I Tried Dozens of New Groceries Hitting Shelves This May — These Are the 10 I’m Most Excited About

Say “cheese!” That’s the theme for several of the new groceries hitting shelves in May. I got to try lots of cheesy snacks, four macs, stuffed bites, and more. And I’m still all smiles about it

Beyond the cheesy treats, I was also grinning over the unexpected flavor pairings, gluten-free goodies, and plant-based swaps. I taste tested a few-dozen brand-new groceries — and these are the 10 that have me cheesin’ this month.

The company behind America’s best-selling cheese crisps has added pretzel pieces to its bites and the result is amazing. Instead of crisps, these are more like little balls, featuring dried cheese and pretzels and the most delicious spices. Hitting shelves first, we have Cheddar, which is toasty and cheesy, Honey Mustard, which is subtly sweet. Coming soon: Everything, which features Parmesan instead of cheddar. 

Find it in stores: Whisps Cheese & Pretzel Bites, $4.49 for 2.5 ounces at Kroger

The taste and texture of this collection is spot-on. All four high-protein, robust flavors — Mover & Shaker cacio e pepe, Twist My Parm Asiago and Parm, Shella Good with aged white cheddar, and classic orange-powdered Cheddy Mac — have hidden organic vegetable nutrients, triple the fiber of their competitors, the prebiotic fiber your adult gut so badly needs, and, most importantly, cheesy blends you can taste.

Buy: GOODLES Mac & Cheese, $2.99 for 6 ounces at GOODLES

Crunchy, dried mozzarella-based sticks are launching in five flavors: Cheesy Does It, Wild White Chedda’, Kick It Up a Nacho, Rowdy Ranch, and Yum Inferno. The base tastes like string cheese with extra powdered cheese layered on. They’re most definitely, unmistakably dehydrated cheese and have a distinct chew (instead of the dissolving texture I expect from a puff), which results in a longer-lasting bite.

Find it in stores: Moon Cheese Crunchy Cheese Sticks, $4.99 for 3 ounces at Whole Foods Market

If you still haven’t gotten your hands on last month’s new cauliflower pizza, you now have another way to try those cheesy, saucy flavors — this time, in bite-sized form. These new Stuffed Cauliflower Bites wrap pizza-inspired fillings like Margherita, Spinach & Ricotta, and Roasted Veggie & Four Cheese in a cauliflower crust. There’s also a Mushroom and Onion with Swiss option, which tastes as delightful as it sounds. 

Find it in stores: Veggies Made Great Stuffed Cauliflower Bites, $5.99 for 7 ounces at Giant and QVC

One last cheesy update! Other than being a little sticky, this brand’s tender, gluten-free pasta pockets are as good as their traditional fresh counterparts. And starting this month, the delicious, extra-gooey Five Cheese flavor is available nationwide. Those lucky enough to live near Wegmans will also be able to snag Butternut Squash in addition to the flagship Five Cheese.

Find it in stores: Cappello’s Ravioli, $9.99; Five Cheese available in Mariano’s, Roundy’s, King Soopers, Ralph’s, and Wegmans. Butternut Squash available in Wegmans nationwide.

Dill pickle flavors have become a pretty big dill the past few years, and Utz was already ahead of the curve with its Fried Dill Pickle Ripple Chips — the only fried pickle flavor on the market. Starting this month, the company is bringing bigger pickle flavor to the forefront in a collaboration with the famous Grillo’s brand. Garlicky, herbacious, and vinegary on light, airy crisps, you’ll find yourself feeling more sour than these chips if you miss out on this limited-release flavor.

Buy: Utz Grillo’s Pickle Classic Dill Pickle Potato Chips, $2.19 for 2.625 ounces or $4.29 for 7.75 ounces at Target, Walmart, and others

Previously limited to Sprouts and some Kroger locations, three varieties of this brand’s cracker-tortilla chip hybrid — Organic Lentil with Turmeric, Organic Everything, and Organic Sweet Potato — are coming to Whole Foods nationwide this month. While the everything flavor is corn-forward and subtle with the savory, the turmeric crackers channel a garlicky, curry-meets-falafel flavor in a big way. And sweet potato balances sweet and salty, and tastes more indulgent than other brands I’ve tried.

Find it in stores: RW Garcia Crackers, $4.99 for 5.5 ounces at Whole Foods Market

One of the top names in tofu is turning soybeans into another form of plant-based protein: a marinated and charcoal-grilled Korean BBQ bulgogi beef. New to the company’s pre-seasoned, heat-and-eat Plantspired line, it’s soft, squishy, and mushroom-adjacent in texture. The sweet, savory, and smoky flavor is also a pleasure.

Find it in stores: Nasoya Plantspired Plant-Based Steak, $6.99 for 7 ounces at Albertsons, Vons, Pavilions in the Produce aisle

My favorite mochi ice cream brand’s got some brand-new options. What has set them apart for me is the thinner mochi shell and a truly rich, not-too-sweet ice cream filling that can be full of surprises, like chocolate chips or fruit bits. The peppier, more tropical package design is a surface makeover, and fresher still are the strawberry, chocolate, and Alphonso mango oat milk-based flavors replacing the coconut non-dairies this month. 

Buy: Bubbies Plant-Based Mochi, from $5.99 for 7.5 ounces or from $1.49 each, available at Whole Foods and Bubbies

This European brand’s light-feeling, but rich-tasting, no-sugar-added dark chocolate bars already have a strong following, and now that yang has a yin. Using a technique that whips and caramelizes milk for a toasty brulée undertone and hint of smokiness, the new Blonde Caramelized White Chocolate bars are creamy and sweet without being cloying, and unbelievably smooth. 

Buy: RED Blonde Caramelized White Chocolate, $2.99 for 3 ounces at ShopRite, Giant, Harris Teeter, Meijer, H-E-B, Ralphs, Albertsons, Roche Brothers, Tops, Publix, and Heinens

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