19 Trader Joe’s Items You Need To Buy If You’re Hosting Thanksgiving This Year
Written by
Angela Mae
Edited by
Jenna Klaverweiden
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If you’re hosting Thanksgiving this year, be prepared for a full house and a busy kitchen. Although the holiday is still a few weeks away, you might want to start shopping for ingredients now — and that means a trip to Trader Joe’s.
Each store has a slightly different selection (and price point) from the next, but you’re bound to find some interesting — and perhaps unconventional — items on the shelves that won’t break your budget.
GOBankingRates rounded up the top items to shop for at Trader Joe’s if you’re hosting Thanksgiving this year. Here’s what made the list and why these items are worth buying if you’re hosting Thanksgiving this year.
Teeny Tiny Pecan Pies
- Price: $4.99
Available for a limited time, these tiny pecan pies are the perfect bite-sized Thanksgiving dessert. Your guests can eat them straight out of the box, or you can heat them up in an air fryer, microwave or oven. No other ingredients are required, but you might want to top them off with some ice cream.
Frick’s Uncured Carver Ham
- Price: $5.99 per pound
Not everyone likes turkey, while some families want a variety. Pick up a boneless ham or two to serve to your guests. They’re gluten-free, are precooked and have very little fat.
Cut Sweet Potatoes
- Price: $5.49
Getting precut veggies will save you a ton of time on meal prep. If you plan to make sweet potato pie, this 2-pound bag of cut sweet potatoes will make your life that much easier. Just don’t forget the mini marshmallows.
Mini Marshmallows
- Price: $2.99
Grab a bag of miniature marshmallows to go with your sweet potato pie. They’re gluten-free, vegan and kosher. They also make for a great topping to hot cocoa.
Jumbo Pomegranates
- Price: $2.99
You might not think “pomegranate” and “Thanksgiving” go together, but you’d be surprised at how well these jumbo pomegranates go in a salad. Those juicy little arils will make any dish pop with color and flavor. Try it out — your guests will love it.
Cornbread Stuffing Mix
- Price: $5.99
Cornbread stuffing is a popular holiday side dish, but if you don’t have time to make it from scratch, Trader Joe’s has some precooked stuffing mixes. Simply heat one up and serve it for the easiest meal prep of the day.
Dinner Rolls
- Price: $2.99
Trader Joe’s has some flavorful, moist dinner rolls that go perfectly with a dab of butter or gravy. They’re fresh and soft, and they’re reasonably priced.
Pumpkin Loaf
- Price: $4.99
If you’re looking for something a bit different, pick up a couple of pumpkin loaves from the baked goods aisle. These loaves are very “fall forward,” with a classic spice profile and notes of vanilla. They’re great as a slightly less sweet dessert, and they also pair well with an after-dinner cup of coffee.
Fully Cooked Turkey Breast
- Price: $9.99 per pound
Turkey is a must-have in many households. But if you’d rather not spend all day cooking a whole turkey, or you don’t have many turkey-lovers coming to the party, opt for a brined bone-in half turkey breast instead. This one comes fully cooked, is flavorful and is ready to eat in about 40 minutes.
Turkey Gravy
- Price: $3.99
Pick up some gluten-free turkey gravy to go with your turkey or mashed potatoes. It’s available for a limited time only and is full of flavor. All you need to do is heat it up and serve — it’s that easy.
Mashed Potatoes
- Price: $4.29
You can always mash potatoes by hand — and you can even pick up raw potatoes at Trader Joe’s. But if you want something a little easier, grab a couple of bags of these mashed potatoes instead. They’re creamy, flavorful and easy to prepare. Plus, you can freeze them until the big day.
‘Everything but the Leftovers’ Seasoning Blend
- Price: $2.99
The last thing you need to worry about this Thanksgiving is whether or not you have the right seasonings for your turkey, stuffing and roasted veggies. This seasoning blend contains pretty much everything you need for all of your savory dishes — including onion, turmeric, sage, rosemary, parsley, thyme, black pepper, salt and celery seed.
Pumpkin Butternut Squash Bisque
- Price: $4.49
Nothing quite beats a bowl of warm pumpkin butternut squash bisque on a chilly late November day. It’s got pumpkin puree, butternut squash, carrots, onions, brown butter, honey and fresh sage leaves for a unique — and rich — flavor. It’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
Cranberry Chèvre Goat Cheese
- Price: $4.99
Cranberry chèvre goat cheese isn’t a new Trader Joe’s addition, but there’s a reason it keeps coming back. It’s unique and simple. Plus, it has a creamy texture and tartness your guests won’t soon forget. It also pairs well with berries, dessert wine and cut meats.
Soppressata Uncured Salami
- Price: $5.49
Slice up some uncured salami along with that cranberry chèvre goat cheese, grapes, green olives and nuts — which you can also get from Trader Joe’s — and you’ve got yourself a complete charcuterie board. It’s perfect for when your guests are milling about waiting for the main course to be done.
Cranberry Sauce
- Price: $2.99
You won’t find this artisanal cranberry sauce anywhere but Trader Joe’s. It’s slow-cooked, sweet-tart and another Thanksgiving Day staple. For those of you who’d prefer something fresh, Trader Joe’s also sells freshly made cranberry sauce, but you’ll have to wait until it’s closer to the day.
Kung Pao Brussels Sprouts
- Price: $5.99
Roasted Brussels sprouts are another Thanksgiving classic, but for a twist, grab some of these Kung Pao Brussels sprouts instead. They take about 20 minutes in the oven — or three minutes in the microwave — and have a spicy-sweet flavor.
Mashed Sweet Potatoes
- Price: $2.99
If you want something simple, these mashed sweet potatoes are it. They contain one ingredient — peeled, cooked and mashed sweet potatoes. They’re frozen, so you can get them early and have them on hand when Thanksgiving comes. And, of course, you can decorate or flavor them as desired.
Extra-Fine French Green Beans
- Price: $2.49
Whether you’re making green bean casserole or you want a simple side, these extra-fine green beans are a must. They’re crisp, fresh and flavorful. Add whatever seasonings you’d like, and you’ve got yourself a complete dish. For the casserole, you’ll need a few other ingredients, like milk, fried onions and condensed cream of mushroom soup — all of which you can also get at Trader Joe’s.
Editor’s note: Pricing and availability may vary depending on location.
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