August 21, 2023

Trader Joe’s Vegan Dips, Dressings, and Sauces

Wondering what tasty accoutrements TJ’s offers in the plant-based space. TONS! You won’t believe all of the choices when it comes to Trader Joe’s vegan dips, dressings, and sauces.

With an assortment of dips for every occasion, sauces to top any meal, and game-changing salad dressings, Trader Joe’s makes NOT cooking from scratch a no-brainer!

Bottom line, Trader Joe’s has virtually every flavor you could want to complete a meal of your favorite cuisine!

Vegan Caramelized Onion Dip

This vegan caramelized onion dip tops the list of Trader Joe’s vegan products most likely to fool omnivores! Serve it with potato chips for an easy poolside snack or game day appetizer.

Vegan Tzatziki

This vegan Trader Joe’s tzatziki is spot-on for flavor, and pairs perfectly with falafel on a salad or pita, or as a dip with veggies and pita chips. I spent years making my own tzatziki sauce before this hit the market, and I am so grateful to TJ’s to have my time back!

Trader Joe’s Chimichurri Sauce

THIS is the green sauce of all store-bought green sauces: garlicky, herbaceous, and with a perfect spicy kick. More flavorful than both TJ’s Vegan Kale Pesto and that spicy Zhoug Sauce, this sauce serves so many purposes. And while I can’t vouch for it as a traditional Chimichurri with red meat, it makes a mean salad dressing on pasta or grain salads, over roasted/steamed veggies, or slathered on a sandwich.

Trader Joe’s Refrigerated Vegan Salad Dressings

These Trader Joe’s vegan salad dressings are a game changer…with high quality, whole food ingredients and addictively delicious taste, why make you own?

Green Goddess Dressing– This simple dressing is refreshing, herbaceous, and mild.
Vegan Creamy Dill Dressing– Similar in texture and taste to ranch dressing, this creamy dill is shockingly made with cauliflower and almond butter. It works on countless salad creations.
Vegan Caesar Dressing– With a depth of flavor and taste that is unbeatable, even omnivore friends agree: this egg-free and anchovy-free vegan option is solid. Check out my kale caesar salad.

Trader Joe’s Hummus

With a wide assortment of hummus at Trader Joe’s, there’s something for every palate:

Plain hummus dip– Always a winner…and in my house, the only hummus my kids will eat?!
Mediterranean Style Hummus– This dip has been around for decades…for good reason! It’s extra smooth and creamy, and is topped with pine nuts, herbs, and olive oil.
Roasted Garlic Hummus– A classic choice.
Roasted Red Pepper Hummus– This one is surprisingly similar to the popular Sabra one🤔.
Crunchy Chili Onion Hummus– The newest in the line, this hummus has their popular Crunchy Chili Onion condiment on top….and it is deliciously spicy!

Trader Joe’s Hot Sauce

Trader Joe's Italian Bomba Hot Pepper Sauce

Trader Joe's chunky garlic & jalapeno hot sauce.

SO MANY HOT SAUCES! Trader Joe’s does not skimp on offering a spicy condiment for all cuisines!

Italian Bomba Hot Pepper Sauce- This fermented spicy pepper delight is a MUST TRY for spice fans. It has an awesome kick that takes a second to sink in and winds down slowly. Reminiscent of Chinese chili paste but refreshingly less salty, we use it on almost everything: from pizza and pasta to rice and vegetables.
Chunky Garlic & Jalapeno Hot Sauce– Their spin on classic hot sauce.
Organic Spicy Taco Sauce– Not just for tacos, this one has a tangier taste.
Green Dragon Hot Sauce– Tangy and slightly sweet too, this hot sauce has a more complex flavor; made with tomatillos, cilantro, garlic, and lime.
Jalapeño Sauce– Creamy and vegan? Yup, this one is rather unique and perfect for jalapeño lovers, and is not overwhelmingly spicy.
Trader Joe’s Sriracha Sauce– While it doesn’t quite match Huy Fong Sriracha, Trader Joe’s versions is totally passable😉.
Peri-Peri Sauce– This Portugese and African sauce is another solid hot sauce choice that is made from fermented and dried chiles.

Korean Gochujang Sauce

Somewhere between a BBQ sauce and a hot sauce, this Trader Joe’s Korean Gochujang Sauce is in it’s own category. Slightly sweet, full of flavor and spice, this sauce is versatile. Use in rice dishes, buffalo cauliflower, burgers, veggie meat, sandwiches, noodles, soups, and more.

Trader Joe’s Tomato Sauces

Another category with plenty of options, Trader Joe’s offers a vast assortment of vegan tomato sauces. For the simplest sauce, go for Trader Giotto’s Organic Marinara Sauce.

Love basil in your sauce? Choose from the Organic Tomato Basil Marinara or the standard Tomato Basil Marinara Sauce. Want a stronger garlic flavor? Try the Roasted Garlic Marinara Sauce.

Craving a meaty, higher protein tomato sauce? Try the Vegan Bolognese Style Pasta Sauce.

Looking for a spicier, more unique tomato sauce? Try Trader Joe’s Spicy Chunky Tomato Sauce. In addition to cayenne, it also has unique spices like cumin, coriander, and caraway seeds. You can even use it to make a simple vegan shakshuka!

Trader Joe’s Guacamole

Individual serving guacamole at Trader Joe's.

Trader Joe’s offers a handful of choices when it comes to store-bought guac! And all of them without dairy, unlike some of their competitors.

For the simplest guacamole recipe, try Avocado’s Number Guacamole, which comes as a 2-pack, or Avocado’s Number Guacamole To Go, which includes 6 individual servings.

Trader Joe’s Organic Chunky Homestyle Guacamole has a zestier flavor, with chunks of avocado, tomato, and onion. And Trader Joe’s Chunky Spicy Guacamole Autentico is just that;).

Trader Joe’s Salsas

Refrigerated medium salsa at trader joe's.

Trader Joe’s offers almost a dozen salsa choices at all times!

In the refrigerated section, choose from fresh and mild Trader Joe’s Pico de Gallo, blended Homestyle Salsa Especial Mild or Medium, or (if you’re crazy) the Extra Hot Habanero Ghost Pepper Salsa.

In the dry goods aisle, Trader Joe’s offers even more shelf stable salsas. Salsa Autentica is a solid choice for a blended, medium heat, albeit a bit salty salsa. Salsa Verde offers a mild, perfectly balanced tomatillo salsa option, the perfect choice for chilaquiles.

For a chunkier option, try Trader Joe’s Chunky Salsa or the Organic Thick & Chunky Salsa.

Hatch Valley Salsa is a tasty spicier option, made with fire roasted hot green chile peppers from Hatch Valley.

For something more unique, Salsa de Cacahuate is a Southern Mexican inspired salsa made with Guajillo chile peppers and peanuts…it’s spicy and nutty and actually really good! And it goes beyond standard Mexican fare too.

Trader Joe’s Vegan Kale, Cashew, and Basil Pesto

Made with kale and cashews, this Vegan Pesto is packed with even more goodness than the traditional version. It will elevate endless dishes, from pasta to rice to sandwiches. Often, I will add a little cheesiness to it with homemade parmesan or just nutritional yeast.

I even created a pesto roll using only 4 ingredients, including this one!

Trader Joe’s Vegan Buffalo Dip

Trader Joe’s Vegan Buffalo Style Dip has become quite a cult favorite: spicy and addictive. Surprisingly make with cauliflower and other veggies, this dip makes a mean spread on a sandwich or over a baked potato.

Bruschetta Sauce

While this product has been around for years, it is still one of our family favs. While we have long enjoyed it mixed with lentils, both of my kiddos are super into the latest combo: this bruschetta sauce mixed with white beans over crostini.

Olive Tapenade

Okay, so maybe this one is more of a spread, but this fresh olive tapenade comes in a tub, making it the perfect container to dip a cracker and grab a mouthful! A perfect smear to sandwiches too.

Enchilada Sauce

Yup, the enchilada sauce is accidentally vegan (and tasty!), giving yet another yummy Mexican dinner option!

Trader Joe’s BBQ Sauces

Sriracha roasted garlic BBQ sauce bottle.

BBQ lovers, Trader Joe’s has three pretty tasty vegan BBQ sauces to choose from! While my personal favorite is the Organic Sriracha and Roasted Garlic BBQ Sauce (specifically, dipping vegan chicken nuggets into it😃), the Carolina Gold Barbeque Sauce comes in a close second with a delightful tanginess. And for sweet BBQ sauce lovers, the TJ’s Organic Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce hits the spot.

Trader Joe’s Cocktail Sauce

Not just for seafood, cocktail sauce is awesome with fried hearts of palm (aka vegan calamari), vegan shrimp cocktail (yes its a thing!), Trader Joe’s own Vegan Fish Fillets, vegan ceviche, and any other veggie alternative to your old favorite seafood!

Trader Joe’s Tikka Masala Curry Sauce

This relatively new Indian curry sauce is perfectly balanced and absolutely delicious! Made with ginger, garlic, tamarind, and tomatoes, it makes an easy base for a weeknight meal.

Gyoza Dipping Sauce

A perfect compliment to the beloved Trader Joe’s Thai Vegetable Gyoza, this sauce is family-friendly crowd-pleaser.

Sweet Chili Sauce & Thai Sweet Ginger Sauce

Prefer a sweeter dipping sauce? These Asian Sweet Chili and Thai Sweet Ginger sauces complement noodles, spring rolls, samosas, and more.

Trader Joe’s Soyaki

This Trader Joe’s teriyaki sauce has been a cult classic for decades! The perfect marinade for anything you throw on the grill, and the perfect stir fry sauce too! Mild, well balanced, and kid-friendly.

Trader Giotto’s Fat Free Pizza Sauce

Trader Joe’s Pizza Sauce makes a solid choice to top your pizza. Slightly sweeter than marinara sauce and with a simpler tomato flavor, this sauce is also fat free with no added oil.

General Tsao Stir Fry Sauce

Sweet, tangy, and spicy, this Trader Joe’s Stir Fry Sauce has all the flavors. I like to add some soy sauce or tamari to it for stir frys to temper the sweetness a bit.

Perhaps I have introduced you to some new Trader Joe’s vegan dips, sauces, and dressings? Maybe I am missing your fav?! Please, tell me what you think in comments below!

Finally, for more TJ’s love, check out:

Cheers!

-Jenn

Pin these Best Trader Joe’s Vegan Dips for later:

Author: Jenn Freedman

Best Trader Joe’s Vegan Frozen Meals (Aug. ’23)

Trader Joe’s Vegan Desserts that are worth it!