Build your perfect picnic with our editors’ favorite dips, cheeses, desserts, and other picks from the beloved grocery store.
If you’re a fan of Trader Joe’s, you know the cult-favorite grocery store is famous for its craveable snacks, innovative dips, and impressive cheese aisle — in other words, all the makings of an excellent picnic spread. With that in mind, we polled our editors on the best snacks for a casual al fresco meal. And if you happen to live near a location with a wine store, why not throw in a bottle of Two Buck Chuck?
Cornichons
Trader Joe’s cornichons are ridiculously, stupidly good, and affordable to boot. When I first tried them during charcuterie at a friend’s, I raved about them so much that she sent me home with the jar, and I pocketed it with no shame. Even my husband, a known pickle hater, loves these. They’re perfectly tiny for snacking (or eating the whole jar — do what feels right), and they're probably the crispiest, snappiest pickle I’ve had. The brine is extremely bright and tart, and you can make your own cornichons when the originals are gone by pickling more cukes or other veggies in it! (I do carrot sticks or ribbons.)
— Breanna Rivera, Associate Copy Editor
Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
I spent most of my life thinking that peanut butter cups (you know which ones) were already perfect and could not get any better; but when I tried these, I discovered the true Platonic ideal. Trader Joe’s peanut butter cups are made with a perfectly firm, intense dark chocolate, and are filled with peanut butter that’s surprisingly velvety and flavorful. There’s obviously some industrial magic at play here, but since they improved on a lifelong favorite and made it feel buoyant and new, I’m with it. For a picnic, storing these in the cooler with your drinks is a serious power move.
– Adam Rothbarth, Food News & Deals Writer
Related: Ina Garten Admits She Loves Trader Joe's Desserts Just Like the Rest of Us
Trail Mix Crackers
Don’t let the name fool you — these loaded crackers don’t have all that much to do with trail mix. Sure, they’re topped with raisins and cashews, but they’re also made with a base of cheese (the type of cheese is unclear but I prefer not to ask questions when something tastes this good). Nutty, cheesy, and fruity, these are perfect on their own — they really should be called Charcuterie Crackers — but no one will be mad if you serve them with one of TJ’s excellent cheeses.
— Audrey Morgan, Associate Food Editor
Giant Peruvian Inca Corn
I can’t go to TJ’s without picking up a few bags of these corn nuts. They’re extremely crunchy and the mini-sonic boom is so satisfying. I love eating them at picnics or during road trips — and I admit that I will snack until I nearly finish a bag at times. The mixture of super crunchy and salty flavors is perfect, in my opinion.
— Doan Nguyen, Photo Editor
Dark Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans
I never go to TJ’s, but when I do, I always grab a container of Dark Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans. Anything covered in chocolate is already a winner, but combined with the espresso bean, this snack adds a nice earthiness and acidity to any picnic charcuterie board. Not to mention, each bite is just the tiniest energy booster to help get the conversation going. Nibbling on a few of these in between sips of a fruity Merlot or jammy Pinot Noir is my type of party!
— Dillon Evans, Update Writer
Thai Lime and Chili Cashews
I spent many San Francisco Saturday mornings collecting goodies at the Trader Joe’s on Masonic Avenue in preparation for a picnic in the Presidio. One of my favorite items was the TJ’s Thai Lime and Chili Almonds, but I like the cashew version even better because of the nuts’ rich, buttery flavor. When you open the package, you're immediately greeted by the concentrated aroma of dried Makrut lime leaves, which makes your mouth water. After a few handfuls, fruity undertones slowly build on the palate beneath the heat, making this a fantastic accompaniment to a picnic charcuterie with jam or preserves.
— Andee Gosnell, Assistant Food Editor
Salsa Verde
I love this salsa for its bright tomatillo taste. It is great simply as a dip for chips, but I have tossed it with shredded chicken for some last-minute enchiladas, and I have stirred it into rice for an easy upgrade to basic white rice. I also make a super-fast microwave nachos (no judgment, please) with black beans, scallions, and this salsa drizzled over the whole shebang. I top it all with melty cheese, or sometimes I crumble some queso fresco over if I have it on hand. Microwave for about a minute until everything is bubbling. It’s pure satisfaction — a Scooby snack, for sure.
— Cheryl Slocum, Senior Food Editor
Blueberry Chevre Cheese
Trader Joe’s is known for its vast, and affordable, cheese selection. You could easily make a great cheese board with options like Triple Cream, Unexpected Cheddar, and Gouda, but if you’re picking just one cheese make it the Blueberry Vanilla Chevre, a crumbly goat cheese that’s rolled in blueberries for a tangy-sweet flavor. Slice into medallions or spread it onto their Fig & Olive Crisps or Original Naan Garlic Crackers (yes, the cracker selection is also second-to-none!).
— AM
Soft & Juicy Dried Mango
Not to be confused with straight-up dried mango, these velvety soft, luscious mangoes are special. Yes, there’s sulfur dioxide added for freshness, and a touch of sugar to amp up the sweetness, but they are still better than a junk food snack, and I’m easily getting my daily fruit portions in with a few of these babies. According to TJ’s, these are a type of mango grown in Thailand called Chokanan mangoes. When they’re at peak ripeness, they’re harvested and then dried using a vegetable-based glycerin to help with the softness of the final product. Mango juice is also added to make these dried flavor bombs extra juicy.
— Prairie Rose, Senior Drinks Editor
Spinach and Kale Greek Yogurt Dip
We all know one of life’s simple joys is perusing the Trader Joe’s snack aisle, but the refrigerated section has some gems as well. As someone who isn’t the biggest fan of Greek yogurt on its own, I was shocked by how much I loved the Spinach and Kale Greek Yogurt Dip when I first tried it. It’s creamy and crunchy at the same time (the latter due to finely chopped water chestnuts, red peppers, carrots, and green onions) and has the familiar flavor of a classic spinach dip. I will say this dip needs to be accompanied by a sturdy chip — and the TJ’s Veggie & Flaxseed Tortilla Chips are the perfect ones for the job.
— Alexa Rockwell, Social Media Editor
Sour Cream and Onion Flavored Lentil & Rice Snack Rings
Every good picnic spread needs something crunchy. I could easily eat an entire bag of these “rings,” but they’re made from red lentils and rice so I’m totally fine with that! The tangy sour cream and onion flavor is only rivaled by the flawless, crispy texture. Chip lovers, don’t sleep on this tasty snack for your summer barbecues and picnics.
— Lauren Sharpe, Manager, Events Marketing
Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Nuggets
Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Nuggets should be illegal. The way other people feel about ice cream or reality dating shows, I feel about Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Nuggets. They are a danger to have in my house, and a threat to the entire foundation of my personal food pyramid. If Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Nuggets are around, all vegetables cease to exist, daily recommended sodium intake becomes an abstract concept, and doctor-recommended cholesterol levels don’t matter. Do Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Nuggets even have cholesterol? I don’t actually know and honestly don’t care. They’re Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Nuggets.
A lot of brands make these, not just Trader Joe’s, but if you’re already in Trader Joe’s buying things for a picnic, you may as well pick up some Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Nuggets, because they are perfect. God, I really want some Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Nuggets right now.
— Dylan Garret, Associate Editorial Director, Drinks
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