These are the best gluten-free items from Trader Joe's

Is Trader Joe’s really a haven for gluten-free options?

These are the best gluten-free items from Trader Joe's

Trader Joe's is known for making unique low-cost food options, which luckily include some really delicious gluten-free items. Trader Joe's has a collection of gluten-free products that most big grocery stores don’t carry, and a few staples like gluten-free bread. We think Trader Joe’s is worth it, even if you don’t regularly shop there. We have tried as many gluten-free products as we could find at our local Trader Joe’s so we could review them for you. In the list below you’ll find that we tried to stick to items that had been made specifically to be gluten-free or items that were unique to Trader Joe’s that our grocery store doesn’t stock. Trader Joe’s sells a lot of products that just happen to be gluten-free as well, but those aren’t included here. So, with so much to offer, what are the best gluten-free items at Trader Joe’s?

Mac and Cheese

The Trader Joe’s Mac and Cheese comes from the freezer section and includes microwave and oven directions. We followed the oven directions thinking it would be better, but the 30-minute cook time resulted in a few burnt noodles and an uneven consistency. For such a small serving we think the 5-minute microwave time is the better option and allows you to stir it every few minutes a little easier. That being said, the flavor of this gluten-free mac and cheese is excellent. If you go into it expecting boxed Kraft mac and cheese, this isn’t it, it tastes more like the homemade baked variety. There are many ways you can spruce it up too, a sprinkle of crushed pepper flakes and some breadcrumbs really elevate the dish from snack territory. The only major complaint we had was the portion size, which is pretty consistent with items from Trader Joe’s. Their prices look great, but the $3.69 only results in a single serving for a normal-sized human. 

Cassava Flour Spinach cheese Empanada

These Empanadas are trickly little things to cook right. Poor cooking instructions do seem to be a theme with Trader Joe’s products. The cooking instructions call for 20-25 minutes in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, but ours resulted in a still mushy dough at that temperature. I'd recommend lowering the temperature to 325 and cooking for about 30 minutes instead. A convection oven or an air fryer might have worked better, but we have neither. I can’t imagine making a whole meal out of these, and there are only two in the box, but they are awfully tasty. Gluten-free empanadas are such a unique item that I would at least recommend giving them a shot. If you figure out how to cook them in less time, let me know, because 30 minutes for a snack is ridiculous. 

Muffins

Trader Joe’s muffins come in two varieties: Double Chocolate and Cinnamon Coffee Cake. We preferred the Cinnamon Coffee Cake, as the double chocolate was a little too sweet. But, if you like a sweet breakfast item then both of these are excellent choices. None of our grocery stores sell pre-made gluten-free muffins so the convenience is impossible to beat. Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever walked into a Trader Joe’s and not bought a box. 

Multigrain Bread

If you are going to shop at Trader Joe’s for gluten-free bread then this is the one to get. For some reason, it is made differently from their other offerings and has much larger and wider pieces. The flavor is outstanding and has a nutty sweet taste and an aroma that reminds me of molasses, it also toasts up very well. I would put this up against most other sandwich bread from the grocery store. 

Thai Banana Fritters

I have never had a Thai banana fritter before, so this review isn’t necessarily based on whether or not it is an accurate representation of the dish, but more on how delicious they are. Again, I have some portion size and cooking instructions complaints, but they are so worth it. The directions don’t call for any grease in the baking pan, but it is absolutely required. The cooking time could be a little hotter and a little longer, but I didn’t have enough to experiment with, so you’re on your own to try that out. The banana fritters remind me of funnel cake from the fair and pair really well with honey. I will be buying these for as long as they sell them. I can’t recommend them enough. 

Cheese Ravioli

Trader Joe’s Ravioli is about on par with any that I have purchased from the grocery store. I wouldn’t say it's worth driving to Trader Joe’s specifically for their cheese ravioli, but I’d pick some up if I shopped there regularly. The flavor and texture are good, and the ravioli held up well during cooking. The filling is pretty tasty as well, especially when paired with some pesto or simply with some olive oil and crushed red pepper.

Ice Cream Sandwiches

I personally can’t stand coffee-flavored ice cream, so these are a no-go for me, but Mikayla really enjoyed them. They are a great treat with reasonable portion size, and not something we have been able to find at the regular grocery store. I wish they had other flavors, but at least they exist at all. 

Brazilian Cheese Rolls

We love to bake Brazilian cheese rolls because they taste great and are naturally gluten-free. Trader Joe’s frozen Brazilian cheese rolls aren’t as good as what you could make at home, but in a pinch they get the job done. I hate to heat up the oven for only a 6-minute cook time, so we usually stick them in the microwave and they come out just fine. I would recommend an air frier or convection oven if you have one. A box of them has 12 rolls, which is surprisingly generous for Trader Joe’s. They are a great item to keep in the freezer when you want a little something with your next spaghetti night. 

Corn Tortillas

Trader Joe’s has the best corn tortillas outside of a Mexican grocery store. They are huge compared to what our grocery store offers and taste really good. We heat them up in a skillet and hit each side with a bit of water before throwing them in the pan, the steam warms them through and softens them. The flavor is great and they have only a few simple ingredients. 

Chocolate Chip Cookies

These cookies are huge and so soft I actually couldn’t believe it. I would 100% drive across town just to buy these cookies - they are that good. I can’t think of another store-bought gluten-free cookie that is anywhere near this good. 

Gluten-Free Joe Joe’s

Trader Joe’s gluten-free Joe Joe’s was our second-place winner in our chocolate sandwich cookie post. They’re certainly worth a grab if you are already at Trader Joe’s. 

Here are some items we wouldn’t buy unless we did all our shopping at Trader Joe’s

English Muffins

If these are the only English muffins you can find then they might be okay, but they remind me more of a hamburger bun than an English muffin. We prefer the Glutino brand that you can find at most grocery stores. 

Eggwich Sandwich

This item is certainly unique to Trader Joe’s, but I don’t prefer them to other frozen breakfast options you can find at most grocery stores. The eggs are really stiff, and without the bread, it is hard to hold when hot. 

Bagels

I really wanted to love their everything bagel but they just aren’t as good as the brands that are sold at our regular grocery store. Trader Joe’s bagels are smaller and drier and just don’t have the flavor