Why is Trader Joe’s so good at making small foods? I’m thinking it’s Newton’s Third Law, providing balance to all of Costco’s extra-large foods. Remind me to bring this up at my next dinner party when I pull a batch of Parmesan Pastry Pups out of the air fryer to serve to my guests. If you’ve been a long-time shopper at Trader Joe’s, you know that this grocery store does frozen appetizers better than actual dinners. So if you’re preparing for marathon holiday hosting, here’s my list of the best bite-size apps, in order from the least messy to most messy. They can almost all be prepared in the air fryer too, which frees up your larger oven for the enchiladas I hope are for dinner. Always hoping.
Adorable little tarts! These are what I like to snatch at a wedding cocktail reception the second the servers glide through the saloon doors. Savory mushrooms, buttery pie crust. For a faux-made flourish, buy a package of chives to slice and sprinkle over.
Mess-o-meter: 1/10. You can pop the whole tartelette in your mouth and forget it ever even happened.
Love this new addition. You can fry them up before guests arrive because they’re very very hot right out of the pan and the rice paper wrappers stay nicely crisp. My only gripe is these don’t come with a dipping sauce, so pick up a bag of scallions to slice and scatter over—nice touch—and the Gyoza Dipping Sauce. Or make your own with soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sugar.
Mess-o-meter: 1/10. These are also a one-to-two-bite chopstick situation with a well-contained filling.
An absolute icon in the Trader Joe’s frozen aisle. These fried mac and cheese balls are arancini’s Gen Z cousin, replacing its job at a quarter of the price (the price of cooking prep time, in this case). Adorable, delicious, crunchy, oozy. If these are at your party, served with a pepper jelly or spicy mayo getup, I won’t sneak out the backdoor like I usually do.
Mess-o-meter: 2/10. You’ll need a cocktail napkin or little plate to help contain the ooze. Dip in marinara (fun) and it escalates to a 3.
You really want crab rangoons, but your guests will still be thrilled with this riff, which has a wee bit of jalapeño, not enough to shoot steam from your ear canals. Make sure to pick up a dipping sauce—Pepper Jelly, always, or Sweet Chili Sauce. Sometimes these can come out a little dry on the exterior, especially if you air-fry them. Try tossing (or spraying) them in oil for a crispier, browner exterior.
Mess-o-meter: 2/10. Someone will probably drip dipping sauce on the tablecloth.
Another classic party food. These two-bite samosas have approx one Lego cube of potato, a single pea, and maybe a flake of cilantro inside, but they’re the perfect beer snack. For dunking, the Sri Lankan Mango Chutney would be nice here.
Mess-o-meter: 2/10. While the crust is nice and crisp, it stays pretty contained when you bite in.
Trader Joe’s dips are hit or miss—this one’s a hit. Not exactly queso like my mama made, but after a few tequilas no one seems to care. It’s thick molten cheese with a gentle kick. The key is to transfer it to a cute bowl, microwave it, and hide the original packaging deep in the recycling. I like Trader Joe’s Restaurant Style Tortilla Chips, which are sturdy and very salty, but others prefer the classic rounds or the moody blue corn ones. Your choice.
Mess-o-meter: 3/10. Impatient dippers will leave a trail of queso, these are facts of life.
Make a version of one of Bon Appétit’s swankiest yet simplest party tricks—marinated salami and almonds—with Trader Joe’s standbys. The rosemary-flavored Marcona almonds are buttery and crunchy. I don’t love the salami at Trader Joe’s, but the secret to this “recipe” is that the oil, lemon, and pepper make even the cheap stuff taste gourmet.
Mess-o-meter: 3/10. Oily! You’ll need a napkin or hunks of baguette to catch those drips.
I’ve been eating these French-accented ham pizzas (tartes, sure) as long as I’ve been shopping at Trader Joe’s, which is…20 years now. The crust is paper thin, the Gruyère is generously laden, and it cooks in under 15 minutes. If you’re sharing with guests, cut it into small rectangles to avoid floppy slices. (Or save the floppies for yourself.)
Mess-o-meter: 3/10. The toppings can be gooey and may overfloweth.
No cooking, just light assembly. Trader Joe’s recently added mortadella is great for draping directly into the mouth, but for an entertaining scenario, you can make these “mortadella moments” which are classy sliders. Trader Joe’s focaccia, sliced and toasted, will do the trick, or their ciabatta, sliced into small squares.
Mess-o-meter: 4/10. Bread crumbs happen. Perhaps a pickle makes a run for it.
These baby shrimp bao need to be eaten pretty soon after steaming (or microwaving), so they’re great for, like, a Gilded Age viewing party where your guests are glued to the couch, waiting for you to bring them fresh snacks like the good servant you are. The buns are soft and spongy, the shrimp patties decently seasoned, and they’re easy to improve with carrots, cukes, and scallions. Plus, unlike a lot of TJ apps, they come with a lip-smacky lemongrass dipping sauce.
Mess-o-meter: 4/10. These are pretty tidy but your added garnishes may fling about.
Keep it simple. Sometimes the best appetizer isn’t an air-fried novelty, but a nice cheese you’ve let come to room temperature—30 minutes, please—a salty cracker, and a pinch pot o’ jelly. Old Amsterdam is always in stores and the ultimate crowdpleaser, but go for goat cheese or blue cheese or even feta if you’re feeling festive. I’ve got other favorite Trader Joe’s cheeses here.
Mess-o-meter: 4/10. Expect typical cheese board detritus, like the tragic hollowed-out cheese rind.
Hello, these are mini Bloomin’ Onions! There are only two “flowers” to a box, so these are an appetizer for a more intimate occasion, unless you’re feeling ambitious and spendy. Invite me if you are. Make sure to cook until nicely golden brown and to pick up a bottle of Buttermilk Ranch (near the bagged salads) to accompany.
Mess-o-meter: 8/10. You will tear into these with your rabid paws, so fried onion petals will leave crumbs and oop, ya need to wipe your face a little there.
These are fried, tangled veggie tempura fritters that guests can pop into their mouths while leaving greasy fingerprints on your furniture. The soy dipping sauce could use a few fresh scallions or chives, but you can do that. These have been at Trader Joe’s for decades; they’re a classic for a reason.
Mess-o-meter: 8/10. It’s a fritter with crispy bits and pieces, but that’s why we love ’em.
Welcome to the flaky pastry portion of our evening. You might know these pups as “pigs in a blanket” but Joe has never been one to follow convention. (Just profits lol.) Pair with Hot Honey Mustard and always buy one more box than you think is needed.
Mess-o-meter: 9/10. Think of puff pastry’s flaky confetti as spontaneous party decor. It means your guests are having a good time, all over your rug.
For a homemade-ish appetizer, I like to do these easy puff pastry cheese twists from Dessert Person Claire Saffitz. The twists look nice but when you don’t have time for arts and crafts, I have a shortcut: Defrost puff pastry. Roll it out a smidge. Brush with egg wash. Sprinkle with cheese and spices. Bake at 400° until browned. Cut into squares. Bask in the glory.
Mess-o-meter: 10/10. This is a beautiful mess. But don’t worry about it. You’ll vacuum tomorrow.