We sampled the most popular frozen appetizers from Trader Joe’s to discover which ones were a hit (and which ones missed the mark).

At Mytour, we’re big fans of shortcuts, and frozen appetizers are a top choice for making entertaining easier. Whether you’re serving store-bought options or blending them with homemade treats, frozen appetizers can be a lifesaver. This holiday season, my team and I set out to find the best frozen appetizers from the store that we’d proudly serve at our own parties.

Of course, we immediately thought of Trader Joe’s, renowned for its high-quality frozen foods like Cauliflower Gnocchi and Mandarin Orange Chicken. But how would their appetizers fare? It’s one thing to enjoy frozen appetizers on a lazy night in, but when hosting friends and family, the snacks need to look appetizing and taste fantastic. So, in the name of journalistic integrity and simpler hosting, we embarked on a taste test of Trader Joe’s most popular frozen appetizers.

How We Tested

Experts from the Dotdash Meredith Test Kitchens in Birmingham, Alabama purchased the products and followed the package instructions to prepare them. Five of us tasted these appetizers alongside other brand products. We didn't know which ones were from Trader Joe’s—it was a blind taste test. As we tried each item, we took individual notes on taste, texture, and appearance, ranking each one from 1 to 10 and deciding whether we would serve it at our own gatherings. And now, without further ado, here are the results, ranked from our favorite to least favorite.

1. Parmesan Pastry Pups

Our clear winner by a significant lead, these gourmet pigs in blankets received high praise from nearly every taster. The dough was soft, buttery, and perfectly flaky. One tester mentioned, 'I love how the Parmesan on the outside is almost like frico.' Reviewers also raved about the juicy, flavorful hot dog inside. However, the standout feature was how appealing they looked, beautifully golden with a crispy cheese topping. One lone voice (me) wasn’t too fond of the cheese flavor, but everyone else loved it. So, don’t hesitate to add these to your next party spread.

Rating: 7.4/10, 4 out of 5 would serve at a party

2. Vegetable Spring Rolls

These classic spring rolls, filled with cabbage, mushrooms, edamame, tofu, and kale, didn't carry the same fanfare as the pastry pups, but they still gained appreciation. Tasters noted the appealing golden hue and crisp exterior, with the wrap offering a satisfying balance of chewiness and crunch. The flavor was enjoyable, although one tester felt it leaned toward an overly sweet taste. A minor drawback was that the wrapper felt a tad greasy. In conclusion, these rolls were solid, though not exceptional.

Rating: 6.5/10, 5 out of 5 would definitely serve at a party

3. Trader Joe’s Quiche Lorraine

Unlike many other quiches we tried, Trader Joe's version comes as a large quiche rather than the typical bite-sized mini quiches. Of course, you can always slice the full-sized quiche into thin pieces for a stylish hors d’oeuvre—pretty chic, right? As for the reviews, they were mixed. On the positive side, most people liked the quiche’s appearance, with its golden top and flaky crust, which is key when serving at a party. However, the ham and Swiss cheese filling didn’t impress everyone. One taster described it as ‘moist with an eggy taste,’ which might be a compliment? Others found the filling watery, underwhelming, and even somewhat artificial in flavor.

Rating: 5/10, 2 out of 5 would serve at a party

4. Mini Vegetable Samosas

These curry-flavored bites had their fans, but ultimately, our reaction can be summed up in one word: ‘meh.’ The crust was slightly sweet and at least somewhat crispy, which is a rare win in the frozen appetizer world. However, the filling, made with potatoes, lentils, carrots, and peas, was lacking in seasoning. One taster even noted that there seemed to be more peas than potatoes, giving the dish an overly earthy taste. In short, while we didn’t dislike them, we wouldn’t serve them to our friends and family.

Rating: 4.4/10, 1 out of 5 would serve at a party

5. Spanakopita

Mini spanakopitas—those crispy phyllo dough triangles stuffed with spinach and feta—are a popular party snack. Unlike the usual small size, Trader Joe’s version is larger, meant to be sliced into wedges for sharing. Some testers were impressed with the golden-brown, crispy edges, while others found the filling ‘tasty and juicy.’ Unfortunately, the experience didn’t last, as some described the flavor as ‘sour’ and the filling too wet, with one remarking it tasted of ‘stale onions.’ Needless to say, the feedback was mixed.

Rating: 4/10, 1 out of 5 would serve at a party

6. Mixed Mushroom and Spinach Quiche

This quiche is about half the size of Trader Joe’s Quiche Lorraine and would be even more charming if sliced into smaller pieces for a party. In general, our testers were pleased with its appearance. However, only one person truly enjoyed it, praising the creamy and well-seasoned filling made with button and oyster mushrooms and complimenting the ‘good and crisp’ crust. The rest of the reviews were less favorable—two tasters described the filling as ‘watery,’ and a third said it was ‘very wet.’

Rating: 4/10, 1 out of 5 would serve at a party

7. Potato Pancakes

These latkes were, unfortunately, the least impressive of the Trader Joe’s frozen appetizers we sampled. Initially, we were hopeful due to their appealing appearance. They were just the right size for an appetizer, perfect for serving with sour cream and applesauce. Though they were thin and slightly misshapen, it had a comforting, homemade feel. The exterior was golden and crisp to some degree. Sadly, the interior did not meet expectations. One taster found the flavor ‘very onion-y and a little harsh,’ while another described the texture as ‘squishy and slightly bitter.’ A third noted a bad aftertaste. Ultimately, the consensus was that they tasted more like onion than potato, which isn’t ideal for a potato pancake.

Rating: 3.6/10, 0 out of 5 would serve at a party