7 Not-to-Be-Missed Trader Joe’s Groceries That Hit Shelves This August

The best reason to go to Trader Joe’s isn’t for the freezer section, or the salad kits. Or even the Sesame Crusted Hardwood Smoked Ahi Tuna, which I’ve been buying on repeat all summer long for these no-cook poke bowls. (Seriously, this tuna is so good, it just made our list of Kitchn Essentials!) No, the best reason to go to Trader Joe’s is to walk around to see what’s new! You know this. And you know that there’s always lots of new stuff to discover.

I counted no fewer than seven new finds on my recent trip this last Sunday morning. (I hesitate to share this, but you guys, the time to go really is at 8 a.m. on Sundays!) Of course I bought everything that was new, so that I could give it all a try! Everything was a winner. Let’s take a look!

We make a lot of mozzarella sticks and garlic bread in my house. (Because, you know, nothing goes with pizza quite like more cheese, more carbs, and more sauce!) But my world has just been turned upside down because this new cheese is basically a combo of both. It’s a riff on juustolepä, a Finnish cheese that’s got a halloumi-like texture. It’s made with Wisconsin cow’s milk, dusted with garlic powder, and then baked to perfection. TJ’s suggests microwaving the cheese for 30 seconds or heating it up in a sauté pan. You can then slice it into sticks and dunk it into a bowl of warm tomato sauce. Having done just this, I can tell you that you won’t be disappointed.

Trader Joe’s already had a frozen Cacio e Pepe pasta dinner, so I’m not sure why it took them so long to come out with this jarred sauce. The important thing, though, is that it’s finally here. “We wanted to pay proper tribute to this sublimely simple, time-tested dish, so we went back to its ancestral roots to work with an Italian supplier who specializes in traditional recipes,” the grocer says. “Doing just as the Romans did, Trader Joe’s Cacio e Pepe Pasta Sauce combines Pecorino Romano cheese, made from sheep’s milk, with bold, black pepper to create a cheesy, savory sauce that’s deceptively simple, and simply delicious.” Put it over pasta, yes, but also on top of steamed broccoli, a baked potato, or grilled chicken.

I just might have found a way to justify having chocolate for breakfast! Each of these bars (you get four in a pack) have 70 milligrams of caffeine. Made from a blend of Columbian cocoa nibs and coffee beans, this treat is rich, deep, and has a hint of coffee that’s just right.

A “colorful assortment of small-dice veggies inspired by the summertime garden,” this hash includes cauliflower, zucchini, bell peppers, fire roasted corn, celery, and yellow onion. It’s found in the refrigerated section and would be great for sautéing or adding to soups and omelets.

I love it when TJ’s finds a theme and runs with it. Their Everything but the Elote Seasoning hit shelves in February 2020 (which seems like a lifetime ago) and now they’ve got a dip version. It’s a creamy, tangy, Greek-style yogurt dip that also has corn, cheese, and that elote seasoning. For an extra-meta snack, use TJ’s Organic Elote Corn Chip Dippers as a vehicle to get the dip into your mouth!

I saw this wrap on Instagram before I went shopping and kinda shrugged it off. I’ve been burned by premade wraps (from all sorts of grocery stores and eateries!) way too many times in the past. But then I saw it in the store and the ingredients just looked so … fresh! Knowing that my husband and I had a drive coming up, I figured I’d take the chance. It’s a spinach tortilla with creamy hummus, crisp greens, and other veggies. The red peppers in there might have stolen the show — and I don’t even really like red peppers! This wrap was great and the price point is hard to beat. If you’re wondering, yes, I did eat this in the car.

If you’re a fan of TJ’s Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce, prepare to get excited. The powers that be have turned the sauce into a chip seasoning. The result: crispy ruffled chips that have a hint of sweet honey and light smoke. My husband will not eat a BBQ chip, but he went to town these.

What’s the best thing you’ve tried at Trader Joe’s recently?