Trader Joe’s Pantry Staples

Trader Joe's Pantry Staples- Tracy from Shutterbean shares her favorites!

Last week I shared my pantry list, now I’m sharing what makes most of the list- My Trader Joe’s Pantry Staples.  These are the things I repeat buy.  You’ll never find my pantry without them! If you don’t have Trader Joe’s where you live, my apologies. There’s no Aldi near me and I also experience weird jealous feelings of not being able to find fun/inexpensive things to add to my life. 

I think now more than ever, it’s important to think about the things we can keep in the house that will help prep us for the future and spread the budget.  Going out to eat with a hungry/growing boy is so expensive and mostly not worth it these days.  Through the past few years of pandemic time, we’ve definitely learned that knowing how to cook from your pantry is a MAJOR life skill. 

Trader Joe's Pantry Staples- Tracy from Shutterbean shares her favorites!

Let’s break down my favorite Trader Joe’s Pantry Staples, shall we? 

Trader Joe's Pantry Staples- Tracy from Shutterbean shares her favorites!

1. Dried Pasta

I always have some kind of pasta in the pantry because it bails me out on those nights when I don’t feel like doing much in the kitchen.  Spaghetti is the winner because it’s easy and everyone likes it.  If Trader Joe’s had orecchiette, I would always stock up. That’s Cooper’s favorite pasta shape…  Spaghetti and penne for the win! 

Recipe Inspiration:

Trader Joe's Pantry Staples- Tracy from Shutterbean shares her favorites!

2. 10-Minute Farro

I started loving farro because of this salad. Then I added it to my Reset Button Salad situation and it became an easy favorite. It has a really good bite to it and I like that it only takes 10 minutes to cook. Boil, drain and you’re good to go! 

Recipe Inspiration:

Trader Joe's Pantry Staples- Tracy from Shutterbean shares her favorites!

3. Coconut Milk

I do not feel safe unless there’s a can of coconut milk in the pantry. You know why? I almost always buy too many carrots and this Coconut Carrot Soup takes away that problem.  Also, look at how many recipes I make that involve coconut milk…. Keep a can in your fridge so you can make stuff with coconut cream that rises to the top!

Recipe Inspiration:

Trader Joe's Pantry Staples- Tracy from Shutterbean shares her favorites!

4. Coconut Oil

Popcorn hours at my house are 4PM or after 8PM.  Those are the snacking witching hours. I use coconut oil for those popcorn witching hours. Sometimes I will use coconut oil for other things like hair masks and lotion. I’ve shaved with coconut oil before but it makes my bathtub slippery and that’s dangerous. I’m all about sugar scrubs made with coconut oil! They’re great gifts.

Recipe Inspiration: 

Trader Joe's Pantry Staples- Tracy from Shutterbean shares her favorites!

5. Coconut Oil Spray

I don’t like when things stick to pans or pots. I like using this coconut oil cooking spray if I am making some type of stir-fry, roasting sweet potatoes or sometimes I spray a loaf or cupcake pan with them in baked goods. Coconut oil spray any place else is $$$$$!

Recipe Inspiration:

Trader Joe's Pantry Staples- Tracy from Shutterbean shares her favorites!

6. Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce

Pulled pork sandwiches and ribs are my family’s love language. That’s why I always have a jar of bbq sauce in the pantry.  This one is a tangy mustard BBQ sauce and we love it!  I love dipping my tater tots in it! 

Recipe Inspiration:

Trader Joe's Pantry Staples- Tracy from Shutterbean shares her favorites!

7. Basmati Rice

I love Basmati rice. How about you? Cooper is a fan of Jasmine so I also keep that in the pantry as well. We go through a lot of rice here and it’s so much cheaper to buy it at Trader Joe’s than at all the other grocery stores here.

 

Trader Joe's Pantry Staples- Tracy from Shutterbean shares her favorites!

8. Sun-Dried Tomatoes

My pasta salad gets put into the rotation a lot- especially during summer. Sun-dried tomatoes are one of the key ingredients!  They really add a hit of flavor to a dish.  There’s always a jar in the back of my fridge. 

Recipe Inspiration:

Trader Joe's Pantry Staples- Tracy from Shutterbean shares her favorites!

9. Garbanzo Beans

If you see how many recipes I’ve made that include chickpeas/garbanzo beans, you’ll know I’m a big fan.  Casey likes to heat up a can (after rinsing) and eat them with butter, salt, and black pepper. Simple living! 

Recipe Inspiration:

Trader Joe's Pantry Staples- Tracy from Shutterbean shares her favorites!

10. Black Beans 

If I am trying to stretch some meat out in tacos or nachos, I add extra protein with black beans. They can easily fortify a meal. 

Recipe Inspiration:

Trader Joe's Pantry Staples- Tracy from Shutterbean shares her favorites!

11. Marinated Artichokes 

Marinated artichokes are my favorite!! There’s always at least one jar in my pantry cuz some of my favorite recipes use them! 

Recipe Inspiration: 

Trader Joe's Pantry Staples- Tracy from Shutterbean shares her favorites!

12. Tricolor Quinoa 

Quinoa is one of my meal prep staples. I’m always putting it in a salad cuz it makes it a legit meal! 

Recipe Inspiration:

 

Trader Joe's Pantry Staples- Tracy from Shutterbean shares her favorites!

13. Tomato & Roasted Red Pepper Soup

I worked in an office that had a Trader Joe’s down the street and I’d get my lunch there often. In the office fridge, I had: Tomato Red Pepper Soup and a bag of shredded cheddar.  I had a giant soup mug I brought from home and I’d make cheesy tomato soup in the microwave. Crackers were somewhere in my desk…cuz SNACKING!

Protip: cover mug with a moist paper towel.

 

Trader Joe's Pantry Staples- Tracy from Shutterbean shares her favorites!

14. White Beans 

Some of my most popular recipes include white beans!  You know I’m a big fan.

Recipe Inspiration:

Trader Joe's Pantry Staples- Tracy from Shutterbean shares her favorites!

15. Fire Roasted Green Chiles 

I have a few cans of these green chiles in my pantry. They make my Turkey White Bean Chili delicious and since that’s a meal prep staple, I’m always ready to make it!  They’re great in eggs too!  

Trader Joe's Pantry Staples- Tracy from Shutterbean shares her favorites!

16. Tuna in Olive Oil 

Another meal prep staple is my tuna salad. I think the tuna in olive oil has way more flavor. When there are less than two cans in my pantry I MUST RESTOCK. 

Trader Joe's Pantry Staples- Tracy from Shutterbean shares her favorites!

17. Dijon Mustard 

This dijon mustard is cheap and delicious. I cannot make some of my favorite salad recipes without it!

Recipe Inspiration:

Trader Joe's Pantry Staples- Tracy from Shutterbean shares her favorites!

18. Dolmas 

I don’t know how authentic these are but I love them. They make a great last-minute meal. My trick is to leave a can in the fridge cuz I like them cold!  Who doesn’t love a good snack dinner?

Trader Joe's Pantry Staples- Tracy from Shutterbean shares her favorites!

19. Furikake 

As you can see in this picture, WE ARE OUT OF FURIKAKE. We go through this stuff fast. Mostly because we love rice and it’s so good on rice! I also love it on avocado toast. Better yet? Rice, avocado, furikake and sriracha. Makes a great last-minute meal. Also great in handroll sushi night! 

Oh! Also great on popcorn! 

Trader Joe's Pantry Staples- Tracy from Shutterbean shares her favorites!

20. Smoked Trout Fillets 

My husband loves this canned smoke trout. Pair it with Trader Joe’s pita crackers and you’re good to go! I add it to salads too. One day I’ll make a dip with them…

If you want to make a list of your pantry staples, use my Pantry List template! 

Pantry List Printable by Tracy Benjamin of Shutterbean and The Handwriting Club

Speaking of pantry staples…I’ve got some ideas for you! 

Pantry Staple Meal Ideas 

Thanks for reading my Trader Joe’s Pantry Staples!  I’d love to know what you’re into.  What are some of your favorites? 

  • Nikki

    Our house is much the same but I also always keep a jar of their tikka masala sauce. We throw tofu/paneer or veggies in it and serve it over rice. It’s my I don’t want to cook but I want something comforting go to!

  • Amy

    Love this ❤️ especially meal ideas to go along with it. I like Trader Joe’s but never go enough to have staples…it is not in my area.

  • Emily

    I love their chicken and vegetable stocks too! They just seem the most flavorful to me of the brands out there. If anyone in the house in sick, a hot cup of TJ chicken stock does the trick!

    • Tracy

      I usually get them in bulk at costco, but do love the TJs version too!

  • Mia Dumont

    Thank you! For all that. And for the rest of your stories. Very inspiring. Photos are wonderful too.

  • lisa

    When we moved out of California, I checked to see what stores would be available to me in my new city since it was 4X bigger than the one I lived in. No Trader Joe’s, which I was leaving behind! Luckily one was built shortly after we got here and we finally got an addition for alcohol this year!

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  • Cindy H

    If you haven’t tried Trader Joe’s breaded tilapia filets (from the freezer section), you are really missing out. They’re so crispy and delicious without being the least bit oily, and the filets are big. Some nights, all I need is a TJ’s tilapia filet and some frozen fries (cooked at the same time/temp on a cookie sheet) and I’m good to go!

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