Trader Joe’s Spring 2025: Must-Haves and Items to Avoid

Trader Joe’s is the gift that keeps on giving for food enthusiasts, and its spring 2025 lineup doesn’t disappoint. As someone who’s spent countless hours wandering the aisles of this grocery chain, I’ve developed a knack for spotting hidden gems among the sea of new and seasonal products. But, as any experienced Trader Joe’s shopper will tell you, not every new release lives up to the buzz or justifies its price tag.

In this spring roundup, I took the time to sample a wide range of the store’s latest and most popular seasonal offerings. My evaluation was based on several key factors: the balance and quality of the flavor profile, the ingredients used, and how well each product met the expectations set by its packaging. I also considered the overall value, weighing whether the taste and experience were worth the cost. This guide will not only highlight some of the standout snacks and treats but also point out some items that fell short of the mark. Whether you’re looking for your next go-to snack or simply want to avoid a potential disappointment, this roundup will help you navigate Trader Joe’s spring 2025 selection.

When it comes to snacking options that deliver on both taste and satisfaction, Trader Joe’s Elevated Mixed Nuts stand head and shoulders above the competition. This premium blend features a perfect balance of cashews, almonds, macadamia nuts, and pecans that creates a good blend of flavors and textures in every handful. What makes this mix truly special is the seasoning. There’s just enough salt to enhance the natural nuttiness without overwhelming your palate or leaving you desperately reaching for water after a few bites. The salt level is precisely what makes this mix so dangerously addictive — it keeps you coming back for “just one more handful” without ever becoming too much.

The buttery smoothness of the macadamias contrasts with the earthy crunch of the almonds. Meanwhile, the rich, sweet notes of the pecans complement the more subtle flavor of the cashews. This combination ensures you get a different experience with each bite. At $5.99 for 9 ounces, it’s not the cheapest nut mix on the market, but the quality of ingredients and perfect execution make it worth every penny. Whether you’re looking for a hiking companion, a protein-packed desk drawer staple, or a sophisticated pre-dinner nibble, this Elevated Mixed Nuts can is absolutely worth adding to your Trader Joe’s shopping list.

Despite the luxurious appeal of macadamia nuts paired with cashews, Trader Joe’s Honey Roasted Macadamia Nuts & Roasted & Salted Cashews ultimately falls short of expectations. While this mix has created quite a buzz — even reportedly having been resold at premium prices online — the actual eating experience doesn’t justify the hype or price tag. The issue with this nut mix is its lack of depth and balance. With just two types of nuts, the textural and flavor variety you get from more diverse mixes is absent. The promised honey roasted flavor is difficult to detect, appearing as more of a faint sweetness.

The cashews have their characteristic buttery flavor and satisfying crunch. However, when paired with the underwhelming macadamias, they can’t save the overall experience. The combination creates a somewhat one-dimensional snack that grows tiresome after just a few handfuls. When compared directly to Trader Joe’s Elevated Mixed Nuts, this duo simply can’t compete. While some may appreciate the simplicity, most will find better value and satisfaction elsewhere in Trader Joe’s extensive nut selection. If you’re craving something in this category, you’d be better served spending your money on the Elevated Mixed Nuts.

This unique spread, which first debuted in 2024, quickly became a fan favorite before disappearing from shelves. If you missed it the first time around, now’s your chance to discover what all the excitement is about. For the uninitiated, black garlic isn’t a separate variety of garlic but rather regular garlic that’s been aged through a careful fermentation process. This aging transforms the sharp, pungent cloves into something remarkably different — mellow, slightly sweet bulbs with complex umami notes reminiscent of balsamic vinegar and caramelized onions.

What makes this spread exceptional is how perfectly it captures the essence of black garlic while maintaining the creamy, tangy base of quality cream cheese. The texture is notably thicker than traditional cream cheese spreads, almost like a soft cheese dip, which allows it to cling beautifully to whatever vehicle you choose for it — be it a toasted everything bagel, crackers, or crusty sourdough bread.

The spread’s flavor profile is sophisticated, with an initial hit of soft garlic that unfolds into layers of umami richness and subtle sweetness before finishing with a pleasant tang from the cream cheese base. It manages to be both familiar and exotic at the same time. Beyond the obvious bagel, this spread works beautifully as a sandwich condiment in place of mayo, as a base for a quick pasta sauce when thinned with a bit of pasta water, or even as part of a grilled cheese. At $2.79 for 8 ounces, it’s an affordable luxury that elevates virtually anything it touches.

Trader Joe’s Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken Meatballs sound promising on paper — the sweet and savory combination of teriyaki and pineapple pairs with lean chicken protein in convenient meatball form. Unfortunately, the execution falls significantly short of the concept. The first impression is not particularly appealing. The meatballs appear pale and somewhat lifeless in their packaging, lacking the appetizing golden-brown exterior you’d expect from a properly cooked meatball. Even after cooking them, they don’t develop much color or visual appeal. Texturally, the meatballs do have a certain juiciness and bounce that’s pleasant enough, but this can’t compensate for the flavor issues. The teriyaki component comes through reasonably well, offering a sweet-salty base that’s recognizable. However, the pineapple element is where things go awry. Rather than providing bright, tropical notes that complement the teriyaki, the pineapple flavor comes across as artificial and out of place.

What these meatballs desperately need is some heat or spice to balance the sweetness and add complexity. Without it, they land in a flavor limbo — too sweet to be savory, and not executed well enough to succeed as a sweet-savory fusion. At $4.29 for a package of 12 ounces, they’re not particularly expensive, but your money would be much better spent on Trader Joe’s superior Homestyle Angus Beef Meatballs. These offer a versatile base for any sauce you might prefer, including your own homemade teriyaki sauce if that’s what you’re craving.

At the intersection of convenience and quality, you get Trader Joe’s Homestyle Angus Beef Meatballs — a freezer staple that genuinely lives up to its “homestyle” billing. These meatballs deliver on texture, flavor, and ease of preparation, making them well worth the slightly premium price point of $7.99 per package. What immediately sets these meatballs apart is their impressive size and the quality of meat used. Made with Angus beef, known for its superior marbling and flavor, each meatball is generously portioned and one package contains 12 of them, making these perfect for a satisfying dinner.

Preparing them couldn’t be simpler. Just 15 to 20 minutes in an oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit transforms them into tender, juicy meatballs that genuinely taste homemade. Unlike many pre-made meatballs that can become dry or rubbery when cooked, these maintain a good moisture content throughout, with a texture that’s firm enough to hold up in sauce without being tough or dense. Flavor-wise, they strike the perfect balance between being well-seasoned and versatile. There’s a hint of garlic and herbs, but nothing that would clash with whatever sauce or preparation you have in mind. While the $7.99 price tag might be a bit steep, especially compared to budget frozen meatballs, their quality and convenience justify the occasional splurge.

While the concept of the Calamansi & Mango Sorbet has tremendous potential, the execution unfortunately misses the mark in terms of what it promises. The fundamental issue with this sorbet is its misleading name. Despite being marketed as “Calamansi & Mango,” the mango component is barely detectable. What you get instead is an intensely citrusy experience that, while clean and refreshing, fails to deliver the balanced tropical fusion promised on the container. The calamansi dominates with its bright acidity and slight bitterness which, to be fair, tastes great as a sorbet. 

For those unfamiliar with the unique calamansi fruit, it’s a small citrus fruit native to the Philippines, often described as a cross between a mandarin orange and a lime. It offers a complex sour-tart flavor profile with distinctive bitter notes that make it popular in Southeast Asian cuisine. It’s an ingredient that deserves attention, but in this sorbet, it completely overshadows its alleged co-star. Texture-wise, the sorbet does succeed in being appropriately smooth and light, melting cleanly on the tongue. The vibrant, sunny yellow-orange color is also appealing. While the calamansi tastes great, the execution here feels incomplete. If you’re specifically seeking a sweet yet citrus-forward frozen dessert, you will definitely enjoy this. But if you’re expecting a balanced mango and citrus sorbet, you’ll likely be disappointed.

These frozen Sweet Ripe Plantains from Trader Joe’s deserve a spot in your freezer. Unlike fresh plantains that require waiting for them to ripen from green to spotted black, these come perfectly ripened and ready to cook whenever you need them. The flavor hits just right — they’re naturally sweet but not overly so, and they maintain a nice texture when cooked. A light sprinkle of salt brings out their flavor and creates that perfect sweet-savory balance. Whether you’re tossing them into a dish or enjoying them on their own, they offer a satisfying bite that elevates any meal.

What makes these plantains worth buying is how versatile and practical they are. They work great if you don’t feel like frying fresh plantains but are craving a snack in the morning. They save you the guesswork of selecting and ripening fresh plantains while still delivering on taste and texture. Their ease of preparation makes them a fantastic addition to both quick meals and more elaborate dishes. If you’re looking to add something different to your cooking routine without any extra hassle, they are definitely worth picking up on your next Trader Joe’s run.

While Trader Joe’s Passion Fruit Meringue Tartelettes look impressive with their carefully piped, lightly torched meringue tops, they unfortunately don’t deliver where it counts — in flavor. First, these require two hours of defrosting in the fridge before serving, which isn’t ideal when you want a quick dessert. Once they’re ready, they certainly look nice in the protective packaging that keeps them intact from freezer to plate.

The main problem is the taste. The passion fruit curd has a pleasant tanginess at first, but it gets completely overwhelmed by the overly sweet meringue topping. This effectively drowns out the tropical passion fruit flavor that should be the main attraction. As you eat, the experience becomes unbalanced — it swings between being too sweet and too tart, with a sour aftertaste that never quite comes together. The crust is another letdown. While it holds everything together structurally, it lacks flavor and feels like an afterthought rather than an integral part of the dessert. It’s dry and crumbly without having the rich, buttery quality you’d want in a good tart shell.

Sometimes the basics done right are the most impressive products, and Trader Joe’s Sandwich Rolls definitely fit that description. What makes these rolls special is their perfect texture — they have a slightly chewy exterior that gets wonderfully crisp when toasted, while the inside stays soft and light, soaking up sauces without getting soggy. The flavor is just right, too. They’re subtly sweet with a nice yeasty taste that enhances whatever fillings you choose rather than competing with them. They’re substantial enough for hearty sandwiches but not so dense that they overpower more delicate ingredients.

These rolls are at their best when warmed or toasted. A few minutes in the toaster oven makes them taste freshly baked, with a crackling crust and soft interior. This simple step makes even basic sandwich ingredients taste special. They also freeze, thaw, and reheat well, so you can always have fresh bread on hand without waste.

Trader Joe’s Garlic Gondolas lure you in with their clever name and the promise of garlicky, cheesy bread. Unfortunately, these boat-shaped breads don’t deliver on that promise. The packaging claims these gondolas are “very garlicky,” which seems true at first bite. You do get a strong garlic flavor initially, but as you continue eating, you’ll realize it’s one-dimensional. There’s no depth or complexity that good garlic bread should have — no roasted garlic sweetness or complementary herbs, just a flat garlic flavor that gets boring quickly.

The bigger issue, though, is the bread-to-filling ratio. The bread portion is too thick and unremarkable in both texture and flavor. It’s neither properly crusty nor pleasantly soft, just somewhere in between. Meanwhile, the cheese filling is surprisingly skimpy, which makes the gondolas feel more like plain bread with hints of garlic and cheese rather than the indulgent treat the name suggests. At $3.99 for two gondolas, they’re not terribly expensive, but you’d be much better off buying the aforementioned sandwich rolls and adding some black garlic cream cheese. This combination would give you better flavor, texture, and has the potential to satisfy if you’re craving some garlicky carbs.

For this Spring 2025 Trader Joe’s roundup, I purchased and tasted all products at regular retail prices from Trader Joe’s during May 2025. My review was based on three criteria: taste, value for money, and how accurately each product aligned with its marketing. When evaluating taste, I paid attention to the balance and harmony of flavors, considering whether the overall experience was enjoyable or left something to be desired. I also looked at the consistency of the flavor and assessed whether it matched the product’s description. The product’s versatility was also taken into account — whether it could be used in a variety of ways, or if it was overly niche. For prepared foods, the convenience factor was particularly important, and I considered how easy it was to prepare and whether it met or exceeded expectations in terms of quality relative to its price. Value for money was assessed not only based on the product’s taste and convenience but also on how well it compared to similar items in the market.

In some instances, the products to “avoid” were still enjoyable, but they did not fully deliver on the promises made by their packaging. The “Buy” recommendations highlighted those items that were sufficiently satisfying to warrant their price, while the “Avoid” category was reserved for products whose flaws — whether in taste, texture, or value — ultimately made them less desirable despite any redeeming qualities they may have had.