It’s officially barbecue season! Which means that I’ll be hitting my local Trader Joe’s to grab some of their latest summer barbecue picks for all the outdoor meals we will be having. Because it’s just too darned hot to turn on the oven, and hey, barbecue!
From burgers on the grill to seasonal side dishes to fizzy adult beverages, I so appreciate that Trader Joe’s keeps their prices low since It seems like cooking for three at-home teens (plus us parents) each day is costing more than my mortgage each month.
And a bonus? Trader Joe’s has been one of the best supermarkets I’ve visited during Covid — they have so many terrific policies and protocols to make this always-masked shopper feel safe as I maneuver through the aisles grabbing our favorite TJ picks.
(Editor’s Note: WEAR A FREAKING MASK.)
If you’re a TJ’s fan like me, you already know that Trader Joe’s rotates their products quite frequently, so something you love this month may not be there next month. So, don’t wait if you want to try one of these five summer barbecue picks!
Like summer itself, they may go away too soon.
My Favorite Trader Joe’s Summer Barbecue Picks:
Trader Joe’s Protein Patties
We have a couple of vegetarians in my family, so we cannot wait to try Trader Joe’s Protein Patties, made with zero animal-based ingredients in them. And yet, they look an awful lot like real burgers. With close to 20 grams of protein in each serving, they also have less saturated fat than other “impossible” burgers, but still look so much like the real thing, that I will probably have to keep the packaging around just to prove to my vegan teen that she can eat one.
Trader Joe’s Gluten Free Hamburger Buns
If you are avoiding gluten, Trader Joe’s has brought back their popular Gluten Free Hamburger Buns just In time for summer. These buns are tastiest when spread with a little butter and then toasted on the grill for a minute or two. Hooray for no more naked burgers! I’d suggest buying a few packs and stashing some in the freezer for later meals.
Trader Joe’s Lemony Arugula Basil Salad Kit
As if you didn’t know what a fan I am of Trader Joe’s lemony products from reading my last roundup, here’s another one I cannot wait to try. This Lemony Arugula Basil Salad Kit combines peppery arugula with the crunch of shaved carrots and slivered almonds, all topped with a tangy lemon-basil vinaigrette. On a hot summer night, being able to just open the bag and toss it all together is a wonderful shortcut for this overheated mama.
Trader Joe’s Patio Potato Chips
Can you really say you’ve been to Trader Joe’s if you don’t come home with at least two bags of new chips to try? Their new Trader Joe’s Patio Potato Chips are definitely a bag to grab to serve with your favorite barbecued meals. These ridged chips combine four different flavors: Sea Salt & Vinegar, Delicious Dill, Homestyle Ketchup, and Smokin’ Sweet BBQ. Apparently, they are each delicious on their own, but even better if you can cram all four flavors in your mouth at once, or so say the kids. Now, that’s a challenge I can get behind.
Trader Joe’s Mango-Flavored Simpler Wines
For those evenings that I want a little grown-up bubbly but don’t want to open a whole bottle, I can’t wait to try Trader Joe’s Simpler Wines in Mango. I would love them paired with some grilled salmon or chicken, accompanying some chips and salsa and guac for a late after noon snack, or just aprés-dinner with my feet soaking in the kiddie pool. Plus the four-pack is super easy to tote with me should a neighbor invite us over a socially-distant backyard cocktails.
Check out Trader Joe’s Fearless Flyer Summer Guide for all their latest summer offerings.
