Trader Joe's Pickle Seasoning Will Turn Grilled Cheese Into A Masterpiece

Trader Joe's has made a name for itself as an affordable grocer with a plethora of unique products. Shoppers flock to the store to choose from its array of cheeses, stock up on Two-Buck Chuck (and other reasonably priced wine), and scout out seasonal favorites. But the real TJ's gem may just be the spice aisle.

Trader Joe's stocks numerous spice blends, including the ever-popular Everything But The Bagel seasoning, Mushroom & Company Multipurpose Umami Seasoning Blend, and Sriracha Sprinkle. The company offers suggestions for how to use some of its spices, such as sprinkling Chile Lime Seasoning on ice cream. But the seasonings also serve as an inspiration to get creative in the kitchen.

Channeling that creative spirit, The Kitchn added TJ's Seasoning in a Pickle Seasoning Blend to a grilled cheese sandwich. While the suggestion was inspired by the celebration of National Grilled Cheese Day, the dilly version of the cheesy sandwich seems worthy of being made any day of the year.

Trader Joe's suggests sprinkling Seasoning in a Pickle on vegetables, potatoes, and eggs. But it can be used on any food that would benefit from the tang that dill pickles bring to the table. The combination of sea salt, dill, sugar, garlic, onion, and vinegar powder (among a few other ingredients) has the potential to elevate anything from popcorn or nuts to tuna salad or meat.

Simply shake a healthy dose of it into butter, mayonnaise (or a combination of both), then spread the mixture on the outside of the bread slices before cooking. You can spread it on the inside of the sandwich, too, if you're looking to make a richer grilled cheese with even more pickle flavor. Once you've assembled the sandwich, place it in a preheated pan and keep the heat on medium or lower so that the bread crisps perfectly while the cheese melts. Flip when browned on one side. Once the other side is browned as well, remove it from the heat and allow it to rest for a few minutes.

After the sandwich has cooled slightly, slice it diagonally. Popular Mechanics used math to prove that triangle-shaped sandwich halves are superior to their rectangular counterparts — who can argue with that?

As for the type of cheese to use, Trader Joe's Unexpected Cheddar, which won the store's customer choice awards so many times it's now in the company's Product Hall of Fame, is a top-notch choice. For a really decadent grilled cheese, you could also try the Unexpected Cheddar Spread, a creamy blend of butter and the fan-favorite cheese.

There are plenty of other options outside of cheddar, too. Southern Living suggests that pimento cheese and pickles pair well for a happy hour snack, but the combination could also make for an easy grilled cheese sandwich. All you have to do is make pimento cheese and use TJ's Seasoning in a Pickle Seasoning Blend. 

Meanwhile, according to Today, the TikTok trend of wrapping pickles in heated cheese has people pairing briny spears and slices with anything from provolone and Swiss to gouda, mozzarella, and Gruyere. Choose your favorite cheese and get cooking.