The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the views of Spoon University.
When you walk into Whole Foods, you probably don’t think “I’m going to pair pickles with peanut butter today.” But as someone who writes for Spoon University, I decided to push my palate to the limit and try the weirdest food combos that people swear by—no matter how unhinged they sound at first.
I gathered six funky pairings, set them up in paper bowls with my friends, and hosted a full-on taste test. Some combos absolutely slayed, others confused us, and one was so unexpectedly divine it nearly caused a utensil duel over the last bite.
Here’s what we tried, and whether you should try it too.
Vanilla Ice Cream + Olive Oil + Sea Salt
- The Vibe: Fancy, like if your dessert went to private school.
- The Taste: Surprisingly amazing. The olive oil added a velvety, slightly peppery finish to the ice cream, while the sea salt made everything pop.
- Group Reaction: My friends could not get enough of this. Someone said, “This tastes like it’s from a Michelin-star dessert course,” and they weren’t wrong.
- My Rating: 8/10
- Their Rating: 10/10—we had to stop someone from finishing the whole bowl alone.
Takis + Cream Cheese
- The Vibe: After-school snack, but make it chaotic.
- The Taste: The heat from the Takis meets the creamy chill of the cream cheese, and somehow… it just works. Like enemies to lovers.
- Group Reaction: This was the second most-loved combo of the day. People kept going back for more, even those who usually can’t handle spice.
- My Rating: 7.5/10
- Their Rating: 9/10
Pineapple + Tajín
- The Vibe: Poolside in Cabo.
- The Taste: Bright, juicy, spicy, and tangy—this combo hits every flavor note in the best way possible.
- Group Reaction: Everyone agreed it was good, but I was obsessed. I’d eat this on a beach, at brunch, or for dessert.
- My Rating: 10/10 (I will now be putting Tajín on everything.)
- Their Rating: 8/10
Pickles + Peanut Butter
- The Vibe: Pregnant cravings without the pregnancy.
- The Taste: Hear me out—this is DELICIOUS. The salty tang of the pickles and the creamy nuttiness of the peanut butter somehow balance each other perfectly.
- Group Reaction: Mixed reactions here. My friends were skeptical, and while a few warmed up to it, I was team Pickle-PB from the first bite.
- My Rating: 9.5/10
- Their Rating: 5/10 (Don’t knock it till you try it)
Watermelon + Feta Cheese
- The Vibe: Summer picnic on a Pinterest board.
- The Taste: Refreshing and salty-sweet in the best way. It’s the kind of combo that makes you feel hydrated and classy.
- Group Reaction: It was solid, but no one was fighting over the bowl.
- My Rating: 8/10
- Their Rating: 7/10
Potato Chips + Greek Yogurt
- The Vibe: Sour cream & onion’s DIY cousin.
- The Taste: Pretty solid—Greek yogurt acts like a lighter sour cream, so it’s basically a healthy-ish chip dip (right?).
- Group Reaction: Not bad at all. We all expected this to flop and were pleasantly surprised.
- My Rating: 6.5/10 (Yummy, but I missed actual dip flavor.)
- Their Rating: 6/10
Food Combos That Didn’t Make the Table… But Deserve a Shoutout
I couldn’t squeeze every strange food pairing into one sitting, but a few honorable mentions kept coming up during my research and from friends who swear by them. These didn’t make it into my haul this round, but they’re definitely going on the list for taste test 2.0.
- Strawberries + Balsamic Vinegar
- Chocolate + Avocado
- Cottage Cheese & Hot Sauce
- Orange Juice & Espresso
Final Thoughts: Should You Try This at Home?
Absolutely—especially if you’re curious, craving something different, or trying to make your next girls’ night snackier and sassier. Everything came from Whole Foods, so it felt a little bougie even when we were eating pickles smeared with peanut butter out of paper bowls.
The clear crowd favorite? Ice cream with olive oil and sea salt.
The winner in my heart? Pineapple with Tajín forever.
The most shocking win? Pickles and peanut butter. I’m ready to advocate for it full-time.
Bonus tip: If you do this at home, make it an event. Give everyone a scorecard, play some music, and let chaos reign. Unconventional combos might just unlock your new daily craving.