This $3.49 Trader Joe's Condiment Makes Dinner Better

It's bomb.

By
Sara Haas
Sara Haas
Sara Haas RDN, LDN, is a food and nutrition expert with formal training in the culinary arts. She works as a freelance writer, recipe developer, media authority, public speaker, and consultant dietitian/chef. Sara has over 20 years of experience as a registered and licensed dietitian. She has also been a professional chef for 15 years and a food photographer for 10 years.
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Published on 12/10/23
A photo of a Trader Joe's storefront

If you’ve been to Trader Joe’s, then you know the store is packed with many of their own exclusive products. Sometimes they’re seasonal, which means you have to stock up on them before they’re gone. Other items are available year-round and quickly become grocery cart staples. Luckily (at least for now), one of my favorite Trader Joe’s foods is a “year-rounder.” It’s a condiment known as Italian Bomba Hot Pepper Sauce.

My Confession

If you’ve been on any social media platform, you’ve likely seen someone making something with my beloved Italian Bomba Hot Pepper Sauce. As much as I don’t want to admit it, that’s how I found out about it.  At first I didn’t believe the hype. How could all of these influencers “luh-uuuuve” it as much as they professed? 

For me, it came down to a moment of truth while on a Trader Joe’s grocery run. After finding the items on my list, I sheepishly walked down the condiment aisle and somehow found myself in front of the sauce. Was I feeling influenced to try it? I discreetly put a jar in my basket and checked out. I was a sucker.

A photo of a shelf at Trader Joe's showing Italian bomba hot pepper sauce and the price tag of $3.49

Megan Scott

The Experiment

At $3.49 a jar, I considered this a “safe” experiment. If I didn’t like it, I could take to my social media account and let my tiny following know those influencers were wrong. If I did like it, I could write a story about it. Well, here we are.

This is the Part Where I Profess My Love

I opened my jar of Italian Bomba Hot Pepper Sauce and gave it a preliminary taste. My jaw dropped. It was by far one of the best condiments I’ve had in a long time. I loved the pop of heat and the bright bite of the peppers. It was so flavorful it seemed capable of standing up to a variety of other foods and dishes. I was instantly dreaming of all of the ways I was going to use it.

It Goes With Everything

What I love most about this sauce is its versatility. I’ve used it in numerous ways and it has been received with rave reviews. Here are a few ideas for when you buy your jar:

  • Eggs — No matter how you enjoy your eggs, you can top them with this sauce. I’ve been known to use some of the oil for cooking the eggs as well. I suggest you try it too.
  • Pasta dishes — Making a pasta salad with an Italian vibe? Throw in some of these peppers. Looking to jazz up your boring pot of spaghetti? Reach for these peppers. I even love them in pastas dressed with pesto or alfredo. The peppers play well with almost all pasta dishes.
  • Dips — Looking to dip that pretzel into something? I love mixing these peppers with plain Greek yogurt or cream cheese. Add a pinch of garlic powder and squeeze of lemon juice for bigger flavor.
  • Sandwiches, wraps, tacos and burritos — I love a little heat to my food. My go-to is either sriracha or Cholula, but sometimes I want texture with my heat. That’s where Bomba sauce saves the day. I’ll add some to my turkey wrap or use them to top my ground beef tacos. I love them in my tofu burritos too!
  • Pizza — Got a frozen pizza in your fridge? Add a layer of sauce before baking to instantly boost the flavor! Making pizza bagels or French bread pizzas? I love using the sauce as the base before piling on my favorite toppings!