If you missed it back in January, Trader Joe’s shoppers cast more than a million ballots and crowned the winners of the 17th Annual Customer Choice Awards. It’s a useful list to keep handy heading into summer hosting season, because almost every category overlaps with what you’d actually put on a board or pull from the freezer when company shows up. Here are all 55 winners, by category, with the runners-up that earned the second through fifth spots in each race.
Skim it for stocking ideas, settle a few dinner-party debates, and notice which seasonal picks (Spiced Cider, Patio Potato Chips, Almond Danish Kringle) are short-window items worth grabbing while they’re on shelves.
Contents
Best Overall
The five products that, across every category, members chose as the absolute best Trader Joe’s has to offer.
Steamed Pork & Ginger Soup Dumplings — Price: ~$3.49 for 6 oz (6 dumplings)
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Description: Juicy pork-filled soup dumplings with ginger broth; microwave in minutes or pan-sear for crispy bottoms. A comforting, restaurant-quality frozen favorite.
Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese (seasonal) — Price: ~$3.79 for 12 oz
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Description: Creamy blend of Gouda, Cheddar, and Parmesan with sweet butternut squash purée, sage, and nutmeg. Cozy, sophisticated comfort food.
Steamed Chicken Soup Dumplings — Price: ~$3.49 for 6 oz (6 dumplings)
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Description: Tender chicken-filled dumplings with savory broth; easy to prepare and great as a quick snack or meal addition.
Sourdough Bread — Price: ~$3.69 for 24 oz loaf
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Description: Classic sliced sourdough with great chew and tangy flavor; perfect for toast, sandwiches, or alongside soups and cheeses.
Butter Chicken with Basmati Rice — Price: ~$4.49 for 12.5 oz
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Description: Tender chicken in a spiced, creamy tomato-butter sauce served over fragrant basmati rice. A hearty, microwave-ready Indian favorite.
Best New Product
The strongest first-year launches — every one of these debuted in the last twelve months.
Protein Pancakes — Price: ~$3.79 for 4.9 oz (4-pack)
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Description: Fluffy, gluten-free pancakes packed with 20g protein (from cottage cheese and egg whites). Ready in 15 seconds — a nutritious breakfast win.
Sour Strawberry Candy Belts — Price: Varies (~$2–$3 range for similar candies)
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Description: Chewy, tangy-sweet strawberry belts with a sour kick; addictive movie-night or on-the-go treat.
Garlic Butter Irish Potato Chips — Price: ~$2.99 for 5.5 oz
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Description: Crinkle-cut Irish potatoes seasoned with real garlic and butter. Crispy, savory, and highly craveable.
Hot Honey Popcorn — Price: Varies (~$2–$3)
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Description: Sweet-heat popcorn coated in hot honey; the perfect sweet-spicy snack balance.
Ketchup Flavored Lattice Potato Chips — Price: Varies (~$2–$3)
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Description: Lattice-cut chips with classic ketchup tang; fun, nostalgic flavor in a crunchy format.
Best Snack
Chips dominated this category and three of the five are limited-time runs.
Garlic Butter Irish Potato Chips — Price: ~$2.99 for 5.5 oz
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Description: See above — imported Irish crisps with bold garlic-butter flavor.
Organic Elote Corn Chip Dippers — Price: ~$2–$3
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Description: Corn chips inspired by Mexican street corn; great for scooping creamy dips or snacking straight from the bag.
Ridge Cut Potato Chips Seasoned with Horseradish & Chives (seasonal) — Price: Varies (~$2–$3)
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Description: Bold, zesty horseradish and chive seasoning on thick-cut chips.
Patio Potato Chips (seasonal — and just back on shelves this week) — Price: Varies (~$2–$3)
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Description: Classic ridged chips with a backyard BBQ vibe; perfect summer seasonal.
World’s Puffiest White Cheddar Corn Puffs — Price: Varies (~$2–$3)
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Description: Ultra-light, airy corn puffs loaded with white cheddar; melt-in-your-mouth cheesy snack.
Best Appetizer
If you’re building a hosting cart, start here — four of these go from freezer to oven in under twenty minutes.
Creamy Spinach & Artichoke Dip — Price: ~$4–$5
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Description: Rich, cheesy dip loaded with spinach and artichokes; crowd-pleasing and easy to bake.
Jalapeño & Cream Cheese Crispy Wontons — Price: ~$4–$5
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Description: Spicy jalapeño and creamy filling in crispy wonton wrappers; addictive bite-sized heat.
Vegetable Bird’s Nests with Soy Dipping Sauce — Price: Varies
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Description: Crispy veggie nests perfect for dipping in savory soy sauce.
Parmesan Pastry Pups — Price: Varies (~$4–$5)
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Description: Cheesy pastry-wrapped mini hot dogs; elevated party snack.
Greek Spanakopita — Price: ~$4–$5
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Description: Flaky phyllo triangles filled with spinach and feta; classic Greek appetizer.
Best Lunch & Dinner
The cult-favorite frozen entrées that long-time shoppers stock by the half-dozen.
Butter Chicken with Basmati Rice — Price: ~$4.49 for 12.5 oz
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Description: See above.
Steamed Pork & Ginger Soup Dumplings — Price: ~$3.49 for 6 oz
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Description: See above.
Chicken Tikka Masala — Price: ~$4–$5
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Description: Classic spiced chicken in creamy tomato sauce; bold Indian flavors.
Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese (seasonal) — Price: ~$3.79 for 12 oz
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Description: See above.
Steamed Chicken Soup Dumplings — Price: ~$3.49 for 6 oz
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Description: See above.
Best Breakfast & Brunch
The hashbrowns won — and they win every year. Don’t sleep on the Dutch Griddle Cakes if you’ve never tried them.
Hashbrowns — Price: ~$2.99 for 22.5 oz (10 patties)
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Description: Crispy, golden Idaho potato patties; versatile breakfast staple.
Chocolate Croissants — Price: ~$4–$5 for pack
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Description: Buttery, flaky croissants filled with chocolate; bake-and-enjoy indulgence.
Dutch Griddle Cakes — Price: Varies
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Description: Thick, fluffy Dutch-style pancakes; great for brunch.
Almond Croissants — Price: ~$4–$5 for pack
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Description: Flaky pastries with almond filling and topping.
Protein Pancakes — Price: ~$3.79 for 4.9 oz
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Description: See above.
Best Sweet Treat
The ice-cream sandwiches keep winning, four years running now. The Kringle is one to grab while it’s on shelves.
Sublime Ice Cream Sandwiches — Price: ~$4.99 for 20 fl oz (4 sandwiches)
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Description: Soft cookies with vanilla ice cream and chocolate chip edges; perennial favorite.
Almond Danish Kringle Pastry (seasonal) — Price: Varies (~$5–$7)
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Description: Buttery almond-filled Danish ring; festive and shareable.
Chocolate Hold the Cone! Mini Ice Cream Cones — Price: Varies (~$4)
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Description: Bite-sized chocolate-dipped mini cones.
Chocolate Chip Hold the Cone! Mini Ice Cream Cones — Price: Varies (~$4)
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Description: Mini cones studded with chocolate chips.
Mint Chip Ice Cream — Price: ~$3–$4 per pint
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Description: Classic creamy mint ice cream loaded with chocolate chips.
Best Cheese
The Goat Cheese is the everyday workhorse here; the Saint André Triple Crème Brie is the splurge worth keeping for company.
Goat Cheese — Price: ~$2.99 for 5 oz
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Description: Creamy, tangy chèvre; versatile for spreads, salads, and boards.
Syrah Soaked Toscano Cheese Spread & Dip (seasonal) — Price: Varies (~$4–$5)
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Description: Wine-infused cheese spread with rich flavor.
Cheese Shopping Bag — Price: Varies
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Description: Curated mix of cheeses for easy entertaining.
Saint André Triple Crème Brie — Price: ~$5–$7
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Description: Luxuriously creamy triple-crème brie; indulgent splurge.
English Cheddar with Caramelized Onions — Price: Varies (~$4–$5)
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Description: Sharp cheddar blended with sweet onions.
Best Beverage
Three of the top five are seasonal pours — the Spiced Cider in particular sells through fast every fall.
Spiced Cider (seasonal) — Price: Varies (~$3–$4)
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Description: Warm, spiced apple cider; quintessential fall drink.
Apple Juice — Price: ~$3–$4
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Description: Pure, refreshing 100% apple juice.
Triple Ginger Brew (seasonal) — Price: Varies (~$3)
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Description: Bold, spicy ginger beverage.
Sparkling Lemonade (seasonal) — Price: Varies (~$3)
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Description: Fizzy, bright lemonade.
100% Tangerine Juice — Price: Varies (~$3–$4)
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Description: Fresh, tangy tangerine juice.
Best Produce
The Teeny Tiny Avocados earned their own Hall of Fame nod — they’ve been a top-three pick three years running.
Teeny Tiny Avocados — Price: ~$3.99 for 6-count bag
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Description: Perfect single-serve mini Hass avocados; always ripe and waste-free.
Gone Bananas! — Price: Varies (~$2–$3)
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Description: Freeze-dried banana slices; crunchy, sweet snack.
Blueberries — Price: Varies (often ~$2–$4 per pint)
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Description: Sweet, juicy fresh blueberries.
Honeycrisp Apples — Price: Varies
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Description: Crisp, sweet-tart premium apples.
Organic Persian Cucumbers — Price: Varies (~$2–$3)
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Description: Small, seedless, and crunchy; ideal for snacking and salads.
Best Bath, Body, & Home
The only non-food category — and the Body Butter pair are the picks shoppers buy in multiples.
Brazil Nut Body Butter (seasonal) — Price: Varies (~$6–$8)
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Description: Rich, hydrating body butter with nourishing Brazil nut.
Ultra Moisturizing Hand Cream — Price: Varies (~$4–$6)
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Description: Deeply moisturizing, non-greasy hand cream.
Daily Facial Sunscreen SPF 40 — Price: Varies (~$8–$10)
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Description: Lightweight daily sun protection.
Coconut Body Butter — Price: Varies (~$6–$8)
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Description: Tropical, ultra-moisturizing coconut formula.
Cedar Balsam Scented Candle (seasonal) — Price: Varies (~$5–$7)
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Description: Cozy, forest-inspired holiday scent.
