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17 Picnic-Perfect Trader Joe’s Treats

Pack your picnic basket with these budget-friendly goodies from Trader Joe’s.

trader joes retail location
Updated Sept. 24, 2024
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The weather is warm, the sun is shining, and it’s prime picnic season. From gourmet cheese to frozen desserts, Trader Joe’s savory, salty, and sweet buys scream summer.

So go ahead and stock up right now. With the money you’ll save at Trader Joe’s, you can pick up a cute insulated picnic basket to keep your goodies cool.

Editor’s note: Prices are subject to change and may vary by location.

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Organic Red Cherries

Courtesy of FinanceBuzz organic red cherries

Price: $6.99

Celebrate summer with this sweet picnic treat. It isn’t candy, a cookie, or a cupcake. But these organic red cherries have a dessert-like quality that the whole family can enjoy.

Keep the tangy fruit in a cooler and snack on this picnic pick all day.

Meditterranean Style Orzo Pasta Salad

Courtesy of FinanceBuzz meditterranean style orzo pasta salad

Price: $4.99

This cold Mediterranean pasta salad is the perfect picnic food on a warm summer day.

Along with orzo, the salad includes crumbled Feta cheese, Kalamata olives, red onion, sun-dried tomatoes, basil pesto, and shredded spinach.

A tangy balsamic dressing adds a subtly savory kick to the picnic-ready meal.

Mediterranean Hummus Snack Pack

Courtesy of FinanceBuzz mediterranean gummus snack pack

Price: $2.99

Keep the Med theme going with these hummus snack packs. This plant-based pick includes individual containers of chickpea spread and crunchy pita chips.

Pack a baggie of baby carrots or celery sticks as an extra option to dip into Trader Joe’s dreamy, creamy hummus.

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Strawberry Shortcake Sandwich Cookies

Courtesy of FinanceBuzz strawberry shortcake sandwich cookies

Price: $3.49

Fans of These Sprinkles Walk Into A Sandwich Cookie will fall for the summery strawberry version.

Instead of a vanilla buttercream and candy-coated sprinkle center, these cookies have a fruity version of the frosting. Think of a sugary summertime cake condensed into an easy-to-carry palm-sized package.

Watermelon Lemonade Sparkling Water

Courtesy of FinanceBuzz watermelon lemonade sparkling water

Price: $3.49

Stay hydrated on your picnic with this summertime sparkling water selection. The bubbly watermelon lemonade beverage has the flavor of the season.

Chill the cans in your cooler and drink them as-is, or mix them with juice for a tasty mocktail. Each pack contains 12 eight-ounce cans for under $3.50. That’s less than $0.30 per can.

Pretzel Sticks

Courtesy of FinanceBuzz pretzel sticks

Price: $2.49

These aren’t your average pretzel sticks. Yes, they have the saltiness you’d expect. But they also have a sweet honey taste.

Bring a bag to your family picnic, or pack a few handfuls of the sticks to pair with a savory dip.

Baked Pizza Flavored Pillow Crisps

Courtesy of FinanceBuzz baked pizza flavored pillow crisps

Price: $1.99

Pizza isn’t a picnic-friendly food. But that doesn’t mean you can’t quench your craving.

At under $2, you can’t beat the price of these pizza-flavored snacks. The 1.5-inch pillows may look like puffed pasta and taste like a cheesy pie.

S’mores Bars

Courtesy of FinanceBuzz smores bars

Price: $4.99

S’mores are a summer staple. Instead of over-spending on an entire bag of marshmallows, a whole box of graham crackers, and a mega-sized bar of chocolate, streamline the picnic prep process and try these frozen treats.

Don’t worry — they’ll thaw just in time to eat with your meal.

Fig and Olive Crisps

Courtesy of FinanceBuzz fig and olive crisps

Price: $3.99

Create your own picnic charcuterie platter. Add these fig and olive-filled crisps to the board for a subtly savory and sweet taste.

Made with sesame, flax seeds, sunflower seeds, Kalamata olives, and dried Mission figs, the crackers are a tasty treat alone or paired with your favorite cheese.

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Blueberry Vanilla Chevre

Courtesy of FinanceBuzz blueberry vanilla chevre

Price: $4.99

A summer-ish hint of vanilla and the fruity flavor of blueberry make this goat cheese the perfect picnic find for gourmet-loving foodies.

And, at under $5, it’s a bargain. Serve the chilled cheese with fresh fruit, prosciutto wraps, or mini toast crackers.

Organic Mini Cheese Sandwich Crackers

Courtesy of FinanceBuzz organic mini cheese sandwich crackers

Price: $3.29

Fuel up for a long picnic day with this salty snack. This cheese doesn’t require refrigeration, making it an ideal alternative for families who don’t want to bring along a picnic cooler.

Each 7.5-ounce box of USDA organic crackers is a value at $3.29.

Beach Day Gummy Candy

Courtesy of FinanceBuzz beach day gummy candy

Price: $1.99

Bring the beach to your picnic—as candy. This sweet seasonal, limited-time bargain buy includes starfish, sunglasses, palm trees, crabs, and conch shells.

These vegetarian gummies are made from vegetable juice, fruit juice, and healthy spirulina extract. You won’t have to worry about synthetic dyes and chemical preservatives in this candy.

Mini Meyer Lemon Biscotti

Courtesy of FinanceBuzz mini meyer lemon biscotti

Price: $4.99

Brighten your picnic menu with this zesty lemon-flavored biscotti. The crunchy cookies have a sweet citrus taste that is perfect for snacking.

As a bonus, at less than $5 for an eight-ounce container, these treats cost a fraction of what you might pay elsewhere.

Garlic and Jalapeno Stuffed Olives

Courtesy of FinanceBuzz garlic and jalapeno stuffed olives

Price: $3.99

Who says chips, dips, and sugary sweets are the only snacks you can pack for a picnic?

These savory and slightly spicy olives are an affordable option to eat straight from the jar or serve with salads, cheese, crackers, or sandwiches.

Sparkling Guava Juice

Courtesy of FinanceBuzz sparkling guava juice

Price: $3.99

Transform your picnic day into a tropical adventure — at a bargain price. This four-pack of sweetly sparkling 50% guava juice is a steal at $3.99.

Drink it from the can or use it to mix up a summery mocktail.

Cotton Picnic Cloths

Courtesy of FinanceBuzz cotton picnic cloths

Price: $5.99

While they don't fall into the “snack” category, these adorable and affordable 100% cotton picnic cloths are the must-haves of the season.

This limited-time buy is available in yellow, red, or blue gingham prints.

Insulated Totes

Courtesy of FinanceBuzz insulated totes

Price: $7.99

Pack your picnic lunch, dinner, or snacks in this pretty pink insulated tote. The 18x7x13-inch bag can hold up to eight pounds of food.

If you’re lucky enough to spot the mini version at your local Trader Joe’s, snag the $3.99 deal before it’s too late. The elusive pint-sized insulated bags come in hot pink/yellow and blue.

Bottom line

georgerudy/Adobe family in the supermarket

Whether your picnic menu includes goat cheese, crunchy crackers, or plenty of fresh fruit, you can check every item off your list and still have money left over when you shop at Trader Joe’s.

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Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

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