15 Can't-Miss Trader Joe’s Pantry Items This September

Trader Joe's is known for its carefully curated selection of private-label products. In fact, they have a "Product Hall of Fame" with fan-favorites like Chili & Lime Flavored Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips to Soy Chorizo.

With so many options to choose from, it's easy to fill your cart with flavorful, affordable finds. And if you're trying to tackle high grocery costs without sacrificing taste, these 15 pantry deals for September are worth stocking up on.

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

Price: $7.99

The holiday season is almost here, and Trader Joe's Double Fold Alcohol Free Bourbon Vanilla Flavoring is a must-have for your pantry. Perfect for enhancing ice cream, pies, cookies, or cocktails, it's made with twice the vanilla you'd find in a standard vanilla extract. It's also fortified with vanilla beans and alcohol-free bourbon for a rich, bold flavor.

Crafted in small batches and available exclusively at Trader Joe's in 3.55-ounce bottles, this baking essential is sure to elevate all your holiday treats.

Price: $7.99

Avocado oil is a heart-healthy alternative to vegetable oil, with a high smoke point and a rich, buttery flavor. This brand is made from avocados grown in Mexico and provides 10 grams of monounsaturated fat per serving. While avocado oil can be pricier than some olive oil, Trader Joe's offers a 16.9-ounce bottle for just $7.99.

Price: $4.49

If you're craving a warm, chewy cookie, this Everything but the Kitchen Sink Cookie Mix has you covered. The mix is made of 57% batter and 43% mix-ins, including chocolate chunks, walnuts, coconut flakes, oats, caramel bits, and mini pretzels. All you need is a stick of butter, one egg, and a little elbow grease.

At just $4.49, this 15-ounce mix costs less than the white chocolate chunks alone.

Price: $3.99

Looking for a staple pasta sauce to stock your pantry? Next time you're at Trader Joe's, pick up a jar of Rosatella Pasta Sauce. This unique pasta sauce blend is created with a cream and milk base to which tomato paste, onion purée, and Italian seasonings are added. A finishing touch of Grana Padano PDO cheese gives the sauce a sweet and delicate taste.

Unlike competing stores that sell their gourmet sauces at a premium, Trader Joe's sells this sauce for just $3.99.

Price: $3.99

Pancake Sundays will never be the same after trying this strawberry and cream version. Each 16-ounce box is bursting with tangy strawberries and smooth, creamy white chocolate chips.

When mixed with eggs, oil, and milk, the batter turns blue, giving your pancakes a unique look. A similar pancake mix costs $14.99 at Walmart. In comparison, this box offers more quantity, about 5 ounces more, yet it costs $11 less.

Price: $3.49

Known as the "mother grain" by the ancient Incas, quinoa was considered a sacred gift from the gods. Today, it's celebrated for being gluten-free and for its health benefits, which include boosting antioxidants and lowering inflammation.

While quinoa can often be expensive, Trader Joe's offers a tricolor organic blend in 16-ounce packages for just $3.49.

Price: $2.99

When you're short on time, breakfast can be hard to fit in. Luckily, these breakfast bars provide a quick and satisfying solution.

Joe's Os Cereal Bars feature roasted peanuts, lightly salted peanut butter, and a drizzle of peanut coating for a crunchy, sweet, and nutty bite. Each 0.85-ounce bar provides 120 calories and 3 grams of protein, and five cost just $2.99, making it an easy and affordable grab-and-go option.

Price: $2.69

Are you craving a warm bowl of chili but want to skip the beef? This turkey chili with beans may be just what you're looking for. It is packed with flavor from ground turkey, seasoned red beans, tomatoes, green chilies, jalapeños, and onions, complemented by classic spices like cumin and oregano.

At $2.69, it costs the same as Hormel's version but contains a lot less sodium.

Price: $2.49

These fried shallots are beyond average. Crafted in Thailand specifically for Trader Joe's customers, they are crispy, savory, and full of crunch. Sprinkle this aromatic topping on salads, casseroles, roasts, or Chex mixes to elevate their flavor. Plus, for the price of an ordinary bag of onion rings, you really can't go wrong.

Price: $1.99

Everything but the Elote Seasoning Blend is a Trader Joe's classic that consistently sells out, regardless of the time of year. This 2.3-ounce blend contains sea salt, chili pepper, Parmesan cheese, cane sugar, dried cilantro, chipotle powder, and much more. You'd have to purchase several different seasonings to create a similar blend. Luckily, Trader Joe's sells this classic for just $1.99.

Price: $1.99

What do you get when you combine slow-simmered, organically grown vegetables and carefully selected spices? Trader Joe's own organic low-sodium vegetable broth. This vegetable broth is incredibly rich but has a light flavor. It's perfect for adding to soups, moistening meatloaves, or drinking on its own. Each 32-ounce carton contains broth simmered in small batches for a unique taste, available for just $1.99.

Price: $1.99

Pearled couscous is a staple grain across the Mediterranean and parts of the Middle East. It is made of semolina and hand-rolled into small pearl-shaped balls. Boil them and season them as you would rice, and watch them explode in size.

Traditionally, couscous is added as a side to roasted lamb or beef dishes, but it can also be used to add texture to otherwise flat salads or vegetable side dishes. And when it comes to price, no one is as competitively priced as Trader Joe's, offering 8 ounces for just $1.99.

Price: $1.99

Solid white albacore is a highly prized tuna for its light color and thick texture. It's also high in protein, with each can offering 29 grams. But beyond this, the Trader Joe's brand stands out for using sustainably caught tuna. Each fish is caught using a circle hook and nylon lead, which reduces the risk of accidentally catching other fish during this process.

Price: $1.89

If you're lucky enough to find this in stock, be sure to grab a few packets. Each offers a uniquely flavored experience, blending rich notes of garlic, miso, umami, and seaweed. The noodles have a silky smooth texture, perfect for soaking up all these delicious flavors.

Inside each packet, you'll find not only a spice pouch but also a sunflower oil pouch. When mixed together, these create a creamy finish that enhances the overall taste, making for a truly satisfying ramen experience.

Price: $0.99

Trader Joe's mac and cheese is a classic find for under a dollar. This 7.25-ounce box, though small, is packed with big flavor. It contains tube-shaped macaroni and a deliciously blended cheese sauce package.

Some fans of the brand add in Trader Joe's Sriracha Sauce to kick up the heat or ground meat to transform this side into a full meal.

Stockpiling your pantry with Trader Joe's products is a smart way to keep a variety of unique goodies on hand, especially as the holidays approach. One of the best Trader Joe's hacks is to grab versatile pantry staples you can mix and match into quick meals, snacks, or last-minute party dishes. 

If you're looking for new recipes to make with your Trader Joe's finds this month, be sure to check out their Recipe tab for inspiration.