We Tried and Ranked Every Single Trader Joes Salad

Disclaimer: salads aren’t my principal focus at Dealer Joe’s. I’m normally after recent flowers, budget-friendly bananas, and seasonal treats. Nevertheless, if I’m in a pinch for lunch and am searching for one thing 1) veggie-packed 2) satisfying and three) even higher than the traditional combo of elements, solely the perfect Dealer Joe’s salad will do.

I’m a creature of behavior with my meals. Whereas I get pleasure from meals developments and inventive recipes, my weekday routine stays constant: a smoothie for breakfast, a salad for lunch, and a seasonal bowl for dinner. (Although just lately, I switched issues up with Camille’s gorgeous roast chicken—extremely advocate!). Because of this, I made a decision to place these 9 salads to the take a look at to see simply what Dealer Joe’s salad takes the cake.

Featured picture by Michelle Nash.

Our Favourite Dealer Joe’s Salads, Ranked

Clearly, my routines may use some shaking up, and what higher time than whereas touring? As a self-proclaimed (however reluctant-to-admit) digital nomad, I took a latest two-week journey to D.C. as the proper excuse to place Dealer Joe’s salads to the take a look at and see in the event that they stay as much as the millennial hype.

To remain constant and totally embrace the recent greens, I grabbed a special salad for lunch nearly each day over the 2 weeks. I anticipated boredom and sugar cravings, however spoiler: I received hooked. Whereas I received’t be a pre-made salad devotee perpetually, these picks have impressed me to recreate my favorites at dwelling. Now, let’s dive into the rankings—beginning with my least favourite and ending with the one which utterly modified my view on consuming vegan (for the higher!). And if there’s a retailer or product you’d like us to assessment subsequent, tell us within the feedback!

#8: Caesar Salad

Caesar salads are at all times hit and miss. I’ve but to search out one which toes the road between stellar and unhappy desk lunch-worthy. Sadly, Dealer Joe’s providing fell into the latter class. However it’s attainable that I had some preconceptions as a result of I didn’t go into this one with excessive hopes. Whereas many packaged salads can shock me with their surprising goodness, Caesar salad isn’t one.

I would like a freshly made, heavy-on-the-anchovies dressing that completely coats the crunchy bits of romaine. The croutons have to offer an audible crunch, and if there isn’t a heavy-handed serving of shaved parmesan, then I’m fast to ditch it. Whereas all of the parts have been there, this was extra of a good-in-theory possibility. You could have my permission to skip.

#7: Mexicali Salad

After I learn via this salad’s elements, my eyes have been alight with pleasure. There was clearly quite a lot of texture and taste at play, with crunchy cabbage, nutty pumpkin seeds, and the viral summer season favourite—corn!—contrasting the creamy, jalapeño-spiked dressing. However whereas the hype was there, this one sadly fell flat on the supply.

The hen merely tasted like hen, and I couldn’t detect any of the promised spicy, chili chew. And whereas the elements’ diverse colours provided a visible delight, I can’t say that the flavour matched it. If you happen to seasoned your individual protein and used the caesar dressing as inspiration in your personal creation, the opposite parts may need been good combined in. However then once more, if you happen to went that route, this wouldn’t really matter as a pre-made salad, would it not?

#6: Basic Greek Salad

With a powerful Greek contingent in my household supplying lots of our reunions with unbelievable, salty, and recent dishes, it’s shortly grow to be one in all my favourite cuisines. And positive, I do know that not all Greek salads are made alike, however it’s the composition of the salad that has my coronary heart. This Dealer Joe’s take was so shut to doing it completely. I beloved the olives’ briny chew (kalamatas are a should), the cucumbers have been snappy and crisp, and the purple onion introduced simply the correct amount of warmth.

So what may I probably must complain about? You would possibly write me off for being too explicit, however in terms of Greek salads, I choose my feta in large blocks versus crumbled. After they tackle the latter kind, they’re extra evenly distributed all through the salad. However there’s nothing like diving right into a forkful of feta set in opposition to a juicy tomato. Cubes of feta make it a extra important a part of the salad, and if you happen to’re a fan like me, you understand that’s essential.

#5: Chopped Salad With Grilled White Rooster

Israeli couscous is fingers down, one in all my favourite grains. Don’t get it combined up with rice! Israeli couscous isn’t truly couscous (complicated I do know). It’s truly toasted pasta in tiny balls. The flavour is nutty and the feel is barely chewy. It’s the proper hearty mix-in for any veggie-forward dish. And on this salad, it shines. Oftentimes, it’s used as an afterthought, solely meant to bulk up no matter it’s added to. However I felt that this salad was primarily based round its gentle, scrumptious chew.

The one downside of this salad was the candy basil dressing. I hoped for one thing a bit of extra basil-forward, with a peppery, anise-like taste coming via. Whereas I didn’t get that, this salad was nonetheless a stable lunch decide, and I received on with my afternoon duties feeling happy.

#4: Broccoli Slaw & Kale Salad With White Rooster Meat

This was by far the heartiest, most satisfying Dealer Joe’s salad of the bunch. And whereas that truth didn’t win it the primary spot, it went a great distance in getting it into the highest three. And with the feel trifecta of kale, sunflower seeds, and dried cranberries, I used to be simply bought.

Sadly, the hen saved this salad from profitable greatest general. Maybe it is a irritating consistency, however the truth that the hen was unseasoned (and, admittedly, a bit of dry), set this salad again. Even the candy and spicy dressing, which, regardless of the title, I didn’t anticipate to be so (fortunately) packed full of warmth, couldn’t give the hen what it wanted. Alas, I’ll be taking this combo into my future cooking forays and including strips of my very own roasted hen.

#3: Avocado Ranch Salad

Filled with varied cabbages, inexperienced onion, and carrots, the combo gives a satisfying crunch with a bag that’s twice the scale of the remainder of the salads that made the lower. The true spotlight, nonetheless, is the creamy avocado ranch dressing, which delivers a wealthy, tangy taste that may’t be crushed. The package additionally contains crunchy corn chips for an added texture increase, making every chew a scrumptious mixture of crispiness and creaminess.

Past its nice style, this salad package is a perfect possibility for these searching for a fast, nutritious meal or a simple aspect dish whereas maintaining issues meat-free. The mix of recent greens and protein-packed cheese makes it each filling and flavorful with out being overly heavy. It’s additionally extremely versatile and could be tossed with grilled hen, crispy chickpeas, or used as a slaw for tacos or burrito bowls.

#2: Southwest Salad

As a principal, I’m normally suspect of something sporting the label “southwest.” No shade thrown to that a part of the nation! I’m at all times in awe at its open, saturated skies and Georgia O’Keeffe’s capturing of the standard brilliance of its panorama. However it’s typically used as an all-encompassing appellation that washes over the person flavors discovered inside. After attempting the to-go Southwest Salad final yr, I made a decision it was price giving the brand new chopped salad model a strive. The flavour of the cojita cheese was much less masked by the daring chipotle ranch, possible as a consequence of a greater ratio of veggie-to-sauce.

I beloved the crunchy-creamy interaction of the black beans, purple onions, and cabbage. And when it comes right down to it, the zesty flavors do make a superb match. On the finish of the day, this salad made me smile. (What number of salads are you able to say that about?) However the place I actually needed it to shine, it left me wanting extra.

#1: Vegan Tremendous Spinach Salad

And now onto what I take into account the perfect Dealer Joe’s salad. Whereas it won’t appear to be essentially the most fascinating and show-stopping salad, what this decide lacks in preliminary pizzazz, it positively makes up for by the primary chew. Quinoa, carrots, cranberries, chickpeas, edamame, pumpkin seeds (and naturally, spinach) make a stunning amalgam of wholesome, however completely crave-worthy elements. I’m at all times a fan when nutrient-dense meals intersect with unimaginable flavors, and this salad did the pairing justice.

I’ll finish on this observe: the dressing. Carrot brings the colour, miso brings the salty, umami depth, and ginger provides a warming hit of spice that stands behind each chew. This salad has redefined spinach for me. Don’t move it by!

This publish was final up to date on March 25, 2025 to incorporate new insights.