I tried it so you don’t have to.

Brutally honest, occasionally dramatic, and always snack-obsessed—this is where I spill the tea on what’s worth your cart space and what’s better left on the shelf. No fluff, no filters, just real-deal reviews with a side of sass.

Trader Joe's, Reviews, Sauce Katelyn Kleinheinz Trader Joe's, Reviews, Sauce Katelyn Kleinheinz

Autumnal Harvest Pasta Sauce

This is my new favorite pasta sauce! You all know how I feel about red sauce (if it’s not my grammas homemade sauce… I don’t want it), so I’m glad to find something that’s not an alfredo or pesto! This sauce is exactly like the autumnal harvest soup, minus the chunks. I really enjoy the soup because of the chunks but I LOVED the smoothness of the sauce. The pumpkin and butternut squash flavor is really subtle which is perfect for those who aren’t super into those ingredients!

I will definitely be stocking up on this sauce! It’s delicious and went perfectly with my princess pasta from @worldofpastabilities !! I can’t be the only adult who likes their pasta in the shape of princesses and tiaras! What’s your favorite pasta sauce from TJ’s?!

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Trader Joe's, Reviews, Frozen Katelyn Kleinheinz Trader Joe's, Reviews, Frozen Katelyn Kleinheinz

Turkey Stuffing Fried Rice

If you enjoy stuffing, this is for you! I was shocked at how yummy it was while also still embodying traditional stuffing. All of the seasonings were on point (which is what gave it that stuffing flavor). I really enjoyed the little turkey sausage balls but I wish there was more of them! The sizing of the veggies and the sausage balls paired nicely with the rice, allowing me to get everything in one bite!

This isn’t a staple for me but I’d definitely get it again! It’s a great side dish for those who want to have a festive dinner. What have you paired this with?

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Trader Joe's, Reviews, Snack Katelyn Kleinheinz Trader Joe's, Reviews, Snack Katelyn Kleinheinz

Movie Theater Popcorn

This popcorn is a staple, especially when I’m hosting a movie night (with me, myself and I). It’s buttery and salty without being overly greasy. Of course it gives you butter fingers, but it’s minimal in comparison to popcorn at movie theaters! The flavor of this popcorn reminds me of authentic movie theater popcorn (if you didn’t drown it in extra butter).

I love to try different brands of “movie theater style” popcorn, and this one is by far the BEST one! I love picking this up when I go to the movies, especially for a 1/10th of the price! Have you tried this?!

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Trader Joe's, Reviews, Frozen Katelyn Kleinheinz Trader Joe's, Reviews, Frozen Katelyn Kleinheinz

Green Bean Casserole Bites

There is no way that this is a sharable appetizer… because I ate all of these bites in one sitting and I am not mad at it. All of the ingredients worked so well together! There were multiple little layers of fillo dough and they were so flaky yet light and airy. The green bean filling was flavorful and I loved the additional of black pepper (it gave extra chazzle dazzle). Also, we can’t forget about the fried onion on top! The pieces were extra crispy which paired so nicely with the smooth filling. I took off one point because some bites had more onion than others, and I wanted a plethora on all of them! I will definitely pick these up again for dinner (with a side of roasted carrots for a perfect meal). Have you tried this new product?!

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Trader Joe's, Reviews, Dessert, Candy Katelyn Kleinheinz Trader Joe's, Reviews, Dessert, Candy Katelyn Kleinheinz

Pumpkin Spice Espresso Beans

Honestly, who needs a PSL (pumpkin spice latte for you non-coffee people) when you can have these! I was nervous to try these at first but was pleasantly surprised. The pumpkin spice flavor wasn’t overpowering yet still was the star of the show. The white chocolate also paired nicely with the espresso beans. I took off one point because I personally find the beans hard to chew through (but clearly that is a personal problem). I would definitely pick these up again next year! This would make a perfect little gift… especially for the price. What’s your favorite fall seasonal item?!

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Trader Joe's, Reviews, Frozen, Pasta Katelyn Kleinheinz Trader Joe's, Reviews, Frozen, Pasta Katelyn Kleinheinz

Ricotta & Spinach Ravioli

I’m normally really peculiar about red sauce, yet I didn’t hate this! The sauce had good flavor but it was extremely runny. It gave me soupy vibes. There was a nice amount of filling, which I feel like is rare with ravioli from TJ’s. I wish the filling had more flavor though. I love the convenience of the frozen pastas but I don’t think this would be my first choice! I’m a pepe pasta gal. What’s your favorite frozen pasta dish?!

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Trader Joe's, Reviews, Salad Katelyn Kleinheinz Trader Joe's, Reviews, Salad Katelyn Kleinheinz

Harvest Apple Salad Kit

Please correct me if I’m wrong, but something about this salad changed from last year. The cinnamon flavor was much heavier this time around. There was a massive quantity of lettuce which I appreciated, but I was still not satisfied after eating the entire (yes the entire) bag. I enjoyed the incorporation of the cheese and pecans, and would have loved more! If the apple pieces were less cinnamon heavy, I would have enjoyed the salad more.

Overall, I wouldn’t get this again based on this years review. I really enjoyed it last year, so I’m quite surprised! What’s your favorite salad kit?!

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Trader Joe's, Reviews, Wrap Katelyn Kleinheinz Trader Joe's, Reviews, Wrap Katelyn Kleinheinz

Chicken Pesto Wrap

This is my favorite wrap!! I don’t eat them often, but when I do, this is the one I grab first. I love the combo of sun dried tomatoes, goat cheese and cucumbers. I prefer this wrap warmed but I’ve eaten it plenty of times chilled and it’s just as good! The pesto vinaigrette is the best part of the product (which shouldn’t be surprising). Shockingly, the quantity provided is enough for my whole wrap… but I do use it more sparingly than I would if I had a bottle of it! What’s your favorite wrap?!

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Trader Joe's, Reviews, Cheese Katelyn Kleinheinz Trader Joe's, Reviews, Cheese Katelyn Kleinheinz

Cranberry Goat Cheese

Behold, my favorite cheese that Trader Joe’s carries! It’s a seasonal item, so you definitely want to try it before the holidays are over. The cranberries add sweetness to the tart cheese, and pair perfectly with a black pepper cracker. I highly recommend this product! I bring it to all of my family gatherings and it disappears in a matter of seconds!! What’s your favorite cheese?!

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Trader Joe's, Reviews, Dessert Katelyn Kleinheinz Trader Joe's, Reviews, Dessert Katelyn Kleinheinz

Maple Leaf Cookies

As soon as you open box, you experience the most pleasant maple scent. The cookies are really subtle, which I appreciate since it’s a maple cookie with maple filling. There is an appropriate amount of filling and the cookies are larger than Oreo’s! I took off a couple of points because I really wished that there was a larger serving size. With that being said, I won’t hesitate to eat more than one in one sitting. What’s your favorite cookie from Trader Joe’s?!

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Trader Joe's, Reviews Katelyn Kleinheinz Trader Joe's, Reviews Katelyn Kleinheinz

Spaghetti Squash

This is one of my favorite fall-time items! Spaghetti squash is a great pasta alternative, especially for those who are quantity eaters (aka me). All I do is bake half at a time and then use my fork to get the long strands. Then I top it with either autumnal soup or a pasta sauce! It’s such a great low calorie option, while still keeping me full. Let’s see how many spaghetti squashes I can eat this year! What’s your favorite fall veggie?!

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Trader Joe's, Reviews, Wrap Katelyn Kleinheinz Trader Joe's, Reviews, Wrap Katelyn Kleinheinz

Buffalo Style Chicken Wrap

This is one of my favorite wraps! I know that the wraps at TJ’s are a tad controversial, but this one has never done me wrong. There’s enough spice and if you couldn’t tell, it’s packed with chicken! Something that really bothers me is how the size of the dressing container is meant for a Polly Pocket. Also, I would have loved some change in texture when it came to the filling! I enjoy the flavors, but it’s all chopped up pretty fine (like a chicken salad).

I don’t get these wraps often due to the nutritional info, but it’s always something I grab for when I’m on the go! What’s your favorite wrap?!

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Trader Joe's, Reviews, Ice Cream Katelyn Kleinheinz Trader Joe's, Reviews, Ice Cream Katelyn Kleinheinz

Mint Chip Ice Cream

This product embodies everything I want in a mint chip ice cream. The mint flavor was really subtle and didn’t have an artificial taste. There was a plethora of chocolate chips, which I LOVE! I also enjoy that this ice cream isn’t green (like a typical mint ice cream). Mint isn’t normally what I grab for first when picking up ice cream, but this is one of the bests I’ve ever had! As I had said, it’s really subtle so if you’re looking to be punched in the face with mint, this might not be for you. The wildberry cheesecake is still my favorite! What’s your favorite ice cream?

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Trader Joe's, Reviews, Dessert, Frozen Katelyn Kleinheinz Trader Joe's, Reviews, Dessert, Frozen Katelyn Kleinheinz

A Dozen Sweet Bites

I’m disappointed in this variety of desserts. The chocolate and caramel cake had this weird jelly layer on top which was unappealing to me. The raspberry macaron cake didn’t have any raspberry flavor. I did enjoy the crunchy top because it reminded me of the exterior of a macaroon! Now the opera cake… it’s basically a tiramisu and I am obsessed with it. TJ’s used to carry the opera cake on its own, but my store hasn’t had it for a long time. It’s delicious but I wouldn’t buy this variety again.

I highly recommend the opera cake but that’s really the only highlight of the product as a whole. I didn’t enjoy the other two flavors and neither did my grandparents or sister. This was really convenient because I just left it in the fridge for a few hours before serving, but I’d rather try something else next time! What dessert should my grandparents, sister and I try next?!

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Trader Joe's, Reviews, Soup Katelyn Kleinheinz Trader Joe's, Reviews, Soup Katelyn Kleinheinz

Tomato Feta Soup

I've heard such amazing things about this soup so I was looking forward to trying it! It did not disappoint! There were itty bitty pieces of feta in there as well as some chopped onion. I was a big fan of the chunks of onion. Something I didn't really enjoy was the tomato skin pieces. I found a few and they were difficult to bite through. This soup was creamy and light, and I had no problem polishing off the entire container. I also really liked that the entire thing was only 300 calories and 17 grams of fat. That is really low in comparison to some quality restaurant tomato soup.

I would get this again, but I don't think this would be my first choice! The amount of sodium definitely makes this more of a "treat meal" (or else my ankles will be permanently blown up). What is your favorite soup from TJ's?!

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Trader Joe's, Reviews, Chips Katelyn Kleinheinz Trader Joe's, Reviews, Chips Katelyn Kleinheinz

Hickory BBQ Potato Chips

These are a new favorite TJ's chip of mine. The hickory bbq seasoning is EVERYTHING! It's sweet, smokey and tangy. The chips are thick and have an even amount of seasoning on them. I also really enjoyed the sizing of the chips. Some were really large, but for the most part they were all medium sized. I am not one to take multiple bites of one chip so it needs to be able to fit in my mouth. Long story short, my sister and I devoured an entire bag in one sitting and we can't wait to pick up more! What are your favorite chips from TJ's?!

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Trader Joe's, Reviews Katelyn Kleinheinz Trader Joe's, Reviews Katelyn Kleinheinz

Spicy Jollof Seasoned Rice Mix

I love rice, spicy things, and trying new things so I couldn’t wait to pick this up! Jollof is a dish from West Africa and consists of rice, tomatoes and spices. I have to start by saying that I’ve never had Jollof before so I can’t speak on if this tastes authentic, but I did enjoy it! There was a little bit of a kick and the dried tomatoes added great flavor. I marked this down because I would have loved a bigger bag of this for the price. I didn’t have any proteins in my fridge (I clearly need to go shopping) so I loaded up on the rice and some roasted carrots. I ended up eating half the bag in one sitting… oops.

This won’t be a staple for me, but I will definitely pick it up again. I don’t eat rice often yet can see myself eating this over plain rice! As I said above, I’m not sure how this compares to authentic Jollof but it was yummy. I also think this is something I could try making at home! Have you tried this?! Has anyone had this dish before?

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Trader Joe's, Reviews, Ice Cream, Dessert Katelyn Kleinheinz Trader Joe's, Reviews, Ice Cream, Dessert Katelyn Kleinheinz

Brownie Crisp Coffee Ice Cream Sandwiches

This has been one of my favorite desserts for years and I’m about to tell you why. The coffee ice cream is immaculate and the little specs of coffee bean add some chazzle dazzle. I also love that the brownie is soft. I know it’s supposed to be a “brownie crisp”, but I’m a soft cookie gal. Lastly, the portion control. Of course I can eat the whole container in one sitting (don’t tempt me with a good time), but I am always satisfied after eating one!

In case you didn’t already know, this is a staple dessert for me. Coffee flavored things are my favorite and I especially love that this requires no bowls or utensils (aka I don’t have to do dishes). What’s your favorite TJ’s dessert?!

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Trader Joe's, Reviews, Frozen Katelyn Kleinheinz Trader Joe's, Reviews, Frozen Katelyn Kleinheinz

Japchae Glass Noodles

I am obsessed with this new frozen meal. I was nervous that this product would be more veggie heavy and less noodle heavy... but I was wrong. There was a plethora of noodles with an appropriate quantity of veggies. I also really appreciate how thin the veggies were cut. That made it easy to enjoy with the noodles, versus consuming them separately. If there were a tad more sauce, this would have easily gotten a 10/10. Even though I would have preferred a more saucy dish, the flavor was still there. I paired this frozen product with tofu to make it a complete meal. It was chefs kiss! I will definitely be adding this to my cart again and again! Have you tried this?!

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Trader Joe's, Reviews, Salad Katelyn Kleinheinz Trader Joe's, Reviews, Salad Katelyn Kleinheinz

Turkey Harvest Salad

Well, I am a tad bitter that I burned a hole in my wallet for this salad. I was really excited to indulge in this seasonal product yet was left unsatisfied. Let me start with the few things I enjoyed. The turkey was moist and the butternut squash was cooked to perfection (aka it wasn't mushy or rock hard). The dressing wasn’t too sweet but had a tang to it that tied everything together. The biggest issue I had with this salad was the kale. I love kale, but for some reason 90% of the greens were actually kale stalks. Because of that, I could barely chew it and it felt like shards of glass going down my throat. In addition, I wish there was more of the toppings. The 3 pieces of Brussel sprouts did not do it for me. I wanted more!

Overall, I wouldn’t get this salad again. It’s a bummer because I enjoyed the concept of this salad but there is no way I would put my throat through that again. Have you tried this?!

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