I Taste New Groceries for a Living and I Can’t Stop Raving About These 9

Important question: How is it almost the end of August? Summer has zipped by, but I’m not complaining — my anticipation for fall and its warm flavors is stronger than ever. As a total grocery nerd (seriously, I spend hours every week wandering aisles), the best part of each month is trying all of the new and exciting products hitting the shelves. 

In fact, I’ve been on a tasting spree this August, trying dozens of the latest and greatest groceries to launch this month — and let me tell you, there are some real gems. Brand-new heat-driven sauces! Easy breakfast options! Ready-made cocktails! And more! There’s been no shortage of great finds. 

While I love shopping all of the newness, not every product makes the cut (aka becomes a repeat buy throughout the year). After a month of sipping, tasting, and nibbling, these are the definitive eight products I’ll happily keep buying again (and again). 

I’m a total boxed mac and cheese fanatic. As a kid, I practically begged my mom for the bright orange cheese sauce-covered tubular noodles. That nostalgia is real! So when I first discovered Goodles a few years ago, I was thrilled to find a (slightly grown-up) twist on my childhood favorite. Its powdered version is awesome, but the latest creation takes it to a whole new (creamy) level. 

Goodles just released two new boxed mac and cheese flavors — Shell We Dance (white cheddar) and Ched Over Heels (cheddar) — that come with a creamy cheese sauce in lieu of powdered cheese, and it’s fantastic. We’re talking velvety, creamy, ultra-cheesy mac and cheese that’s honestly way better than its original versions. They’re both incredibly tasty, but if there’s one that I really recommend you run to the stores for, it’s the cheddar flavor. It’s delightfully complex for a boxed mac and cheese option. 

Buy: Goodles Squeezy Ched Over Heels and Cheese, $41.76 for 8 (9-ounce) boxes at Goodles; also available at stores nationwide 

When I first moved to New York City, each time I went home my mom always requested a container of Magnolia banana pudding. Honestly, I never blamed her — Magnolia’s desserts are simply that good. But smuggling containers of banana bread in my carry-on suitcase halted as soon as my mom tried the brand’s delicious banana pudding cookies.

And now, Magnolia has released its latest iteration: Magnolia Banana Pudding Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. These cookies have all the comforting, chewy goodness of a classic oatmeal raisin cookie, but with a sweet (and very welcomed) twist of banana pudding. It’s like the dessert of my dreams, and I’m definitely going to be stocking up on them for the foreseeable future (I even snagged an extra box to bring home to my mom). 

Buy: Magnolia Bakery Oatmeal Raisin Banana Pudding Cookies, $28 for 3 (8-ounce) boxes at Amazon  

I’m the kind of person who puts sauerkraut on just about everything — hot dogs, eggs, sandwiches, and, yes, even a spoon. So when I saw that Olive My Pickle made flavored sauerkraut, I was all in. The latest release (and my introduction to the brand) is this garlicky and smoky black pepper sauerkraut that’s got the tangy, sharp taste of a great sauerkraut with a punch of flavor from the garlic and the black pepper. 

I’m such a fan that I may never buy a different type of sauerkraut again. In fact, I’m already planning my Labor Day barbecue plans around this tangy condiment. 

Buy: Olive My Pickle’s Smoked Black Pepper + Garlic Sauerkraut, $46.47 for 3 (16-ounce) bags at Olive My Pickle

As a kid, I’d always fill my pockets to the brim with Werther’s Original caramel candies whenever I was at my grandparents’ house. Twenty-something years later, I still love the custardy-sweet taste of the caramel candies, which is why I was extra excited to see Werther’s new fall-inspired flavor: Werther’s Caramel Apple Hard Candy. These beauties have all the cozy vibes of a caramel apple you’d snag at a county fair, but in a bite-sized form.

I’ve only had the bag for a few days, and I’ve already reached the bottom; I’ll definitely be stocking up on these candies to enjoy all throughout fall.

Buy: Werther’s Original Individually Wrapped Caramel Apple Hard Candy, $3.96 for 8.5 ounces at Instacart

For me, a quick and filling breakfast is worth its weight in gold. My latest favorite? Blue Zones Kitchen Peach Pecan Steel Cut Oatmeal. I love steel-cut oats. There’s something so satisfying and great about its hearty texture and taste. I don’t eat them nearly as much as I’d like because, quite frankly, they take forever to cook. That’s not a problem with these steel cut oats, though. 

The package starts frozen, so all you need to do is pop them in the microwave for a few minutes and violà! Breakfast in no time. I especially love the peach pecan flavor because it’s got bits of whole pecans and peaches that give it almost a cobbler-like feel. It’s on the pricier side, so I’ll reserve them for those days where I know I’ll need a little extra something to get me out of the door. 

Find it in stores: Blue Zones Kitchen Peach Pecan Steel Cut Oatmeal, $8.99 for 9 ounces at Whole Foods 

I’m a huge fan of cocktails and enjoy crafting them myself, so even the best ready-made options don’t always grab my attention. But this new Crown Royal Black Cherry Whisky Sour? It’s so exceptional that it may have turned me into a ready-to-drink cocktail convert completely.

I love hosting people, and having a go-to cocktail that makes it easy to impress my guests is a total game changer. It’s a delightful twist on the classic whiskey sour, blending the smooth warmth of whiskey with a bright cherry kick. This bottle is definitely going to be a premature fixture to my bar cart for those times when I want a delicious, impressive drink without dirtying my kitchen.

Buy: Crown Royal Black Cherry Whisky Sour, $26.00 for 750 ml bottle at Reserve Bar

I can confidently say that the highlight of my month has been the introduction of the Bachan Sweet & Spicy Dipping Sauce into my fridge. Have you ever tried something and immediately wondered how you have lived so long without it? Yeah, that’s exactly how I feel about this sauce. It’s got a great sweet-to-heat balance that I’ve loved dipping dumplings, fries, and chicken tenders into, but would also go as far to say you shouldn’t just limit this to just dipping; it’s great in stir-fries! 

Buy: Bachan Sweet & Spicy Dipping Sauce, $7.99 for a 16-ounce bottle at Bachan; also available at Whole Foods 

Tillamook Country Smoker combined my two loves — Tajín and beef jerky — to make one of the most spectacular snacks of all time. This just-launched beef jerky flavor has it all. Heat! Smoke! Lime! Beef! It’s hardy, slightly spicy, and totally delicious. I already throw Tajín on everything I can — popcorn, fruit, guacamole — but never considered the flavor possibilities with meat. I’m not entirely sure if it’s a seasonal product, so I’ll be stocking up on them to enjoy for the foreseeable future. 

Buy: Tillamook Country Smoker Tajín Flavored Beef Jerky, $5.99 for 2.2 ounces at Amazon

I am an allium girl through and through. I multiply the garlic in every recipe I cook, add pickled onions with abandon, and can’t get enough scallions on my fried rice. So it’s no surprise that my favorite road trip snack is Funyuns. Earlier this month, the beloved snack brand collaborated with Maruchan — the iconic instant ramen brand — to create a spicy chicken-flavored version of its famed onion rings that’s oh so good. The rings have a slight kick, but nothing that is too intense and overall really just compliments the classic onion flavor.

Buy: Funyuns Maruchan Onion Flavored Rings, Hot & Spicy Chicken Ramen, $6.09 for 6 ounces at Instacart

Which of these are you most excited about? Tell us about it in the comments below.