I Ranked 60+ Trader Joe's Thanksgiving Foods From "Skip It" To "Must Try"

If I missed your favorite, leave it in the comments!

Because no one gets excited about salad on Thanksgiving.

You could probably do without this watery medley of diced squash, sweet potato, celery, and herbs.

You can (and should) roast your own cauliflower.

Again, it's worth the extra five minutes of prep work to make your own roasted veggies.

It's tough to get excited about store-bought piecrust with no filling, amirite?

I don't love thinking about what actually goes into this vegan roast, but to its credit, it actually looks and feels a lot like real turkey. (The taste, though? Not so much.)

Nothing much to see or taste here, just a plain jar of store-bought cranberry sauce.

The least impressive of T.J.'s many potato options. You can find better.

TBH, I wouldn't recommend eating this in soup form, but it does taste great as a pasta sauce.

The leeks, onions, and cranberries are a festive touch, and it's a nice keto-friendly option. (But it's a holiday, so I'll be reaching for the traditional stuffing.)

Unless you have a real sweet tooth, you'll probably find this side dish a bit too dessertlike.

Are these any different from bagged Brussels sprouts? Absolutely not. Are they cute and festive? Heck yes.

These are heavy on the puff pastry and light on the fillings, and I wish it were the opposite.

Trader Joe's, I love you unconditionally, but you missed the mark with this pie.

Definitely decent, but doesn't hold a candle to the potato version.

If you're hosting guests who follow a vegan diet, this is a solid appetizer that anyone who loves mushrooms can appreciate.

The flavors of tangy feta and sweet caramelized onions shine through in these mini finger foods.

Look, I understand that sometimes people get lazy. But really, how hard is it to bake potatoes and slice them a few times?

While this might seem boring, don't underestimate the convenience of precut and peeled squash. Roast these bad boys and drizzle with some maple syrup or puree them into soup.

While turkey stock may not be the sexiest item in the aisle, it's a great thing to have on hand come Thanksgiving for sautéing veggies, rehydrating mashed potatoes, etc....

These have so much potential, but unfortunately, they're lacking in the flavor department.

These are obviously delicious and should be a required topping on your green bean casserole, but there's nothing unique about them.

While you probably won't get excited about cream of mushroom soup, you wouldn't want to make a casserole without it.

These sound like they should be phenomenal, but sadly there are way better Thanksgiving desserts to stock up on at T.J's.

I was expecting this savory pie to taste more like cornbread, but it has a soufflélike texture to it and a slightly mealy taste.

Thanks to spaghetti squash noodles, this is a lower-carb alternative to mac 'n' cheese that still satisfies your comfort food cravings.

These won't change your life, but they're certainly a cute idea for your holiday tablescape.

Surprisingly rich and decadent, you won't regret picking up a box of this stuff for your mashed potatoes.

If you want to whip up something homemade that isn't technically from scratch, this cornbread mix is moist and a delectable mix of sweet and savory.

While available all year, T.J.'s super-creamy butternut squash soup is the perfect addition to any holiday menu, IMO. Top it with a drizzle of pesto and pine nuts, a dollop of sour cream, or some cranberries and pistachios and you've got something that looks (and tastes) seriously fancy.

While they'd benefit from a bit more salt, pepper, and garlic, these mashed potatoes are easy, fluffy, and delicious.

On its own, this soup is totally decent, but go the extra mile and dress it up with some extra cream and toppings like pepitas or fried onions.

You shouldn't have to choose between regular potatoes and sweet potatoes, and now you don't have to. Heck, T.J.'s even threw some mushrooms into the mix too.

Much better than the jarred version, this tangy cranberry sauce with a kick of citrus tastes homemade.

Pair these cute little cheesy puff pastries with the cranberry orange relish above.

Honestly, what could be bad about three kinds of cheese that are breaded and coated in garlic and herbs? And you know what else? I'm going to start using the word "herbaceous" more often.

It's creamed corn with a crunchy shell in finger food form, and I'm here for it.

If you're pressed for time or afraid to tackle a homemade dessert, this cranberry pie will save the day. Plus, it's a welcome break from all the pumpkin and apple dishes.

This frozen turkey, stuffing, and gravy creation is surprisingly tasty. If you're cooking Thanksgiving for just a few people, this is a wonderful main dish. Just plan ahead because it has to thaw overnight in the fridge.

Give your margaritas or Moscow mules a festive kick with a splash of this sparkling drink.

Start Thanksgiving morning off right (and repeat all throughout fall).

Pumpkin cheesecake for breakfast? Sign me up.

Don't even think about inviting me to your Thanksgiving if there's no mac 'n' cheese involved. If you don't want to make your mac from scratch, this is rich and cheesy and better than the boxed stuff.

Looking for a crowd pleasing party app? Grab a box or two of these breaded and fried pumpkin mac 'n' cheese balls.

It takes just one minute to heat up these single-serve, frozen apple pies. They taste best with a scoop of ice cream on top.

Not overly sweet and perfectly creamy, this needs to be on every Thanksgiving table.

Now, THIS is the good stuff. Try adding some browned sausage if you want to take things to the next level.

If you don't feel like baking, let Trader Joe's cover the dessert portion of the evening. These cakey, fudgy pumpkin mousse bites taste way better than store-bought. 

You'll want to grab a few boxes of this indulgent, cheesy side dish because everyone will be helping themselves to seconds.

Every party needs a good party dip, and this should be yours.

Pretty much any Thanksgiving side from green bean casserole to mashed potatoes will benefit from a sprinkle of this magic flavor-enhancer.

Save yourself the hours of baking and grab one of these. You definitely won't regret it.

Yet another really excellent appetizer that won't let you down (and actually makes green beans exciting).

Made with mixed mushrooms, white truffle oil, and Romano cheese, the flavor is seriously bold and every little bit is like an umami bomb. Level up your Thanksgiving party apps with a little drizzle. 

Plan ahead because this frozen dessert needs to thaw at room temperature for at least 90 minutes, but once baked they are a heavenly, no-fuss holiday dessert.

There should be at least one green side dish on your holiday table, so do the right thing and pick something covered with melted cheese.

I have this thing for handheld desserts.

They're crunchy, they're savory, they're cheesy, they're spicy, and they're darn GOOD.

Thanksgiving is all about disguising vegetables under a thick, melty layer of cheese. This cruciferous side dish is no exception.

This pastry is large enough to feed a crowd and wildly good. It's flaky, doughy, sugary, and pretty much melts in your mouth.

As far as store-bought pies go, this is the crème de la crème. It's all about the shortbread crust.

Butternut squash gives plain old mac 'n' cheese a sophisticated and seasonal twist. But don't worry, there's still plenty of Gouda, cheddar, and Parmesan in there.

Not one, but FOUR! CHEESES! 😋