The 7 Best Trader Joe’s Hacks, According to Employees

There’s no denying that certain Trader Joe’s products (and honestly the store itself) have a cult-like following. But the only thing people feel as passionately about as they do about the products they love, is the hacks they have for cooking with them. 

On the most recent episode of the "Inside Trader Joe’s" podcast, hosts Tara Miller and Matt Sloan talk to each other and a whole other cast of crew members about the best hacks they have found for using their favorite Trader Joe’s items.

But first, they have crew member Kathleen define just what a hack is, and she sums it up rather nicely: “I’m going to use this thing for something other than its intended use, and it’s going to be awesome." She continues, it's, "really finding value in something that you used to throw away.” 

The last time we discussed Trader Joe's' employee hacks, you absolutely loved them. So without further ado, here are even more of the best Trader Joe’s hacks, according to the people who work there 

Use Everything But the Bagel Seasoning On, Well, Everything 

My favorite hack from this segment of the podcast uses another favorite Trader Joe’s product of ours: the crescent rolls. Matt suggests rolling out the dough, sprinkling it with Everything But the Bagel Seasoning, rolling them up and baking them for a savory pastry fit for any brunch. Can you imagine? I can’t wait to try this hack.

The podcasting pair continued to rapid-fire list even more ways to use the seasoning you might not have thought of, including mixing it with olive oil for a seasoned bread dipper, mixing it into scrambled eggs for a nice flavor and texture, and mixing it in with your breading before dredging chicken or fish. Genius! 

Air Fry the Canned Greek Chickpeas with Parsley & Cumin

You already know we are huge fans of this product for mezze platters, salads, grain bowls, soups, and sandwiches but when Matt mentions you can heat them up, Tara jumps in to one-up that idea: She likes to air-fry them to get them super crispy and perfect for snacking on.

This is one hack I 100% endorse. To be fair, I’ve never put them in an air fryer, but I do roast them alongside any other roast-able vegetables I have on hand—all the oil and seasoning from the canned beans seasons the veggies perfectly. The chickpeas still get nice and crispy, and it’s by far my favorite way to prepare them. 

Make 3-Ingredient Chicken & Dumpling Soup

This easy recipe comes straight from crew member Kathleen who brought this into the Trader Joe’s offices on a chilly, rainy day. She brings a box of the Organic Free Range Chicken Broth to a boil then takes a tube of the Organic Biscuit Dough, quarters each biscuit, rolls them into a ball in her hand to form the “dumplings” and then boils them in the broth for 15 minutes. The biscuits impart some starch into the broth giving it a velvety, almost creamy texture.

As for the chicken? Well, this is a genius hack all on its own: She uses the chicken from the frozen BBQ Teriyaki Chicken and saves the sauce packet in the fridge for another use. The chicken is already cut into bite-size pieces and comes fully cooked, so all you have to do is stir it into the soup and let it heat through. Perfect for anytime you need some protein in a hurry! 

Keep Pasta Water in Your Fridge at All Times

I’m the type of cook who saves just enough pasta water for the dish that I’m making said pasta for, and then dumps the rest down the drain. But, according to crew member Kathleen, that’s a sin. 

“Pasta water is amazing by the way, I keep it in my fridge,” says Kathleen. “I have a deli container in my fridge, at any time, with that cloudy, beautiful liquid that I'm just gonna add to everything. Liquid gold, is what they call it. And you should stash your liquid gold in your fridge.” 

How to use it, you ask? According to Kathleen, you can add it to anything to add a little “luscious” element. Its starchy quality makes it ideal to mix into any dish that needs just the slightest bit of thickening—sauces, soups, etc. 

Use Salsa for a 2-Ingredient Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner

Matt and Tara were raving about their love of the Trader Joe’s Guajillo Salsa, saying it’s the perfect level of spice with a nice amount of smokiness that sets it apart from any other salsa in the store. But even better yet? They shared ideas for using the salsa that go way beyond just as a dip for chips.

Pour some in a pan and cook eggs or chicken thighs in it. The moisture in the salsa will gently heat your food for super tender eggs or chicken, and infuse it with smoky flavor as it cooks. Perfect for serving over toast, rice, or even a bed of vegetables for a simple meal any time of day. 

Eat Your Chips & Salsa by the Spoonful

OK stay with us for a minute, but this hack is the perfect snack for that sad moment when you have an almost-empty jar of salsa and all that’s left in the bag of chips is crumbs. Pour those crumbled up chips into that mostly-empty jar, mix it up and eat it with a spoon. You get a nice little mess-free snack and none of your food goes to waste. It’s a win-win! 

Use the Taiwanese Green Onion Pancakes as Tortillas

While talking about ways to use one of Tara’s favorite products, the Chicken-Less Riced Cauliflower Stir-Fry, Matt suggests using it as the filling for a burrito. It’s then that Tara remembers a coworker sharing that he uses the Trader Joe’s Taiwanese Green Onion Pancakes in place of tortillas for super-flavorful tacos in the last hacks episode. So, why not use it for a burrito, too? This is one hack we can’t wait to try.