If there’s one thing Trader Joe’s has mastered, it’s innovation. The grocery chain prides itself on pumping out unique new products that you likely won’t find elsewhere. Coupled with affordable prices, free samples, and a generous return policy, Trader Joe’s has perfected the formula for customer retention.
While customers flock to the store for deals on fancy cheeses, frozen finds, and reusable shopping bags, the spices and seasonings section is just as much of a gold mine. It’s got your classics—salt and pepper, taco seasoning, garlic powder, and so forth—but it’s also home to several seasonings blends unique to Trader Joe’s. To jazz up your spice rack, here are the best Trader Joe’s seasonings to stock up on. As an added bonus, they’re all under $3.
Everything But The Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend
Trader Joe’s
The everything bagel has been around for decades, but Trader Joe’s bottled up what makes it so tasty—the crunchy seeds and savory spices. Trader Joe’s released its Everything But The Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend years ago, and it’s been a fan favorite ever since. It’s priced at under $2 per bottle, and contains just a few simple ingredients that are addicting when combined: sesame seeds, salt, garlic onion, and poppy seeds.
You can shake it onto a bagel smeared with cream cheese, of course, but its uses span beyond bread rolls. Add it to any savory foods that could use a crunchy, salty boost, such as popcorn, roasted vegetables, pasta, avocado toast, rice and noodle dishes, and hummus. It even works as a seasoning for roasted salmon!
Chile Lime Seasoning Blend
Trader Joe’s
This Trader Joe’s seasoning is inspired by the Mexican street snack fruta con chile y limon—fresh fruits and vegetables sprinkled with salt, chile powder, and lime juice powder. The Chile Lime Seasoning Blend is therefore salty and citrusy, with a tiny bit of heat.
If you’re not familiar with the Mexican snack it’s inspired by, sprinkling it on fruit may not seem like the obvious choice, but give it a try. It has just the right amount of spice to balance out the sweetness of the fruit, with a bit of tang from the lime juice. You can also use it to season savory dishes like meat, tacos, potatoes, and eggs, as well as alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages like spiked limeade.
Ranch Seasoning Blend
Trader Joe’s
If ranch dressing is your thing, then the Trader Joe’s Ranch Seasoning Blend is bound to become your new favorite spice. Ranch dressing itself is essentially the result of combining buttermilk with granulated garlic and plenty of herbs, which is why this seasoning blend is essentially a dried version of the popular condiment. Its main ingredient is buttermilk powder, which is flavored with garlic, onion, salt, and some dried herbs.
So, why reach for this seasoning instead of the real deal? It’s great if you want the ranch flavor without adding any wet ingredients, such as on popcorn or mixed nuts. It’s also significantly lower in calories. Shake it onto pizza, French fries, chicken wings, veggies, and more, or stir it into Greek yogurt or cottage cheese for a flavorful, protein-rich dip.
Aglio Olio Seasoning Blend
Trader Joe’s
Pasta doesn’t need a ton of ingredients to make it tasty. Olive oil, seasonings, and cheese are all you need for a basic but satisfying pasta recipe—it’s even in the name of a popular dish, spaghetti aglio e olio, which is Italian for “garlic and oil.” The Trader Joe’s Aglio Olio Seasoning Blend is just the spice for the occasion. When you’re craving Italian but don’t want to cook an elaborate meal, combine some cooked spaghetti with olive oil, Parmesan cheese, and this seasoning blend. Dinner’s ready in mere minutes, but resembles something out of an Italian restaurant. This seasoning also elevates bread, dips, sauces, marinades, and butter.
Everything But The Elote Seasoning Blend
Trader Joe’s
You’ll notice how Trader Joe’s uses popular or cultural foods to inspire its seasoning blends, and this one is no exception. The Everything But The Elote Seasoning Blend is made with sugar, salt, chile pepper, Parmesan cheese, chipotle powder, cilantro, and cumin—aka the perfect concoction to sprinkle onto a buttery, cheesy cob of corn. It’s inspired by Mexican street corn, so it’s only fitting to recreate this craveable snack at home. You can also sprinkle it on popcorn, nachos, tacos, and anything else your heart desires.
TJ’s Mushroom & Company Multipurpose Umami Seasoning Blend
Trader Joe’s
The five basic flavors include sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami, but that last one isn’t as straightforward as the others. It’s mainly associated with the savory flavors in meat, but if you’re vegan or vegetarian, fear not—mushrooms are high in umami. Enter the TJ’s Mushroom & Company Multipurpose Umami Seasoning Blend—it uses powdered porcini and white button mushrooms, along with some other spices, to create an umami flavor you’ll want to add to all your savory recipes.
So, how do you cook with it? Simple: If you’re a meat lover, use it in dry rubs, sprinkle it on fish and meat, or use it in bread crumb mixtures for breaded chicken tenders. If you’re vegan or vegetarian, use it on roasted vegetables, avocado toast, and homemade veggie burgers.
