Recently a friend needed to go dairy free and asked to see if I could help. It’s a frustrating transition, even though there are a lot more dairy alternatives out there now than there were a few years ago! After a few weeks, she was just stuck, eating the same foods over and over and needed some variety.
go to Trader Joe’s I went! I already had a few dairy-free products in mind that even I, a dairy consumer, love and buy regularly. So I started from there and made it my mission to find all kinds of DF that actually taste good.
1. Brown Sugar Cream of Oats
Image: Trader Joe’s
This dairy-free creamer is my favorite coffee creamer, period. It’s sweet, but not very sweet. It’s actually creamy and not sad and watery. This is a Trader Joe’s staple for me!
If you don’t like flavored creamers, TJ’s oat milk is also a good choice!
2. Cashew yogurt alternative
Image: Trader Joe’s
Yogurt has been one of the biggest struggles for my newly dairy free friend. Everyone (read: people on Reddit and Tiktok) raved about Trader Joe’s Cashew Yogurt, so I grabbed every flavor they had: Plain, Strawberry, and Vanilla. It was creamy and a pretty good choice for a non-dairy yogurt.
In the fall, TJ’s usually has a seasonal pumpkin flavor as well.
3. Vegan cream cheese
Image: Trader Joe’s
We’ve loved this vegan cream cheese in the past, and I think it’s a must-try for cream cheese lovers, dairy-free or not. Get it, then use it to make our recipe for Mini PB&J Cheesecakes.
4. Vegan Kale, Cashews & Basil Pesto
Image: Trader Joe’s
Another Trader Joe’s favorite for everyone, regardless of dietary preferences. Eat it with vegetables, tossed with your favorite pasta or spread religiously on a sandwich.
5. Vegan Buttery Spread
Image: Trader Joe’s
People often forget that butter is a dairy product. And “real” butter is hard to replace. Trader Joe’s Dairy Free Butter Spread tastes good and actually spreads pretty well! This is definitely worth a try.
6. Cinnamon rolls
Image: Trader Joe’s
I thought I’d keep this one because it’s the best canned cinnamon rolls I’ve ever tried. I learned to make cinnamon rolls from scratch because canned didn’t cut it for me when I needed a soft, fluffy, fluffy roll. But these make me wonder if I really ever need to spend 4 hours making mine again.
They are so good and you would never know they are dairy free.
7. Vegan Cookies & Creme Bon Bon
Image: Trader Joe’s
My only complaint here is the fact that only 6 come in a box. No more notes.
8. Penne Arrabbiata
This is a quick and tasty option for lunch or dinner. The pasta is tender, the sauce is delicious, and you can dress it up in so many ways! Throw in some spinach, add some vegan cheese, lentils, OR… (see below)
9. Turkey meatballs
One of the most unexpected, hard to find dairy free products – Meatballs! These are fully cooked, making them an extremely convenient source of protein. I like to make mine crispy on the outside using an air fryer! 375 degrees F for 10-12 minutes works well for me.
10. Sunflower butter cups
Image: Trader Joe’s
Another delicious dairy free sweet treat.
11. Vegan Buffalo Dip
Image: Trader Joe’s
If there’s one food I’m always in the mood for, it’s buffalo chicken. I was skeptical of the vegan alternative (full disclosure: I was sure I would hate it), but WOW. This was surprisingly good.
The ingredient list consists of cauliflower (that’s what makes the creamy base), red peppers, carrots, pumpkin seeds, cayenne pepper, lime juice, and garlic. It is flavorful, tangy and spicy.
12. Dairy-free Boursin
This is another product that the dairy-free community raved about when I made my must-try list. Boursin is not a TJ’s exclusive brand, but it seems that this garlic and herb flavor is hard to find in other stores (at least in my area!). If you’re a snacker, grab it to have with crackers or veggies. I have a feeling it would be delicious melted into some pasta or on a sandwich too.
13. Popcorn with herbs and spices
Last but not least, one of my favorite Trader Joe’s snacks, which happens to be dairy free! This popcorn is packed with salty, herbal flavor that makes it feel good gourmet compared to traditional butter popcorn.
What are Trader Joe’s dairy-free options?
What I lost?!
