15 Surprising Grocery Items I Found at T.J. Maxx (And Would Buy Again)

You never know quite what you're going to find when you walk into a T.J. Maxx. While I hesitate to say you can buy a full grocery list at the discount store, there are often various pantry staples, condiments, snacks, and desserts worth buying.

Just make sure you check expiration dates and opt for recognizable brands over obscure ones. (And don't be afraid to search an item online before buying.)

To help you save money on groceries, I took a trip to my local T.J. Maxx and found the food items worth adding to your cart.

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

Price: $5.99

These Kind bars immediately caught my eye because I know they're made with quality ingredients and are on the expensive side at other stores. 

Featuring pumpkin seeds, almonds, cranberries, and orange peels, these nutritious bars have 5 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber each. A six-pack is sold for $6.73 at Walmart, but I found them for just under $6 at my local T.J. Maxx.

Price: $3.59

Known as Australia's favorite biscuit, these cookies consist of two chocolate cookies sandwiching a flavored filling — in this case, caramel — and then covered in chocolate. 

You may spot a few different varieties of these cookies at T.J. Maxx, such as original, classic dark, white, or, my personal favorite, dark mint. I usually pick up the Tim Tams for $5.99 at World Market, but they're $2.40 cheaper at T.J. Maxx.

Price: $6.99

You can't find figs at most grocery stores, so I knew these were a deal as soon as I spotted them at T.J. Maxx. 

The organic dried Smyrna figs come in seven individual packs for easy snacking. A five-pack sells for $9.98 at Walmart, so the $6.99 value pack at T.J. Maxx is certainly a bargain.

Price: $3.99

You can likely find Kinder's sauces, like its Spicy Burger Sauce, at your local grocery store. 

This creamy, sweet, and spicy sauce comes in a convenient squeeze bottle, whether you want to add it to a sandwich or use it to dip fries. It's just $3.99 for a 12.7-ounce bottle at T.J. Maxx, which is $1.62 less than you'll find it at Walmart.

Price: $3.99

If you want to treat yourself, this box of butter pecan meltaways from David's Cookies is the way to go. The crumbly melt-in-your-mouth cookies feature butter, pecans, and a powdered sugar topping.

This 6-ounce box is perfect for gifting (even if it's for yourself), and it's only $3.99. For reference, the same cookies are nearly $9 more on Amazon.

Price: $8.99

This snack mix is delicious, nutritious, and conveniently individually packaged for eating on the go. It's a healthier alternative to the standard trail mix you find at your local grocery store, with a blend of Brazil nuts, cranberries, walnuts, hazelnuts, and more. Each single-serve pack is 180 calories and 4 grams of protein.

At $8.99 for a 15-pack of the mix, you'll be paying about 60 cents per serving. The same multipack is a whopping $18.29 on Amazon

Price: $4.99

These dense, chewy Korean rice cakes come with a savory and sweet powdered sauce. All you have to do is add the topokki, powdered sauce, and water to a pan and cook. 

The 8.4-ounce pack serves two at 296 calories and 5 grams of protein per serving.

At $4.99, it's a really affordable meal for two, especially if you find the topokki at T.J. Maxx. The same product would be $7.50 when you buy a two-pack on Amazon.

Price: $5.49

For those who love toffee or peanuts or both, these butter toffee candied peanuts are worth the buy. Made by Belmont Peanuts, the Virginia-grown peanuts are covered in a sweet, crunchy, and buttery shell. 

The 15-ounce container is a steal at just $5.49 because a 10-ounce container of the same nuts is $9.95 at Walmart.

Price: $4.99

If there's one thing you can rely on in the T.J. Maxx food aisle, it's delicious pasta. This cheese and potato gnocchi is made in Italy and comes in a 35.2-ounce package, which should yield about eight servings.

 You can boil or pan-fry the starchy gnocchi and top it with your favorite sauce — it's okay if that's just butter and parm.

This massive package of Italian gnocchi is just $4.99. In comparison, Whole Foods sells its 365 potato gnocchi in a 16-ounce container for the same price.

Price: $3.99

Serve these rice-stuffed grape leaves as a side, appetizer, or snack. The soft and tangy dolmas are vegan and ready to eat right out of the can. 

The 14.1-ounce can contains about 12 dolmas (four to a serving). You can buy this delicious snack for under $4 at T.J. Maxx, which is only 28 cents per ounce. A smaller 9.86-ounce can of dolmas from Trader Joe's comes in at 35 cents per ounce.

Price: $4.99

Another Italian-made pasta option, these jumbo-sized pasta shells are great for stuffing with ricotta or ground beef. The pasta is made with durum wheat semolina and cooks in about nine to 10 minutes. 

The 1.1-pound bag sells for $4.99 at T.J. Maxx, whereas a 1-pound bag of organic conchiglioni sells for $11.44 on Amazon.

Price: $4.79

Whether you're a big fan of the Dutch dessert or have never tried it, this bag of mini chocolate stroopwafels is worth the buy for less than $5. 

The circular treats consist of two thin, soft chocolate waffles sandwiching an indulgent, chewy caramel filling with hints of vanilla and cinnamon.

A 7.04-ounce bag of the bite-sized cookies is $4.99 at World Market, but you can find this value-sized pack for $4.79 at T.J. Maxx.

Price: $3.99

T.J. Maxx often has gourmet tinned fish, and this Alaska Smokehouse Pepper Garlic Salmon Spread is actually worth buying. 

The Alaskan salmon is mixed with cream cheese and spices to make a delicious spread for crackers or toast. The 3.25-ounce portion is $3.99 at T.J. Maxx, which is a dollar less than you'll find it at Safeway.

Price: $4.49

Another common grocery store find, these Wonderful in-shell pistachios are flavored with sugar, onion powder, and red chili pepper. The sweetness and heat make for a balanced, savory snack, and the nuts come in a conveniently resealable bag.

The 7-ounce bag is $9.99 at Whole Foods, but you can get the same one for less than half the price at T.J. Maxx.

Price: $5.99

While there aren't any fresh-baked goods in T.J. Maxx's food section, I did spot a six-pack of these cornettos ( a sweet Italian pastry that resembles a croissant).

They're buttery, flaky, and stuffed with a rich chocolate filling. The decadent pastries come in individual packages, and for $5.99, they're about $1 each.

I shop at T.J. Maxx for a variety of reasons, whether to save money on everyday essentials or get a new sundress. While I will occasionally pick up a food item, it's not my go-to spot for groceries — HomeGoods often has a better food selection than T.J. Maxx.

But if you happen to be stopping by, check out the food aisle to look for the picks above. You may leave empty-handed, or you might score authentic Italian pasta and a delicious dessert.