I Tried Trader Joe’s New Products for January 2025

Trader Joe’s new items this month include a handful of delicious products, so I visited my local store to taste their new products for January 2025. If you want to know which items are worth picking up on your next grocery run, here’s my list.

1. Strawberry Mini Hold the Cone ($3.99)

Trader Joe’s newest addition to the iconic “Hold the Cone!” lineup is strawberry, joining the ranks of other mini cone flavors like chocolate chip, pumpkin ginger, coffee, and vanilla.

These cones are lined with chocolate, filled with strawberry ice cream, and topped with a hard chocolate shell. While the flavor was spot-on, I was a little disappointed by the texture—the strawberry ice cream was pretty icy and felt more like sorbet than actual ice cream.

That said, I’ll still have no problem finishing the box, but next time I’m in Trader Joe’s frozen section, I’ll be buying my trusty chocolate chip flavor.

Rating: 8/10

2. Organic Sri Lankan Curry & Rice ($3.99)

Trader Joe’s new Sri Lankan Curry & Rice really stood out among this month’s new products. Each frozen curry kit comes with a packet of wild rice, a coconut curry sauce packet, and a packet of roasted cashews. I heated up the rice and sauce in a skillet, then sprinkled the cashews on top. The whole dish came together in just over 5 minutes.

Flavor-wise, there’s a lot to love here. The curry isn’t spicy, but it’s packed with spices. Cinnamon, cumin, and coriander all brought some warmth to the dish, which was much appreciated as I made this meal on a snow day. The spices are balanced perfectly with the creamy coconut.

That said, I didn’t think the cashews added anything to the dish, so I ended up taking them off.

Rating: 9/10

3. Crispy Potato & Poblano Pepper Tacos ($4.99)

Trader Joe’s new Crispy Potato & Poblano Pepper Tacos are a savory, satisfying option for a snack or meal. Each crispy corn taco shell is stuffed with mashed potatoes and poblano peppers, seasoned with spices like cumin, black pepper, and garlic powder.

This was my first time trying a potato-filled taco, and I have to say—it didn’t disappoint. Even though I warmed mine up in the microwave, the shell still crisped up nicely, giving it a tortilla chip-like crunch that paired perfectly with the smooth, creamy filling.

These tacos are good on their own, but dipping them in salsa or guacamole takes the flavor to the next level.

Rating: 8/10

4. Spicy Chicken Nuggets ($3.99)

I’m not going to sugarcoat it—Trader Joe’s new Spicy Chicken Nuggets were a total miss for me. The chicken was rubbery, and while I usually love a good breading, this one was way too thick and had a gummy texture that I just couldn’t get past.

On the flavor side, these nuggets do bring the heat. I don’t have the highest spice tolerance, so I think most people would probably enjoy the spice level. Honestly, I would’ve been fine with the extra kick if the texture hadn’t been so off-putting. Unfortunately, this is one of the worst Trader Joe’s products I’ve tried in the last few months!

Rating: 4/10

5. Creamy Dreamy Hummus ($2.49)

If you’re after hummus in its purest form, head straight to the dip section at Trader Joe’s. Their new Creamy Dreamy Hummus keeps it simple with just five ingredients: water, chickpeas, tahini, sea salt, and garlic.

The result is a thick, ultra-creamy hummus that’s perfect for spreading on sandwiches, tossing into salads, or pairing with veggies. There’s nothing flashy about it, but it’s a solid, well-executed classic that deserves a spot in any dip lover’s fridge.

Rating: 7/10

6. Sweet Mustard Dill Sauce ($1.99)

Trader Joe’s new Sweet Mustard Dill Sauce checks all the boxes for a standout condiment: it’s salty, sweet, slightly tart, herby, and perfectly creamy. If you’re a fan of honey mustard or dill pickles, this is a must-try.

Since picking up a jar, I’ve been finding ways to use this stuff on almost everything. It makes a great dipping sauce for roasted potatoes, adds a tangy kick to turkey and cheese sandwiches, and makes a perfect topper for the salmon I made a few nights back. The flavor here is very concentrated, so a little goes a long way.

Rating: 8/10

7. Shishito Crisps ($2.99)

Shishito peppers are unique in that most of them have a mild, sweet taste, while a few peppers in each pack have some heat to them. The best (or worst, depending on how you feel about spice) part is you can’t tell which pepper is spicy until you’re eating it.

If you’re okay with the possibility of a spicy bite now and then, I highly recommend buying a bag or two of Trader Joe’s new Shishito Crisps. They’re super crunchy and light and only have three ingredients: the peppers themselves, salt, and rice bran oil. Note: I’m about halfway through my bag of shishito crisps and haven’t gotten a spicy one yet!

Rating: 8/10

8. Italian Confetti Almonds ($4.49)

I hadn’t heard of Italian confetti almonds until I stumbled upon them at Trader Joe’s the other day. If you’re unfamiliar too, they’re almonds covered in a thin, crunchy candy coating, traditionally given out at celebrations like weddings and baby showers.

Thanks to Trader Joe’s, you don’t need a special occasion to enjoy them. The vanilla-flavored candy coating, made with sugar and rice starch, is super light and crispy. These nuts aren’t particularly snackable, in my opinion. The hard coating makes them feel more like a hard candy that you’re supposed to let melt in your mouth, and the flavor is pretty indistinct.

Keep in mind that these confetti almonds are only available at Trader Joe’s around the holiday season, so grab a bag (or two) before they disappear until next year!

Rating: 7/10