Trader Joe’s is a goldmine of unique dips, spreads, and salsas—but not all are winners. We taste-tested 12 of the most popular ones to help you decide which are worth the hype (and which should stay on the shelf).
Buy It: Caesar Salad Dip $3.69/8 oz
This creamy, tangy dip brings the bold flavor of Caesar salad into a dippable form. Think cracked pepper, garlic, lemon, and cheese, all in one scoopable bite.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories: 80
- Fat: 7g
- Carbs: 1g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Dietary Fiber: 0g
- Sugar: <1g
- Protein: 2g
Ingredients
Romaine lettuce, sour cream, mayonnaise, canola oil, egg yolk, honey, distilled vinegar, lemon juice, parmesan cheese, anchovy paste, garlic, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire-style sauce, black pepper, salt, spices.
Preparation Instructions
Chill before serving; pairs well with chips, veggies, or pretzels.
Skip It: Spinach & Kale Greek Yogurt Dip $4.49/16 oz
This healthier take on spinach dip lacks the richness and flavor you crave. It’s watery, overly tart, and underwhelming on texture.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories: 30
- Fat: 2.0g
- Carbs: 2g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Dietary Fiber: <1g
- Sugar: 1g
- Protein: 1g
Ingredients
Low fat Greek yogurt, spinach, water chestnuts, kale, mayonnaise, canola oil, egg yolk, white wine vinegar, mustard powder, lemon juice, dehydrated onions, salt, garlic powder, mushroom powder, dill, celery, red peppers, carrots, green onions, agave nectar, sea salt, xanthan gum, garlic.
Preparation Instructions
Serve chilled, but honestly, skip it.
Buy It: Vegan Tzatziki Dip $4.29/8 oz
A plant-based gem made with dairy-free creaminess, fresh dill, cucumber, and lemon. It’s light, zesty, and shockingly close to the original.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories: 50
- Fat: 4.5g
- Carbs: 9g
- Sodium: 130mg
- Dietary Fiber: 0g
- Sugar: 0g
- Protein: 0g
Ingredients
Dairy-free cream cheese alternative, coconut oil, modified potato starch, chickpea protein, salt, sodium citrate, citric acid, lactic acid, guar gum, xanthan gum, yeast, natural flavor, yeast extract, sunflower oil, cultured dextrose, maltodextrin, cucumber, lemon juice, water, dill weed, garlic, sea salt, white pepper.
Preparation Instructions
Best enjoyed cold; great with pita, falafel, or raw veggies.
Skip It: Sweet Cannoli Dip $3.99/8 oz
While it sounds dreamy, this dip is overly sweet and lacks the depth of true cannoli filling. The texture is also oddly gritty.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories: 100
- Fat: 6g
- Carbs: 10g
- Sodium: 55mg
- Dietary Fiber: 0g
- Sugar: 2g
- Protein: 2g
Ingredients
Cream cheese, cane sugar, ricotta cheese, sour cream, cultured dextrose, natural flavor.
Preparation Instructions
Serve chilled; pairs with graham crackers or fruit (if you must).
Buy It: Whipped Feta Spread $3.99/8 oz
Creamy, salty, and perfectly balanced with a hit of lemon and olive oil. This whipped feta makes everything from crackers to wraps better.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories: 70
- Fat: 0g
- Carbs: 1g
- Sodium: 170mg
- Dietary Fiber: 0g
- Sugar: 0g
- Protein: 4g
Ingredients
Feta cheese, cream cheese, Greek yogurt, water, olive oil, natural flavor, salt, xanthan gum.
Preparation Instructions
Spread on toast, or use as a base for Mediterranean bowls.
Skip It: Crunchy Chili Onion Hummus $3.99/10 oz
This hummus sounds exciting but ends up being too greasy and overpowering. The oil separates quickly, and the spice overwhelms.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories: 80
- Fat: 4.5g
- Carbs: 4g
- Sodium: 115mg
- Dietary Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: <1g
- Protein: 2g
Ingredients
Water, chickpeas, sunflower oil, tahini, dried onions, sea salt, dried garlic, red bell peppers, crushed chili peppers, citric acid, toasted onions, natural flavors, paprika oleoresin, cumin, guar gum.
Preparation Instructions
Stir before serving; flavor better suited to heat-lovers only.
Buy It: Corn and Chile Tomato-less Salsa $3.49/13.75 oz
Sweet corn, smoky chile, and a vinegar tang give this salsa major snack appeal. It’s chunky, craveable, and shelf-stable too.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories: 40
- Fat: 0g
- Carbs: 9g
- Sodium: 110mg
- Dietary Fiber: 0g
- Sugar: 7g
- Protein: 1g
Ingredients
Corn, sugar, onions, red bell peppers, jalapeño peppers, distilled vinegar, crushed red pepper, black pepper, coriander seed, mustard seed, salt, guar gum.
Preparation Instructions
Enjoy with tortilla chips or as a taco topper.
Skip It: Cowboy Caviar $3.49/13 oz
A mix of beans, corn, and peppers, this one is bland and mushy with a strange sweet-tangy flavor that doesn’t quite land.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories: 25
- Fat: 0g
- Carbs: 6g
- Sodium: 125mg
- Dietary Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 2g
- Protein: 1g
Ingredients
Corn, black beans, red bell peppers, onions, jalapeño peppers, cane sugar, lime juice concentrate, chipotles in adobo, spices, sea salt, chipotle pepper, guar gum.
Preparation Instructions
Serve chilled or at room temp.
Buy It: Unexpected Cheddar Cheese Spread $4.99/9 oz
A cult favorite for good reason. This spread takes the iconic Unexpected Cheddar and makes it perfectly scoopable.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories: 0
- Fat: 7g
- Carbs: 3g
- Sodium: 240mg
- Dietary Fiber: <1g
- Sugar: 1g
- Protein: 4g
Ingredients
Cheddar cheese, water, reduced lactose whey, butter, whey, sea salt, lactic acid, guar gum.
Preparation Instructions
Bring to room temp before serving; amazing with crackers or sliced apples.
Skip It: Pimento Cheese Dip $3.99/8 oz
This dip tries to bring Southern flair but ends up overly mayonnaise-y and weirdly chunky. Not a fan.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories: 100
- Fat: 9g
- Carbs: 1g
- Sodium: 190mg
- Dietary Fiber: 0g
- Sugar: 0g
- Protein: 4g
Ingredients
Sharp cheddar cheese, cream cheese, mayonnaise, water, pimento pepper, white wine vinegar, yellow onion, sea salt, granulated onion, black pepper, garlic powder, cayenne pepper.
Preparation Instructions
Chill before use; not great even warmed up.
Buy It: White Queso Dip $3.99/10 oz
Creamy and cheesy with a subtle heat, this dip is everything you want from queso in a jar. Melt it or dip it cold—either way it delivers.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories: 70
- Fat: 6g
- Carbs: 1g
- Sodium: 160mg
- Dietary Fiber: 0g
- Sugar: 0g
- Protein: 3g
Ingredients
White cheddar cheese, cream, water, milk, jalapeño peppers, red bell peppers, green bell peppers, cornstarch, onions, nonfat dry milk powder, lactic acid powder, xanthan gum, sea salt, onion powder, sodium citrate.
Preparation Instructions
Microwave in short bursts or heat on stovetop.
Skip It: Everything and the Elote Dip $3.79/8 oz
This one is trying to do too much. While the flavor starts promising, the texture is gluey and the seasoning overpowering.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories: 60
- Fat: 4g
- Carbs: 4g
- Sodium: 170mg
- Dietary Fiber: 0g
- Sugar: 9g
- Protein: 1g
Ingredients
Greek-style yogurt, corn, elote seasoning blend (garlic, sea salt, cane sugar, chipotle powder, corn flour, chile pepper, parmesan cheese, natural flavor, cilantro flakes, citric acid, cumin powder), hard cheese.
Preparation Instructions
Stir well before serving; tastes better with chips than veggies.
Final Thoughts
Trader Joe’s dips are a mixed bag—some absolute flavor bombs, others total flops. Stick to our top 6 picks for guaranteed crowd-pleasers, and skip the rest unless you’re feeling experimental. Your snack table will thank you.
