Food News and Trends Grocery The Best New Trader Joe's Products Under $5 This May Easy weeknight dinner staples and little treats galore. By Alyse Whitney Alyse Whitney Alyse Whitney is a Korean American adoptee who has been cooking ever since she could reach the countertop. She is a food writer, editor, recipe developer, and video host who resides in Los Angeles with her rescue dog, Miso. Allrecipes' editorial guidelines Published on May 12, 2024 Close Photo: Adobe Stock Trader Joe's is an impulse buy store. Even if you go there for everyday grocery shopping, you'll likely find something you didn't expect to but need. To help you decide what's worth adding to your cart, we scanned the Fearless Flyer and the aisles of TJ's to find the best—or returning favorite—products for $5 or less. Check out some of our must-try items for May, including a hearty frozen snack to take on the go and colorful, sugary goodness to spruce up and sweeten your spring. 01 of 05 Lemon Pesto Sauce, $3.49 Trader Joe's This zesty sauce is back after a hiatus, so stock up on a few jars of the Amalfi coast–inspired Italian pesto that will add a punch of flavor to pasta, salads, sandwiches, and more throughout the spring and summer. It’s made by crushing whole lemons and mixing them with Grana Padano cheese, almonds, salt, pepper, and lemon zest. Try it drizzled onto lettuce wraps with shrimp or chicken, toss with pasta and grilled veggies for a hearty salad, dollop onto skewers of your choice, or spread on crostini with thinly sliced prosciutto. 02 of 05 Jumeokbap (Plant-Based Korean Rice Balls), $4.99 Trader Joe's Whether vegan or not, these plant-based rice balls will be a satisfying addition to your snack arsenal. The Korean rice ball (jumeok translates to fist, and bap means rice) is usually round and the size of a fist, but TJ's went for a more hybrid shape of jumeokbap and Japanese onigiri, which is triangular. It takes only about a minute in the microwave from frozen to get all soft and steamy, and each of the oversized rice balls is stuffed with plant-based bulgogi (a Korean sweet-and-savory glazed, grilled "beef") and seasoned veggies for a light meal on the go. 03 of 05 All Occasion Sprinkle, $1.99 Trader Joe's There have been a handful of seasonal sprinkle combinations at Trader Joe’s lately, but this one is non-denominational and ready to party any time. The mix of classic jimmies, multi-colored confetti, and little hearts and flowers are fun and festive—and made with fruit and veggie juices instead of artificial colors or flavors. The bag is resealable, so you don’t have to use the whole bag at once. 04 of 05 Freeze-Dried Raspberries, $3.99 Trader Joe's A guaranteed way to stain your tongue red that is 100 percent worth it? A big handful of freeze-dried raspberries. The freeze-dried strawberries from TJ's are one of my favorite ways to make any dessert look a little fancier. Pulverizing them in a food processor or by hand (in a resealable plastic bag to avoid mess) makes a beautiful dust to top cakes, pies, smoothies, yogurt, ice cream, or oatmeal. Or they can be mixed into trail mix, cookie dough, or cereal. Fun fact: Each pouch contains half a pound of dehydrated fresh raspberries. 05 of 05 Milk Chocolate Covered Honeycomb Candy, $3.99 Trader Joe's This candy goes by many names, including honeycomb, sponge, seafoam, and cinder, depending on what part of the world you're in. However, it only has three ingredients: sugar, honey, and baking soda. The way the candy is made creates pockets that look like a honeycomb, with an airy yet crispy texture and a caramel-like flavor. TJ's takes things to the next level and blankets each piece in milk chocolate for a creamy and crunchy juxtaposition of textures that pairs perfectly with a cuppa tea or coffee. It also would be excellent smashed and sprinkled atop an ice cream sundae or even a decadent morning yogurt. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit