One area where the store excels in particular is thesnack department.
Seasonal goodies are constantly being debuted or re-released.
But it’s not all crunchy.
Photos: Trader Joe’s. Design: Eat This, Not That!
Trader Joe’s also carries a star-studded lineup of scoopable and spreadabledips.
Some dips are veggie-packed, and others boast a very simplified ingredient list.
Some are health-conscious, and many are dairy-free and vegan.
Megan Hageman for Eat This, Not That!
A few are spicy, while others are sweet.
Each has a unique flavor profile and fan base.
Let’s find out in the ultimate Trader Joe’s dip showdown.
Megan Hageman for Eat This, Not That!
It’s unbelievably delicious.
Of course, Trader Joe’s wasted no time in jumping on the fad.
Thus, Everything and the Elote Seasoning Blend and its buddyEverything and the Elote Greek Style Yogurt Dipwere born.
Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
Both generated a lot of buzz when they debuted in 2021.
For my first time giving the dip a go, I picked up an 8-ounce container for $3.79.
The look:Less lumpy than anticipated.
Megan Hageman for Eat This, Not That!
It’s not spicy but extremely robust.
It took me a couple of bites to grow accustomed to it.
Beyond that, I couldn’t get past the lack of corn in the tub.
Megan Hageman for Eat This, Not That!
I was excited for this one, but it was a bit of a letdown.
It made me pine forCostco’s Rojo’s Street Corn Dipa much tastier elote-inspired alternative, in my opinion.
All this adds up to just 30 calories per serving for a more guilt-free snacking experience.
Megan Hageman for Eat This, Not That!
The 16-ounce container cost me $4.49.
The look:Exceptionally chunky and thick.
The taste:Just a few spuds away from being a potato salad.
Megan Hageman for Eat This, Not That!
Otherwise, it does earn my respect for being fresh and offering diverse veggies.
It felt fitting to include this 8-ounce byproduct as part of my haul for $3.79.
The look:The foundation is as described: Greek yogurt.
Sesame and poppy seeds are mixed in, but the quantity is scanty.
The taste:Underwhelming.
I could tell by looking that there wasn’t enough Everything But the Bagel Seasoning.
As such, I think it would make a great alternative to smear on a bagel.
But to stand out in the dip department, more character is needed.
It is a promising combo, but do these two rights add up to something even more incredible?
I grabbed a 10-ounce tub for $3.99 to find out.
The look:The Crunchy Chili Onion is confined to a small crater in the center.
It looks fiery in a shade of crimson red.
The taste:Similar to a roasted red pepper hummus but with the heat cranked up.
It achieves a nice balance.
But there’s something missing from this dip: crispness.
That’s the biggest draw of the Crunchy Chili Onion sauce.
Being made from one of the world’s most expensive foods should qualify as a delicacy.
As I considered my options, the dip’s earthy truffle aroma permeated the air around me.
Thankfully, the taste was more subtle and not too fungi-like.
It’s a mix of decadent richness with an umami punch.
I imagine it would get old fast when eaten as a straight dip.
Brown sugar and regular sugar are included, too.
This medley of flavors has a price tag of $3.79 for 10 ounces.
If you’re lactose intolerant, don’t worry.
It comes in a shade of light ivory to yellow.
The taste:Savory and sweet with crunchy onions in every bite.
I’ve had versions of onion dip before that have just been sour cream-based.
This one provides more depth and richness with the sugars, mayo, and cream cheese.
Plus, the onions taste fresh and maintain their texture rather than just being dried or dehydrated.
Sweet Cannoli Dip
Entering the ring as the only dessert-style dip isSweet Cannoli.
This sweet spread imitates the cream inside the tube-shaped Italian pastry.
The taste:Like liquified cheesecake or a divine fusion of cream cheese and marshmallow fluff.
It reminds me of a fruit dip rather than a cannoli filling.
If you might look past that, it’s a delectable dip.
I had to resist the urge to spoon it into my mouth directly.
The consistency is thicker than yogurt and loosens up a bit as you stir.
I enjoyed it with some Ritz crackers.
I expected it to contain sour cream, cream cheese, yogurt, or mayo to achieve its creaminess.
My assumption was wrong.
Can you imagine how many garlic cloves it takes to form an 8-ounce tub for $3.69?
Onefan on Redditeven went so far as to say their entire life revolves around it.
After hearing that sentiment, I had no choice but to include it in the taste test.
The look:Off-white and somewhere between clumpy and fluffy.
It shares many similarities to whipped ricotta or feta cheese.
The taste:Slightly acidic from the lemons, but the rest is smooth, garlicky heaven.
It could be slathered onto nearly any foodfrom bread to pizza to sandwichesand it would be delicious every time.
