Trader Joe’s Finally Has a White Queso and It Was Well Worth the Wait
The grocery chain first introduced its take on queso in shelf-stable jars, but they were discontinued.
Aly Walansky
As we get into the height of sports viewing season, we’re probably finalizing our game night viewing snack lineup as well, and a great queso is likely going to be involved.
While we can always make that queso at home, it’s great to save time where we can – we’re already making that guac and those wings, after all – and if a really good store-bought version becomes an option, we’re absolutely ready to listen.
The new Trader Joe’s White Queso Dip is a savory cheese dip made with a rich and creamy white cheddar, made extra rich and creamy thanks to the addition of cream. It also includes sea salt and onion, mild red and green bell peppers and diced jalapeños. While queso is a natural with chips or crudité, its pairing options are truly endless, especially if you are hanging with a cheese-loving crowd.
Photo courtesy of Trader Joe's
“Our buyers travel the world searching for products we think are exceptional and will find a following among our customers. To earn a spot on our shelves, each product is submitted to a rigorous tasting panel process, in which every aspect of quality is investigated in context of the price we can offer. If a product is assessed as an outstanding value, it becomes part of the Trader Joe’s shopping adventure,” said Nakia Rohde, Public Relations Manager for Trader Joe’s, in a statement.
After reading on Reddit that this queso was beginning to appear at Trader Joe’s, I knew I needed to try it – but finding it ended up being a lot more difficult than anticipated. It was sold out in both my local Brooklyn locations and I ended up doing several return visits to them before taking a chance and trying one in Queens where I struck better luck.
This queso has been a long time coming, and comes with a lot of demand. The chain did once upon a time have a shelf-stable jarred queso cheese dip but it was not popular and was ultimately discontinued. This new queso is found in the refrigerator section, and has a much fresher, homemade flavor similar to the current Chipotle white queso offering (but I found this one to be a bit creamier than that with a little bit more kick as well!). It also feels more elevated, as the bell peppers and jalapeños interact to create layers of flavor that will appeal to both the spice lovers (in fact, this can totally stand to go a bit more spicy) and those who go for more mild flavors. It also incorporates fresher, better ingredients, something we may not necessarily always be getting from packaged cheese dips – but have come to expect from a spot like Trader Joe’s.
Aly Walansky
It’s also easy to make – I heated mine on low heat in a saucepan on the stove, as I don’t have a microwave in my home – but 30 second intervals in the microwave would work just great as well, and the possibilities are endless. I tried it with chips, but I’m already excited to use the remainder to make air fryer nachos or my own homespun burrito bowl with a queso drizzle on top.
The Trader Joe’s White Queso Dip is just now starting to arrive in Trader Joe’s stores, and is priced at $3.99 for a 10-ounce container. Will you be giving it a try?
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