I Tried Trader Joe’s New Products for November 2024

Trader Joe’s new items this month include a handful of delicious products, from a salad kit to berry granola to cheesy biscuits. As usual, I went to my local Trader Joe’s to taste their new products for November 2024. If you want to know which items are worth picking up on your next grocery run, here’s my list.

1. Pizza Ranch Salad ($3.99)

I cannot overstate how skeptical I was of this Pizza Ranch Salad Kit when I saw it on Trader Joe’s website. Sure, their dill pickle salad also sounded crazy when it first came out, but a pizza-flavored salad? Well, I am happy to report that this interesting combination is a winner.

The salad starts with a base of shredded romaine, red cabbage, and carrots, with toppings like crunchy flatbread strips, four-cheese crisp crumbles, and grated parmesan. But the real star here is the dressing – a creamy ranch blend with dried garlic, onion, and tomato powder that brings everything together.

Once mixed, the flavors truly evoke the taste of pizza but without all the heaviness that comes with it. If you’re on the fence, give this salad a try. It’s one of my favorite new Trader Joe’s finds in a while!

Rating: 9.5/10

2. Very Berry Granola ($3.99)

There’s nothing easier to make in the morning than a granola yogurt parfait – really, all you need is granola and yogurt! Trader Joe’s new Very Berry Granola will be my go-to for all the mornings of the foreseeable future.

This granola is made with rolled oats, along with bits of dried blueberries and strawberries. I love the contrast between the super crunchy granola and the soft, chewy bits of berry.

The taste reminds me of that classic Special K cereal from the early 2000s but with a grown-up, more sophisticated twist.

Rating: 8.5/10

3. Pink Lady Apple Chips ($2.29)

Apples have always been a favorite of mine, but in fall, they reach a whole new level in the fall when paired with cinnamon. Trader Joe’s new Pink Lady Apple Chips capture this combo perfectly, combining sweet, tart apples with a dusting of warm cinnamon sugar.

I’ve tried plenty of apple chips before, but these stand out as the crunchiest by far. They’re as thin as a potato chip, with a satisfying crispiness that’s rare in fruit chips. The cinnamon sugar coating hits just the right balance, satisfying my sweet tooth without being overly sugary. These are so light and airy that it’s dangerously easy to polish off the whole bag.

While these chips are delicious on their own, I tried Trader Joe’s recommendation of drizzling with caramel sauce, which took them from an 8 to a solid 9.5!

4. Cheesy Herby Biscuit ($4.99)

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, Trader Joe’s new savory biscuits couldn’t have debuted at a better time. The grocery chain describes these biscuits as “made with buttery, flaky dough, flavored with aromatic herbs like rosemary and thyme, and studded with shreds of rich parmesan and cheddar.”

Here’s what the description got right: these biscuits definitely bring a rich, buttery flavor with notes of cheese and herbs. However, they fell short in texture – they weren’t as flaky or soft as expected. I followed the baking instructions precisely, but they came out a bit firm and almost stale-looking, as you can see in the photo.

While the texture wasn’t my favorite, these biscuits could still make a great addition to your Thanksgiving spread if you’re in charge of bringing something carby. In fact, the denser texture might work well for soaking up that last bit of gravy or cranberry sauce on your plate.

Rating: 7/10

5. Spicy Farfalle Pasta with Italian Chicken Sausage ($3.49)

Trader Joe’s newest frozen pasta dish is the Spicy Farfalle Pasta with Italian Chicken Sausage. In this meal, bowtie pasta is covered in a spicy tomato sauce with chicken sausage crumbles and parmesan cheese throughout.

I don’t have a high spice tolerance, so I thought this dish was definitelyon the spicy side, but not so much that I couldn’t enjoy it. The chicken sausage is well-seasoned and generously portioned, while the parmesan contributes a nice touch of nuttiness and salt.

My only complaint is that the pasta was a little bit soggy and had a slight wateriness, but that’s par for the course with frozen pasta, so I won’t hold it against Trader Joe’s.

Rating: 8/10