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Trader Joe's Hall of Fame Features Shoppers’ All-Time Favorites

Rachel Schneider is a staff writer at Cheapism covering recipes, internet culture, and how families (especially bigger families) can live sustainably and frugally. She lives on a farm in Michigan with her husband, four kids, and many, many animals.

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Winning Recipes

With a large, cult-like fanbase, Trader Joe's values the opinions of its customers so much that at the beginning of each year, the grocer reaches out to collect votes on shoppers' favorite products. Over the years, a handful of products have consistently scored in the top spots in their respective categories. To give other products a chance to shine, TJ's has taken these five fan-favorite products, which have won their titles at least five times, out of contention and moved them to what it calls Trader Joe's Product Hall of Fame. 


Related: Trader Joe's Superfans Reveal Their Must-Have Products

Trader Joe's

Mandarin Orange Chicken

First Introduced:2004

Awards Won: Favorite Overall, Best Entree

Even if you've never stepped foot inside a Trader Joe's, you may have heard about TJ's orange chicken. The easy-to-prepare Asian-inspired frozen entree is practically synonymous with the grocery chain, making it a well-deserving inductee as the top main course.


Related: Taco Nachos and Other New Trader Joe's Hacks

Cheapism

Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

First Introduced:2010

Awards Won: Best Desserts/Sweets

Reese's who? Decadent dark chocolate married with salty, creamy peanut butter? These peanut butter cups are a no-brainer in the sweets department at Trader Joe's.


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Trader Joe's

Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Nuggets

First Introduced:1992

Awards Won: Best Snack

These salty little bites of heaven have been a staple at Trader Joe's for three decades. Leaving peanut butter pretzel nuggets out of TJ's most elite products would be like excluding Babe Ruth from baseball's Hall of Fame.

Trader Joe's

Unexpected Cheddar

First Introduced:2011

Awards Won: Best Cheese

At first glance, unexpected cheddar looks like aged parmesan — but unexpectedly, it's cheddar. It's a go-to for snacking or cooking and is as reliable as it is delicious. Hall of fame material, evidently. 

Trader Joe's

Soy Chorizo

First Introduced:2011

Awards Won: Best Vegan/Vegetarian

Trader Joe's is no slouch when it comes to vegan and vegetarian products, and soy chorizo takes the cake for the most coveted of the bunch.