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Trader Joe\'s
Lifestyle

The Best Trader Joe’s Snacks, Appetizers, And Desserts For March Madness

March Madness has officially begun, and men’s and women’s college basketball teams across the country are competing for the national championship in the iconic 64-team tournament. What better way to keep the game day hype going than with the delicious Trader Joe’s foods for March Madness, including a variety of easy snacks, appetizers, entrees, and desserts? Whether you’re hosting the watch parties or showing up just for the food, Trader Joe’s has everything you need to please a crowd as you root for your team through every game of the tournament.

Creamy Spinach & Artichoke Dip, $4

Looking for the perfect party appetizer? This dip has a savory parmesan and swiss cheese blend that pairs perfectly with chips, crackers, veggies, and even as a burger topping.

Mini Cheeseburgers, $5

While you can never go wrong with sliders for a watch party, what sets these Trader Joe’s Mini Cheeseburgers apart is the bun. Instead of your typical potato roll or burger bun, these frozen sliders feature a  fluffy sweet Hawaiian roll to complement the beef patty and cheddar cheese. 

Mac and Cheese Bites, $4

What is a watch party without macaroni and cheese? These panko-breaded handhelds are full of gouda, Swiss, Havarti, and gouda in an affordable 10-pack.

Soft Pretzel Twists, $4

If you want Auntie Anne’s vibes at your watch party, try the six-pack of Trader Joe’s Soft Pretzel Twists. The company teamed up with German pretzel experts who use a blend of barley and wheat flour to achieve a satisfyingly sweet and savory flavor combo, which pairs well with TJ’s jalapeño cheese dip.

Handheld Chicken Pot Pies, $5

While a chicken pot pie may not seem like the most convenient fish for a crowd, Trader Joe’s portable version might just convert you.  These flakey handheld pot pies feature the classic flavors of dark meat chicken, peas, carrots, potatoes all in an empanada-like pocket for easier eating while cheering on your favorite team.

Gluten-Free Cheese Pizza, $6

No matter what dietary restrictions your guests have, there are plenty of crowd-pleasing options at TJ’s. If you’re looking to amp up the flavor combo, try sprinkling some Everything But The Bagel Seasoning over the top, adding any desired meat or veggie toppings, or serve it with a side of buttermilk ranch dressing for an added kick.

Mini Vegetable Samosas, $4

These bite-sized samosas are packed with curry-style potatoes, lentils, peas, and more for a nutritious and veggie-friendly option for game day.

Pastry Bites Feta Cheese & Caramelized Onions, $6

Feta cheese, cream cheese, and caramelized onions; name a more iconic trio. This 12-pack of bites packs sweet, cheesy, and salty flavor inside of each flaky puff pastry.

Salsa Verde Chicken Enchiladas, $5

These chicken enchiladas feature shredded dark chicken meat wrapped in corn tortillas. They’re drenched in a flavorful salsa verde and mozzarella, which melts into the perfect cheese pull once they’re heated up in your microwave or oven.

Breaded Mozzarella Cheese Sticks, $6

Arguably a perfect appetizer. These breaded sticks of cheesy goodness are great on their own, or dip them in marinara or  even your favorite salsa for extra heat.

Brownie Crisp Coffee Ice Cream Sandwiches, $5

It wouldn’t be a party without a sweet treat, and these ice cream sandwiches are a great treat to get you through overtime.  Colombian coffee ice cream is packed between two squares of crispy brownie bark packed with chocolate chunks for a dessert that’s almost as sweet as a great win.

Nadi Meyer

George Mason '25

Nadi Meyer is part of the National Writer program at Spoon University. They focus on food trends for humans and even dogs. Their end goal is to one day work for a nonprofit organization like The Asher House or The Trevor Project.

Beyond Spoon University, Nadi has seven years of retail experience, ranging from being a cashier at a grocery store to even being the assistant manager at one of the popular video game store franchises. They graduated from Brightpoint Community College in August 2022 with an Associate’s degree in General Studies and is currently working on their Bachelor’s degree in Communications with a focus in Media Production and Criticism as an online student at George Mason University. Before pursuing their higher education, from their sophomore to senior year, Nadi was helping rebuild the journalism program at Thomas Dale High School, graduating in 2017 with an Advanced Diploma.

In their free time, Nadi is often hanging out with their newly adopted, 9-year-old rescue dog, Tiger, or playing Stardew Valley on their Nintendo Switch. They are an avid collector of retro video games including Gameboy, GameCube, Nintendo DS and 3DS. They hope to eventually invest in a PSP and a PS Vita.