The 10 Best Trader Joe’s Condiments, Seasonings and Spreads, According to Our Editors

It may be hard to describe umami, aka the fifth taste, but a generous dusting of this powerhouse seasoning should help you figure it out. My top pick (ever) is made from porcini and white button mushrooms, plus onion, mustard seed, red and black pepper and thyme. I love sprinkling it over popcorn and roasted potatoes, and I always add it to ground beef for burgers, along with Worcestershire sauce, to amp up the savoriness.

I also used to always have this mix of confetti-like dried nori, black and white sesame seeds, salt and kelp powder on hand for rice bowls, scrambled eggs, fries and beyond. It boasts an ocean-inspired edge that tastes divine on all sorts of fish, too. PureWow SEO editor Marissa Wu says it’s “great for salmon bakes and a little something nutty.”

Before you dump it on pasta and call it a night, know that this enticing sauce can do so much more than a bowl of penne. It’s made with Calabrian hot chile peppers that are crushed, fermented and mixed into a catch-all product you’ll always want on hand once you taste it. “It’s an underrated TJ’s product,” PureWow director of affiliate strategy Pam Masin says. “I use it on sandwiches or with roasted veggies. It’s spicy, but not overwhelming so.”

Masin also adores this surprisingly versatile Trader Joe’s condiment. Inspired by toum, a Middle Eastern dip made with fresh garlic, oil, salt and lemon, this emulsified delight can take over for mayo or hollandaise at a moment’s notice. “I’ve used it on sandwiches, as a base for homemade pizza, a side with grilled chicken or even a dollop on a Greek salad,” she raves. “It’s addicting!”

I quickly became infatuated with this summery, sweet-and-spicy powder the instant I tried it. Salt and sugar provide a balanced base for chili pepper, corn flour, Parmesan cheese, chipotle powder, dried cilantro and citric acid. The combination creates a mix of spicy, savory, smoky, herby and sour flavors that honor the seasoning’s street corn namesake.

It’s not my all-time favorite chile crisp (that’d be S&B Chili Oil with Crunchy Garlic, TYVM), but it’s indeed one of the crunchier options on the market. Crispy dried garlic and onion unite in a bold, crimson pool of dried red bell peppers, crushed chiles and olive oil for a condiment that fans can’t get enough of. I suggest stirring it into a dollop of mayo for your next burger or breakfast sandwich.

Consider this Middle Eastern condiment Yemen’s cilantro-based version of chimichurri. It’s herbaceous, fragrant and vibrant in both appearance and flavor. One caveat: It’s labeled as “very spicy,” but those who like spicy foods will likely consider it to have medium heat at best. However, you can always zhuzh it up with crushed red pepper flakes to your liking; you’ll find the rest scrumptious, nonetheless.

It’s currently unavailable, but I’m awaiting the return of this Trader Joe’s condiment with bated breath. Tomato powder, sugar, salt, onion powder and garlic powder make for a sweet base that can go on everything from potato chips and popcorn to scrambled eggs and fried chicken. I wouldn’t have minded more vinegar powder, because I love things as acidic as possible, but I adored it anyway. It was mostly fruity and sweet, rather than decidedly tangy like ketchup.

“I know, I know, Trader Joe’s has the best cheese selection, like, ever,” former PureWow wellness director Sarah Stiefvater says, “but if you and dairy aren’t a great match, nutritional yeast is a shockingly good substitute for Parmesan. Plus, TJ’s version is way, way cheaper than the nutritional yeast you can get in other grocery stores. It’s so delicious on top of pasta or scrambled eggs.”

Rich, jammy, tangy and herby, this creamy, dreamy dip can double as a spread or garnish. The garlicky, sweet-tart tomato topping delivers pizza energy without knocking you over the head with oregano, and its flavor profile will remind you of summer dinners on the patio. The tomatoes also make it visually appealing, unlike most other yogurt spreads you’ve seen before.