I Tried Dozens of New Groceries Hitting Shelves This Month — These Are the 8 I Can’t Wait to Buy Again
We’re officially in the thralls of fall, and the grocery launches this September absolutely reflect the delightful chill in the air. I’ve moved on from light spritz and summer produce-centric everything and am all-in on hearty, spiced goods that reflect the cozy season ahead.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been eating almost nothing but recently launched groceries, and let me tell you, there are a lot of great ones. We’re talking about new frozen pot stickers, innovations in soda, snacks galore, and so much more. After a month of sampling, I’ve narrowed dozens of autumn-inspired items down to eight that I not only loved, but will continue to shop throughout the season and beyond.
1. Stouffer’s Supreme Shells & Cheese Three Cheese
I love boxed mac and cheese — so much so that I don’t often get excited about a new boxed-mac launch because I generally think the bright orange cheese-covered noodles are wonderful as they are. That all changed after my first bite of this brand-new Stouffer’s Supreme Shells & Cheese Three Cheese. It ticks all the boxes: decadent, creamy, savory, and easy to make. In fact, you don’t need anything other than the continents of the box itself (no milk or butter necessary!).
In addition to three cheeses, the brand is also launching a cheddar cheese version, both of which are available on Amazon and rolling out in stores nationwide soon. It’s delightfully complex for a boxed mac and cheese and one that I’ll absolutely keep buying well beyond September.
Buy: Stouffer’s Supreme Shells & Cheese Three Cheese, $3.99 for 12 ounces at Amazon; coming soon to retailers nationwide
2. Mìlà Potsticker-Style Beef Dumplings
I’m a longtime fan of Mìlà’s soup dumplings. They’re the most comparable thing to restaurant-style soup dumplings that I can get at home. The brand is always innovating, too, and its latest launch is all about pot stickers. Two flavors recently hit the store’s virtual shelves in two flavors: savory beef and classic chicken.
These dumplings are everything I’d want and more: They have an excellent wrapper-to-meat ratio (more meat than wrapper) and a delightful, fresh-tasting flavor with notes of onion and ginger. They can be boiled, pan-fried, or steamed — I’ve eaten them each way so far, and all are absolutely delicious.
Buy: Mìlà Potsticker-Style Beef Dumplings, $32.99 for 50 dumplings at Mìlà; available in select Walmarts in 14-count bags
3. OLIPOP Ridge Rush
I was a bit skeptical when I saw that OLIPOP was launching a Mountain Dew dupe, because I don’t always associate the “healthy” soda alternative with something with as intense branding as Mountain Dew, but it’s actually quite fantastic! It’s bursting with lemon, lime, and orange flavors and a touch of green tea (that has an added jolt of caffeine) that I’m totally into.
Buy: OLIPOP Ridge Rush, $35.99 for 12 (12-ounce) cans at OLIPOP
4. Chomps Smoky BBQ
I’m the kind of person who always has some kind of meat stick or granola bar on me. So when I saw that Chomps, one of my favorite snacks, just added a brand-new flavor to its catalog, Chomps Smoky BBQ, my first thought was, aren’t we past BBQ season? But after one bite, I didn’t care because these meat sticks are good.
I started with a pack of 10 a few weeks ago and have already ordered more to keep stashed in my bag while I’m on the go.
Buy: Chomps Smoky BBQ, $24.00 for 10 sticks at Chomps
5. Graza Grazola
The Kitchn team absolutely loved Graza’s Potato Chips when they launched earlier this summer, so I wasn’t completely surprised to see the brand expanding even further outside of its mainstay olive oil (which was a runner-up in our very official taste test earlier this year). I’m a granola stan. To me, a quick and nourishing snack is worth its weight in gold, and granola is the ideal food for just that.
Graza’s is refreshingly made with just four ingredients: oats, maple syrup, salt, and, of course, extra virgin olive oil. It’s both vegan and gluten-free, and while the ingredients are minimal, they are incredibly high-quality, which really shines through in its taste.
Buy: Graza Grazola, $18.00 for 2 (12-ounce) bags at Graza
6. Deux Maple Donuts
As much as I love pumpkin spice, there’s something about maple syrup that really embodies fall. My most recent maple-flavored favorite? The Deux Maple Donuts. I’m not sure if it’s because they’re reminiscent of pancakes before school days or the rich caramel-like flavor, but these mini donuts (that are vegan and gluten-free) are infinitely poppable.
They have a soft, cake-like texture and sweetness that is warm without being too overpowering and something that I’ll absolutely keep snacking on throughout the season.
Buy: Deux Maple Donuts, $16.00 for 2 (2-ounce) bags
7. Once Upon a Farm Pumpkin Apple
Continuing with the snacks theme, I have a secret to share: I love baby food pouches. Hear me out, they are filled with nutritious fruits and vegetables and come in a convenient pouch for eating on the go. My latest favorite comes from Once Upon a Farm; Farmer Jen’s Pumpkin Apple Pie has six main ingredients: pumpkin puree, apple, coconut milk, dates, lemon, oats, and warm spices that come together in a delicious snack highlighting my two favorite fall produce (pumpkin and apple!).
This item is seasonal so I’ll be stocking up on them to enjoy for the foreseeable future.
Buy: Farmer Jen’s Pumpkin Apple Pie, $60.64 for (3.2-ounce) pouches at Once Upon a Farm
8. Porta Pepperoni Pizza
Porta launched its line of Roman-style pizzas earlier this month, and it far surpassed any expectations: Alex, The Kitchn’s editorial assistant, even said the Margherita rivaled the pizza at her favorite restaurant (and she works out of New York City!). I have also had a chance to try the newly launched pizzas and absolutely get the hype.
This crusty pizza comes frozen and heats up in the oven in just 12 minutes. Once out of the oven, you’d NEVER believe that it was anything but fresh. Its crust is thin but slightly doughy and has an ultra gooey-cheesy topping and wonderfully crisp pepperoni to top it off.
You can find them at select retailers nationwide including Sprouts, Whole Foods, Pop-Up Grocer, and Harmon’s for $9 or $10 each, and if I were you I’d run, not walk to your local retailer.
Buy: Porta Pepperoni Pizza, $10.99 (on sale!) for 15.2 ounces at Sprouts Farmers Market
Which of these are you most excited about? Tell us about it in the comments below.
Further Reading
We Asked 3 Chefs to Name the Best Ice Cream, and They All Said the Same Thing
The One Cookware Brand That Gordon Ramsay Can’t Stop Talking About
Reese’s Just Launched a Limited-Edition Peanut Butter Cup, and It Tastes 4x Better than the Original
