The 10 Things You Should Buy From Trader Joe’s for Thanksgiving, According to Reddit

I may or may not be guilty of taking a trip to my nearest Trader Joe’s at least once every week. It’s like going on a treasure hunt, except the treasure in question is a variety of delectable baked goods, crave-worthy snacks, and deliciously unexpected cheeses. Sure, it may be at least a 30-minute drive, but what’s a little distance when a pint of Salted Maple Ice Cream is involved?

Unfortunately, the Salted Maple Ice Cream is one seasonal delight that only pops up around Thanksgiving. As a recent inductee into the Salted Maple fan club, I speak for all of us when I say I’m obsessed.

Ice cream aside, there are tons of amazing Thanksgiving-ready goodies lining Trader Joe’s shelves just in time for the endlessly abundant holiday—and to find out the top 10 best Thanksgiving finds according to fans, I took a deep dive in the Trader Joe’s Reddit thread. Here’s what we found out.

1. Everything But the Leftovers Seasoning Blend

I couldn’t start the list with anything other than perhaps the most beloved seasonal spice Trader Joe’s offers, lest my TJ’s fan club membership get revoked. This all-in-one seasoning blend features the familiar flavors of sage, rosemary, and thyme and goes great on literally everything—even the leftovers. The seasoning blend is so popular, in fact, one fan wrote a haiku about it. Now that’s dedication.

2. Cornbread Stuffing Mix

I’ll let you in on a little secret—I’m not really a stuffing person. At least, I wasn’t until I tried Trader Joe’s Cornbread Stuffing Mix. If you’re new to the club like I am, I highly recommend trying this mix from TJ’s and experimenting with mix-ins. One shopper recommended trying it with “bacon or oysters (or both)!” Sounds good to me. 

3. Organic Maple Butter 

After a lengthy, nail-biting hiatus, this fan favorite spread gracefully returned to stores this year to much applause from fans—myself included. I like to spread it on toast and in between my waffles, but this year I’ll be taking a page out of one user’s book and putting “a whole jar in my yams.” 

4. Cranberry Sauce

One of my favorite things to make for Thanksgiving is my famous champagne and orange cranberry sauce. When I don’t have the time, though, the next best bet is a jar of Trader Joe’s Cranberry Sauce. It tastes as good as homemade, and if you have  leftovers, you can “mix it with mascarpone or cream cheese and make stuffed French toast,” as one fan says. Yum!

5. Thanksgiving Stuffing Seasoned Popcorn

If you’re not snacking while you’re cooking on Thanksgiving, are you really doing it right? I could go through an entire bag of this delicious Thanksgiving Stuffing Seasoned Popcorn and according to Reddit, I’m not alone. I’ve finally found my people. Aside from being a snack for the chef, you could even add this delectable seasonal find to a autumnal themed charcuterie board. Your guests will thank you.  

6. Salted Maple Ice Cream

I’m sure you could have guessed this one would be on the list, but it really is that good. It almost tastes like frozen French Toast Crunch for my fellow millennials out there. It’s the perfect compliment to your after-dinner dessert, so why not add it to your Thanksgiving staple rotation? You could even follow one shopper’s advice and try it on top of homemade pumpkin bread. 

7. Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

I just tried this one for the first time this year, and I have to say, I can see why someone would “want to buy 20 before they stop selling it.” Tender mezze rigatoni noodles get doused in a creamy béchamel sauce featuring gouda, Parmesan, and cheddar cheeses finished off with the nutty sweetness of butternut squash puree. What more could you ask for? 

8. Spiced Cider

With all the delicious food on the table, you can’t forget drinks, and while I prefer my cider spiked with a bit of SirDavis whiskey, TJ’s Spice Cider is good enough to stand on its own. You can drink it straight up, serve it chilled, or warm it up to knock off the chill from the cooler weather outside. As u/horror-development45 recommends, “Use the cider in your oatmeal instead of water.” I’ll circle back with my review. 

9. Breaded Turkey-less Stuffed Roast

Turkey and Thanksgiving go hand in hand, but if you happen to be vegetarian, that often means you’re left filling up your plate with sides while everyone else chows down on succulent pieces of the moist, juicy bird. Unless, of course, you pick up the returning fan-favorite Breaded Turkey-less Stuffed Roast, that is! It’s so good, even non-vegans love it, with one fan proclaiming, “I look forward to it every year!”

10. Mashed Sweet Potatoes

My favorite way to eat sweet potatoes for Thanksgiving is mashed in a souffle and covered with crunchy candied peanuts and toasted marshmallows. Of course, peeling and mashing potatoes isn’t always my idea of fun—especially when there are literally seven other pots on the stove. The solution? Trader Joe’s Mashed Sweet Potatoes. Frozen into individual discs, this Thanksgiving staple couldn’t be easier to add to any number of dishes requiring the sugary tuber. One fan even recommended folding them into biscuits.