12 Cheeses You Should Always Buy at Trader Joe’s, According to Culinary Experts

Regular Trader Joe’s shoppers know the chain’s cheese selection is not just impressive, but affordable to boot. You can find first-rate examples of familiar cheeses such as Mozzarella, Cheddar, Parmesan, and Gouda, as well as harder-to-find imported cheeses and unique seasonal flavors, all at a reasonable price tag.

While I certainly have my favorites, I was curious—what cheeses do the professionals buy at Trader Joe’s? To find out, I asked three pros the top cheeses they recommend picking up on your next Trader Joe's run. Whether you want to impress your guests with a gorgeous cheese and charcuterie board, take a basic grilled cheese to the next level, or just have a tasty snack, these 12 cheeses can’t be beat.

Unexpected Cheddar

James, Mullen, and Thorpe all stand behind Trader Joe’s Unexpected Cheddar. “It's a crumbly, aged, Cheddar-meets-Parm blend with a creamy sharpness,” says Mullen, who counts it as her favorite cheese at Trader Joe’s. “It pairs wonderfully with something sweet like fig jam or honey.” Trader Joe’s also offers a soft, spreadable version of its Unexpected Cheddar, and Mullen recommends keeping an eye out for the seasonal “Holiday Cheer” edition, made with cranberries, Riesling, and cinnamon.

Cambozola

Mullen is also a big fan of Cambozola. “It's a balanced combination of creamy Camembert cheese speckled with gorgonzola blue,” she says. “You get the buttery, decadent notes from the triple creme, and the pungent blue doesn't overpower. I love to pair this with a sour cherry jam or dark chocolate.”

Marinated Fresh Mozzarella

Mullen always keeps Trader Joe’s marinated mozzarella balls in her fridge. “They’re one of Trader Joe’s most versatile cheese options,” Mullen says. “Toss them into a salad or pasta, add them to a cheese board, or enjoy them straight from the container. I especially love pairing them with salty prosciutto or fresh tomatoes.”

Le Délice de Bourgogne

James and Mullen have both been impressed with Trader Joe’s version of Le Délice de Bourgogne, a popular soft French cheese. “It's another classic soft-ripened triple creme cheese with the most luxurious texture and buttery notes,” Mullen says. “It's imported from France and similar to a Brillat-Savarin, yet more affordable. It's also a favorite of mine and I love it paired with honey and pears.”

Cheddar & Gruyere Mèlange

Trader Joe’s really shines when it comes to hybrid cheeses, like their Cheddar-Gruyère blend, says Mullen. “It melts beautifully, has the tang of Cheddar, and the rich nuttiness from Gruyère,” she says. “It’s the kind of cheese you’d expect to find at a specialty counter, not a grocery chain. I love to pair this with dried apricots for a sweet contrast or their applewood smoked salami to complement the salty notes.”

Red Leicester Cheese

Raw Milk Cave Aged Le Gruyère

James says Trader Joe’s particularly excels at imported old-world varieties of cheese from Europe, such as its Raw Milk Cave Aged Le Gruyère. “Their private label products come from producers who have been making cheese forever,” James says. “And these traditional cheeses are very affordable at TJ's!” The firm cheese has a creamy, nutty flavor that comes from additional maturation time in extremely humid affinage cellars.

1,000 Day Gouda

Thorpe says the 1,000 Day Gouda is one of the best cheeses that Trader Joe’s stocks and a fun one to introduce to guests who might not be familiar with the style. “I love aged Gouda,” Thorpe sys. “Many people have heard of Gouda, but still today, lots of people have never had an aged Gouda, and it's very different from the young, red-wax, squishy kind.” In the case of 1,000 Day Gouda, the long aging process yields a rich, nutty, caramel-like flavor profile.

Chevre

Thorpe considers Trader Joe's chevre to be just as good as some of the best artisanal versions on the market—and at a lower price tag, too. “Trader Joe's private-label goat cheese is very price competitive, and it's really excellent,” Thorpe says. “A lot of the cheap goat cheeses on the market are grainy and kind of sour. Trader Joe’s is creamy, and it's got a really lovely lemony flavor, but it's balanced. It's got good salt.

Authentic Greek Feta in Brine

While traditional Feta cheese is made with sheep’s milk (and sometimes goat’s milk as well), most Feta bought in the U.S. is made with cow’s milk. For a true taste of Feta, Thorpe recommends the Authentic Greek Feta in Brine. “That goat and sheep milk flavor and texture is totally different and, I would argue, much more delicious, albeit more expensive than cow's milk,” she says. “I find it’s difficult to find real Feta in my market, so that's something that I like to point out because I really like good Feta. It’s also markedly less expensive than what you can find in the normal supermarket, if you can find it.”

 Everything But the Bagel Cheddar

While Thorpe herself isn’t a huge fan of flavored cheeses, she feels Trader Joe’s excels at them. “Their flavored cheeses deliver on what they advertise, and they do that really well,” she says. She often buys the Everything But the Bagel Cheddar, which is flavored with garlic, onion, poppy, sesame, and sea salt, for guests and says it’s always well-received.

 Toscano Cheese

In addition to popular cheeses, such as Mozzarella, Cheddar, Feta, and Gouda, the store also offers cheeses that are totally unique to the retailer. Case in point: The creamy Toscano cheese, available in different iterations such as one rubbed in black pepper and another soaked in Syrah. “It’s just not a common cheese that many people have had,” Thorpe says. “It's sort of like a Parmesan, so an aged cow's milk cheese that's been soaked in red wine. So you get some fruity notes, but you also get the nutty, savory flavors of the base Parmesan recipe. That’s one that I think is kind of a surprise.”