6 Trader Joe’s Recipe Hacks With Biscuits, Everything But The Bagel Seasoning, More

Plus products you don’t know about, but should!

Get ready for more Trader Joe’s recipe hacks! While there are plenty of TJ’s hacks to master, there will always be more to share, especially since Trader Joe’s is constantly releasing new products. On a recent episode of the Inside Trader Joe's podcast, co-hosts Matt Sloan, vice president of marketing, and Tara Miller, marketing director at Trader Joe's, gifted listeners with a new crop of hacks that TJ’s shoppers should know. The hacks come from employees and social media users alike, and involve Trader Joe’s canned goods like Grecian Style Eggplant with Tomatoes and Onions, as well as beloved products such as the brand’s Everything But The Bagel Seasoning.

Then, in a post-hack discussion, Miller and Sloan shared several Trader Joe’s items that you might not know about, but totally should. Keep reading for more TJ’s wisdom!

Recipe Hacks

You’re going to want to buy some pizza dough ASAP!

Related:15 Trader Joe's Shopping Mistakes You Should Avoid at All Costs

Everything But The Bagel Seasoning on … Everything

Everything But The Bagel Seasoning is one of Trader Joe’s most beloved items, and it’s even spawned products like Everything But The Bagel Seasoned Smoked Salmon and the new Almost Everything Bagel Sandwich Crackers. However, the OG product still reigns supreme when it comes to hacks. As Miller and Sloan noted, the bottled seasoning blend can be used to flavor rice, make an upgraded dipping olive oil, add a crunch to scrambled eggs or avocado toast, and season breadcrumbs to dredge for a piece of fish, or chicken.

And if you’re a fan of TJ’s Organic Crescent Rolls, Sloan has an idea. “You can take our crescent rolls, and you've got the flat triangle piece of dough, and just sprinkle Everything But The Bagel on that, roll it up, and [you have an] Everything But The Bagel crescent roll.”

Meals Out of Mezze

While this isn’t a hack per se, both Miller and Sloan are fans of making a no-cook mezze platter using several Trader Joe’s canned items. Some obvious choices include Grecian Style Eggplant with Tomatoes and Onions, Quinoa Stuffed Dolmas, Giant Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce, and Greek Chickpeas with Cumin and Parsley, which also fare well in the air fryer if you want some crunch. Add some hummus to the mix and you’ve got the perfect picnic-style meal!

Reusing Trader Joe’s Jars

If you’re trying to limit your waste, go ahead and take a cue from social media and repurpose the jars that some of your favorite TJ’s products come in once you’re done enjoying them. “If you have a glass jar, say, from strawberry jam, you could take that jar when you're done and recycle it. Or, you can repurpose it as a mug for an icy, cold beverage,” Miller explained.

Pizza Dough Possibilities

Trader Joe’s Plain Pizza Dough is “not just for pizza anymore,” Miller noted. As she explained, the “versatile” item can be transformed into little garlic knots, breadsticks, cinnamon sugar twists, or even pretzel bites if the dough is tossed into a pot of boiling water with baking soda and then baked.

DIY Chicken and Dumplings Soup

This hack comes from a Trader Joe’s employee named Kathleen. “We use our Organic Free Range Chicken Broth as the base,” she shared, noting that TJ’s Organic Biscuits act as the dumplings. The chicken? That would be courtesy of the frozen BBQ Teriyaki Chickenwithout the teriyaki sauce packet. Since the chicken is already seasoned, the meat is anything but bland.

Related:Trader Joe's Unveiled Its New Product Hall of Fame—These 5 Items Made the Cut

Buy the Right Coffee

According to Rashinda, a Trader Joe’s employee in Boston, buying any small lot coffee from TJ’s is the way to go. ”We have our great, Everyday Value items, but small lots are very unique. They're sourced from small farms, and they're either unique beans or the process of creating those beans and making them special is unique. I would start there.” The small lot coffee selection rotates every several weeks, and is packaged within a week of being harvested. Since these lots are limited, they tend to come and go very quickly. “Our coffee section in and of itself is a hack for getting fresh coffee,” Miller explained. “We go through inventory really fast.”

Underrated Items

And now, for what Miller referred to as the “shameless plugs for products we love” section …

Figo! Half Dipped Chocolate & Vanilla Sandwich Bars

Part ice cream sandwich, part chocolate-dipped ice cream bar, this is a dessert Sloan can’t get enough of. “The ice cream sandwich part is at the bottom, and kind of acts as the handle … and the chocolate covered ice cream bar is at the top,” Miller shared. “You eat that first.”

Ground Fermented Black Garlic

This spice is sweeter and richer than regular garlic, and according to Miller and Sloan can be used to add flavor to just about anything. Per the pair, add TJ’s Ground Fermented Black Garlic to avocado toast, a vinaigrette dressing, pizza, pasta and pasta sauce, garlic knots, soup, and even mac and cheese.

Guajillo Salsa

A jar of Trader Joe’s Guajillo Salsa can do some serious heavy lifting, according to Miller and Sloan. The spicy and smoky condiment of course pairs well with chips, but is also excellent when used to simmer eggs or chicken thighs. “You get this really nice, smoky flavor that just melds into your chicken,” says Miller.

Related:4 Salsa Styles and How To Make Them

Organic Date Syrup

While Sloan was skeptical of this item at first, he now loves it as an easy (and healthier) way to sweeten beverages, including iced tea, iced coffee, and boba tea. “It has this somewhat caramel-like taste, with a little brightness,” he explains.

Grapeseed Oil

While you likely have your go-to cooking oils stocked in your pantry already, Miller wants people to give grapeseed oil a try. “I love grapeseed oil. It is my oil of choice for stir frying and any kind of high heat cooking,” she shares. “It has a high smoke point, it's virtually flavorless, and it's clean.” The absence of flavor in this cooking oil makes it a great option for sautéing vegetables or whipping up a stir fry.

Chickenless Riced Cauliflower Stir Fry

Though similar to Trader Joe’s cauliflower rice, this version also includes a plant-based chicken alternative and plenty of vegetables. “It's basically like the rice-free, chicken-free version of chicken fried rice,” Miller quipped. Go ahead and eat this frozen meal as is, or, as Sloan suggests, use it as a healthy, flavorful burrito filling.

Marinated Grilled Artichoke Halves

Directly from Spain, these grilled artichokes are ready-to-eat—no artichoke prep necessary! Eat ‘em on their own as a snack, or add these artichoke halves to your next charcuterie board to wow your guests.

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