11 Trader Joe's Seasonings You Need To Start Using

For many, Trader Joe's is more than a typical grocery store. The chain, which models itself after smaller markets, boasts a wide variety of curated food and beverage items and specializes in its private label of products, many of which have fostered a cult following over the years. Trader Joe's is, to many, the cool grocery store, if there is such a thing. As if things couldn't get any better, shoppers are bound to find several bargains while browsing at Trader Joe's, making it a fairly affordable place to do one's grocery shopping.

Among the many Trader Joe's products customers love are the store's spices and seasonings. Trader Joe's goes beyond your everyday paprika and oregano, offering many unique blends that take the guesswork out of determining which flavors go well together. Rather than mixing 10 different spices together, Trader Joe's gives its shoppers one-and-done options that are as tasty as they are diverse. If you're looking to try something new from Trader Joe's, or if you're visiting the chain for the first time and wondering what to stock up on, keep reading. We're here to let you know which Trader Joe's seasonings you need to start using.

If you only purchase one seasoning from Trader Joe's, popular opinion holds that it should be the Everything but the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend. This magical mixture is perhaps the most widely known seasoning outside the immediate circle of Trader Joe's fandom. The spice has many ardent fans; devotees put it on top of, well, just about everything. The name comes from the seasoning you often find on everything bagels, which includes dried onion, garlic, and sesame seeds.

Admirers of Everything but the Bagel seasoning are fiercely loyal to the product, often taking to online venues like Reddit to express their love. When it comes to specific food ideas, Redditors have commented that they like to add their Everything But the Bagel blend to foods as diverse as avocado toast and egg salad. The options one has with this particular seasoning appear to be limitless. Trader Joe's is well aware of this, and the passionate following this blend has inspired. Over the years, the grocery chain has launched a line of products inspired by the seasoning, including potato chips and even Everything but the Bagel-flavored smoked salmon.

Another Trader Joe's spice blend that includes a variety of flavors in one bottle is 21 Seasoning Salute. This spice has, you guessed it, 21 unique herbs mixed together, including onion, celery seed, cayenne pepper, parsley, and more. Trader Joe's advertises it as a great additive for your favorite vinaigrette. You can also use the spice as a dry rub for your favorite meat.

21 Seasoning Salute is a very versatile mixture. Your imagination can really run wild with this spice — why not add it to dips, pizza toppings, sandwiches, or vegetables? This has made it popular among Trader Joe's customers. Redditors love seasoning their meat with 21 Seasoning Salute, with one commenter noting that it works on everything from seafood to steak. Take note, however: Of all of the seasonings that are included in this one tiny jar, salt is not one of them. If you want some sodium added, be sure to bring it separately to your meal — 21 Seasoning Salute alone won't do the job.

If Thanksgiving itself had a flavor, it would be awfully close to the Everything but the Leftovers seasoning blend at Trader Joe's. This limited-time-only spice comes around during the holiday season, and fans are quick to stock up whenever it makes a return. It first popped up in the fall of 2020. Shoppers like Trader Joe's Obsessed on Instagram have been devoted to it ever since. As Trader Joe's puts it on their website, it basically takes your favorite bowl of stuffing smothered in gravy and turns it into a spice you can add to whatever you deem appropriate.

One Redditor noted that the Everything but the Leftovers seasoning is among their favorite products from Trader Joe's. While the specific flavor of this spice may not go with everything, it's undoubtedly a quick way to infuse that quintessential Thanksgiving flavor into your bowl of mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, meat, or vegetables.

Every summer, we love to fire up the grill and cook some tasty ribs and chicken. Perfecting that signature barbecue flavor is often tough, but can be as easy as picking up a sauce from your local grocery store. If you prefer a dry spice rub, however, look no further than the BBQ 101 spice blend from Trader Joe's. Combining all the best aspects of smokey, sweet, and salty flavors, fans have been head over heels for this unique spice since it debuted.

One Redditor mentioned that while the obvious use for this spice is as a dry rub, it also works when added to a bowl of chili. Another commenter suggested adding the spice to a bowl of pasta for added smokey flavor. Take heed, however: Some commenters felt they had to add salt on their own for a more balanced result when using this blend. Give it a try and see for yourself how you like to use it.

If you love adding Tajin seasoning to just about everything you eat, then it may be worth giving the Chile Lime Seasoning Blend from Trader Joe's a try. According to the grocery chain, this spice packs just the right amount of heat, and adds a nice pop of citrus zest to your favorite meal or snack.

One Redditor noted that they were disappointed with this particular seasoning, but another commenter recommended they try it on fruit, such as watermelon, jicama, or pineapple. Grub and Booze offers several ideas on how to use this blend, including as a spice for salmon, French fries, and fresh fruit. Trader Joe's also suggests using it as a means to rim a glass containing your favorite drink (which works with alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages). This is definitely one of those seasonings you need to experiment with, to see how you like it. But once you figure out your perfect food-and-spice match, you may find yourself running back to Trader Joe's on a regular basis to restock.

Elote, sometimes known as Mexican street corn, offers a tasty blend of flavors, which has earned it international popularity. Trader Joe's took all of the best aspects of the snack and put it in a jar, creating the Everything but the Elote seasoning blend. The spice includes all the typical fixings you find on your standard elote, including chili pepper, parmesan cheese, and chipotle powder.

One Redditor shared a list of several ways they use the Everything but the Elote spice, including as a topping for shrimp as well as avocado. Yahoo! Finance went above and beyond by offering 50 different ideas on how to use this particular blend, including obvious choices like corn on the cob to more inventive ideas like trail mix and butter. Do not underestimate the number of ways this seasoning can be used; while it seems like it would only work in a limited amount of meals, you may surprise yourself with the amount of times you pull it out of your pantry.

Many of the seasonings Trader Joe's customers love have elaborate flavor profiles, typically consisting of many different spices rolled into one jar. But other fans can't seem to get enough of blends that contain just a few simple ingredients, as is the case with Onion Salt.

As the name implies, Trader Joe's Onion Salt contains just a few key ingredients: dried onion (a few different ways, including green onion) and salt. Do not let the simplicity deceive you, however. As one Redditor points out, it may seem like a boring seasoning you'd easily pass over at the grocery store, but it should be a pantry essential.

According to What's Good at Trader Joe's, Onion Salt also contains two other ingredients: garlic and chives. The inclusion of these two flavors is key to why fans love this spice, and why you should give it a try next time you're at the store.

As the name implies, the Nori Komi Furikake Japanese Multi-Purpose Seasoning from Trader Joe's has many different uses and applications in your kitchen, making it a popular choice among shoppers. Obvious uses include topping a bowl of rice, but the sky is truly the limit when it comes to ways you can enjoy this seasoning.

According to What's Good at Trader Joe's, the flavor of the Japanese Multi-Purpose Seasoning is mild enough that it can be used in many different meals. But it's also unique enough that it's still worth purchasing and adding to your lineup of spices. One Redditor mentioned that this particular seasoning blend is vegan, unlike other furikake mixtures on the market, making it a great way to season your meals without fear of animal byproducts winding up in your food. It also helps that it's a truly tasty seasoning blend, pairing well with vegetables, fish, rice, and just about anything else you happen to be cooking in the kitchen on any given evening.

Don't assume that the Green Goddess Seasoning Blend is only useful on salads. According to Trader Joe's, this spice works well on a wide array of food items, including pasta and French fries. Like many of the other spices you will find at Trader Joe's, the Green Goddess Seasoning Blend pairs wonderfully with meats, veggies, and side dishes alike.

One Redditor commented they put this blend on just about everything. Indeed, this can quickly become an essential seasoning to pick up whenever you're at a Trader Joe's. As another commenter added, Green Goddess seasoning isn't the sort of thing you typically find at other grocery chains (though Green Goddess dressing may be more common these days), making it even more of high-profile favorite. Another Redditor confessed that their love of the seasoning is so deep, they're scared of it being discontinued — not an unwise fear, as Trader Joe's does like to freshen up their offerings. Love a product? Be sure you stock up on it, because that only increases the likelihood that it will vanish without warning.

Umami fans, this is your moment to shine. Trader Joe's took umami and put it in a bottle for all of us to enjoy. Its Mushroom & Company Multipurpose Umami Seasoning Blend takes porcini and white button mushrooms, adds thyme, mustard seed, onion, and other herbs, and makes it shakeable. You'll soon be adding it to all your favorite meals for an extra boost of savory flavor.

If you're unfamiliar with umami and don't know what to add it to, the good news is that this blend works with just about everything. One Redditor noted that they add it to snacks like popcorn and vegetables. Real Simple provides other ideas on how to use this unique seasoning blend, including mixing it into hamburger patties for a bold flavor, or stirring it into a breadcrumb coating for chicken. It also doesn't have to be part of a meal's base ingredients; you can simply shake some of the seasoning on top of salads or avocado toast for a burst of flavor before serving.

One of the newer flavors to arrive in the spice aisle at Trader Joe's, the Cheesy Seasoning Blend is not to be missed. After all, what can bring a meal or snack to the next level like cheese? According to Trader Joe's, this seasoning uses cheddar cheese as the base and mixes in spices like garlic and onion powder to create an explosion of flavor. Making mashed potatoes? Throw some of this seasoning into the mix. Heating up some soup? Toss some Cheesy Seasoning Blend in for good measure.

One Redditor sang the praises of this particular seasoning blend, pointing out that one of their favorite ways to use it is as a topping for a bowl of popcorn. Another Redditor suggested people mix it in with mashed avocados, for topping toast or using as a chip dip. There really is no such thing as too much cheese, so feel free to go wild with this particular seasoning blend and see how many different uses you can come up with.