50 favorite Trader Joe’s vegan products (updated April 2025)

But being a TJ’s fan is also a lesson in detachment. As soon as you’ve found a product you love, it may be discontinued.

Products are taken off the shelves because they’re seasonal, not selling well, or for quality control reasons.

So when you like something, you’ve got to buy it and enjoy it while you can. Some products stick around for years, others for just weeks.

Today I’m sharing an updated list of 50+ favorite Trader Joe’s vegan products.

Wondering what I buy every week? Check out my Trader Joe’s grocery list!

In this post:

I was over the moon when I heard about these new vegan bao buns joining the frozen foods line-up at Trader Joe’s.

These light and fluffy buns are filled with veggies and mushrooms seasoned with miso. They have a pronounced flavor of ginger.

When steaming, I recommend laying down a liner made of parchment paper or silicone to avoid sticking.

If you’re looking for a serving sauce, spicy chili crisp dipping sauce is amazing with them.

(Trader Joe’s also recently introduced dim sum-style vegetable dumplings. They were fine to try once, but I likely won’t buy them again. You can see them on my Facebook post.)

If you like a mix of salty and sweet flavors, you’ve got to try this chocolatey drizzled strawberry kettle popcorn.

With this seasonal treat, you get salt from the popcorn, sweetness from chocolate, and a little bit of a tart edge from freeze-dried strawberry pieces.

Since it’s only around for a short time, be sure to stock up. Once you open a bag, it’s so hard to stop!

These soft pretzel twists with sea salt are sold in the bakery area of the store near other specialty breads. They have a wonderful sweet, mild flavor.

After moistening them lightly with water, and sprinkling on sea salt, I like to cook them in the air fryer. I air fry them at 390 degrees for 5 to 7 minutes, so they have time to get a little crispy on the outside while staying fluffy on the inside.

There are also conventional oven instructions on the package. They say to cook them at 350 degrees for 3 to 4 minutes or until heated through.

Serve them with any of these dipping sauces:

• Onion & garlic vegetable dip (Using Trader Joe’s onion salt)
• Vegan honey mustard (Using TJ’s mustard & agave syrup)
• Vegan sriracha mayo (Using TJ’s sriracha)
• Cashew queso (Using TJ’s raw cashews & nutritional yeast)

Do not pass go. Go directly to these bulgogi beefless strips.

They are AMAZING. Easily one of my favorite TJ’s products in years.

These soy protein strips are tossed in a sweet soy marinade. But the flavors of the marinade are subtle. What really stands out is the flavor of steak.

My favorite way to prepare them is in the air fryer. Pull them out of the packaging, and cook at 400 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes. (The air fryer directions on the package aren’t for nearly long enough.)

Since it starts as a solid block, you’ll need to use a spatula to break up the strips as they cook, and pull them apart. Let them get a little overdone and crispy around the edges. SO GOOD.

Serve them in any of these dishes:

• They’re great in fried rice (See how I use them in this Facebook post.)
• Use them in vegan steak gyros (Watch my reel to see how it’s done.)
• They make an excellent centerpiece in vegan steak sandwiches
• Use them in a vegan bánh mì or kimchi reuben (instead of bulgogi tofu)
• Put them in fajitas or steak tacos along with a drizzle of cilantro chimichurri

If you like the beefless bulgogi, be sure to try the jumeokbap in the frozen section at Trader Joe’s. These Korean rice balls are dotted with beefless bulgogi and vegetables.

These spongey little balls come three to a pack. They can be heated in the microwave. (To see what they look like out of the packaging, check out this post on my Facebook page.)

The directions on the package say to cook them in their plastic pouches, but I don’t like heating in plastic. They heat equally fine on a plate in the microwave and still kept their shape.

At $4.99 for three rice balls, the price is a little higher than I would expect. However, they’re really tasty & worth buying on occasion.

They go well with a drizzle of sriracha mayo. Serve them with sugar snap peas stir-fry on the side.

(By the way, the kimbap shown in the freezer case above next to the jumeokbap has also gotten a lot of hype. I don’t like seaweed, so I’ve never bought it. But if you like it, give that one a whirl too!)

I could hardly wait for these new steamed vegetable soup dumplings to start appearing in the frozen section of my Trader Joe’s location. I’m a fierce lover of soup-filled dumplings, but vegan ones are a rarity.

TJ’s to the rescue!

These ginger-heavy dumplings are filled with jackfruit, carrots, cabbage, spinach, and broth. Although the box says that they include jackfruit, it’s not prevalent or noticeable when eating the dumplings.

Non-vegan soup dumplings use gelatin, which turns to liquid when the dumplings are warmed. However, this vegan version uses agar agar instead.

For best results, I recommend steaming, not microwaving. (It usually takes 8 minutes for me.)

People who use the microwave to warm them have complained that the broth gets sucked into the dumpling dough, and you don’t get a true brothy soup dumpling experience.

Be warned: These dumplings are prone to sticking. So when you use a metal steamer basket, lay down a square of parchment paper first.

I like to serve soup dumplings with a simple dipping sauce made with white miso paste, tamari, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. Then add just enough water to thin it.

Impossible nuggets are a freezer staple.

They get beautifully crisp on the outside. And the inside has wonderful bite. Great for dipping in onion & garlic salad dressing!

They’re one of those super easy dinners for when you come home famished. Tear open a bag, and throw a few into the air fryer. They’re ready by the time you’re in pajamas & have poured a glass of wine.

Pop them into veggie wraps with bell pepper, romaine, and a lemon tahini sauce drizzle. Not too shabby for something that took next to no effort at all!

(In the mood for burgers instead? Trader Joe’s also has Impossible beef for sale in the refrigerated section.)

Spanish style rice is admittedly a weird obsession. However, it is so darned good! It really tastes like the kind of rice you’d get at your favorite taqueria.

Simply warm it in the microwave. And it’s good to go with chickpea tacos or as the base of a burrito bowl.

Need a good, savory afternoon snack? Grab a bag of this Piquant Popcorn!

It’s seasoned with the cheesy flavor of nutritional yeast, onion, garlic, and salt.

The flavors don’t overwhelm. So it’s easy to eat handful after handful. Perfect for a movie night or road-trip!

Plus, a serving size is a generous 2 ½ cups for 140 calories. That’s enough to really feel satiated.

Here’s a quick & easy dinner idea – crispy potato & poblano pepper tacos. They are $4.99 for a box of 6 tacos.

Sold in the frozen section, these satisfying (but mild) tacos heat up beautifully in the air fryer. They get crunchy on the outside, while the inside is filled with a soft, mashed potatoes-style filling.

You can fill them out by adding soy chorizo taco meat after warming them, or serving them alongside guacamole, salsa verde, or roasted tomato salsa.

By the way, if you were a fan of Jack in the Box tacos before going vegan, these are really going to scratch that nostalgia itch! After air frying, slip in a slice of Trader Joe’s cashew cheddar cheese style slices to complete the fast food experience.

Calling all olive lovers! You’ve got to try olive fougasse. This light and chewy bread is stuffed with Kalamata olives.

I like to pop it in the air fryer to make it warm & crusty on the outside. (If you don’t want to cook it all at once, just pull apart one or two sections.)

Serve it with olive oil bread dip.

Tip: Olive fougasse also makes an amazing base for air fryer croutons.

Officially called oat non-dairy frozen dessert sandwiches, these vegan ice cream sandwiches take you back to childhood in the best way.

Wonderfully creamy vanilla ice cream stands in delicious contrast to the dark chocolate flavor of the exterior.

The sandwiches are just the right size for an afternoon treat. (Curiously, the serving size is TWO sandwiches. But one is perfect for me.)

Squiggly knife cut noodles have quickly become a pantry favorite at my house! They’re very similar to Momofuko noodles, sold online and at Target.

As directed on the package, you’re supposed to boil the noodles, drain them, and then toss with the soy & sesame sauce packet. That’s not my favorite way to use them, though.

I like to marinate cubed tofu using the sauce pack, boil the noodles, and steam broccoli over the pot in a steamer basket. Then I put them all together for a noodle bowl. I finish with a generous drizzling of peanut sauce. (For more complete directions, see my Instagram post.)

The noodles are also good in homemade ramen with tahini miso broth. (Add Better Than Bouillon no chicken base in place of the usual ramen seasoning packet.)

I am obsessed with these green onion pancakes! They are amazing fried in a little oil in a skillet, and served alongside fried rice (with or without pineapple).

Cook them straight from the freezer in a non-stick skillet. They get wonderfully crispy around the edges, while the rest of the pancake is tender & dippable with gyoza dipping sauce.

I also love using them to scoop up mung bean coconut curry. Yum!

(Be aware that Trader Joe’s also has a second type of scallion pancakes that are NOT vegan. Look for the word “vegan” on the label!)

Vegan spinach and cashew ravioli is made with egg-free semolina pasta. It’s stuffed with cashew cheese and stuffed spinach.

You can find it in the refrigerated section with the other fresh pasta options.

Follow the package directions. And enjoy this ravioli with your favorite pasta sauce and a sprinkling of vegan parmesan.

Or use it to make vegan fried ravioli. Bread the ravioli right out of the package. Then cook it in the air fryer!

Fried ravioli is wonderful with marinara or cilantro basil pesto for dunking.

When you’re craving Chinese takeout, make a batch of this vegan orange chicken.

I like to cook the chicken-less bites in the air fryer until crispy. Then reduce the sauce in a separate pan. Once the sauce has thickened, add the crispy bites until just coated.

Serve with brown rice & steamed broccoli. It’s a full meal that’s ready in almost no time. (The frozen brown rice pouches & chopped florets work great here as timesavers!)

If you’ve ever had an everything bagel, you know what to expect with this seasoning mix.

It’s a combination of sesame seeds, poppy seeds, sea salt flakes, dried garlic, and dried onion.

I use it several mornings a week on my avocado toast, along with a generous sprinkling of nutritional yeast flakes (also on this list.)

You can also add it to non-dairy cream cheese or as a topping on hummus. Use it as a finishing salt on vegan pigs in a blanket.

A lot of people like to add it to their popcorn or an air fryer baked potato.

Buying a big canister of nutritional yeast flakes can get pricey. However, a bag of nutritional yeast at Trader Joe’s is very affordable.

And unless you’re making massive amounts of vegan scalloped potatoes, it will probably last you a while. (If you are making massive amounts of vegan scalloped potatoes, invite me over, okay?)

What is nutritional yeast? <— Find out here

Use Trader Joe’s nutritional yeast flakes in:

• Crustless mini vegan quiche
• Vegan cheese dip
• Vegan breakfast tacos with tofu & black beans
• Vegan chili cheese tater tots (with Trader Joe’s potato tots)
• Vegan turkey gravy

This peanut butter caramel coated popcorn is almost too good. It’s dangerously easy to polish off a whole bag in one sitting.

The popcorn is double coated in peanut butter and caramel. It’s surprisingly not sticky.

Each kernel holds its form, making it easy to enjoy handful after delicious handful.

Trader Joe’s onion salt is a pantry staple.

It’s made with granulated onion, granulated garlic, minced onion, green onion, chives, and salt.

It has a delicious layered flair that adds yum to everything it touches. It’s similar to Fox Point seasoning from Penzey’s, but for a tiny fraction of the price. 

I like to use it in creamy onion and garlic salad dressing. It’s great on salads, of course, or used as a dipping sauce.

Onion salt is also delicious on garlic bread. Grab a baguette, and cut it in half. Then butter it with non-dairy butter, and add several shakes of onion salt. Terrific with salad or pasta! (Get detailed instructions on this Facebook post.)

Of course, it can also be used anywhere you use salt like baked fries, a baked potato, air fryer spaghetti squash, or to season your Impossible burger meat before grilling.

This soy chorizo is a refrigerator staple.

I make it weekly for soyrizo tacos, burritos, bowls, and taco salads.

It’s highly seasoned. So you don’t have to add much to it in the way of spices, unless you just want to.

I also like to add black or pinto beans to it to fill it out.

When you add sweet fried plantains to a meal of beans & rice, it’s suddenly a party.

While I usually make maduros from scratch, it can sometimes take a while for plantains to ripen. So if you’re hoping for sweet plantains, they may or may not be ready when you want to eat them.

That’s what makes these frozen sweet fried plantains so convenient! Simply pull a few from the bag, pop them in the air fryer, and cook until they are crispy & caramelized.

Don’t be afraid to air fry longer than it says on the package. Some blackened/burned spots provide extra crunch and texture, which really adds to the experience.

They’re magical as a side dish or stuffed inside a bean & rice burrito. You can also serve sweet fried plantains with:

• Jackfruit carnitas tacos
• Tempeh tacos
• Black bean tacos
• Refried black beans

Balsamic glaze is wonderful in olive oil bread dip alongside warmed olive fougasse or baguette.

This balsamic vinegar reduction is syrupy and slightly sweet. Drizzle it on salads, roasted vegetables, or as a finishing sauce on tomato bruschetta.

Sure, you could easily shred a head of cabbage yourself. But this shredded cabbage mix is a terrific shortcut.

And since cabbage and carrots are relatively dry vegetables, this mix keeps well in the refrigerator for a while without going bad.

Ways to use shredded cabbage mix:

• Use it as a topping on vegan fish tacos
• It’s a great base for vegan coleslaw
• Use it as a topping on a vegan BBQ sandwich
• Sprinkle it on vegan tostadas
• Add it to a Southwest salad for extra crunch and interest with no added chopping

Lentils aren’t hard to make from scratch. And they only take about 30 minutes to cook.

But you know what’s even easier & faster? Opening a package of fully cooked brown lentils that are ready to go.

A lot of lentils are packed into a pouch. It contains five ½ cup servings. These steamed lentils are a refrigerator staple for me.

Use steamed lentils in:

• Lentil taco meat
• Vegan burrito bowl
• Lentil chili with pinto & black beans
• Lentil balls with zesty lemon rice
• Marinated lentils (Skip the “cooking” part of the recipe.)

These veggie-packed envelopes of deliciousness have won over everyone I’ve served them to – from grandparents to grandkids.

There’s rarely a time when I don’t have a bag in the freezer ready to go for a quick snack, or to use as a side dish to a stir fry.

Of course, they also have a starring role in vegan potsticker soup.

Filled with cabbage, carrots, chives, white radishes, onions, ginger, garlic, and soy sauce, they have a great taste that isn’t too overpowering.

These days I usually fry them in the air fryer (400 degrees for 10 minutes with a spritz of oil, stopping once to shake.) However, they’re also great fried or steamed in a skillet.

I like to serve them with gyoza dipping sauce or Chinese hot mustard.

I may be a little bit obsessed with these grilled artichoke halves.

I’ve been an artichoke lover for decades, but these grilled ones add a certain something that makes them totally craveable.

The artichokes take on a smokiness from the grill and have those beautiful, dark grill marks that I adore.

Put them on a vegan cheeseboard, throw them into artichoke pesto, use them as a topping on pizza style sun-dried tomato hummus or a crostini appetizer, or slice them into an Israeli couscous salad.

Prefer water-packed artichoke hearts? (I usually have both kinds on hand.) Trader Joe’s has those as well, and they are delicious as an appetizer of fried artichoke hearts.

It may seem strange to put sliced pickles on the list, but when Trader Joe’s wasn’t in my area, I’d stock up with 5 or 6 jars when I happened to be near one.

They have a good dill flavor, crunch, and work perfectly for those of us who want our sandwich to include a taste of pickle with every bite.

Plus, they’re organic and only $2.99. That’s a really good deal when organic pickles can sometimes cost $7 or more. (It’s just cucumbers, people!)

Put them in a vegan banh mi sandwich, spoon them into vegan chickpea salad, or add them to vegan potato salad along with a splash of pickle juice.

While I often make hashbrowns from scratch on the weekends, sometimes I want the delicious crispy crunch of hashbrowns without having to clean the food processor afterwards.

These hashbrown patties remind me of a certain non-vegan fast food establishment I used to visit as a kid.

They are great with a tofu scramble. Don’t forget the seitan bacon & avocado!

Did you know you can even cook them on the grill? My usual method for cooking them is in the air fryer. However, if you’re already making a cast iron breakfast skillet, add some hashbrowns to a grill basket!

Get the taste of black ripe olives but with the bright, Kermit-y color of green with these canned pitted olives.

They have a buttery, briny flavor that makes them easy to pop in your mouth – one right after the other. They are also a terrific addition to a veggie platter, or once sliced, they make a delightful pizza topping!

Green olive flats are an Italian cracker that’s wonderful smeared with creamy vegan feta cheese or vegan ricotta on a plant-based cheeseboard.

They are also well suited alongside baba ganoush or kalamata olive hummus.

Speaking of olives, although these crackers are called “green olive flats,” the olives aren’t very prevalent. They’re still delicious, though.

They have a texture that’s similar to Melba toast. Break them apart, and add them to salads for crunch!

Keep the olive love going with these grilled pitted green olives.

Each olive has actual grill marks, which amps up the fun. And they taste wonderfully meaty and smoky.

They are terrific on a vegan cheeseboard, charcuterie, or hummus bowl. They’re also great sliced & added to Cuban or Spanish-style rice dishes.

I’m not usually a big candy person. But I can’t resist these fruit jellies.

They’re in the same wheelhouse as a gummy product, except that they’re softer with a gel-like interior.

They come packed in multiple flavors – orange, grape, lemon, raspberry, blueberry, and mandarin.

And they’re finished with granulated sugar, which adds great texture.

Right out of the can at room temperature, these chickpeas are fine. But roasted or air fried, they are wonderful!

The oil they’re packaged in makes them extra brown and crispy on the outside. And the seasonings of cumin, parsley, and lemon intensify as they cook.

(See a picture of how they look roasted on Instagram.)

Here’s how to air fry them: Drain them. Then air fry at 400 degrees for about 12 minutes or until they reach your desired level of crispiness. Stop occasionally to shake the air fryer basket.

Or roast in the oven: Cook them on a baking sheet for about 20 minutes at 400 degrees. Stop occasionally to shake the baking sheet.

Add them to a charcuterie board. Use them as a salad topping. Or put them in a warmed pita with vegan tzatziki, cucumbers, red onion, and lettuce.

Trader Joe’s is my go-to stop for nuts. I always have a wide variety in my lazy susan – peanuts, raw & roasted cashews, shelled pistachios, salt & pepper pistachios…

Two of my favorites are these Marcona almonds in truffle & rosemary.

Marcona almonds are the best, because they aren’t as dry as your typical almond. I love their thin crunch.

These are seasoned and go beautifully on a vegan cheeseboard, with salad, or as a snack.

Plus, since they have a very specific flavor, it’s easy to be satisfied with a few. (That sounds like a back-handed compliment, but it’s true!)

Canned dolmas are another thing I would buy in groups of five whenever I went to a Trader Joe’s location out of town.

Obviously they keep well in the cupboard. So there’s no worry about them going bad before I can use them.

I know that canned food often doesn’t inspire confidence, but these stuffed grape leaves are really good!

They are tightly packed and firm, not mushy like some underwhelming dolmas you buy in cans.

Serve them on a vegan cheeseboard, with kalamata olive hummus, warmed Castelvetrano olives, alongside a kale salad, or as a snack on their own.

Trader Joe’s is my go-to stop for alllllll of the tofu.

First, my main, all-purpose tofu is extra firm in vacuum packaging. I like that it doesn’t require pressing before using.

It is a little drier than the water-packed kind. However, now I’ve been using vacuum-packed tofu for so long, I really don’t even notice.

Use super firm tofu for:

• Vegan egg & toast
• Breakfast tacos
• Baked tofu recipe with lemon & rosemary
• Bulgogi tofu bowls
• Curried tofu salad
• Vegan blue cheese dressing

(Need more ideas? Check out these 29 tofu recipes.)

Trader Joe’s teriyaki flavor baked tofu is a good snack on its own straight out of the fridge. I also like to put it on avocado toast.

It is an easy to transport lunch with a salad or bowl. It also works well in a cooler if you’re heading on a road trip or taking food on a plane.

When I need a quick stir-fry in a flash, I like to cut the baked tofu into cubes and pop it into the air fryer until crisp around the edges.

For another baked tofu option, they also have a sriracha flavor, which I like a lot too.

Frozen brown rice is so darned convenient. No more waiting for rice to cook.

And you can use it straight from frozen when making pineapple fried rice.

Just get your vegetables softened. Then add the rice straight from the bag into the skillet.

Ways to use organic brown rice:

• Hummus bowl with roasted cauliflower
• Saucy black bean bowl with plantains
• Black bean burritos
• Pesto rice
• Air fryer stuffed peppers

I love the full-bodied flavor of this sauce. It’s not too sweet like some spaghetti sauces. And the ingredient list is really wholesome.

Plus, it has a V for “vegan” right on the label. That’s super handy when you’re scanning the list of options at the store.

Ways to use it:

• A dipping sauce with fried ravioli or vegan arancini
• A sauce in air fryer stuffed peppers or zucchini lasagna
• A topping for vegan eggplant parmesan
• A spread on bagel pizzas

These salt & pepper ridge cut potato chips are my obsession.

I hardly ever buy them, because once the bag is open, I can’t stop thinking about them.

I love the balance of salt and pepper, and the crunch from the ridges.

Serve them with a vegan chicken salad sandwich. Or use them to crust vegan fried green tomatoes for an indulgent side dish.

If it’s mid-November or early December, don’t miss my very favorite potato chips with horseradish & chives! They’re pictured here in the green package.

This creamy cucumber dip has the flavors of lemon, dill, and garlic.

It is terrific on a pita with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and falafel.

Or instead of falafel, use crispy chickenless strips, homemade seitan chicken, or a can of Greek chickpeas.

(To see how to turn the roasted Greek chickpeas into a pita pocket with tzatziki, check out this Instagram post.)

Trader Joe’s has stepped up its non-dairy cheese game with vegan cheddar slices, mozzarella shreds, Mexican style shreds, dairy free Boursin, and vegan parmesan.

The cheddar slices and mozzarella are cashew-based. The American slices are potato starch & coconut oil-based. The slices remind me of Parmela, if you’re familiar with that brand.

Add the slices to a vegan deli meat sandwich, vegan egg mcmuffin, chef salad, seitan reuben, or toasted sandwich.

Use the mozzarella shreds on pizza, eggplant parmesan sandwich, or Rachel sandwich.

Of all of the Trader Joe’s vegan cheeses, the spicy Mexican style blend is my favorite. (Look for the red packaging.)

It’s great with tacos, BBQ jackfruit nachos, vegan cauliflower cheese soup, and quesadillas.

When I’m making curry lentil soup or mixed vegetable ginger & turmeric rice, it’s fun to have a crispy, filled appetizer to serve alongside it.

Enter mini vegetable samosas.

These flaky samosas are made with a phyllo-type dough and loaded with peas, carrots, potatoes, lentils, onions, and spices.

I cook them in the air fryer. They get beautifully crisp on the outside.

Cook them in the air fryer at 400 degrees for 7 to 8 minutes. Stop once to flip half way through.

I like to serve them with homemade apple chutney.

Sometimes you just need a falafel bowl with rice, hummus, salad, and lemon tahini dressing.

When you don’t feel like making your own air fryer falafel, this frozen variety is the next best option!

They are very filling, and usually two are plenty with a bowl. That means that I can really stretch one bag out for a while.

They’re also tasty in a falafel sandwich!

The first time I had cauliflower rice, I wasn’t totally sold on it.

I tend to be a chewy grain person, and cauliflower rice kind of reminded me of couscous, which I’m not really keen on.

I’m really loving this cauliflower rice stir-fry, though.

It already has added vegetables packed into it and is seasoned with sesame oil. So it’s ready to go for a quick lunch.

I especially like to add it to brown rice. The brown rice bulks up the texture, while the cauliflower rice provides more vegetables.

Serve it with TJ’s vegan orange chicken, potstickers, or cubed baked tofu.

Trader Joe’s reformulated their meatless breakfast sausage patties, and now they’re vegan! (They used to contain eggs.)

That makes for a very handy, quick, and easy breakfast. I like to cook them in the air fryer.

I wouldn’t say these are as delicious as Beyond or Impossible breakfast sausages. However, they’re still pretty good.

Enjoy them on a bagel breakfast sandwich.

I know Joe-Joe’s cookies have a lot of super fans, but these maple leaf cookies are where it’s at!

The cream inside has a delicate maple flavor, and it’s so dense, thick, and creamy. It’s surrounded by two crunchy, leaf-shaped cookies.

While most maple-flavored items at Trader Joe’s are seasonal, this is one of the few exceptions! It’s around all year ’round.

Thai wheat noodles are so handy! These shelf-stable noodles are ready to eat right out of the package. No boiling necessary!

You get three packets of noodles in each package.

I like to make a vegetable stir-fry, and then add the noodles to the skillet once the veggies are soft. I add a few splashes of tamari, rice vinegar, and sesame oil to coat the noodles, and incorporate them with the vegetables. Then I finish it with pickled jalapeños and chili crisp for a spicy kick.

I get a baguette from Trader Joe’s almost every time I go.

They make wonderful garlic bread, cheesy bread, baguette pizza, or crostini. (Perfect for tomato bruschetta!)

You can also slice them in half & warm them for a hearty sandwich.

Tubed polenta is a super convenient pantry staple.

Similar to grits, it’s a cornmeal porridge that solidified as it cooled.

These fully cooked tubes of polenta can be cut into rings & shallow fried. Top with marinara and vegetables.

Or you can cut it into fry shapes. Cook in the air fryer until crispy. Great for dipping!

(To see this air fryer polenta recipe in action, check out this video of me demonstrating it.)

Content updated April 25, 2025. Originally posted March 16, 2018.