These Trader Joe’s shortcuts will make your cooking taste gourmet.

Emily has been in the food and beverage industry for over a decade.

I use Trader Joe’s 21 Seasoning Salute Blend whenever I need to easily season a meal. It doesn’t have salt, so I apply it pretty liberally to roasted meat and veggie dishes. Plus, its herbal and citrusy profile makes it fabulous for homemade dressings.

More than the previous product, this seasoning blend is my go-to for meat dishes. It gives even plain chicken breast an earthy, umami-filled flavor. I’ll even sprinkle it on sauteed mushrooms when I want to deepen their flavor.

I put this Everything but the Bagel Seasoning Blend on everything, and you should, too. Perhaps the most obvious use is on homemade bagels, but it always hits on top of avocado toast and in any Asian-inspired salad. Pro tip: Sprinkle some in your next bowl of Maruchan ramen, and thank me later.

It’s totally fine if you only ever use Trader Joe’s Salmon Rub Seasoning Blend on salmon — just know that you’re missing out on all its potential. I regularly sprinkle this sweet-savory blend on veggies before roasting them, or steak before slapping it on the grill.

Not only do the relatively thick granules of Trader Joe’s Ground Fermented Black Garlic look stunning on any dish, but they also bring a surprising amount of umami to the table. My favorite way to use this is by sprinkling it liberally on a steaming bowl of mushroom soup.

Personally, I think the store’s Everything but the Elote Seasoning Blend is one of the most versatile seasonings on its shelves. Use it to give anything a Mexican-inspired twist. Sprinkle it on nachos or quesadillas, and add it to sour cream to make a zesty dipping sauce for both.

Need an easy, elevated side for a fancy dinner? Look no further than Trader Joe’s Risotto Semplice. This seemingly simple frozen dish packs a whopping amount of cheesy, buttery flavor, and all it needs is a sprinkling of fresh herbs on top.

Just pop this bag of plantains in the air fryer, and in a few minutes, you’ll have an effortlessly delicious side to any West African-inspired dishes. They’re incredible on their own, but you can also serve them as a breakfast side or a hearty dessert (paired with ice cream, of course!).

Love mushrooms but don’t feel like washing and chopping? Trader Joe’s Sliced Shiitake Mushrooms just need to be sauteed to be enjoyed. Best of all, they taste as fresh as the whole ‘shrooms you get from the refrigerator section.

If I ever think a dish needs a white sauce, but I don’t want to make one, I reach for Trader Joe’s Alfredo sauce. It’s by far my favorite store-bought Alfredo sauce — I find others way too salty. I’ll cook their ravioli in this, or thin it out to drizzle on meat and veggie dishes.

I’m pretty picky about my spice, but Trader Joe’s Green Dragon Sauce is a must-have whenever I’m in a spicy mood. Just a few drops take homemade tacos and burrito bowls to new heights, and it also adds a kick to tortilla soup, chili, and even your morning eggs.

My obsession with Trader Joe’s Ponzu Sauce is a very valid affair, which you’ll totally understand once you try it. It basically tastes like soy sauce with a kick of citrus, so I find myself using it instead of soy sauce with everything, from stir-fry dinners to a dipping sauce for dumplings.

Though traditionally used to finish meats, I actually find myself going through Trader Joe’s Chimichurri Sauce incredibly quickly, even if I’m not grilling anything. This sauce gives a fresh twist to shakshuka, chili, or any other tomato-based dish. It also livens up yogurt dips or can be used as a veggie dipping sauce all on its own.

If you’re familiar with toum, Trader Joe’s Garlic Spread Dip is basically the store’s version of the condiment. It’s fantastic on Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dishes, but I’ll also use it in salad dressings and homemade dips to bring a punch of garlic into the equation.

Much like the Everything but the Bagel Seasoning, I put Trader Joe’s Crunchy Chili Onion on everything. I particularly love drizzling some of the sauce on top of over-easy eggs for a welcome kick of heat. It’s also incredible as a finishing element to Thai curry dishes.

Unless I’m using balsamic vinegar for a salad dressing, I’m probably reaching for Trader Joe’s Balsamic Glaze whenever a dish needs a fresh kick. Obviously, it’s incredible drizzled onto salads, but I also love drizzling it on Caprese-style toasts in the summer.

Tomato paste is an obvious ingredient to amp up soups, chilis, and sauces, but I advocate particularly for Trader Joe’s tomato paste in a tube because it’s way easier to use over extended periods of time than canned tomato paste. Quit throwing away half-empty paste cans; just opt for the tube!

If you don’t already use miso paste in baked goods, you’re about to. The paste has plenty of culinary applications in general, but my favorite way to put it to work is in chocolate chip cookies. Add a couple of tablespoons to your next batch (but make a double batch, because they’ll be irresistible).

Want your baked goods to taste like they took eons to make? Instead of using vanilla extract, use Trader Joe’s Bourbon Vanilla Bean Paste. I use a 1:1 substitution, which does result in a stronger flavor, but hey, who ever said more vanilla was a bad thing?

I reach for this seasoned butter whenever I’m sauteeing vegetables, especially asparagus. They got the proportions just right with this one, IMO. It would also do a ton of heavy lifting simply spread on a plain piece of toast.