The year started off with some winning new Trader Joe's products in January, but February is coming in strong, too. We tested them all for you so you know what to pick up and what to skip on your next shopping trip, and spoiler alert: that Hatch Chile Mac and Cheese is going to top your grocery list.
If you know how to cook a perfect steak, you'll be impressed with Trader Joe's new filet mignon. It's so tender, juicy, and flavorful . . . worth every penny.
Every single person who tried this Hatch Chile Mac and Cheese was impressed — someone wrote, "That is really good. Wow." It's not spicy, but the green chiles add a zesty punch to the creamy cheddar cheese. The only complaint is that it would benefit from a textural element, like a crunchy breadcrumb topping.
"Solid granola bar" is the best way to describe the Simply Nutty Dark Chocolate Nut Bars. Our tasters agreed that they're not too sweet and have a good chewy-crunchy combination. However, if you're not a fan of nuts in your bars, you'll want to skip these.
Sharp-cheddar fans, you're sure to love this Artisan Reserve Vermont Cheddar. It's a supersharp white cheddar that our tasters found to have just the right balance of firmness and creaminess. "Get in my belly (and my bread and pasta)" is one taste tester's comment.
Some of our tasters prefer tangier BBQ sauce, but this Organic Brown Sugar BBQ Sauce and Marinade was overall a hit."If you like sweet BBQ sauce, this is the sauce for you," one taster commented.
"Yasss, who doesn't love a veggie burger with actual flavors?" one commenter wrote of these Thai Sweet Chili Veggie Burgers. It's true — unlike the usual black-bean-and-grain combo that can leave meatless burgers falling flat, this Asian version really packs a flavor punch with flavors like sesame and ginger coming through.
Unlike jalapeños, green chiles provide flavor without the heat, and these Fire Roasted Diced Green Chiles are mild in spice and bold in flavor. We added a can to queso for a zesty punch, and you could also use them for soups, burgers, and dips.
We enjoyed the bitter outer shell and sweet, creamy interior of these Cocoa Dusted Truffles With Toffee Bits. Some tasters agree the toffee-filled truffles would be a good alternative to a box of chocolates for Valentine's Day.
Trader Joe's Mini Butterscotch Shortbread Buttons are just the right amount of sweet and savory. Even our butterscotch-averse tasters admitted they enjoyed these buttery, crunchy cookies because the butterscotch flavor is just enough to peek through. "I could eat them for the rest of my life," one person wrote.
We found this assortment of cookies to be a good dessert option to bring to a party. The box features a classic variety, from crunchy chocolate-covered wafers to chocolate-dipped shortbread, that never go out of style.
The new Thyme Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette is a bit disappointing. It's hard to detect any notes of thyme or honey, but that's not to say it tastes bad — it really just tastes like olive oil.
If you're a fan of the thickness of Hidden Valley Ranch, Trader Joe's Organic Ranch might not be for you. It's a mayo-based dressing, and the consistency is a bit too watery.