19 Discontinued Trader Joe's Products We're Probably Never Getting Back

Trader Joe's isn't a regular grocery store; it's a place where dedicated customers can find seasonal goodies and limited-time products that the store is constantly reinventing. With all those changes, however, Trader Joe's sometimes has to retire products regularly. The grocery store has strict standards for pricing items, saving space in stores, and developing food catered to their customers' preferences; these standards are why iconic flavors and products leave the shelves.

The company allows customers to air their grievances when something gets discontinued. Dedicated Trader Joe's fans seek out which products are discontinued by asking the chain's team members since the store doesn't officially announce discontinuations. Then the fans will often take to social media to air their grievances on accounts dedicated to lost items. 

Trader Joe's has a knack for capturing its customers' attention with inventive products ranging from frozen sweet treats to easy weeknight dinners. But, whether these products are flops or hits with shoppers, sometimes they are removed, never to be seen again.

Trader Joe's offers plenty of convenient foods for people with dietary restrictions or plans. Their plant-based protein alternatives and vegetarian options are plentiful and just as high-quality as other options with meat. One of those beloved plant-based foods was the Hi-Protein Veggie Burger from the frozen aisle. This frozen patty was made with pea protein, making it a wonderful way for plant-based eaters to get a serving of an important nutrient (26 grams of protein per serving, to be exact). The ingredient list included a pea protein blend, canola oil, onions, brown rice flour, and flavorings.

Unfortunately, they were discontinued in the spring of 2023. The grocery store sells their Quinoa Cowboy Veggie Burgers for vegetarians, but they contain eggs, making them unsuitable for vegan shoppers. Outside the freezer aisle, Trader Joe's Protein Patties are made of pea protein and contain 18 grams of protein per patty, making them a decent replacement for the discontinued item.

Delicious frozen dinners are something shoppers adore about Trader Joe's. The grocery chain boasts a wide variety of frozen foods that can be ready in minutes and taste just as good as homemade meals. The Frozen Spinach Lasagna was one of those products. It came frozen with a simple list of ingredients including spinach, noodles, tomato sauce, ricotta cheese, olive oil, and spices. The vegetarian meal was a single serving, perfect for office lunches or a quick dinner for one. The item was discontinued in 2021, and many fans of the frozen meal were disappointed, with one simply exclaiming on Instagram, "What!?! Ugh this is so sad."

Today, the store still sells a Family Style Meat Lasagna with ground beef and pork, but it can't replace the discontinued vegetarian option. The Vegan Italian Bolognese Ravioli is another pasta dish suitable for vegetarians (and vegans) but not as convenient as the discontinued single-serve lasagna. Suppose shoppers are looking for other delicious single-serving frozen meals at Trader Joe's. In that case, they may find some luck with the Vegetable Biryani with Vegetable Dumplings or Cuban Style Citrus Garlic Bowl.

Frozen waffles are the definition of a quick and easy breakfast. The Trader Joe's Banana Waffles were just that, with a little extra flavor. Spreading peanut butter or syrup was delicious on these wheat and gluten-free waffles. Unfortunately, the frozen breakfast item was discontinued way back in 2009 and most likely won't hit shelves again.

The grocery chain is no stranger to seasonal toaster waffles; in the past, they've had products like Blueberry Waffles, Strawberry Waffles, Pumpkin Waffles, and Frozen Belgian Waffles. These frozen breakfast foods are either discontinued or rolled out seasonally, but a mainstay in Trader Joe's freezer section is their Whole Grain Waffles. The chain also offers waffle and pancake mixes, which take more work than popping in the toaster. 

Dedicated fans of Trader Joe's know that their frozen meals are consistently impressive. But, this unique frozen stew was discontinued in 2023. The reason for its discontinuation is unknown, but one shopper commented on Instagram, "I used to love this, but in recent years the amount of seafood noticeably decreased so it wasn't as filling so I stopped buying."

Cioppino Seafood Stew was a frozen meal that could be cooked on the stovetop or in a microwave. It contained shrimp, clams, and scallops drenched in a thick tomato sauce for a hearty meal. There isn't a perfect replacement for the stew on shelves today but the grocery store sells their Shrimp Boom Bah (frozen crispy shrimp) and Sriracha Shrimp Bowl for shoppers wanting a frozen seafood product.

Trader Joe's Island Salsa was a tropical dip with mango, pineapple, and red peppers that was discontinued around 2022. Many shoppers enjoyed the premade fruity salsa and would pair it with corn chips or spread it on tacos. The fact that it didn't contain tomatoes also appealed to shoppers' interests. The grocery chain has not explained why they stopped selling this salsa, but it is missed nonetheless.

To replace Island Salsa, shoppers may want to check out Trader Joe's Corn and Chile Tomato-less Salsa, a sweet and spicy chunky salsa perfect for dipping and topping on tacos. They also sell more traditional salsas like Pico de Gallo, Organic Thick & Chunky Salsa, and the Salsa de Cacahuat, made of peppers and peanuts. The Island Salsa can also be replicated with copycat recipes that include fruits, vegetables, and seasonings.

People who love the nostalgic taste of Spaghetti-O's and shop at Trader Joe's were lucky to have the grocery's signature canned pasta, until they were discontinued in 2022. The O-shaped pasta was doused in a cheesy tomato sauce and canned into Trader Joe's Organic Joe's O's. The pasta could be heated up and minutes, creating a nostalgic and hearty snack. Fans of the product were devastated at the news, with one saying on Instagram, "Ok why? They are SO good. Why do you do this to us TJs?"

Trader Joe's offers tons of jarred pasta sauces and dried pasta, but nothing with the same convenience appeal as the Joe's O's had. Shoppers wanting an easy-to-prepare pasta dish may enjoy the 4 Cheese Ravioli or the jarred Italian-Style Wedding Soup, but nothing comes close to the memorable canned pasta.

This Trader Joe's ready-made dessert was a dream until the Rice Pudding was discontinued in 2021. The treat was kept in the refrigerated section and contained simple ingredients like rice, sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. Shoppers loved this premade item for its convenience and flavor. One of many comments on Instagram pleaded, "Why?? This is the best. Time to horde and stock up." Nobody knows why Trader Joe's took the treat out of stores, but there have been no updates of it coming back.

The grocery chain offers a few different cool and frozen desserts that shoppers may find fill the gap that the Rice Pudding left. The Non-Dairy Vanilla Bean Oat Frozen Dessert, Super Chocolatey Gluten Free Chocolate Chunk Cookie Dough, and Vanilla Overnight Oats.

Trader Joe's pasta products are unique and favored by many shoppers. This discontinued product was a refrigerated pasta that was a quick way to have a unique weeknight meal. The pasta was stuffed with goat cheese, ricotta cheese, breadcrumbs, sundried tomatoes, and many yummy spices. The pasta needed a quick boil in water before being ready to serve with a sauce or drizzle of olive oil to create a hearty, simple meal.

Luckily, Trader Joe's is always inventing amazing ravioli products. The grocery chain still offers an extensive list of ravioli: the 4 Cheese Ravioli, Gluten Free Ravioli, Vegan Spinach & Cashew Ravioli, Cacio e Pepe Ravioli, Vegan Italian Bolognese Ravioli, and the Italian Tomato & Burrata Ravioloni are just a few options available in Trader Joe's locations today.

Another relic of the refrigerator aisle, "Just Sauce" Turkey Bolognese, was discontinued in 2022. It was a great product to jazz up simple pasta dishes or even as a soup starter. It needed to be thawed and heated, but the easily coated noodles, gnocchi, or dipped with bread. The turkey was a good alternative to traditional bolognese sauces that use beef, and shoppers liked that this sauce was pretty much ready to go after heating.

Trader Joe's does not offer frozen pasta like the "Just Sauce" Turkey Bolognese. However, it has jarred sauces like the Bolognese Style Tomato & Beef Pasta Sauce, Roasted Garlic Marinara Sauce, and Organic Roasted Red Pepper and Almond Pesto Sauce that can be paired with ground turkey, pasta, and vegetables to make a Trader Joe's-inspired bolognese.