9 “Delicious” Trader Joe’s Snack Hacks You’ll Wish You Tried Sooner, According to Employees

Although the prime holiday and hosting season may be behind us, our kitchens are still plenty busy. (Even the extra-lazy recipes don’t make themselves, right?) As we mentally prep for the Super Bowl, awards season, and Valentine’s Day, we’re looking for quick and crowd-pleasing dishes that dazzle. One of our favorite places to find inspiration is, of course, Trader Joe’s.

Trader Joe’s is a host’s wonderland. The aisles are packed with fun and versatile groceries that come together in minutes and somehow make magic (have you tried these two-ingredient Buffalo chicken bites?). In the latest episode of the Inside Trader Joe’s podcast, which dropped earlier this week, co-hosts Tara Miller and Matt Sloan tapped several TJ’s employees to share their go-to snack recipes and hacks (made with Trader Joe’s ingredients, of course). These are the nine recommendations we can’t wait to try.

1. Jalapeño Poppers

Jalapeño Poppers are a game-day must for Christopher, the associate category grocery manager for produce. His three-ingredient poppers contain fresh jalapeños, sliced in half and filled with block cream cheese (not whipped), and then sprinkled with more cheese. “I recently tried the [shredded] Unexpected Cheddar, and I thought that was phenomenal with it,” he says. Remove the seeds to tone down the heat and pop them in the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 minutes. (Wrap them with bacon for a crispy, smoky flavor, if you’d like.)

2. Cauliflower Nachos

Matt was admittedly skeptical about this take on classic nachos, but Christopher totally convinced him — especially after sharing that his friends “absolutely love it.” Like the name suggests, Christopher swaps in cauliflower (heads or florets) for tortilla chips. “I like to cut them in half so they’re a little bit smaller and a little bit more bite-size, and then toss on your favorite nacho toppings.” Onions, peppers, ground turkey (his preference), ground beef, taco seasoning, cheese — you name it.

3. Pepper Jelly Crackers

Although the Trader Joe’s Hot & Sweet Pepper Jelly is seasonal, Christopher likes to stock up on the $2.99 jars to make this incredibly easy three-ingredient appetizer: “I put a little bit of the Pepper Jelly onto the Golden Rounds [crackers] and then top it with a little bit of cream cheese … or Greek yogurt. I think it’s a nice combination of a little bit of spicy, a little bit of sweetness.”

4. Hash Brown “Baked Potatoes”

Speaking of swaps, Crew member Tracey turns Trader Joe’s wildly popular Hash Browns into the base of her very own DIY baked potato bar. She crisps them in the oven, sprinkles on a little salt, and then loads up on add-ons. Crispy bacon, green onion, and sour cream are her go-tos, but “whatever else you want” is all good with Tracey.

5. Turkey Taco Dip

If Jamie, a nutrition director at Trader Joe’s, had to pick her favorite grocery from the store, it would be the Trader Joe’s Cowboy Caviar Salsa. Coincidentally it’s also the star of her Turkey Taco Dip, which layers ground turkey (seasoned as you like), caviar salsa, cream cheese, and cheese. Bake it in the oven until the cheese is nice and bubbly, and eat it with chips or veggies.

6. Ranch Dip

Move over, sour cream and onion. This two-ingredient dip is another one of Jamie’s picks — and it takes seconds to make. She blends Trader Joe’s Strained Thick and Creamy Greek Yogurt with the grocer’s ranch seasoning and pairs it with a big ol’ veggie platter. If you have extra ranch seasoning on hand, try sprinkling some on potato chips (or your hash brown “baked potatoes”).

7. Hot Honey-Pistachio Baked Brie

Baked Brie is one of those low-effort, high-reward appetizers that Senior Facilities Manager at Trader Joe’s, Dan, can’t get enough of. His next-level version is piled high with chopped pistachios and hot honey. He mixes the two together, along with “a little bit of fresh thyme,” and spoons it over the baked Brie (which he scores first, the same way you would a loaf of bread). While that gets all melty in the oven, he’ll even toast sliced baguettes with a little bit of olive oil to serve with it.

8. Salmon Crostini

Salmon crostini might “look [and sound] kind of fancy,” says Devin, a packing designer at Trader Joe’s. It does take a little planning, but he promises it’s “really easy” and will absolutely “impress your guests.” He roasts some fresh salmon in the oven the day before a party (so it can chill). The next day, “you’re going to flake the salmon” and “mix it with a little bit of mayo [and] a little bit of toasted sesame oil.” Spread that on some Trader Joe’s Brioche Toasts and watch them disappear.

9. Charcuterie Skewers

Charcuterie skewers (or, as we call them, antipasto bites) are everything you love about a snack board, served up on a stick. They’re also infinitely customizable. No wonder Devin loves prepping them for parties: “You take an Italian meat you like, maybe salami or prosciutto, put it on a skewer with San Marzano tomato or a cherry tomato, a green olive, a little mozzarella ball, maybe some basil. You can even do a little drizzle of balsamic or oil on it.” 

Do you have a two- or three-ingredient Trader Joe’s snack you make? Tell us about it in the comments below!

Further Reading

Why People Are Ditching Their Seltzer After a Disturbing Study

The One Cookware Brand That Gordon Ramsay Can’t Stop Talking About