4 Discontinued Trader Joe’s Products We Desperately Want to See Return

Shopping at Trader Joe’s always feels like an adventure, whether I’m battling local moms as I dig through fresh fruit to find the best strawberries and most appetizing-looking grapes or scanning the shelves for brand-new products to try. But as much as I love the ever-changing product lineup at Trader Joe’s, it’s also the most disappointing aspect—you never know when your new favorites might disappear.

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While there are behind-the-scenes hacks that make stocking up on your favorites a little easier, there are so many beloved TJ’s foods that have disappeared and never returned. So, I’m pouring one out for my old favorites and reminiscing about the items I desperately hope make it back to stores someday.

Frozen Pizza Crusts

Trader Joe’s pizza crusts are a staple in my household and they make whipping up a homemade pie a breeze. Cheaper than many name-brand alternatives at your regular grocery stores, the TJ’s versions used to come in many forms—like refrigerated dough, cauliflower, and a frozen basic crust. My personal favorite was the frozen version, which mysteriously disappeared from the freezer aisle.

Trader Joe’s frozen pizza crust was confirmed to be discontinued by store employees three years ago, but I’m still not over it. It was my Friday night staple and none of the other doughs really measure up (I have beef with the refrigerated dough and its stickiness, okay?). 

I still scan the freezers at my local store in search of it, even though I know it’s not coming back.

Banana Waffles

I’m an absolute sucker for anything banana flavored, whether that’s muffins, ice cream (if you haven’t had banana ice cream, you haven’t lived), or the banana Frappuccino that Starbucks discontinued more than a decade ago. So, when Trader Joe’s stocked banana waffles in its frozen food aisle, I was a devotee.

TJ’s Banana Waffles were a gluten-free frozen waffle featuring no wheat and plenty of flavor. They weren’t overwhelmingly banana-y, but they had just enough of the fruit’s touch to make a sweet twist on a breakfast staple. And they came out of the toaster or toaster oven well-balanced: a little crispy, but still fluffy once you bit into them.

These unique frozen waffles disappeared around 2021 and I’ve never been able to find a good-enough dupe. 

Uncured Ham & Swiss Cheese Flaky Croissants

The original Uncured Ham & Swiss Cheese Flaky Croissants from Trader Joe’s were something I picked up any time I had dinner party plans. Bite-sized, easy to eat by hand, and perfectly designed as an appetizer or quick breakfast or lunch, these snackable spins on croissants were savory, buttery, and cheesy.

They disappeared in 2020 and I’ve been missing them ever since. Now, Trader Joe’s has made an attempt to replace the original Ham and Cheese Croissants. You can pick up a box of Uncured Ham & Swiss Cheese Pockets in the freezer aisle today, which feature ham and cheese wrapped in a buttery square of croissant dough. And they’re pretty decent if you’re a croissant enthusiast—but they aren’t exactly the same. 

The original were less sandwich-like and featured ham and cheese laying in a nest of croissant dough, delivering a different bite altogether.

Chipotle Black Bean Dip

Trader Joe’s makes some standout dips and, while I’m rarely a big fan of jarred ones, you could always find a jar of Chipotle Black Bean Dip in my pantry up until 2022. Featuring creamy black beans and a zesty but oh-so-satisfying kick from chiles and chipotle seasoning, this dip was better than your average salsa. I loved putting it on everything from burritos to quesadillas to tacos—and my favorite way to eat it was straight with tortilla chips.

I particularly loved that this wasn’t a cheesy or uber-creamy dip filled with dairy like many alternatives. It was a great companion for a snacking spread that included guacamole. Unfortunately, it wound up getting discontinued, and Trader Joe’s salsas haven’t been the same since.

TJ’s did release a Spicy Black Bean Dip as some kind of alternative but that, too, disappeared. So, I’m back to desperately looking for some kind of pumped-up bean dip during my Trader Joe’s visits.