Over the years, many Trader Joe’s products have earned cult status. A viral one, Unexpected Cheddar Cheese, won the store’s Customer Choice Award for the best cheese year after year and was inducted into the Product Hall of Fame in 2023. The cheese’s success resulted in the creation of an Unexpected line at the franchise, which includes Unexpected Cheddar Cheese Spread, Unexpected Cheddar Chicken Sausage, Shredded Unexpected Cheddar Cheese, and Unexpected Cheddar Cheese & Turkey Sausage Egg White Bites.
What makes the cheese unexpected? According to Trader Joe’s, the name alludes to the complex and surprising flavor profile—beneath the aged cheddar flavor is a subtle, tangy parmesan note and crumbly crystalline texture. But does Unexpected Cheddar truly live up to its fame and un-expectations? Do its subsidiaries equal its unexpectedness? After all, Trader Joe’s has released limited edition Unexpected Cheddars in the past, such as Holiday Cheer Unexpected Cheddar Cheese Spread with cranberries, Riesling wine, and cinnamon as well as Hatch Chile Unexpected Cheddar Cheese Spread.
Intrigued by this buzz, I taste-tested five Unexpected products. Here are my opinions:
Unexpected Cheddar Cheese
The description Trader Joe’s gives of the line’s namesake is accurate. It has the creaminess of a young cheddar, which then turns into a crumbly and crystalline parmesan texture. This cheddar-to-parmesan transformation is a surprise and gives Unexpected Cheddar an interesting kick. I tried it with Trader Joe’s pairing recommendation and influencer Gwyneth Yuma’s favorite, fig and olive crisps, and the pairing was a delight. At $3.99 for seven ounces, there isn’t much to complain about price-wise. Consumers are definitely getting more than what they’re paying for with this budget-friendly option.
Unexpected Cheddar Cheese Spread
The spread is Trader Joe’s classic Unexpected Cheddar whipped with salted butter. While influencer Nicolle Laviolette of ConVino Board calls the spread “dangerously addicting,” I found it to be a bit too dense and lacking flavor balance—which isn’t all that surprising as the dip is cheese and butter. It has the texture of a pub cheese but lacks the acid needed to offset the richness. Many online, such as influencer Jen Curley, have gotten creative and used the spread as a quick and easy mac-and-cheese sauce hack. I tested this out and will say it’s a true time-saver. It makes a parm-forward mac that may not be showstopping, but definitely excuses preparing a roux.
Shredded Unexpected Cheddar
The shredded form of the cheese is, well, grated Unexpected Cheddar. It retains its flavor—that creamy cheddar and parm-y tang—yet, I found there was a bit less uniformity in the shredded bits compared to a typical shredded cheese. Probably due to its crumbly texture.
Unexpected Cheddar Chicken Sausage
Trader Joe’s describes this chicken sausage as “nothing short of astonishing.” I, on the other hand, would say it’s a skip. Aside from the Unexpected Cheddar, the sausage also contains caramelized onions and red peppers. However, I found the only distinguishable component was the red pepper. The Unexpected Cheddar flavor is, frankly, imperceptible. It seemed like Trader Joe’s has started to lose sight of the Unexpected plot with this one.
Unexpected Cheddar Cheese & Turkey Sausage Egg White Bites
I’ll admit these bites are convenient. They come in a practical tray that goes in the microwave for one minute. Then after a minute’s rest, the bites are ready for “gobbling on the go,” as Trader Joe’s says.
As easy as these bites are to make, their taste is up for debate. The sausage sits on top of the bite instead of mixed evenly throughout, and the flavor is underwhelming. It could be more rewarding to add shredded Unexpected Cheddar to scrambled eggs, if you’re looking for that cheese-and-egg combo. (Although I acknowledge that reasonably-priced eggs have been hard to acquire in this economy.)
As a self-proclaimed Unexpected Cheddar expert, I feel I now have the credentials to answer the big question—is this cheese really unexpected? Yes and no. The original Unexpected Cheddar Cheese is solid in flavor and texture. It’s economical and a great budget cheese to grab. Somewhere along the way, though, Trader Joe’s missed the mark with the Unexpected collection. The products don’t seem unexpected.
You’re better off forgoing the spin-offs and incorporating the OG Unexpected Cheddar into different dishes yourself. Try our pistachio-sharp cheddar shortbread, pear and cheddar pancakes, or lean into the unexpected theme with fudge brownies with cheddar.
Claire Fan
Claire Fan is an editorial intern for Culture Magazine and is based in Providence, Rhode Island, where she is a senior at Brown University. Claire has dabbled in recipe testing, food styling, and writing and her work can be found on her blog saltandsesame.com. She can often be found knitting, reading fiction, or eating sandwiches.
