15 Trader Joe’s Seasoning Blends, Ranked

The original Trader Joe’s in Pasadena, California, was my go-to location for many years, but I wasn’t the TJ’s obsessive then that I am now. Back then, I mostly shopped for booze and snacks. The seasonings shelf didn’t really pull me until it finally clicked, and now my spice cabinet overflows with Trader Joe’s spice blends that I simply can’t do without.

Their flavor influences span the globe, drawing inspiration from Cuba to Italy to Japan, but what I really love about these spice blends is that almost every one of them exceeds its intended use. Yes, the elote-flavored blend is great on corn and as a quick way to upgrade popcorn, but have you ever tried it on chicken or mashed potatoes?

I’ve tasted my way through almost all the spice blends, and this semi-comprehensive list of my favorites is ranked based on ingredients, the flavors as compared to label promises, and my personal use. I say “semi-comprehensive” because a few popular ones aren’t available year-round (Seasoning in a Pickle seasoning blend and dukkah, to name two!). But you’ll always find these 15 at any TJ’s around the country—unless they’re out of stock, which also happens from time to time.

15. Taco Seasoning Mix

I usually make my own taco seasoning blend, but this packet includes all the same ingredients, including cumin, cayenne pepper, garlic, paprika and dried oregano. It’s great on ground or sliced meat for tacos, but it’s versatile enough to use on grilled chicken, as a steak rub or in a pot of black bean soup. Plus, there are a lot of recipes that start with a packet of taco seasoning! (A note: You probably won’t find this on the seasoning shelf with the others on this list; it’s more likely near the canned beans or taco shells.)

14. Italian-Style Soffritto Seasoning Blend

Soffritto is the Italian version of French mirepoix—onions, carrots and celery cooked in oil or butter until soft—that serves as the base for many soups and sauces. Trader Joe’s dried version of soffritto is very different. It contains onions, but also sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, sea salt, red peppers, parsley, rosemary and sage. It’s very chunky, with hard bits of sun-dried tomatoes and big pieces of dried rosemary. These work well in a tomato sauce that requires a longer time on the stove, but it’s not something I’d sprinkle on a plate of pasta. Use it to flavor olive oil for dipping bread, or to make flavored butter.

13. Everything But the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend

I’m not a huge convert to everything bagel seasoning, mostly because I don’t love everything bagels. Dried onion and garlic aren’t my favorite first thing in the morning. That said, I do appreciate the flavor in Everything But the Bagel seasoning with its sesame seeds, dried garlic and onion, and poppy seeds. This blend delivers on the flavors it promises (sprinkle it on cream cheese–smeared English muffins or toast, and you’d think you were eating an everything bagel), but I can see it mixed into sour cream to make a quick dip, or tossed onto pasta, baked potatoes or hot buttered popcorn.

12. Crunchy Chili Onion Sprinkle Blend

Think of this spicy blend as chili crisp’s dry sibling. It’s made with onion, garlic, dried bell peppers, chili pepper flakes and brown sugar. The clincher is just a little bit of tongue-tingling Szechuan pepper, which is minimal but definitely present. I’ve sprinkled this on scrambled eggs, wonton soup, stir-fries and even simple bowls of rice.

11. Everything But the Elote Seasoning Blend

Trader Joe’s went hard on the elote flavor over the last few years, and people went bonkers for this seasoning blend when it first dropped. I get it. Who doesn’t love elote, that Mexican street-food favorite of fresh corn smothered in mayo, Cotija cheese and citrusy, spicy Tajin? This blend mimics those tastes, with the addition of brown sugar, Parmesan cheese and citric acid. The only thing it lacks for me is actual corn flavor—but that’s why it’s so fun to sprinkle it on hot, buttered corn on the cob or popcorn.

10. Cuban-Style Citrusy Garlic Seasoning Blend

I absolutely love roast Cuban pork with mojo, a vibrant garlic-citrus sauce made with sour orange juice, oregano, garlic and onion. This seasoning is inspired by mojo, but it packs in a lot more ingredients, including onion powder, red pepper, coriander, cumin, cilantro, marjoram and lemon and lime oil. It’s as citrusy as TJ’s chile lime seasoning, which I prefer, but it lacks the sour orange flavor that makes a great mojo. Still, it’s a fun spice to sprinkle on pork tenderloin before it hits the grill, on chicken for a sheet-pan dinner, or on any type of fish for tacos.

9. Salmon Rub Seasoning Blend

Do you need to use this salmon rub for salmon? Absolutely not. The mix of brown sugar, smoked paprika, kosher salt, black pepper and thyme is perfect as a rub for chicken before it hitting the grill or as a shake-on for shrimp before a quick saute. Many rubs have brown sugar, which caramelizes on the meat or vegetables as they cook. This one is on the sweeter side, but it still packs a spicy punch.

8. Aglio Olio Garlicky& Spicy Seasoning Blend

With only a few dried herbs and spices (minced garlic, sea salt, parsley, red bell pepper and red chile pepper), this is the most straightforward of the seasoning blends. There’s no need to guess what it’s great with—pasta!—but it also can be used to enhance tomato sauce or meatballs, or focaccia before it’s tossed in the oven.

7. Chile Lime Seasoning Blend

The biggest difference between this wildly popular seasoning blend and Cuban-style citrusy garlic seasoning is the citrus. The lime is much more pronounced in chile lime seasoning, and it’s not as spicy. It has fewer ingredients, so you’re really just getting the lime and spice without any other herbs. It’s really great on everything: grilled fish or chicken, roasted pork, corn on the cob, and popcorn. But I’ve added it to buttery cornbread with Cotija cheese and charred corn, and to a chocolate bark with spiced pepitas and corn nuts. It also makes a great spicy rim for Bloody Marys.

6. Ranch Seasoning Blend

I like ranch dressing, but I’ve never been someone who needs it on everything. But shaking the ranch seasoning blend on roasted broccoli, popcorn and chicken has been a go-to move since I started buying it. I love the subtle buttermilk tang, the dill-forwardness and the herbal backbone. It’s a little sweeter than other dry ranch mixes, but I like that balance. It’s key to my favorite ranch avocado yogurt dip.

5. Green Goddess Seasoning Blend

Having lived in California for 15 years, you better believe I love a good green goddess dressing (it was created in San Francisco in the 1920s). The original is creamy and herbaceous, usually made with mayo, sour cream and lots of fresh herbs. This seasoning blend mimics those flavors—minus the dairy—with dried minced onion, chives, green onion and parsley, spinach powder and lemon juice. Make a quick green goddess dressing by whisking it with buttermilk, sour cream, mayo and Dijon mustard (the recipe is on the label), or just toss a few tablespoons into some Greek yogurt and start dipping.

4. Onion Salt

Speaking of dips, my favorite use for this allium-packed onion salt is to add it to sour cream or yogurt for a quick onion dip. Since it already has salt (as most of these seasoning blends do), it doesn’t need anything else. With granulated and dried onion, green onions, chives and garlic, it makes just about anything sing. Think boosted turkey or beef burgers, omelets and sweet potato fries.

3. Nori Komi Furikake Japanese Multi-Purpose Seasoning

This is one of the purest seasoning blends in the Trader Joe’s lineup. Typically made with dried nori (black seaweed), toasted sesame seeds and salt, furikake is an essential Japanese ingredient to keep in your kitchen. This version also includes kelp powder, which adds even more brininess. Think of it as umami confetti to add to poke or rice bowls, udon, easy dumpling soup, kimchi fried rice and this viral sushi bake.

2. TJ’s Mushroom & Company Multipurpose Umami Seasoning Blend

Friends of mine have been singing the praises of Mushroom & Company for years, and I hate that it took me so long to try it myself. Thanks to the umami-rich porcini and white button mushrooms, along with kosher salt, onion, mustard seed and thyme, just a few shakes add a ton of flavor to everything from roasted vegetables to grilled meats, sauces, stir-fries and Parmesan popcorn. It’s a revelation on roasted sweet potatoes and in the bread crumbs for my baked mac and cheese.

1. 21 Seasoning Salute

This OG seasoning blend is such a go-to in my house that we have multiple jars at all times. Some say that with so many spices and seasonings in one jar, it almost tastes like nothing, but I wholeheartedly disagree. There’s so much there that it enhances whatever you add it to. I use it in almost every stir-fry, soup and sauce; I shake it on pizza dough before adding cheese and vegetables. Aside from salt and black pepper, it’s the only thing we put on steaks or whole chickens before they hit the grill. It’s also the only salt-free seasoning blend in the lineup, so you can really go to town with it. It blends into everything, so it’s not super discernible on its own, but it always offers something.