6 New Trader Joe’s Products You Need to Try in November

Whether you’re already over the hype of Thanksgiving, counting down the minutes until Turkey day, or actually totally forgot that Thanksgiving is soon, Trader Joe’s has something tasty, easy, and affordable for your fridge, freezer, or cupboard. There is a cornucopia of new and returning Trader Joe’s products this November, for which we give the most genuine of thanks. And while we’re thanking, let’s thank Trader Joe’s cashiers for making us feel like we have friends.

Here are six returning or new Trader Joe’s products you gotta snag this month.

Cranberry Ginger Chutney: The age-old debate has shaken families to their cores and sullied countless Thanksgiving dinners. Canned or fresh cranberry sauce? While the only correct answer is “yes,” TJ’s offers a third option in the form of a south Indian take on the contentious condiment: cranberry ginger chutney. It doesn’t offer the slurp of jellied sauce sliding out of the can or the stray hair found in Aunt Becky’s homemade sauce, but it does have a lovely balance of sweet, savory, and tangy cranberry, ginger, garlic, and cayenne. May this chutney bring peace to your Thanksgiving discussions. Or just add one more thing to fight about. Yikes.
Herb Seasoned Brined Bone-in Half Turkey: A whole turkey is a big commitment, and lord knows your family members have reminded you time and time again that you “have commitment issues.” Trader Joe’s to the rescue! Picking up this pre-brined half turkey means that you won’t have to stare down the barrel of turkey leftovers for days on end, and you can appease both white and dark meat lovers. It cooks up in about half the time of a full-sized bird, and comes pre-seasoned, so you’ll have plenty of extra time in the day to munch on apps, watch football, or conduct extremely important quality assurance exams on the cookie platter.
Teeny Tiny Pecan Pies: Anyone else have nightmares about getting that first slice of pie out? You try to lift the piece but watch it fall apart before your eyes, mirroring your reputation, hopes, and dreams? No? Just us? Well, that’s a fear of the past, with these mini pies. No slicing necessary! The single serving desserts are easy to dole out but just as delicious as the full-sized version. Bonus if you’re a crust fan, since the mini-nature ensures a higher ratio of buttery crust to filling.
Cheesy Herby Biscuits: Sure, there was a huge presidential election and every company ever went on strike, but you know the news that really shook us recently? Red Lobster’s bankruptcy. Thinking about life without those Cheddar Bay Biscuits had us shook, so we’re thrilled that TJ’s is offering a similarly cheesy, herbaceous potential dupe. These bad boys are frozen and ready to fill your home with smells of thyme, rosemary, cheddar, and parmesan. We’d say “happiness,” but that’s redundant.
Cheesy Creamy Greens and Veggies: Although we love roasted Brussel sprouts and we totally get the kale trend, a blanket of cheese does wonders for making already yummy foods feel like a wholesome meal to share with others, especially in the chillier months. Even a mediocre cheese sauce can heal almost any wound, but this frozen side dish is packed with the flavors of onion, garlic, black pepper, nutmeg, and dried porcini mushrooms for extra umami. We’re not psychic, but we foresee considerably fewer complaints about having to eat veggies around the holiday table. Also, take two steps to the left—that chandelier is about to fall. Okay, maybe we are a little psychic.
Spicy Farfalle Pasta with Italian Chicken Sausage: Is this one out of left field amidst the turkey day priming? Yes. But we welcome pasta at any and all times, and sometimes it’s nice to have a little relief from fall-specific flavors. This new frozen pasta’s got a little heat in the tomato sauce, a little savory in the Italian chicken sausage, and a lotta class because the whole thing is black-tie formal and full of bowties (a new shape for Trader Joe’s frozen pasta line-up). Keep it in your freezer for when you want a quick meal, sprinkle on some extra cheese or herbs, and cackle at those who are stressing about cooking.