberry or honey chèvre either. Charcuterie boards build themselves in this section. Your guests will be so impressed, and you won’t spend a ton!

• Gyro Slices – I like to grill these up in a cast iron pan to make them crispy/charred and pair them with TJ’s tzatziki and pita bread. Although, be careful – your guests will not want to leave after feeding them so quickly and so well.

• Shawarma Chicken Thighs – magic in a crockpot or an instant pot. It cooks up so quickly (especially if you pair it with coconut milk and serve it over rice). I enjoy putting a quick sear on it after pulling it from the slow cooker. Because it’s chicken thighs it stays juicy and flavorful. A low-effort showstopper for sure.

Honorable mention: frozen New York cheesecake, frozen mashed sweet potatoes, frozen garlic naan, gluten-free pie crust

granola at trader joe's

Snacks that won’t make it to tomorrow let alone next week

• White Cheddar Corn Puffs – light and puffy, crunchy, and gently cheesy. My recommendation is take some out and close the bag because you’ll be looking for the culprit who ate the entire bag in one sitting. *holds a mirror up to your face* It’s you.

• Toasted Coconut Granola Bark – the ultimate purse snack because when hunger hits it’s a monster. This granola is perfect with its bitter dark chocolate, light coconut shavings, and a slight salty finish. My favorite hunger rescue.

• Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips – Chili & Lime – *sigh* y’all. I have a problem. These are better than their mainstream counterpart and I will argue you for hours about it. The amount of lime they put on these is making my mouth water just thinking about it. Get several bags, hide those bags from yourself, but remember where they are at 1am. Trust me. I would not lead you astray!

Honorable mention: organic naan crackers, sesame honey cashews

Best pre-prepped frozen meals/snacks

• Steamed Chicken Soup Dumplings – I have a slight obsession with these. They’re the perfect quick lunch (or paired with their veggie fried rice). The soup that fills the dumplings is so unctuous – I could eat 2 boxes without pause.

• Butter Chicken – for a while this was my quick lunch of choice. They really get the balance of spices right in this one and if you have their frozen garlic naan with it? There’s a nap waiting for you afterwards.

• Shrimp Burgers – I turned my nose up at these at first until I took the leap and now they’re my go to. My favorite way to prepare these is searing them in a hot, hot pan, putting them on top of their brioche buns with a little smear of mayo and their Unexpected Cheddar shreds and bon appétit!

Honorable mention: Vegetable samosas, sweet potato fries, gluten-free pizza crust, fish nuggets

Sweets you swore off but just this once (every time)

• Peanut Butter Cups – both the milk and dark chocolate variety have their place and I love them (and eat them) equally. They make little purse snack packs, but that feels really offensive to me. In fact, I feel insulted and now have to buy 2 large boxes.

• Dark Chocolate Coconut Almonds – again, I am telling you to be careful with these. Roasted almonds are encased in a coconut shell and covered in dark chocolate, essentially making this a box of the best part of an Almond Joy. I opened these during an episode of The House of the Dragon and they were gone 30 minutes in.

• Seasonal: Apple Cider Donuts – nothing screams, “It’s Fall y’all!” like these donuts. This is a tip from my Trader Joe’s group, so please know that I love y’all so, so much: brush them with Kerry Gold butter and put them in the air fryer for a few minutes. Keep a chair nearby to faint into. (And comment if you try this!)

Honorable mention: Dark chocolate almonds with turbinado sugar & sea salt, sour Scandinavian swimmers, brookies, sea salt maple ice cream

coconut body butter for trader joe's haul

Unexpectedly solid self-care finds

• Coconut Body Butter – in the winter my skin scoffs at regular lotion, like, “How DARE you?” That’s when I bring out the heavy hitter. Their body butter is extra moisturizing without being greasy and, bonus, you smell like summer.

• Tea Tree Tingle – when I want feel cleaner than clean from tip to toes, I brush my teeth then get in the shower and wash with Tea Tree Tingle (also comes in shampoo and conditioner). I come out feeling like a tube of toothpaste and I LOVE it.

• Ultra Moisturizing Hand Cream – I keep several tubes of this around my house and in all my purses, especially since I wash my hands more than I ever have. This saves my skin over and over again.

Honorable mention: Any of their hand soaps, lavender dryer bags

What are your Trader Joe’s must-have favorites? I can’t wait to read in the comments!

Previous PostNext Post

Categories: Beyond the Kitchen

Previous Post: «
Next Post: Taylor Swift’s Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies »

Reader Interactions

All Comments
I Made This
Questions
  1. Maureen

    November 27, 2022 at 8:38 pm

    The Sea Salt Maple Ice cream made me swoon! I rarely finish a pint of ice cream, but went back to TJs to get FOUR more so i wouldn’t run out!

    Reply
  2. Ali

    November 8, 2022 at 12:46 pm

    My TJ’s faves are the sweet plantain chips, I buy at least 6 bags at a time, and the hold the dairy mini coconut milk ice cream cones. The best non-dairy ice cream treat I’ve had so far and I keep trying them all. I will go there just for these two things sometimes.

    Reply
  3. a

    November 2, 2022 at 4:26 pm

    A lot of their stuff is so high in sodium! And they discontinued my favorite cookies! I love their PB-filled pretzels, though.

    Reply
  4. Erika

    October 28, 2022 at 3:03 pm

    What great recommendations! Love your wit and sense of humor :)

    Reply
  5. Emily C

    October 27, 2022 at 2:23 pm

    How do you pair the coconut milk with the chicken shawarma in the crockpot? It sounds delicious!

    Reply
    • Abby Mallett

      October 27, 2022 at 5:13 pm

      I put a can of coconut milk and chicken or veggie stock in the crockpot and it adds to the aromatic spices so nicely! (Honestly, I super Googled the recipe for that but it turned out so well!)

      Reply
« Older Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

RELATED POSTS IN Beyond the Kitchen

Baking 101: How To Read A Recipe

Welcome to the wonderful world of baking where flour, butter, and our collective sweet tooth’s (teeth? teeth’s??) come together to create an absolute mess in our kitchens. Dirty every dish, I say! In the name of cookies, of course. Whether you’re a seasoned baker, or just tying up the apron strings for the first time,…

Read More

You Have To Make Karlee’s Peach Butter

I have the same regret every September: I didn’t eat enough summer peaches. It never fails. Every July I take peaches for granted. They’re stacked high at the grocery store and though they never do, I think they’ll last forever.  I throw a mega watermelon in my cart, grab a bag of cherries, and head…

Read More

My 5 Best Pantry Organization Tips

Friends, hi! You know Virgo season is hitting hard this year when even I take to the pantry with new canisters and labels.  Virgo season would have us holding ourselves to our highest standards and I’ve taken that on, and I’ve taken it personally. I’m working with two pantries these days. In the Houston kitchen…

Read More

Primary Sidebar

Fresh baked emails, delivered to your inbox

Receive recipes from Joy the Baker and updates on events at The Bakehouse.

HI! I’M JOY!

Welcome! This has been my little corner of the internet since 2008!

I’m a baker, photographer, cookbook author and teacher.  I live laugh love in New Orleans. 

MORE ABOUT JOY AND THE TEAM

BOOKS + Magazines

2023 CAMP JOY SUMMER ZINE – get it here!

JOY THE BAKER 2022 SUMMER MAGAZINE

JOY THE BAKER 2021 HOLIDAY MAGAZINE

JOY THE BAKER 2020 HOLIDAY MAGAZINE

HOMEMADE DECADENCE

OVER EASY: SWEET AND SAVORY RECIPES FOR LEISURELY DAYS COOKBOOK

JOY THE BAKER COOKBOOK

MY FAVORITE CAMPING GEAR

SHOP MY FAVORITE GEAR HERE! 

joy the baker on facebook joy the baker on twitter pinterest-social instagram-socialbloglovin-social

DRAKE ON CAKE

Passionate from miles away since 2015.

CHECK IT OUT ON INSTAGRAM

Drake on cake instagram.

 

BREADS YOU’LL LOVE

close up of strawberry shortcake recipe with soft whipped cream

Dad’s Biscuits Make The Best Shortcake

jambalaya buttermilk biscuits in a row

Smoked Sausage Jambalaya Buttermilk Biscuits

inside of warm cinnamon roll on plate

How To Make The Best Single Serve Cinnamon Roll

LET’S MAKE COOKIES!

a stack of white chocolate macadamia nut cookies with a bite taken out of the top one with milk

Classic White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

wider shot of lemon bars stacked on a plate with a bite taken out of one lemon bar

My Favorite Classic Lemon Bars Recipe

completed recipe close up shot of a blondie so the toasted almonds, chocolate chips, and sea salt can be seen

My Best Classic Blondie Recipe

Footer

Instagram

joythebaker

📚Baker, author of books, lover of butter
🎂Creator @drakeoncake
📝Inquiries megan@underscoretalent.com

joythebaker
Chai-Spiced Sugar Cookies #taylorsversion made wit Chai-Spiced Sugar Cookies #taylorsversion made with an old sugar cookie recipe I made back in 2009 (like whaaat?) and a boatload of warm autumn spiced @taylorswift added to the dough.⁣
⁣
This cookie recipe explodes on my site every September and for good reason. We’re fall girlies and we love a little nutmeg glaze. ⁣
⁣
Find the full recipe linked in the profile! Xo
I don’t know what it is about this year, but I j I don’t know what it is about this year, but I just need more light-hearted fun, more hugs, more breakfast made by mom, and more coffee walks in the sand. Let’s do autumn now, nice and steady.
🥯🥯 for the weekend, babes! Save this no-yeas 🥯🥯 for the weekend, babes! Save this no-yeast bagel magic for your Sunday morning. ⁣
⁣⁣
Two Easy No-Yeast Bagels⁣⁣
1/2 cup self-rising flour⁣⁣
4 tablespoons greek yogurt (plus a teaspoon or two more if needed)⁣
1 large egg, beaten for egg wash⁣⁣
1/3 - 1/2 cup grated gouda or gruyere⁣⁣
Everything bagel seasoning⁣⁣
3 tablespoons baking soda with 2 cups of boiling water. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Place a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spray the paper lightly with nonstick spray. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
In a small bowl, use a firm spatula to work together the flour and yogurt. Add a few teaspoons of yogurt if it feels dry and knead into a cohesive ball for 5 minutes or so. Sprinkle with a bit more flour if it gets overly sticky. Cover with a damp paper towel and gather your toppings. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Divide dough in two and roll each piece into a roughly 8-inch rope. Bring the ends around and pinch into a circle. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Sprinkle the bottom of the prepared pan with grated cheese in two spots.  Pour boiling water over the baking soda and float each bagel in the water for 20 or so seconds.  Use a slotted spot or spatula to transfer the bagels on top of the cheese.  Brush lightly with egg. Sprinkle with more cheese and everything bagel seasoning. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Bake for 20 - 22 minutes until deeply golden and bubbling.  Allow to cool for 10 minutes before slicing and smearing with cream cheese.
The secret to really great muffins is eating them The secret to really great muffins is eating them warm, with a big smear of butter and a sprinkle flakey sea salt. ❇️ This goes for any muffin but is especially delicious on these a Vegan Carrot Zucchini Harvest Muffins because they have so many veggies they’re basically a salad. ❇️ Full recipe linked in the bio! Xo
This fall the ultimate chocolate chip cookie is pa This fall the ultimate chocolate chip cookie is packed with oats, @guittardchocolate baking wafers, and candy coated chocolate pieces from @traderjoes. ✌️ It’s the perfect weekend bake, babes! Full recipe linked in the profile!
Once September hits it’s all cozy couch dinners Once September hits it’s all cozy couch dinners starting with this creamy tomato Marry Me Chicken. Disclaimer: this chicken has yet to get me hitched. Full recipe linked in the bio, bbs! Xo
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 · Joy the Baker
All rights reserved. Violators will be whupped and sent to bed with no dessert · Privacy Policy

Scroll Up