Trader Joe’s is (in)famous for having a wide variety of unique snacks and frozen foods that you wouldn’t find at your typical grocery store. They have everything from pickle chips to fried olive bites to butternut squash mac and cheese. If you are looking to expand your palette and discover delicious snacks, Trader Joe’s just might be the place for you. Here are my top five favorite foods from Trader Joe’s in order from good to best.

5. Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Nuggets
If you are looking for a perfect combination of savory and salty, the peanut butter pretzels from Trader Joe’s are definitely for you. They have an amazing ratio of creamy peanut butter to a crunchy outer layer of pretzel and are perfect for an after school snack. Now I wouldn’t say they are my favorite snack from Trader Joe’s as I need a big glass of ice water when I decide to grab a handful of them. They tend to get a little dry after eating them for a while, however are perfect for a quick snack if you are on the run.

4. PB & J Snack Duo
This snack might be a little odd for a 17-year-old to love but trust me it will change your life. I first discovered the pb and j snack sticks when I was babysitting for a family who loves to shop at Trader Joe’s. The little boy I was babysitting asked me for this snack and I had no idea what he was talking about. I was so intrigued I decided to try one of the sticks for myself, with his permission of course, and let me tell if it was delicious. The stick is made up of peanut butter and surrounded by a flaky outer shell. It also has a sweet raspberry fruit dip that acts as the jelly to dip the sticks in. This snack brings me back to elementary school lunch when my mom would pack the Nutella and breadsticks. They honestly just remind me of being a kid and bring back so much nostalgia.

3. Cauliflower Gnocchi
Coming in at number three is the cauliflower gnocchi. Honestly when I first bought this I had no idea what gnocchi was, and was a little scared because it has cauliflower in its name, but after preparing it (just putting it in a pan with oil), I was pleasantly surprised. Is it my favorite frozen food from Trader Joe’s? Definitely not. But it is honestly really good for how easy it is to make. It tastes the best when mixed with tomato sauce, parmesan, and salt and pepper . If you’re looking for something that’s different from your usual penne or angel hair, the Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi is the perfect choice.

2. Ice Cream Sandwiches
My number two choice when going to trader joes is the ice cream sandwiches. These aren’t your typical run of the mill ice cream sandwiches, these are different. They include TWO chocolate chip cookies that hold together the block of vanilla ice cream and rolled in semi-sweet chocolate chips. If you are looking for a light dessert for after dinner this is not the right choice for you. These ice cream sandwiches are very big and I sometimes can’t finish a whole one but they are the best dessert Trader Joe’s has to offer.

Frozen Penne Arrabbiata
My top favorite item from Trader Joe’s is the frozen penne arrabbiata. Now this might seem a little anticlimactic or basic but if you’ve tried this pasta you would understand. Not only does it take 10 minutes to make but once it’s done you can stack your favorite toppings on top of it to create a pasta bowl of your dreams. It also includes frozen tomato sauce that adds amazing flavor. I have been to Italy and have had amazing pasta and honestly this frozen one is the closest I’ve gotten to authentic Italian pasta. I love to cook this al dente style and add salt, pepper, parmesan, and a little basil. I give this item a 10/10.