6 Trader Joe's Salmon Products Worth Adding To Your Cart

Trader Joe's may not be known for its fish as much as it is for its prepared items and frozen meals, but that doesn't mean that the popular chain grocer doesn't stock some solid seafood. And for those who like a milder-tasting, easy-to-cook fish, salmon is a great choice. Luckily, Trader Joe's sells several different salmon products in its lineup, from smoked salmon to fresh filets. As someone who shops at Trader Joe's multiple times a week, I've tasted my fair share of TJ's salmon items over the years, and I'm bringing together some of the best examples of these products in one list. I chose different types of salmon items you can incorporate into your diet and highlighted the salmon products from the store that stood out to me the most.

Salmon-loving Trader Joe's shoppers, now is your time to shine. Give these items a try for yourself the next time you stop by your local TJ's, and you might discover a new favorite protein, breakfast accoutrement, or prepared lunch. Seafood shopping just got a lot easier.

I'll admit that as much as I can occasionally get down with some baked salmon, I much prefer smoked salmon. It's rich, fatty, and beautifully salty, with a depth of flavor you won't find from an unsmoked version of the fish. The only problem? Smoked salmon can be quite expensive. For me, it feels like a little treat to get smoked salmon, so it's not something I stock up on every week. But if you're looking for a more affordable option, check out Trader Joe's Norwegian Smoked Salmon. At $5.49, It's a little more competitively priced than other smoked salmon options at TJ's, and it's one of the cheapest versions of the fish I've found at nearby grocery stores as well.

In this package, you'll find thick-cut slices of salmon, which offer a meatier, almost chewier texture than you'll find from other brands. And while the fish is salty (like you'd expect from any smoked salmon), it also has a freshness that means you can pair this fish with plenty of other flavorful ingredients without creating an unbalanced dish. The flavor of the smoke itself is also relatively neutral, and you don't get much fishiness, either. For a standard smoked salmon product you can go back to again and again, Trader Joe's has you covered with this Norwegian-sourced fish.

As much as I appreciate Trader Joe's frozen section, its prepared foods section can also come in clutch when you need a quick and easy lunch. From sushi to pasta to sandwiches and beyond, the store offers a surprisingly wide array of different options considering how small it is. On days when I'm pinched for time and am craving something light and somewhat healthy-feeling, I sometimes opt for the chain grocer's Caesar Salad with Salmon. Now, I'm usually pretty specific about my Caesar salad, and I don't particularly like when salad makers mess with the classic romaine base. But in the case of this particular salad, I can get down with the inclusion of kale (although I won't make this exception for other Caesar salad makers!). Its bitterness and complexity provide the perfect, leafy green bed for the accompanying salmon.

Does this salad come with a ton of salmon? No, not exactly. But the meal works. There's enough salmon to feel full, but there's not so much that it suddenly becomes the star of the show. Instead, the greens rightfully function as the most important aspect of the salad, and the grilled salmon just adds extra flavor and texture. And although the Parmesan crisps in place of croutons sound like Caesar salad sacrilege, they actually add a lot both in terms of flavor and texture. Overall, it's one of the better prepared grocery store salads I've had (even though that's not saying much, considering they're generally not as good as fresh).

I've already detailed my love of smoked salmon above. But if you're willing to spend a little extra cash, you can upgrade from TJ's more affordable take on the fish to this beautifully seasoned version that every longstanding Trader Joe's fan is likely to appreciate. That's because this smoked salmon is seasoned with Everything But the Bagel Seasoning, arguably one of Trader Joe's most beloved products of all time (and also its No. 2 best seasoning overall, according to Tasting Table's own ranking). So, instead of just picking up on the salty, smoky flavor of the fish, you'll also taste the poppy seeds, sesame seeds, dried onion, and dried garlic. These may sound like pretty basic ingredients, but they infuse the fish with a flavor intensity that takes this stuff to the next level.

I think it goes without saying that this is the ideal smoked salmon for a lox bagel. You can opt for a more neutral bagel flavor (like egg, which is the best for this application, in my opinion) because the fish is already packing so much flavor — instead of feeling like you have to opt for an everything bagel just to get that extra touch of flavor.

When I ranked eight Trader Joe's seafood entrees from worst to best, the store's salmon burgers came in sixth place. That doesn't mean that they're not very good — it just means that the store has so many other great seafood entrees to choose from. Yes, the salmon patties can get a bit dry, but there's also a lot to love here. 

First of all, these burgers offer a lighter, fresher take on burger night, with patties that are substantial and fatty enough to feel decadent without the same heaviness you might expect from beef. Plus, they taste great when you cook them on an actual grill (although you can cook them in the comfort of your own kitchen too). If you put them on a sandwich, be sure to include some tartar sauce in place of standard mayonnaise for a bit of extra flavor. You can opt for the store-bought variety or make your own homemade version of the seafood sauce. Throw this patty on top of a salad, chop it up and include it in a pasta dish, or enjoy it on its own.

The patties are frozen, so they're not quite on the same level as an actual fresh filet. But they make seafood a viable option on those days when you need an easy meal. Take them to your next BBQ (the pescetarians will thank you!), or keep them stocked in your fridge those times when you need a protein source you can cook quickly.

Just because you're craving salmon doesn't mean you necessarily want to go through the whole process of marinating a filet, seasoning it, and otherwise preparing it to go into the oven or onto the grill. Blessedly, Trader Joe's is the kind of place you can go when you want a lazy dinner that doesn't break the bank, and that's exactly what you're getting from the brand's Blackened Salmon Seasoned Boneless Filet. Because this salmon already comes pre-seasoned, just throw it into the oven or air fryer, prepare your sides, and call it a night. The ease of preparation makes this one of my favorite options when I'm craving something that feels healthy but like a treat at the same time.

Garlic, onion, sugar, and chipotle peppers all come together to create the seasoning. As someone who likes their fish packed with flavor, I honestly feel like Trader Joe's could go a bit harder on the seasoning, but it's a solid start; you can always add a bit more according to your flavor preferences. I like adding a few slices of lemon on top for a nice dose of acidity that complements the fish's fattiness.

The first smoked salmon I mentioned on this list is a great place to start if you're new to the smoked salmon scene. Then, the Everything But the Bagel Smoked Salmon represented the next step up the Trader Joe's smoked salmon hierarchy. But now, we've come to the best TJ's smoked salmon of them all: the Pastrami Style Smoked Atlantic Salmon. It's just what it sounds like — smoked salmon that's flavored using seasonings you usually see in pastrami. You get the herbal notes of coriander, the brightness of paprika, and the depth of allspice, all taking this relatively neutral piece of smoked fish and turning it into something that feels like it belongs at a restaurant.

Naturally, this salmon makes a great topper for a lox bagel if you want to take things in that direction, but since it's so flavored, you can also treat it kind of like charcuterie, making it the centerpiece of a more fish-focused board. Serve it with some of Trader Joe's best tinned seafood items, plus a selection of crackers, and you have a fancy-but-easy dinner you'll want to eat weekly.

I selected these Trader Joe's salmon products based on my own experiences with them. I chose products that offered value, excellent flavor, and pleasant textures, also highlighting items that I found convenient (since that's a major part of the appeal of shopping at Trader Joe's). Whether you should actually add these products to your cart depends on what you're looking for from your salmon. But if you're open to trying new products generally, I think that these are all solid options for salmon lovers who shop at Trader Joe's.