Trader Joe’s may be loved for its tasty frozen meals and convenient deli options, but in my opinion, one of the store’s most underrated areas is the produce section. In addition to prepared produce and simple dinner starters like Mirepoix, the grocery store also offers a selection of pre-packaged kits that make weeknight meals a breeze. I love the Stir Fry Veggie Blend for a quick addition to fried rice, and the Roasted Green Vegetables are a simple side, but there’s one particular $4 Trader Joe’s find in the produce section that our editors eat daily.
Our Editors Love the Trader Joe’s Avocado Ranch Salad Kit
From Elote Corn to Pomodoro Cremoso, Trader Joe’s fans love the grocery store’s salad kits. But there’s one particular pre-packaged product that our editors eat daily: Trader Joe’s Avocado Ranch Salad Kit. It features fresh shredded leafy greens and crispy veggies, grated Cheddar, and crumbled corn chips. The crunchy combo is the perfect base for the star of the show: a sweet-and-tangy ranch dressing made with avocado and buttermilk.
“This salad kit is my go-to on nights when I don’t know what to make for dinner and I’m low on time. I mix it all up and add some shredded rotisserie chicken, a can of beans, or some crispy chickpeas for a protein boost and bam—dinner’s done,” says Allrecipes Editorial Director Devon O’Brien. “I love that it’s crunchy, creamy, and packs so much flavor all in one bag.”
Beyond the crispy greens and rich dressing, O’Brien notes that “the corn chips in this kit are what really sell me,” especially since she asserts that “every salad deserves a chip” for a bit of saltiness and crunch.
“We usually keep a bag of Fritos on hand to sprinkle some extra on, but it’s not a requirement,” she added—and personally, I love the Trader Joe’s Organic Elote Corn Chip Dippers for this exact reason.
Fans on Reddit agree, calling the Avocado Ranch Salad Kit “phenomenal.” Like O’Brien, they also “cook up some chicken nuggets in the microwave or air fryer and add them in for a little protein.”
Allrecipes Culinary Producer Nicole McLaughlin also loves the Avocado Ranch Salad Kit, and recommends pairing it with Trader Joe’s Beef Birria for an easy weeknight meal that requires only four ingredients. Or, if you’re looking to mix it up, our editors also love combining the Trader Joe’s Peanut and Crispy Noodle Salad Kit with the brand’s frozen wontons for another simple yet satisfying meal. The reality, though, is that these $4 salad kits are so dang good, you can pretty much eat them straight out of the bag.
Dining and Cooking