The $3.99 Trader Joe’s Find I Buy Every Time I Go

While I shop frequently at Trader Joe’s, I’m often snatching things up on a whim, especially if it’s a new or seasonal item. However, I do have a short list of items that I buy pretty much every time I go. Their slab-dried apricots are one (I go through a bag a week), as is their bagged arugula. And I can rarely resist a bag of one of their popcorns

One item that’s on my short list of musts is Trader Joe’s Pizza Crusts ($3.99). I’ll admit that I’ve rarely used them for pizza—they are far more versatile than that. In my opinion, they are easily the best bread product at TJ’s.

Why I Love Trader Joe’s Pizza Crusts

If you’re picturing something like a Boboli—round and dense with little holes—think again. TJ’s pizza crusts are big long rectangles of airy bread, almost like a thin focaccia. It reminds me of some Roman-style pizzas that are made in long slabs in giant ovens and cut with scissors.

The crusts’ unique shape and texture make them good for so much more than pizza. I use them the same as I would a delicious bread, whether for sandwiches, flatbread, or just as a side dish. They’re soft and cushy, with a super airy and light structure. They’re really lovely baked or toasted, which gives them a bit of crunch on the outside

Each package contains two crusts that are roughly two feet long. If we’re eating them as pizza or flatbreads, this makes four very generous servings or eight servings if you’re pairing with a side like a salad. We usually get six sandwiches out of the two crusts.

How I Use These Pizza Crusts

No matter how I’m serving these pizza crusts, I always bake or toast them first. If I’m not making a big pizza, I use my toaster oven for ease. If I’m serving the crusts as a bread side dish, I drizzle a few pieces with olive oil and sprinkle them with flaky salt before toasting until lightly crisp. If I’m using them for sandwiches, I briefly toast the slices as-is or load them up and toast the whole thing in a pan.

If you’re making pizza or flatbread, simply load on the toppings and bake at 425°F until the cheese melts and the toppings are hot. No matter how you serve these pizza crusts, they’re delicious 100% of the time.