These Trader Joe's Products Are All You Need to Make Tasty Summer Sides

Trader Joe's has the best products all year round, but especially during the warm months of summer. The store is stocked with seasonal produce, hidden pantry gems, frozen-food shortcuts, and more items that are perfect for outdoor dining and easy summer side dishes (veggie skewers, we're looking at you). There's also chile lime seasoning, Mexican-style frozen corn with cotija cheese, grilled chicken skewers, and more essentials that will save you time and money. Prepare to add every single one of the these affordable Trader Joe's items to your cart when you're in need of a little summertime cooking inspiration.

Prices and products may vary by Trader Joe's location.

Additional reporting by Lauren Harano

01

Trader Joe's Pesto Pasta Veggie Sauté Kit

Easy, simple, and fresh, this pesto pasta veggie sauté kit will make your mouth water. Serve it on the side of grilled chicken or steak to make it complete.

02

Trader Joe's Lemony Arugula Basil Salad Kit

This light summer salad has a soy-free lemon vinaigrette dressing that's delicious. If you want to make it even heartier, top it off with your favorite seasonal vegetables.

03

Trader Joe's Buffalo Style Chicken Poppers

If you love buffalo chicken, Trader Joe's Buffalo Style Chicken Poppers will wind you right up. The outside of these have the perfect crunch, while the spicy chicken inside will bring you to life.

04

Trader Joe's Buffalo Ranch Chopped Salad

We have a feeling this is going to be a hot-ticket item, so you better snag it while it lasts! Serve it next to grilled asparagus and chicken, and you'll have the best meal of all.

05

Trader Joe's Organic Salsa

You'll want to dip all your chips in this organic medium salsa! Pair it with tacos, quesadillas, burritos, and more.

06

Trader Joe's Sweet Potato Chips

There's no beating the sweet and salty taste of sweet potato chips, and now Trader Joe's finally has its own version to snack on! Pair these with your favorite summer dinner to bring back the nostalgia of being younger and eating chips with every meal.

07

Trader Joe's Peanut and Crispy Noodle Salad Kit

If you love Thai cuisine, you'll drool over this Trader Joe's Peanut and Crispy Noodle Salad Kit. You can make it as a side to any meal, and it will surely bring a bold pop of flavor.

08
Trader Joe's Chipotle Vegetable Quesadillas
POPSUGAR Photography | Hajar Larbah

Trader Joe's Chipotle Vegetable Quesadillas

Looking for an easy side? These vegetarian quesadillas are just for you! You can cut them into four slices, so everyone can enjoy one with their dinner.

09
Trader Joe's Organic Elote Corn Chip Dippers
POPSUGAR Photography | Hajar Larbah

Trader Joe's Organic Elote Corn Chip Dippers

If you're going to eat chips, make it these corn chip dippers — the elote-inspired seasoning will blow your mind! Just pair these chips with guac for an unbeatable side dish.

10

Trader Joe's Pollo Asado Autentico

Trader Joe's Pollo Asado Autentico comes prepared as thin strips of boneless, skinless chicken breast and is marinated similarly to other carne versions. The chicken is grill-ready, meaning you can make small tacos, sheet pan fajitas, and other tasty bites in no time.

11

Trader Joe's Avocado Tzatziki Dip

Perfect for pita, veggies, chips, and more, Trader Joe's Avocado Tzatziki Dip has all the flavor that you were hoping for. Make a beautiful spread with fresh vegetables, crackers, and more, and watch as the side plates overflow.

12

Trader Joe's Chile Lime Seasoning Blend

TJ's has its own Chile Lime Seasoning Blend, and the salty, citrusy spice blend adds instant flavor to summery sides like avocado salad, sliced watermelon, and fresh fish.

13

Trader Joe's Balsamic Glaze

This sweet balsamic glaze comes in an easy-to-squeeze bottle, ensuring that you can enjoy every last drop. Feel free to put it on a fancy caprese salad, roasted vegetables, or even use it as a marinade. The options are endless!

14

Trader Joe's Five-Layer Dip

Looking for something easy to toss on the table? Look no further than Trader Joe's Five-Layer Dip. With garbanzo and black bean hummus, guac, pico de gallo, sour cream, and a four-cheese blend, everyone's small plates will be overflowing with this easy side.

15

Trader Joe's Everything but the Elote

Trader Joe's Everything but the Elote seasoning just answered all your summer side prayers. A mix of salt, chili pepper, cheese, chipotle, and cumin, this seasoning is pretty much begging to be added to corn on the cob, roasted veggies, and more.

16

Trader Joe's Chili Onion Crunch

We're not kidding when we say this tastes good on everything. If you're having a BBQ, we suggest adding this to sliders, pizza bites, and anything else you want.

17

Trader Joe's Plantain Crisps

These double-fried crunchy plantain crisps are savory, delightful, and perfect for scooping everything from black bean dip to chunky salsa. Eat up!

18

Trader Joe's Crumbled Feta

On everything from side salads to chili and lentil-based appetizers, you can't go wrong with a dash of crumbled feta. Spice up your side dishes with a scoop (or two) of this cheese, and let the compliments to the chef roll in.

19

Trader Joe's Cheese

Trader Joe's has an amazing cheese selection that makes it impossible to choose just one. For al fresco-style summertime dining, pick up a few of your favorite cheeses along with crackers, salami, prosciutto, and fruit.

20

Trader Joe's Burrata

Trader Joe's sells affordable burrata cheese that's perfect for quick summer sides like a watermelon, tomato, and burrata salad.

21

Trader Joe's Organic Red Lentil Sedanini Pasta

Use Trader Joe's Organic Red Lentil Sedanini Pasta for colorful pasta dishes this summer.

22

Trader Joe's Roasted Tomatillo and Mango Salsa

Summer means mango everything at Trader Joe's, including this Roasted Tomatillo and Mango Salsa. Add this to guacamole, drizzle it over grilled vegetables, or serve it with tacos.

23

Trader Joe's Basil Plant

Make the most out of basil season not by picking up a package every time you need it, but instead by grabbing one of Trader Joe's affordable basil plants sold in-store. You can keep the herb plant in your kitchen and use it for summer staples like pesto and pasta salad.

24

Trader Joe's Seasoning Salt

Trader Joe's Seasoning Salt is essentially a knockoff of Lawry's Seasoning Salt, and it's an all-purpose seasoning that makes everything taste better, from vegetable skewers to grilled chicken.

25

Trader Joe's Mexican-Style Roasted Corn With Cotija Cheese

You'll find Trader Joe's Mexican-Style Roasted Corn With Cotija Cheese in the frozen section. Its creamy sauce is made with all the flavors you'd find in traditional elote, a guaranteed crowd-pleasing summer side.

26

Trader Joe's Teeny Tiny Avocados

Not only are Trader Joe's Teeny Tiny Avocados insanely adorable (and affordable), but they're also the ultimate summer necessity for sides like guacamole, avocado pasta, and cucumber avocado salad.

27

Trader Joe's Grilled Jerk Chicken Thigh Skewers

Skip the charcoal and simply preheat your oven to enjoy Trader Joe's Grilled Jerk Chicken Thigh Skewers with mango chutney dipping sauce.

28

Trader Joe's Rainier Cherries

Keep your eyes peeled for rainier cherries from Trader Joe's during the summer. The juicy cherries can be served on their own or in a quinoa, cherry, and feta salad.

29

Trader Joe's Veggie Kabobs

These conveniently packaged veggie kabobs are perfect for grilling.

30

Trader Joe's Tropical Mango Salad Kit

A seasonal item in the produce aisle, Trader Joe's Tropical Mango Salad Kit comes packaged with coconut, cashews, and tamarind dressing, so all you have to do it mix everything together.

31

Trader Joe's Grilled Asparagus Spears

Too lazy to grill asparagus? Trader Joe's sells grilled asparagus spears, which you can mix with corn, tomatoes, bell peppers, red onion, and vinaigrette for a lightning-fast yet sophisticated side.