Trader Joe's New Frozen Gnocchi Flavor Has Shoppers Talking

Trader Joe's is beloved for its private-labeled offerings featuring flavors that are wildly popular amongst consumers. The neighborhood grocery store ignites a following with a delicious product and then teases our cravings by intermittently stocking said item at random stores. Whether intentional or not, this genius-level grocery game's byproducts are unaffiliated social media accounts, like Trader Joe's Obsessed, that alert TJ's fans when new fare hits the shelves. The bat signal just went out on the store's latest Cacio E Pepe Gnocchi offering, and shoppers are ready to try it out.

According to Serious Eats, cacio e pepe is an Italian dish named after its main ingredients of Pecorino and Romano cheese and fresh cracked pepper tossed into pasta. The ingredient list can be deceivingly simple, and cooks often struggle to achieve the thick, creamy sauce that is the signature of the dish as it consists of hard, dry cheeses. When done right, cacio e pepe yields a velvety cheese sauce with a piquant pepper hit that satisfies.

This Roman pasta dish is traditionally made with spaghetti, but Trader Joe's just dropped its version of the classic dish prepared with gnocchi instead. Customers turned to Instagram to see if the store's take on cacio e pepe was up to par.

Trader Joe's shoppers are a knowledgeable bunch of consumers with strong opinions on ingredients, dietary options, and all things Trader Joe's. When Trader Joe's List asked fans if they would try the new Trader Joe's Cacio E Pepe Gnocchi, some replied that it had made it onto their grocery list and they were already warming up the car for a frozen gnocchi run.

Once you sort through the ever-present comments requesting ingredient changes (like eggless gnocchi and gluten-free versions) accompanied by inquiries after other discontinued Trader Joe's products, most followers are excited to try this frozen meal out. Many tagged friends who they thought would enjoy the easy meal and posted that they were already running to the store. A couple Instagrammers sparked jealousy that it was in stock at their local store and others commented that they had just given it a go, and it was a hit.

A good amount of comments were consumed by the concerns over the ingredients in the frozen gnocchi dish. Many followers talked about the high sodium levels and were displeased by the addition of animal rennet to the frozen meal. Others expressed irritation that the dish used sunflower oil instead of olive oil. A few folks commented that the gnocchi was gummy, and the peppercorn pieces overwhelmed the dish. Gnocchi fans are left to make their own conclusions on Trader Joe's Cacio E Pepe Gnocchi if they can find it.