Fall has arrived! At least it has according to Trader Joe’s, and that’s good enough for me. Cue sweater, soup, and spooky szn.
The day pumpkin takes over the store is like a holiday. It’s exciting to reunite with beloved seasonal items and discover what’s new. It’s also pure madness because popular items sell out quickly, some of them permanently before “official fall” even starts. It’s an experience, okay?!
To ensure I didn’t miss out, I dragged my family on a detour to Trader Joe’s on our way home from a weekend getaway and braved the Sunday crowd to see what my store had in stock. Crazy? Maybe. Worth it? Totally.
Here are the Trader Joe’s fall items I’m most excited for this year.
1. Butternut Squash Mac n’ Cheese
I’m not sure how TJ’s does it, but they made this frozen mac n’ cheese taste like it was freshly made. It’s creamy, it’s cheesy, and the butternut squash flavor is perfectly balanced. If I were to recommend one fall item, this would be it.
2. Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pancake Mix
These are a 10/10 and I buy several boxes every year. The texture is almost like a mochi pancake, soft and chewy in the middle and slightly crispy on the outside. Don’t come for me, but I honestly don’t think they even need syrup.
3. Fall Leaf Tortilla Chips
Chips shaped like leaves + buffalo chicken dip + football. No further explanation needed.
4. Autumnal Harvest Soup
I love a soup with simple ingredients that I can just heat and serve. Plus the flavor combo of butternut squash, pumpkin, tomato and seasonings are A VIBE. If you’re not in the mood for fall yet, one bite of this will do it.
5. Maple & Sea Salt Kettle Corn
This holds me over until I can buy freshly made kettle corn at my local fall festival. It’s that good! Buy at least two bags, because it disappears quickly (at your house and in stores).
6. Mashed Sweet Potatoes
I stock up on these every year. Any time I need a quick serving of veggies, I heat these up. There’s only one ingredient – sweet potatoes, which means you can enjoy them as-is or dress them up however you like.
7. Maple Oat Beverage
I buy this for the sole purpose of making oatmeal. Warm, creamy, maple-flavored oats on a crisp fall morning? I’m all for it.
8. Pumpkin Gnocchi
Everything about this is delish – the flavor, the texture, the convenience. Just melt a little butter over these little pillows of heaven (or get fancy and and brown that butter with a little sage. YUM), and dinner is served.
9. Mini Spicy Pumpkin Samosas
The best fall appetizer if you’re into the spicy-sweet flavor (I absolutely am).
10. Honeycrisp Apple Granola
I love making my own granola, but this one is totally worth a buy. I love the apple flavor with yogurt, but it’s insanely good as a shortcut topping for apple crisp.
11. Pumpkin Cream Cheese Spread
I love this spread because it’s not TOO pumpkin-y. My favorite way to enjoy is on a mini bagel, but it’s also very taste on an apple or with some pretzels. You could also get creative and combine this with puff pastry to make a pumpkin cream cheese danish.
12. Pumpkin Cranberry Crisps
Crunchy, and the perfect balance of salty-sweet. I love these on a fall-themed charcuterie board or dipped in creamy butternut squash soup.
New Fall Items (New-new and new to me)
I blacked out and threw everything I didn’t recognize in the cart.
1. Savory Squash Pastry Bites
Pillowy puff pastry bites filled with pumpkin and butternut squash filling, with FOUR different cheeses. I saw this appetizer and immediately thought, “Girl Dinner.”
2. Maple Pancake Snaps
These are just new to me, and I’m not sure why I missed them before? These remind me of an elevated, maple-flavored graham cracker. Nothing earth-shattering, but a very solid fall treat.
3. Pumpkin Spice Cold Brew Concentrate
First, I must confess that I am a hot coffee girly, year-round. That being said, I do enjoy a good cold brew every now and then. I liked that this one didn’t have any added sweeteners, but the flavor just wasn’t there for me. It needed a creamer (TJ’s Cinnamon Bun, perhaps?), but was overall just ok.
4. Sweet Potato Habanero Hot Sauce
If you enjoy hot sauce, especially with a vinegar base, give this a try. It’s unique and addicting.
5. Herbs de Provence Potato Wedges
WHY am I just now trying these? Definitely adding to my arsenal of quick freezer side dishes.
6. Witches Brew Spiced Wine
Festive wine! This reminds me of a mulled wine – sweet, with a warm flavor profile.
7. Vanilla Pumpkin Hand Soap
With this soap, it is officially fall in my house.
8. Mini Succulent Skull
I saw these guys and had to have one. They’re just fun and honestly, the plant section gets me every time.
What did I miss?
What Trader Joe’s fall items do I need to grab on my next trip?! Tell me in the comments and I’ll add it to my list.
If you’re shopping for non-fall items, check out our list of Trader Joe’s All-Time Faves and my favorite High Protein TJ’s Picks.
