Trader Joe’s staples: 11 chef finds worth repeating

A professional chef and recipe developer says she builds her grocery cart around speed, flavor, and value—citing 11 Trader Joe’s items she keeps buying for quick meals, pantry upgrades, and snackable “shortcut” cooking.

A grocery run at Trader Joe’s can feel almost like planning dinner in advance—especially when you already know which items reliably save time and deliver big flavor. For Araminta David. a recipe developer and professional chef who has been shopping at Trader Joe’s for 15 years. the cart isn’t just about convenience. It’s built around products that make it easier to eat healthy at home while still delivering what she calls flavor-bomb shortcuts.

David cooks almost all of her own meals, so grocery shopping isn’t a casual side task—it’s part of the workflow. She says she’s drawn to Trader Joe’s because it often offers more interesting products at affordable prices than other stores.

Her list starts with two frozen kitchen staples that. in her words. changed everything: Dorot Gardens crushed ginger and crushed garlic. She doesn’t just use them as an emergency option—she melts the frozen cubes directly in a pan to build the base for sauces. soups. curries. and pastas. She also points to the fact that the trays are reusable. saying she will often recycle them and freeze cubes of pesto or lemon juice for later use.

For days when “low-effort” is the only workable plan, David reaches for Trader Joe’s frozen turkey burgers. She describes them as an easy, tasty, high-protein option that cook in under 10 minutes. At about $4 for four burgers at her local store, she says they come out perfectly seasoned and juicy.

On the flavor and technique side, David relies heavily on ghee—clarified butter—calling it one of her best-buy products. She uses it as an alternative fat thanks to its high smoke point and nutty aroma, replacing butter or oil. She says she cooks eggs in it, drizzles it over popcorn, and uses it as a base for lentil dishes.

Sweet and aromatic cooking is where Trader Joe’s bourbon vanilla bean paste also earns a place. David says she loves the texture, describing it as richer and more luxurious than vanilla extract because it’s thicker. She uses a dollop in baked goods. coffee. dessert sauces. and even cocktails. and she notes that a jar costs just about $5 at her local store.

Snackable convenience is another recurring theme. David’s go-to: Trader Joe’s antipasto sticks. She describes them as prosciutto-wrapped cheese sticks that can be purchased individually—“super-savory,” satisfying, and protein-packed. She keeps them ready for real life. whether that’s slipping them into a gym bag or airport carry-on. taking them on hikes. or eating them on the way home from a TJ’s run.

She also keeps Trader Joe’s lemon-stuffed olives on hand. David calls them seasonal and says that when they appear on the shelf, she advises grabbing a few jars. She describes the olives as briny. tart. and tender. using them in a martini. on a cheese board. in a falafel wrap or bowl. or simply eating them on their own.

For freezer-friendly meals, David buys chicken-cilantro mini wontons. She says she always keeps a couple of bags in her freezer. pan-searing or steaming them and then tossing them with black vinegar. soy sauce. sesame oil. sesame seeds. scallions. and whatever veggie or protein she has available. Her result: an easy, quick weeknight dinner.

Craving something crunchy and shareable is where her cart becomes unmistakably snack-forward. David says she always adds Trader Joe’s trail-mix crackers when she sees them. She describes them as fun and delicious, made with sesame seeds and raisins, sweet and savory, and perfectly crunchy. She says they pair well with dips or cheese, but she often eats them on their own.

And she doesn’t just snack—she stockpiles. David says she always loads up on freeze-dried berries, specifically mentioning freeze-dried blueberries and strawberries. She says the uses are endless: adding natural flavor and color to baked goods. popping them into granola when fresh berries aren’t in season. or munching them straight from the bag. For hiking and travel, she calls them a perfect lightweight snack.

Her cart also includes Nuestro Queso cotija, which she describes as one of her favorite Trader Joe’s buys. She explains that cotija is similar to Parmesan but is a hard cheese with a tangy. salty flavor that intensifies as it ages. David says it lasts a long time in the fridge without drying out. and she uses it for an umami pop grated over salads. tacos. roasted vegetables. and beans.

Rounding out the list are Trader Joe’s sweet picanté peppers, mild peppers stuffed with cream cheese. David calls them sweet, tart, and creamy—and says they’re absolutely addictive on water crackers, with salami, or eaten on their own.

Taken together, the items David repeats aren’t random favorites. They share a practical goal: turning everyday meals into something faster. easier. and more flavorful—whether she’s building a sauce with frozen ginger cubes. cracking open a bag of freeze-dried berries for the trail. or grabbing an antipasto stick because dinner has to happen after the day is already in motion.

Trader Joe's grocery staples chef favorites frozen ginger and garlic turkey burgers ghee bourbon vanilla bean paste antipasto sticks lemon-stuffed olives mini wontons trail-mix crackers freeze-dried berries cotija sweet picanté peppers