The $2.99 Trader Joe's Find You Need To Try Before It's Gone

It might just be Trader Joe's best new snack yet.

By
Haley Scarpino
Haley Scarpino
Haley Scarpino
Haley is an associate editor for Simply Recipes. She is also the community moderator for Julia Turshen's Sundays With Julia, a weekly online cooking class, where she answers cooking questions and supports attendees while Julia teaches. 
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Published May 27, 2025
Haley Scarpino
Exterior view of a Trader Joe's store entrance with patrons entering and exiting

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

I love Trader Joe's. I make a weekly journey to the store about 20 minutes from my house to stock up on pantry staples like rice, farro, and canned tomatoes. Trader Joe's keeps my family stocked in cheese, frozen foods, and too many favorite snacks to count. Popcorn is one of those favorite snacks from TJ's that I always keep stocked in our pantry.

When I spotted Trader Joe's new Buffalo Ranch Popcorn on an endcap on a recent trip, I tossed a bag into my cart before reading the description.

I am a sucker for anything Buffalo flavored. I love the spicy-tangy-creamy flavor combo on wings and in dips, chili, and even deviled eggs. Buffalo wings are deep-fried chicken wings tossed in a cayenne pepper and butter sauce, and are served with celery and blue cheese dressing. In a controversial turn of events, they can be served with ranch dressing instead of blue cheese, which is the route Trader Joe's went with this popcorn.

Trader Joe's Buffalo Ranch Popcorn

  • Price: $2.99 for a 5-ounce bag
  • Why I Love It: This popcorn delivers the perfect balance of bold Buffalo flavor and creamy ranch tang in a crunchy, no-fuss snack.
A bag of Trader Joe's Buffalo Ranch Popcorn displayed on a yellow and pink background

Simply Recipes / Trader Joe's

Why I Love Trader Joe's Buffalo Ranch Popcorn

Popcorn is the perfect snack because it's satisfying and endlessly versatile. It's salty and crunchy but doesn't fill me up too much when I need an afternoon snack before dinner. It's a perfectly portable snack, which is essential in the summer because I spend a lot of time at the pool or my nieces' and nephews' baseball and soccer games.

This popcorn is exactly what it sounds like: fluffy kernels coated in a punchy buffalo seasoning with a ranchy, slightly creamy finish. The spice hits you first—bright, peppery, and just bold enough—then mellows into a savory, tangy ranch flavor that keeps you going back for more.

A lot of spicy snacks burn your mouth or overdo the vinegar, but this one lets both the buffalo heat and ranch tang shine without overpowering each other. The spice level isn't overwhelming, making it easy to snack on. It strikes that perfect balance of bold flavor and snackability—exactly what you want in popcorn.

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