Trader Joe’s Employees Share Their Ultimate Snack Hacks

Everyone loves to snack, and as we get into the thick of the winter sports season and awards show season, there’s never been a better time to elevate your snacking game. Luckily, Trader Joe’s employees Matt Sloan, customer relations communications director, and Tara Miller, vice president of marketing, just released a new episode of the Inside Trader Joe’s podcast that was all about snacking. 

In order to get the lowdown on some fun “snacktivities”, the pair visited a TJ’s store in Boston and asked employees about how they create “genius” snacks using a handful of Trader Joe’s items. From elevated popcorn you can make on the stove, to a batch of DIY jalapeño poppers you can whip up in under 30 minutes, the TJ’s employees certainly had plenty of snack-forward wisdom to bestow. Keep reading for 12 elevated snack recipes you can make using only Trader Joe’s products!

Jalapeño Poppers

Christopher, the associate category manager for produce at TJ’s loves to make his own jalapeño poppers with just a handful of ingredients. He starts by cutting fresh jalapeños in half, filling each half with cream cheese, and topping them with shredded cheese such as the Shredded Unexpected Cheddar Cheese, which he notes is a “phenomenal” addition to these snacks. Then, he bakes the poppers in the oven or air fryer, and is treated to a slightly lighter popper (made without breading) that’s still downright delicious. If you’re not a fan of anything super spicy, Christopher suggests removing the jalapeño seeds for less heat.

Cauliflower Nachos

You can’t go wrong with nachos, but if you want a snack with more fiber and other nutrients, try Christopher’s cauliflower nachos. To prepare these delicious bites, cut a head of cauliflower into small pieces and toss on your favorite nacho toppings. Christopher is partial to onions, peppers, and cheese, along with some of the TJ’s Taco Seasoning Mix, which brings plenty of flavor. Pop your “nachos” in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes and sprinkle a bit more cheese on top just before they’re done for the best results. For a heartier take, Christopher likes to add some ground turkey or ground beef to the nachos before baking.

Golden Rounds Crackers With Cream Cheese and Pepper Jelly

Trader Joe’s Golden Rounds Crackers act as the base for this easy snack, which comes together in seconds. Christopher tops the crackers with Hot and Sweet Pepper Jelly and a dab of cream cheese, for a nosh that’s sweet, savory, and spicy. For a slightly healthier take, he suggests swapping the cream cheese for Greek yogurt.

Hash Brown Baked Potatoes

For Tracy, another Trader Joe’s employee based in Boston, the chain’s hash browns are a great snack canvas, especially if you get a little creative. To make her baked potato-inspired treat, start by heating the hash browns in the oven until they’re “nice and crisp,” and sprinkle a bit of salt on top once they’re done. Then, in order to “treat them like a baked potato,” Tracy recommends topping the warm, crispy hash browns with already cooked bacon (which you can toss in a pan in order to make it extra crunchy), sour cream, and scallions. “[There’s] no cleanup, and it’s so easy and delicious,” Tracy declares.

Jelly Bamba Snacks 

This “random hack” of Tracy’s was inspired by her 18-month-old niece, who is a big fan of the Bamba Peanut Snacks. As it turns out, these crunchy treats pair well with a variety of other ingredients. “She loves the Bambas, and she sticks Bambas in everything—hummus, jelly, peanut butter—[they’re] like a spoon for her,” Tracy said of her little relative. “I tried it with jelly, and it’s almost like a little peanut butter and jelly quick snack. It was very delicious.”

Turkey Taco Dip

Jamie, the nutrition director at Trader Joe’s, is a big fan of this dip she invented that actually uses another dip as its base—Cowboy Caviar Salsa. To make Jamie’s creation, you need to layer cooked and seasoned ground turkey with the Cowboy Caviar Salsa and another salsa, such as the pico de gallo. Then, top with cheese and bake. For a vegetarian version, simply swap the ground turkey for some nutritious quinoa. 

Healthy Ranch Dip

Dip isn’t the healthiest snack category, but you can make some cream-based dips a tad healthier by using Greek yogurt instead of sour cream or cream cheese. Jamie’s easy two-ingredient dip calls for Plain Strained Thick & Creamy Greek Yogurt mixed with a few teaspoons of the Ranch Seasoning Blend. The result is a protein-packed snack that’s rich, creamy, and the perfect accompaniment to vegetables or chips. 

Baked Brie With Pistachios and Honey

Dan, the senior facilities manager with Trader Joe’s, loves to make his own baked Brie using various ingredients. He begins by scoring the Brie, then he makes the accoutrements. While you can use whatever you like, Dan is partial to the Pistachio Nutmeats, honey (or hot honey, if you like spice) and thyme. “I mix all that together and I spoon it over the baked Brie, and then I put it in an oven until it melts [and] starts to get oozy,” he explained. “When the Brie is dripping and kinda melty in the baking dish, I take it out and drizzle a little bit of olive oil on it.” The resulting dish is best paired with crusty bread, such as lightly toasted baguette slices. 

Fresh Herbed Popcorn

Sure, you can make popcorn in the microwave, but Dan prefers preparing this snack the old fashioned way—on the stovetop. “It’s fun because you can make any flavor profile you want with popcorn on a stovetop,” he shared. To successfully make popcorn on the stove, you need a bag of TJ’s Organic Popping Corn and a heavy bottom pot, to start. “I coat the bottom of the pot with olive oil, and I put an even layer of popcorn kernels in the bottom of the pot,” Dan continued. “I add three to five leaves of fresh sage, and I also like some thyme in there.” Red pepper flakes also work for a touch of spice, as does garlic.

Miller was a big fan of this customizable, DIY snack, calling it “a little bit of genius.”

Tomato Cheddar Bites

For a snack that needs zero appliances, give Dan’s Tomato Cheddar Bites a whirl. To make these savory noshes, Dan cuts a baguette lengthwise and then again into individual slices. From there, he tops the bread with small pieces of New Zealand Sharp Cheddar Cheese and sliced tomato. “I like Roma and Campari tomatoes, and then a small slice of sweet onion,” he noted. “And then we just put a little sprinkle of the Trader Joe’s Aglio Olio Seasoning Blend on top of that.” While simple, Dan pointed out that this snack is always a hit. “[This has] been an appetizer in our family for a long time, and everybody seems to enjoy them,” he continued. 

Salmon Crostini

This snack requires you to do a bit of prep work ahead of time, but Devin, a packaging designer at Trader Joe’s who came up with this nosh, swears it’s worth it. “You start by roasting some of our really nice fresh salmon,” she shared, noting that you should cook it with salt, pepper, and olive oil. “This is something you need to do the day before because you’re going to want it chilled the next day.” Once you’re ready to entertain or enjoy this snack yourself, take a fork and use it to flake the salmon. “Then you’re gonna mix it with a little bit of mayo and a little bit of toasted sesame oil, and then you’re gonna spread it onto our little Trader Joe’s Brioche Toasts.” Top with chives and your “quite delicious” Trader Joe’s snack is good to go.

Antipasto Skewers

“A really good, easy [snack] to throw together are little antipasto skewers,” Devin declared. “You take an Italian meat you like, maybe salami or prosciutto, put it on a skewer with a San Marzano tomato or a cherry tomato, a green olive, a little mozzarella ball, and maybe some basil.” For an elevated touch, Devin recommends drizzling the finished skewers with a bit of balsamic vinegar. “Those are always a hit,” she noted.