Trader Joe’s grab-and-go salad section is packed with convenient options, but not every pick delivers the same flavor or value.
This ranking highlights the best choices to grab and the ones you may want to leave behind.
25. Trader Joe’s Crunchy Slaw — $5.99 / 12 oz
This one earns the wooden spoon for sheer one-note crunch. The shredded cabbage base is fine, but the dressing skews so sweet that the slaw drinks more like dessert than a side, and the whole tub goes watery within hours of opening.
What’s in it
- Green and red cabbage base
- Shredded carrots and chow mein noodle bits
- Toasted almond slivers
- Sweet sesame-soy dressing packet
Verdict
It crunches. That is the entire pitch. Skip it unless you are bringing it to a potluck where the kids will eat anything.
24. Trader Joe’s Tuna Salad — $4.99 / 9 oz
A perfectly fine deli-counter tuna salad in a tidy plastic tub. It is the workhorse of the cold case, but it does not do anything that you cannot do at home for half the price with a can of tuna and a spoon of mayo.
What’s in it
- Solid white albacore tuna
- Mayonnaise base
- Diced celery and red onion
- Black pepper and a touch of mustard
Verdict
Buy it when you are starving on the drive home. Otherwise, the from-scratch version wins every time.
23. Trader Joe’s Egg Salad — $4.99 / 10 oz
Soft chopped eggs with a creamy bind, the kind of thing your grandmother kept in a Tupperware in the fridge. Pleasant, mild, and totally fine on toast, but it is not the salad you reach for when summer hits the produce aisle.
What’s in it
- Hard-boiled chopped egg
- Mayonnaise and mustard dressing
- Sweet pickle relish
- Salt and white pepper
Verdict
It will absolutely do on a sandwich, but for the same $4.99 there are far more interesting tubs in the case.
22. Trader Joe’s Potato Salad — $4.99 / 16 oz
A respectable picnic-style potato salad, heavy on the mayo and just sweet enough from the pickle relish. The pound tub is enough to feed a small barbecue, which is exactly when this one earns its keep.
What’s in it
- Peeled diced russet potatoes
- Mayonnaise and yellow mustard dressing
- Chopped hard-boiled egg
- Sweet pickle relish and chopped celery
Verdict
Fine for a backyard cookout, forgettable on a Tuesday. Punch it up with a splash of cider vinegar and chopped fresh dill before you serve it.
21. Trader Joe’s Southwest Salad — $3.99 / 9 oz
A chopped iceberg-and-romaine base with black beans, corn, and a heavy hand of ranch. It is shelf-friendly and travels well, but the dressing pools at the bottom and the greens hit a soggy patch fast.
What’s in it
- Chopped romaine and iceberg
- Black beans and sweet corn
- Shredded cheddar and crispy tortilla strips
- Cilantro-lime ranch dressing
Verdict
Solid grab-and-go calories for $3.99, but eat it the same day you buy it or the greens will betray you.
20. Trader Joe’s Mozzarella and Tomato Salad — $3.99 / 8.25 oz
The classic caprese, packaged in a clamshell with the balsamic vinaigrette tucked into a side cup. It lives and dies by the tomatoes, which are usually a touch underripe in the cold case but salvageable once they warm up on the counter.
What’s in it
- Cherry tomatoes
- Fresh mozzarella pearls
- Fresh basil leaves
- Balsamic vinaigrette packet
Verdict
Pleasant lunch protein at a great price. Let it come to room temperature for fifteen minutes before you eat it.
19. Trader Joe’s Chinese Style Chicken Salad — $4.99 / 12 oz
Iceberg-and-cabbage slaw under a generous heap of shredded chicken, with the obligatory crispy noodles and a sweet sesame-ginger dressing. The portion is huge for $4.99, and that alone keeps it in regular rotation for a lot of shoppers.
What’s in it
- Shredded iceberg and cabbage
- Shredded white-meat chicken
- Crispy wonton strips and sliced almonds
- Sesame-ginger dressing packet
Verdict
Hard to beat on price-per-ounce, but the dressing is sugary and the chicken can run dry. Wake it up with a squeeze of fresh lime.
18. Trader Joe’s Baby Spinach and Greens Salad — $3.99 / 8.5 oz
Baby spinach tossed with bleu cheese crumbles, candied pecans, and dried cranberries, with a small cup of raspberry vinaigrette on the side. It is a textbook holiday-table salad in a tub, available year-round.
What’s in it
- Baby spinach base
- Crumbled bleu cheese
- Candied pecans and dried cranberries
- Raspberry vinaigrette packet
Verdict
A pleasant, slightly sweet salad that pairs better with dinner than it does as a standalone lunch. Solid value at under four dollars.
17. Trader Joe’s Cobb Salad — $5.99 / 9.5 oz
A by-the-book diner Cobb, with strips of grilled chicken, bacon, hard-boiled egg, avocado, blue cheese, and tomatoes. The tub is tightly packed and the ranch dressing is rich enough to slow you down halfway through.
What’s in it
- Romaine and chopped iceberg
- Grilled chicken breast and crumbled bacon
- Hard-boiled egg, avocado, and tomato
- Blue cheese crumbles and ranch dressing
Verdict
A proper meal-sized salad for six bucks. The avocado is hit-or-miss, so peek at the package before you put it in your cart.
16. Trader Joe’s Pasadena Pacific Chicken Salad — $5.99 / 13.25 oz
The California-deli throwback, packed with shredded chicken, almonds, mandarin oranges, and a creamy poppyseed-style dressing. It is a generous 13.25-ounce tub that easily covers lunch for two.
What’s in it
- Chopped romaine and red cabbage
- Shredded white-meat chicken
- Mandarin oranges and slivered almonds
- Creamy poppyseed dressing
Verdict
A nostalgic salad with real staying power, and the size-to-price ratio is one of the best in the case.
15. Trader Joe’s Field Fresh Chopped Salad with Grilled Chicken — $5.99 / 11 oz
A chopped salad in the deli case that actually feels chopped — finely diced romaine, kale, broccoli, and red cabbage tossed with chicken and a creamy parmesan-style dressing. The texture is the whole story here.
What’s in it
- Finely chopped romaine, kale, and broccoli
- Grilled white-meat chicken
- Diced carrots and red cabbage
- Creamy parmesan dressing
Verdict
Restaurant-style chopped feel for under six dollars. Eats like a Sweetgreen knockoff at a third of the price.
14. Trader Joe’s Super Spinach Salad — $4.49 / 10 oz
Baby spinach piled with edamame, quinoa, dried cranberries, and pumpkin seeds, with a maple-tahini dressing on the side. A genuinely satisfying plant-based lunch that does not skimp on the toppings.
What’s in it
- Baby spinach and shaved kale
- Edamame and tri-color quinoa
- Dried cranberries and roasted pumpkin seeds
- Maple-tahini dressing packet
Verdict
Filling, balanced, and the kind of tub you eat without feeling guilty an hour later. A reliable lunch under five bucks.
13. Trader Joe’s Organic Mediterranean Style Salad Kit — $3.99 / 12.95 oz
A toss-it-yourself kit with romaine, kale, and red cabbage, plus a packet each of crumbled feta, oregano-seasoned pita chips, and a lemony Greek vinaigrette. The lemon dressing is the star — bright, herby, and not the least bit gloppy.
What’s in it
- Organic romaine, baby kale, and red cabbage
- Crumbled feta cheese pouch
- Oregano-seasoned pita chip pouch
- Lemon-oregano Greek vinaigrette
Verdict
Excellent build-it-yourself kit for under four dollars. Add a can of chickpeas at home and you have a real Mediterranean lunch.
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12. Trader Joe’s Turkey Harvest Salad — $5.99 / 10 oz
A fall-flavored salad available year-round, with sliced turkey, dried cranberries, candied pecans, and a sweet maple-pumpkin vinaigrette. Tastes like Thanksgiving leftovers in the best way.
What’s in it
- Romaine and baby kale base
- Sliced roasted turkey breast
- Dried cranberries and candied pecans
- Maple-pumpkin vinaigrette packet
Verdict
The cranberries-and-turkey combination is comfort food, and the dressing is sweet without being syrupy. A regular pick from October through January.
11. Trader Joe’s Greek Style Chicken Salad — $5.49 / 10 oz
A Greek-leaning twist on the deli chicken salad, with feta, kalamata olives, sun-dried tomato, and a lemon-oregano dressing folded into the chopped chicken. Heavier than the regular chicken salad but worth the upgrade.
What’s in it
- Diced white-meat chicken
- Crumbled feta and kalamata olives
- Sun-dried tomato bits
- Lemon-oregano vinaigrette bind
Verdict
A genuinely different take on chicken salad that finally tastes like something other than mayo. Excellent on a pita with sliced cucumber.
10. Trader Joe’s Caesar Salad — $4.99 / 9 oz
The naked, no-protein Caesar — crisp romaine, parmesan flakes, garlicky croutons, and a side cup of creamy Caesar dressing. It is the canvas you build on, and for that role it absolutely delivers.
What’s in it
- Crisp chopped romaine
- Shaved parmesan cheese
- Garlic-herb croutons
- Creamy Caesar dressing packet
Verdict
A sturdy, dressing-on-the-side Caesar that holds up for dinner the next day. Add a rotisserie chicken at home and you have a meal.
9. Trader Joe’s Fiesta Salad with Shrimp — $6.99 / 11.11 oz
Cold-poached shrimp on a bed of romaine, black beans, sweet corn, and pickled red onion, with a tangy cilantro-lime dressing and crispy tortilla strips on the side. A welcome new addition to the cold case.
What’s in it
- Romaine and chopped iceberg
- Cold-poached shrimp
- Black beans, sweet corn, and pickled red onion
- Cilantro-lime dressing and tortilla strips
Verdict
A genuinely fresh-tasting shrimp salad that does not skimp on the protein. The pickled onion is the secret weapon.
8. Trader Joe’s Caesar Salad with White Chicken Meat — $4.99 / 9 oz
The plain Caesar with a generous portion of shredded chicken folded in. Same crisp romaine, same garlicky croutons, but now with enough protein to make it a full lunch instead of a side.
What’s in it
- Chopped romaine base
- Shredded white-meat chicken
- Parmesan cheese and croutons
- Creamy Caesar dressing packet
Verdict
The price went up over the past year but it is still one of the best protein-to-price ratios in the case. A standby that earns its keep.
7. Trader Joe’s BBQ Flavored Chicken Salad — $5.99 / 13 oz
Romaine and red cabbage piled with BBQ-glazed chicken, black beans, corn, and shredded cheddar, with a tangy ranch on the side. A meal-sized tub at 13 ounces that eats like a backyard cookout in a clamshell.
What’s in it
- Chopped romaine and red cabbage
- BBQ-glazed shredded chicken
- Black beans, sweet corn, and cheddar
- Buttermilk ranch dressing packet
Verdict
Smoky, hearty, and big enough to split. Honest comfort food masquerading as a salad — and that is a compliment.
6. Trader Joe’s Caesar Salad with Salmon — $6.99 / 8.25 oz
Flaked cold-cooked salmon over crisp romaine, with parmesan, croutons, and the same creamy Caesar dressing. The salmon is rich and the dressing balances it beautifully — a step up from the chicken Caesar.
What’s in it
- Chopped romaine base
- Flaked cold-cooked salmon
- Shaved parmesan and garlic croutons
- Creamy Caesar dressing packet
Verdict
An indulgent lunch for under seven dollars. The salmon is genuinely good quality and the portion size feels right for the price.
5. Trader Joe’s Classic Greek Salad — $3.49 / 9 oz
Chopped romaine with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, kalamata olives, and a generous block of feta, with a lemon-oregano vinaigrette on the side. At $3.49, it is one of the best straight-up values in the entire cold case.
What’s in it
- Chopped romaine and cucumber
- Cherry tomatoes and red onion
- Kalamata olives and a block of feta
- Lemon-oregano vinaigrette packet
Verdict
Bright, crunchy, and genuinely good for the price. Add a can of chickpeas at home and you have a full Mediterranean lunch for under five dollars.
4. Trader Joe’s Organic Kale Chicken Caesar Salad — $6.99 / 6.6 oz
Shaved organic kale, parmesan, ciabatta croutons, and a creamy Caesar dressing, topped with white-meat chicken. The kale base means it holds its texture for two days in the fridge — a real advantage over romaine.
What’s in it
- Shaved organic baby kale
- Shredded white-meat chicken
- Shaved aged parmesan
- Ciabatta croutons and creamy Caesar dressing
Verdict
The kale upgrade is the difference. It travels better, it eats heartier, and the price is fair for the quality.
3. Trader Joe’s Sesame Miso Salad with Salmon — $6.99 / 10.25 oz
Cold-cooked salmon over a bed of greens with edamame, shredded carrot, and crispy wonton strips, finished with a sesame-miso dressing. The dressing is the kind of thing you wish came in a bigger bottle to take home.
What’s in it
- Mixed greens and shredded carrot
- Flaked cold-cooked salmon
- Edamame and crispy wonton strips
- Sesame-miso dressing packet
Verdict
Genuinely restaurant-quality flavor in a plastic tub. The dressing alone is worth the seven dollars.
2. Trader Joe’s Lemon Chicken and Arugula Salad — $5.49 / 9.2 oz
Lemon-marinated chicken breast over peppery arugula with shaved parmesan, halved cherry tomatoes, and a lemon vinaigrette. Clean, simple, and the kind of salad you actually crave when the weather warms up.
What’s in it
- Wild arugula base
- Lemon-marinated grilled chicken
- Cherry tomatoes and shaved parmesan
- Lemon vinaigrette packet
Verdict
The arugula gives it the bite that most deli salads lack, and the chicken is consistently tender. Easily one of the most reorder-worthy tubs in the case.
1. Trader Joe’s Broccoli Slaw and Kale Salad with White Chicken Meat — $4.29 / 9.3 oz
Shaved broccoli, shredded kale, dried cranberries, sliced almonds, and chunks of white-meat chicken in a creamy poppyseed dressing. It is the rare salad where every single component pulls its weight, and the price has actually come down from last year.
What’s in it
- Shaved broccoli stems and shredded kale
- Diced white-meat chicken
- Dried cranberries and sliced almonds
- Creamy poppyseed dressing bind
Verdict
The texture, the protein, the sweetness from the cranberries — it all works. Best price-per-ounce on a complete-meal salad in the entire cold case, and the new $4.29 sticker only sweetens the deal. Our number one.
The Take
Trader Joe’s grab-and-go salad section is one of the most quietly competitive corners of the store. Twenty-five tubs is a lot to choose from, and the gap between the bottom of this list and the top is genuinely huge — the difference between a tired afternoon-snack tub and a meal you would happily pay nine dollars for at a cafe.
If you are only going to put one of these in your cart this week, the Broccoli Slaw and Kale with Chicken at $4.29 is still our pick. If you are buying for two, grab the Caesar Salad with Salmon or the Sesame Miso with Salmon for around seven dollars apiece. And if you spot one of the new arrivals on the shelf — the Fiesta Shrimp, the Greek Style Chicken Salad, the new Mediterranean Salad Kit — those are the ones we have been reaching for first this summer.
As always, the cold case rotates faster than the rest of the store, so the lineup may shift again before the year is out. We will keep this page updated as new tubs arrive and old favorites quietly disappear.
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