14 Spicy Trader Joe’s Products Our Editors Are Excited About, from Sriracha Sauce to Chili-Lime Tortilla Chips

Disclaimer: It’s not my all-time favorite chile crisp (that’d be S&B Chili Oil with Crunchy Garlic, in case you’re curious), but it’s one of the crunchier options in the category. Crispy dried garlic and onion swim in a crimson pool of dried red bell peppers, crushed chiles and olive oil to create a fiery condiment that fans can’t get enough of. My rec? Stir it into a dollop of mayo for your next burger or breakfast sandwich.

If you’re one of *those* Takis people, you need to try the TJ’s riff. They’re tangy, vibrant and, most importantly, legitimately hot. “I have a couple friends who can’t get enough of these chili chips,” PureWow editor of SEO and audience development Marissa Wu shares. “My friend bought her husband two bags, and the next day, he went out and bought another three! It was an accident, but it definitely underscored his obsession. They’re quite tasty!”

As a longtime lover of the Wendy’s equivalent (and I say that having tried basically every fast food chicken nugget under the sun), I can’t wait to taste this spicy Trader Joe’s product. They’re breaded with a mix of wheat, rice and corn flours, which likely results in a crisper, more flavorful exterior, then dunked in cayenne hot sauce before being fried. They’re begging to be served beside ranch dressing, if you ask me.

Before you simply dump it on pasta, I should tell you that this enticing sauce can spice up so much more than a bowl of noodles. Made with crushed, fermented Calabrian hot chile peppers, it’s a catch-all product that you’ll always want on hand once you give it a try. “It’s an underrated TJ’s product,” PureWow director of affiliate strategy Pam Masin says. “I use it on sandwiches or with roasted veggies. It’s spicy, but not overwhelmingly so.”

Complete with a garlicky sesame sauce (which boasts a fierce kick, mind you), these noodles are countless steps above that packet of ramen in the back of your pantry. Originally from the Shanxi province of China, these air-dried noodles are sliced into wavy ribbons for an irresistibly thick, chewy bite. As for the sauce, it’s loaded with umami and a mix of red and cayenne chili powders for spice.

I fell hard for this snack at first bite. Whether you crush them up to bread fish or chicken or nosh on them straight from the bag (with guacamole, of course), you’ll swoon hard over these zesty chips, which are inspired by Mexican street corn. They’re smoky, citrusy and tangy, thanks to buttermilk in the seasoning, and very generously coated. The spice is nuanced and approachable, even for folks who are spice averse.

Speaking of TJ’s elote-inspired products, you need this number in your spice rack, stat. I quickly became infatuated with this sweet-and-spicy powder the instant I tried it. Salt and sugar balance a mix of chili pepper, corn flour, Parmesan cheese, chipotle powder, dried cilantro and citric acid. The blend delivers spicy, savory, smoky, herby and sour notes that honor the seasoning’s street corn namesake. Make like me and pile it generously onto popcorn.

This staple comes from South Africa, home of the peri-peri pepper. It’s garlicky, tart (thanks, lemon juice) and delectably smooth. “I love their peri peri sauce,” PureWow senior commerce editor Stephanie Maida says. “Having spent time in London and eating at Nando’s every day, I was thrilled to find it. It’s got plenty of kick, and I love drizzling it over chicken rice bowls and salads.”

Umami-rich, crisp and packed with togarashi-style flavor, these are a must for anyone who’s into seaweed snacks, according to former PureWow associate editor of news and entertainment Nakeisha Campbell. “They’re made with crispy tempura and have a flavorful, spicy seasoning that gives it a nice kick. I can easily finish a bag in a matter of minutes,” she raves.

Wu can vouch for TJ’s seaweed snacks in general, too. “I treat them like potato chips; they’re salty but much lighter,” she explains.

If you don’t like blue cheese, you will not enjoy this newbie to the Trader Joe’s lineup. But if you do, you’ll likely adore it. The sharp, aged quality of the cheddar makes for a savory, complex base. There’s no actual blue cheese in it (just flavor), but the funk is undeniably strong. The heat is super tame, so I wouldn’t blame you for adding more hot sauce to the mix.

Seasonings like allspice, cinnamon, black pepper, coriander, ginger, garlic and onion infuse every crumb of these sturdy, starchy plantain chips with tropical flair. “As a lover of jerk chicken, I was so happy to discover this one,” Campbell writes. “The flavor is so, so good, and I love that every chip is generously coated with the spicy jerk seasoning.”

I have it on good authority that Trader Joe’s sriracha is the real deal. Packed with fresh garlic, zingy vinegar and ground red chile peppers (a mix of jalapeño and Anaheim), it delivers punchy, tart heat without the frills—or the brand name price tag. Drizzle it over noodles, rice, eggs, pizza…the list goes on and on.

A friend of mine swears by this bag of Kent mangos, doused in lime juice, salt and chile powder for a snack that blows humdrum dried fruit away. I’m already a sucker for TJ’s plain Soft & Juicy Mango, and since I have fresh mango with Tajín on the reg, I’m betting I’d swoon over these at first bite.

This Middle Eastern condiment is like Yemen’s cilantro-based take on chimichurri, and it’s just as herbaceous, fragrant and vibrant. It’s labeled as “very spicy,” but those who like spicy foods will likely consider it to have medium heat at most. However, you can always zhuzh it up with crushed red pepper flakes to your liking, and you’ll still find the base delicious.