I love Trader Joe’s. I know that there will always be something delicious to try.

But even then, I rarely find a new product that makes me want to buy up the whole stock or ask them to order me a case like a true Trader Joe’s fanatic.

Until now.

Trader Joe’s new frozen Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe leapt to the top spot on my weekly dinner list after one bite, and I had it for dinner three nights in a row. It’s that good.

First of all, let’s get this out of the way: This isn’t “real” Cacio e Pepe. Cacio e Pepe – which means simply ‘Cheese and Pepper’ – is a pasta dish made with olive oil (or butter), Parmesan or Pecorino cheese, and plenty of black pepper, all made creamy with a bit of the hot, starchy pasta water.

Trader Joe’s version is much creamier, similar to an Alfredo, but still with plenty of black pepper bite.

It’s also super simple to make. It comes with the sauce in little blocks, and frozen nests of spaghetti. You add a couple of tablespoons of water, the sauce blocks and the pasta nests to a skillet, and cook for less than ten minutes, until it all melts into creamy, cheesy, peppery heaven.

The one piece of advice I have is that, 2-3 minutes before the end of cooking, you use tongs or two forks to gently pull apart the nests. That will ensure the pasta softens enough so you can toss it in the sauce.

As far as portions, this doesn’t make that much. It can serve two adults (or one really hungry one) if served alone or with a side salad. As a side dish, it could probably stretch to four.

As far as whether or not this is seasonal, it’s a new product, so time will tell. If it sells well, it could stay in the rotation, or they could keep it as a Fall or Winter product.

Price: $3.99
Seasonal: Unsure
Buy again: Absolutely