Lifestyle Food PEOPLE Food Awards 2019: The Best Supermarket Products of the Year PEOPLE editors ate, drank and cooked more than 1,200 different items to find the most delicious new grocery products. By Hannah Chubb and Sonal Dutt Sonal Dutt Instagram Twitter Sonal Dutt is the food and lifestyle director of PEOPLE, overseeing the food, travel and home editorial team. She launched People.com's first lifestyle-focused vertical and celebrity recipe mobile app in 2013. Previously, she was the executive lifestyle editor at Every Day with Rachael Ray and Senior Lifestyle Editor at Woman's Day, and held editorial positions at InStyle, For Me and Details. The Virginia native graduated from James Madison University with degrees in Communications and English, and has a master's degree in Magazine Journalism from New York University. Her passions include cooking, boybands and NFL football. People Editorial Guidelines Published on July 2, 2019 06:00 AM Share Tweet Pin Email We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. 01 of 55 Introducing the PEOPLE Food Awards 2019! Levi Brown Grocery shelves are packed with products promising great taste, easy preparation and healthy benefits—but do they really deliver? To find out, PEOPLE editors ate, drank and cooked more than 1,200 different items to find the most delicious new supermarket foods. Make room in your shopping cart this week because these winners—all featured in the July 15th issue of PEOPLE— are worth it. 02 of 55 WINNER: BEST PASTA Brian Henn Rao's Homemade Linguine Slow-dried with a subtly bumpy texture, the noodles cook up perfectly al dente—firm, chewy, delicious—and absorb the ideal amount of sauce. "I added 20 bags to my wedding registry," raved one tester. Buy It! $3; raos.com 03 of 55 WINNER: BEST SOUP Campbell's Well Yes! Sweet Corn & Roasted Poblano Slightly sweet and smoky, it heats up in 2 minutes in the microwave and has a sippable spout. "Stash it in your desk—it's the best work lunch," said a tester. Buy It! $2 each; amazon.com 04 of 55 WINNER: BEST MEAL KIT Food Network Kitchen Inspirations Korean-Style BBQ Kit Just add steak (or chicken or tofu)—the flavorful rice, kimchi and sauce are included. "You can't mess this up," promised a tester. Buy It! $4; foodnetworkkitcheninspirations.com 05 of 55 WINNER: BEST PASTA SAUCE BRIAN HENN Barilla Vero Gusto Calabrian Marinara The Italian peppers add a natural sweetness—not the sugary kind you find in some other jarred sauces—and a hint of heat. Buy It! $6 for 20 oz.; publix.com 06 of 55 WINNER: BEST PLANT-BASED RightRice Garlic Herb The fast-cooking kernels—made with lentils, chickpeas and green peas—won't turn mushy when cooked or reheated the next day. Plus each serving has 10g of protein. Buy It! $4 for 7 oz.; amazon.com 07 of 55 WINNER: BEST CANNED BEANS S&W Indian Style Savory Sides "I could've eaten this out of the can by itself!" a staffer gushed about these flavorful garbanzo beans stewed with peppers, onions and curry. Buy It! $1.59; fredmeyer.com 08 of 55 WINNER: BEST WRAP Angelic Bakehouse Garden Wraps: Turmeric Sweet Potato Made with sprouted whole grains and packed with protein and fiber, they'll add great flavor to lunch or weeknight enchiladas. Buy It! $4.49 for 6; angelicbakehouse.com 09 of 55 WINNER: BEST RICE KIT Brian Henn Goya Paella Rice, seasoning and seafood—it's all in the box! Testers raved about the easy-to-follow directions (it's ready in three steps!) and flavorful results. "It brought me back to my days in Barcelona," said one staffer. Buy It! $7; walmart.com 10 of 55 WINNER: BEST COOKIES Brian Henn Fudge Covered Oreo Cloaked in a layer of chocolate, the sandwich cookies are "sweet but not too sweet," said a staffer. "The fudge shell also helps keep the wafers crispy when you dunk them in milk." Buy It! $3.29 for 12; target.com 11 of 55 WINNER: BEST CANDY BAR Brian Henn M&M's Crispy Milk Chocolate Bar It's like two treats in one: Each chunky square of this bar is generously studded with colorful, crispy candies. Buy It! $1.68; walmart.com 12 of 55 WINNER: BEST CAKE MIX Brian Henn Trader Joe's Mochi Cake Mix A cross between traditional cake and Japanese mochi (a sweet, rice-based dough), the results are delightfully custardy and bouncy with chewy, browned edges. Buy It! $4; traderjoes.com 13 of 55 WINNER: BEST GUMMY CANDY Levi Brown Black Forest Gummy Bears "I didn't know gummy bears could taste so good!" a tester said of these soft, chewy candies made with real fruit juice and plant-based colors. Buy It! $3.49 for 8 oz.; walmart.com 14 of 55 WINNER: BEST POTATO CHIPS Levi Brown Cape Cod Waves Sea Salt Salty, crunchy and sturdy enough for dipping, this is the classic chip at its best. "I could polish off a bag in one sitting," said one staffer. Buy It! $3.79 for 7.5 oz.; target.com 15 of 55 WINNER: BEST POPCORN Brian Henn SkinnyPop Sweet & Salty Kettle Popcorn Every fluffy kernel is lightly sweet, slightly salty and super-crunchy. Gobble them up by the handful—it clocks in at only 140 calories for a 2½ cup serving. Buy It! $4.29 for 5.3 oz.; shop.skinnypop.com 16 of 55 WINNER: BEST TORTILLA CHIPS Brian Henn Doritos Flamin' Hot Nacho They start with a subtle nacho flavor but follow with a heat that continues to build. They had testers reaching for water and coming back to crunch some more. Buy It! $4.29 for 9.75 oz.; walmart.com 17 of 55 WINNER: BEST CRACKERS Brian Henn Stacy's Cheese Petites: Romano with Garlic & Pepper Baked with real cheese, these bite-size crackers are perfectly salty, crispy and poppable. Buy It! $5 for 4 oz.; walmart.com 18 of 55 WINNER: BEST SNACK BAR Brian Henn KIND Dark Chocolate Almond & Coconut Both crunchy and chewy, each bar is full of roasted almonds and chunky coconut chips and drizzled with dark chocolate. Buy It! $15 for 12 bars; kindsnacks.com 19 of 55 WINNER: BEST NUTS BRIAN HENN Whole Foods Market Kettle-Cooked Cacao Nib Cashews "They taste like candy!" a tester raved about these plump, candied nuts studded with bitter, chocolatey nibs. Buy It! $6 for 8 oz.; wholefoodsmarket.com 20 of 55 WINNER: BEST HOT DOG Nathan's Famous Jalapeño & Cheddar Beef Franks Stuffed with cheese and chiles, the sausages impressed staffers who liked the "meaty flavor that wasn't too salty or spicy." Buy It! $5 for 5; heb.com 21 of 55 WINNER: BEST BACON Levi Brown Pure Farmland Applewood Smoked Bacon Thick and marbled, the strips crisped up perfectly in the pan: "I see a lot of BLTs in my future," said a taster. Buy It! $5 for 10 oz.; target.com, Walmart stores 22 of 55 WINNER: BEST TURKEY BURGER Applegate Organics "The Great Organic Blend Burger": Turkey No dry burgers here! Organic mushrooms are mixed into the patties, helping the turkey meat stay juicy and flavorful. Buy It! $10 for 4; applegate.com 23 of 55 WINNER: BEST FROZEN CHICKEN Perdue SimplySmart Organics: Lightly Breaded Chicken Breast Strips Fully cooked and frozen, the lightly breaded strips take minutes to heat up—and come out plump, crispy and juicy. Buy It! $10 for 24 oz.; target.com 24 of 55 WINNER: BEST TUNA Chicken of the Sea Infusions: Basil Whether served over salad or eaten on its own (there's a fork in the lid!), this wild-caught tuna with olive oil and sweet basil was a lunchtime favorite. Buy It! $2.29 for 2.8 oz; amazon.com 25 of 55 WINNER: BEST JERKY Brian Henn Krave Cracked Peppercorn Gourmet Beef Cuts Tasters gave high marks for "the perfect jerky texture" (not stringy or chewy like others we tried) and bold pepper flavor. Buy It! $6 for 2.7 oz.; cvs.com 26 of 55 WINNER: BEST FROZEN MEAL Levi Brown Amy's Mac & Cheese Meatless Pepperoni Bowl The creamy, cheddar-smothered pasta cooks up remarkably firm and chewy—even in the microwave. Buy It! $4.49; target.com 27 of 55 WINNER: BEST PIZZA CRUST Green Giant Cauliflower Pizza Crust: Tuscan While other veggie crusts got soggy and fell apart, the "wheaty" texture (it's packed with 80 percent cauliflower), Italian spices and cornmeal-crusted base had tasters raving. Buy It! $5; walmart.com 28 of 55 WINNER: BEST BISCUIT Pillsbury Grands! Sweet Hawaiian Biscuits They bake up fluffy, flaky and buttery with just the right amount of pineapple sweetness. "Hello, biscuit of my dreams!" said a tester. Buy It! $2; walmart.com 29 of 55 WINNER: BEST SALAD DRESSING Newman's Own White Balsamic Vinaigrette Staffers raved about its versatility—as a dressing and a marinade—and light, sweet-sour flavor. "It tastes homemade," one said. Bonus: All of the profits from its sale go to charity. Buy It! $4 for 16 oz.; newmansown.com 30 of 55 WINNER: BEST SANDWICH SPREAD Levi Brown Hellmann's Classic Burger Sauce It's a condiment supergroup: Imagine the best of ketchup, mayo, mustard and relish coming together in one special sauce. Buy It! $3.49 for 11 oz.; hellmanns.com 31 of 55 WINNER: BEST RANCH Twisted Ranch Black Peppered Parmesan Get all the satisfaction of tangy ranch dressing with a cheesy, spicy kick. "Eat it with pizza—trust me on this," urged a taster. Buy It! $3.29 for 13 oz.; walmart.com 32 of 55 WINNER: BEST SALSA Brian Henn Pace Pineapple Serrano Chunky Texas Salsa The hearty tomato salsa starts out sweet (that's the pineapple) and builds to a medium-level heat (that's the serrano chile). Buy It! $2.47 for 15 oz.; heb.com 33 of 55 WINNER: BEST NUT BUTTER Justin's Maple Cashew Butter Salty, sweet, creamy, crunchy . . . check, check, check and check! This maple sugar-infused spread is the ultimate craving buster. Buy It! $13 for 12 oz.; shop.justins.com 34 of 55 WINNER: BEST CEREAL Brian Henn Blueberry Cheerios It's the classic Cheerios flavor but with a pop of sweet berries (the O's get that purple tint from a blueberry puree). "I now carry a bag of these in my purse—they're my favorite on-the-go snack," said a staffer. Buy It! $4.79 for 19.5 oz.; target.com 35 of 55 WINNER: BEST BREAD Trader Joe's Pancake Bread Designed to taste like a stack of buttermilk pancakes, the maple-syrup-infused loaf is so buttery and tender it melts in the mouth. "I had to hide it in the garage because my husband and I couldn't stop eating it!" said one tester. Buy It! $4; traderjoes.com 36 of 55 WINNER: BEST BAGEL Levi Brown Silver Hills Bakery Organic Sprouted Power Bagels: Cinnamon Raisin Chewy yet tender with a sweet, slightly malty flavor, they led one tester to declare these "the best grocery-store bagels I've ever had." Buy It! $6 for 5; silverhillsbakery.ca 37 of 55 WINNER: BEST FROZEN WAFFLES Eggo Thick & Fluffy Belgian Style Waffles: Double Chocolatey They're the ultimate morning treat: Our testers said these chocolate-chip-stuffed waffles were "perfectly moist and fluffy" right out of the toaster. Buy It! $3 for 6; walmart.com 38 of 55 WINNER: BEST OATMEAL ThinkThin Protein & Probiotics Hot Oatmeal: Cinnamon Almond Described as "yummy, healthy and convenient," by one tester, the single-serve, protein-packed cups cook up thick and quick in the microwave. Buy It! $2.29 each; amazon.com 39 of 55 WINNER: BEST GREEK YOGURT Chobani Savor Greek Yogurt: Whole Milk Plain "Why didn't someone think of this before?!" asked a staffer, who loved the squeezable, resealable package and tangy-tart flavor. Buy It! $3 for 14 oz.; chobani.com 40 of 55 WINNER: BEST SLICED CHEESE Kerrygold Savory Cheddar Slices A tasty middle ground between sharp and mild cheddar, the buttery, easy-melting cheese is "just begging to be slapped on a grilled cheese." Buy It! $3.89 for 12 slices; kerrygoldusa.com 41 of 55 WINNER: BEST SHREDDED CHEESE Sargento Reserve Series: Aged Gouda Whether served on salad, in tacos or on their own, these buttery shreds got high marks for taste and "easy gooey melting." Buy It! $3 for 6 oz.; sargento.com 42 of 55 WINNER: BEST FLAVORED YOGURT Levi Brown Noosa Mates Lemon Tart Lusciously tart and topped with shortbread crumbles and toasted almonds, the combo was dubbed "better than pie"—and many came back for seconds. Buy It! $2.49 each; meijer.com 43 of 55 WINNER: BEST CREAMER Coffee Mate Natural Bliss Toasted Coconut Creamer Rich and thick with a sweet coconut aroma, it had a staffer describing it best: "You can transform a crappy cup of coffee with one pour." Buy It! $2.79 for 16 oz.; target.com 44 of 55 WINNER: BEST GHEE Brian Henn 4th & Heart Turmeric Ghee Testers praised the clarified butter for its "crazy-good" turmeric flavor, high smoke point and lactose-free properties. Said one: "I can imagine using it in so many different dishes." Buy It! $12.49 for 9 oz.; amazon.com 45 of 55 WINNER: BEST COFFEE Panera at Home Light Roast Ground Coffee It hit the sweet spot: smooth and creamy with faint hints of chocolate. And it doesn't have a bitter aftertaste. Buy It! $9 for 12 oz.; paneraathome.com 46 of 55 WINNER: BEST CANNED COFFEE RISE Brewing Co. Oat Milk Latte Staffers were surprised by the creaminess of this nondairy drink "with the right kick of caffeine." One taster declared: "I'm obsessed with it!" Buy It! $14 for 4-pack; amazon.com 47 of 55 WINNER: BEST TEA Levi Brown Teavana Hot Tea Sachets: Earl Grey Creme The black-tea blend is bold, but it goes down smooth and mellow thanks to notes of sweet, creamy vanilla and a hint of lavender. Buy It! $6 for 15 bags; target.com 48 of 55 WINNER: BEST FLAVORED SPARKLING WATER Brian Henn S.Pellegrino Essenza: Tangerine & Wild Strawberry Staffers gave high marks for the "pleasantly delicate bubbles" and delicious berry and citrus flavor. "And the cans are simply gorgeous!" Buy It! $7 for 8-pack; amazon.com 49 of 55 WINNER: BEST SPARKLING JUICE Brian Henn Welch's Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Rosé Made with green Niagara and purple Concord grapes to create a soft blush color, it's a refreshing blend of fizzy and fruity. "I would serve this at a party or barbecue—instead of just serving soda, it's a fun alternative to champagne or other boozy bubbles," said a tester. Buy It! $3 for 25.4 fl oz.; target.com 50 of 55 WINNER: BEST LEMONADE Brian Henn Minute Maid PLUS+ Antioxidants Tropical Lemonade The combination of tart lemon and apple with sweet mango, orange and pineapple made this blend a favorite with our adult and kid tasters. Buy It! $4 for 6-pack; cvs.com 51 of 55 WINNER: BEST NON-DAIRY ICE CREAM Levi Brown Jeni's Frosé Sorbet Made for summer days, this frozen rosé is delicately fruity and sweet, with just the right blend of fresh pear, strawberry, watermelon and tart lemon. Buy It! $12 a pint; shop.jenis.com 52 of 55 WINNER: BEST ICE CREAM Talenti Gelato Layers: Salted Caramel Truffle Go on, indulge! The pints are stacked with salted-caramel gelato, chocolate-cookie crumbles, dulce de leche caramel, sea-salt gelato and chocolate-caramel truffles. Buy It! $6 a pint; target.com 53 of 55 WINNER: BEST ICE CREAM BAR BRIAN HENN Snickers Dark Ice Cream Bar "My family ate them on movie night. We can't remember the movie, but we still talk about dessert," a tester said of this dark-chocolate bar filled with peanut butter-chocolate ice cream, peanuts and caramel. Buy It! $4.19 for 6; walmart.com 54 of 55 WINNER: BEST SINGLE-SERVE ICE CREAM Brian Henn Blue Bunny Load'd Sundaes: Cherry Cheesecake Dessert for one! Get cheesecake ice cream, cherry sauce swirls, graham cracker pieces and cherry-coated candies in every spoonful. Buy It! $3 for 8.5 oz.; bluebunny.com 55 of 55 WINNER: BEST NOVELTY Brian Henn Ben & Jerry's Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Chunks They're the same edible, frozen dough balls found in Ben & Jerry's popular ice creams but now available on their own in ready-to-snack bags. Buy It! $7 for 8 oz.; benjerry.com