Yahoo Finance 11 Pantry Items To Buy at Trader Joe’s
Trader Joe’s has a wide selection of high-quality, reasonably priced pantry items. This includes things like essential kitchen spices, canned and jarred goods, and box mixes. Whatever your pantry needs, chances are you’ll find it at Trader Joe’s.
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But which pantry items are worth buying at Trader Joe’s?
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Hearts of Palm Pasta
Price: $3.49
“I’m an avid Trader Joe’s shopper! I move around quite a bit, but I won’t move anywhere that doesn’t have Trader Joe’s (or Whole Foods Market),” said Vered DeLeeuw, Founder of Healthy Recipes Blog.
“For anyone eating low-carb, [Hearts of Palms pasta] is a godsend. It’s so delicious and easy to make,” DeLeeuw continued. “At $3.50, it’s also inexpensive. The package says it makes three servings, but I usually make it for two.”
And for those who prefer rice to pasta, DeLeeuw recommended the rice version instead.
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Organic Chickpeas (or Garbanzo Beans)
Price: $1.09
“I love shopping at Trader Joe’s for reasonably priced whole foods items,” said Elisa Bremner, MS, RDN, CDN, and Founder and Practical Dietitian at Green Bites. One of her go-to items? Organic chickpeas.
“For little more than a dollar, a can of chickpeas can be made into a multitude of protein-rich meals, from hummus to chana masala,” said Bremner. “Chickpeas are high in fiber and easy on the planet.”
Sunflower Seed Spread
Price: $5.49
Sunflower seed spread is creamy, nutty, and chock full of flavor. It’s also nut-free, perfect for those with allergies. And it goes well on sandwiches or as an alternative in peanut butter cookies.
“This allergy-friendly seed butter is a staple in our house, not because we can’t have peanuts, it’s just that delicious,” said Trader Joe’s fanatic Kelsey Sackmann, MS, RD, and owner of Kelsey & Cooper’s Kitchen. “With 8 grams of plant-based protein per serving, we use it for everything from toast to overnight oats and cookies. It’s much cheaper than other sunflower seed butter brands and just as tasty.”
Truffle Powder Seasoning
Price: $6
Not everything at Trader Joe’s is available year-round, but the truffle powder seasoning is worth the buy when it’s in season. It’s versatile and full of flavor, making it perfect for when you want to add something extra to your meals.
“It’s around $6, and a little goes a long way. I love it on scrambled eggs! It’s also excellent with any type of creamy pasta,” said DeLeeuw.
Italian Fusilli
Price: $0.99
At Trader Joe’s, you can find a variety of organic pastas, including Italian fusilli. This raw pasta makes for a great pantry item that lasts a long time and pairs well with many meals.
“These inexpensive little noodles are perfect for quick weeknight dinners,” said Sackmann. “We especially love using them for Mac and cheese and chicken pesto pasta.”
And if you want something gluten-free, Bremner suggested Trader Joe’s Organic Brown Rice and Quinoa Fusilli Pasta for $3.49. “This is my favorite gluten-free pasta and the shape holds sauce like nobody’s business,” she said.
Almond Butter
Price: $5.99
Looking for an alternative to peanut butter? Check out Trader Joe’s creamy almond butter.
“I don’t know what makes TJ’s almond butter so good, but it’s truly exquisite. It’s the only almond butter I’ll eat,” said DeLeeuw. “It’s smooth, creamy, and delicious. At $6, it’s also priced right — the comparable product at my local Kroger costs $7.50.”
Crunchy Chili Onion
Price: $4.49
Trying to find a healthy way to spruce up your meals or make bland dishes more appealing? Try out Trader Joe’s Crunchy Chili Onion.
“With just a handful of ingredients, this chili onion crunch will boost the flavor of pizzas, burgers, burritos, hummus — anything and everything that you’d add hot sauce or even just salt and pepper to,” said Sackmann. “It works especially well for elevating boring roasted veggies and proteins.”
Grilled Olives
Price: Variable
Grilled green olives aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, as it were, but they’re great as a snack or as a garnish for sandwiches, cocktails, or salads. They’re also a creative way to spruce up your pastas or other main meals.
“If you’ve never tried grilled olives, you’re in for a treat! Grilling truly brings out their flavor. I LOVE adding these to salads,” said DeLeeuw.
Fire Roasted Tomatoes
Price: $1.99
“Canned goods are handy due to their long shelf life, and fire-roasted tomatoes add a delicious twist to soups and chili,” said Bremner.
Trader Joe’s sells a variety of canned fire-roasted tomatoes, such as the Organic Diced and Fire Roasted Tomatoes with Green Chiles.
Bourbon Vanilla Extract
Price: $10.99
Love to bake but want something a little bolder for your cookies, frostings, or even pancakes? Try out Trader Joe’s bourbon vanilla extract.
“It’s so much better than artificial vanilla flavor and also from standard vanilla extract,” said DeLeeuw. “Truly delicious, with a deep vanilla flavor. I also like that it doesn’t contain sugar.”
Nutritional Yeast
Price: $3.49
Versatile and delicious, nutritional yeast is a great pantry item to have on hand. You can use it as a garnish on roasted vegetables or popcorn. Or you can sub it in as an alternative to meat- or dairy-based broths.
“Nutritional Yeast adds a cheesy/salty flavor to food without dairy or too much sodium,” said Bremner. “I use nutritional yeast in tofu scramble, vegan cheese sauce, and on popcorn.”
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