Lifestyle Food PEOPLE's Food Awards 2022: The 65 Best Supermarket Products of the Year Our testers ate, drank and cooked nearly 1,300 different products to find the most delicious new foods in the grocery store By 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 and Sabrina Weiss Sabrina Weiss Instagram Editorial Assistant, PEOPLE People Editorial Guidelines Published on June 22, 2022 12:00 PM Share Tweet Pin Email We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. PEOPLE's Food Awards 2022 Antonis Achilleos With more than 150 testers from 32 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, our discerning group ate, drank, cooked and rated all the new supermarket products to find the best of the best. The result: PEOPLE's third annual list of foods truly worthy of adding to your grocery cart—virtual or in-person! WINNER: BEST BREAD courtesy Dave's Killer Bread Epic Everything Organic Breakfast Bread Studded with garlic, onion, sea salt and sesame seeds, the hearty loaf "is even better than an everything bagel!" raved a tester. The bread also packs 9 grams of whole grains per serving. Buy it! $6.50, daveskillerbread.com WINNER: BEST OATMEAL courtesy Mush Vanilla Almond Crunch Ready to Eat Oats Don't be fooled by its name: "The texture is just right— not too mushy or dry," a tester said of the overnight oats with dates, nuts, vanilla and a hint of sea salt. It "taste like a snickerdoodle," said a staffer. Buy it! $2.50, target.com WINNER: BEST CHOCOLATE CEREAL Antonis Achilleos Marshmallow Cocoa Pebbles "I finished the box in two days!" an enthusiastic tester said of the crispy chocolate rice cereal studded with mini cocoa-flavored meringues. Buy it! $4, postpebblescereal.com WINNER: BEST WAFFLE Antonis Achilleos Eggo Grab & Go Liége-Style Waffles Buttery Maple Inspired by the popular Belgian street food, the individually wrapped brioche waffles have pearl sugar mixed throughout the dough, so they don't need syrup. Buy it! $6, target.com WINNER: BEST CEREAL courtesy Strawberry Banana Cheerios The real strawberry and banana puree give the classic O cereal a bright pop of flavor. "It's sweet without tasting sugary," said a tester. "My picky kindergartner is mad for them." Buy it! $5, walmart.com WINNER: FRENCH TOAST courtesy Belgian Boys Brioche French Toast Simply pop it in the toaster! The fluffy brioche slices are presoaked, baked and flash-frozen so "they look and taste homemade," said one staffer. Buy it! $5, target.com WINNER: COLA courtesy Coca-Cola with Coffee Mocha Testers praised the "instant pick-me-up!" Infused with coffee and a hint of chocolate, the soda has 69 milligrams of caffeine (that's double the caffeine of regular Coke!) with all the Coca-Cola flavor. Buy it! $2.50, coca-cola.com WINNER: FLAVORED WATER courtesy LaCroix Cherry Blossom "It's like spring in a can," said a staffer, who gave the bubbly seltzer high marks for its fruity, "lightly floral" notes. "It's exactly what you want at a backyard barbecue." Buy it! $4, target.com WINNER: TEA Jen Causey Pure Leaf Lower Sugar Subtly Sweet Peach Tea Made with real tea leaves and only 5 grams of sugar per serving, this refreshing, peach-flavored brew still hit the sweet spot with testers. Buy it! $2 for 1 and $24 for 12-pack, walmart.com WINNER: JUICE courtesy Naked Orange Vanilla Créme The creamy blend of almond milk, fruit puree and vanilla "reminds me of an orange Creamsicle from my youth," said one nostalgic tester. Buy it! $3, kroger.com WINNER: COFFEE courtesy La Colombe Coffee Nitro Extra Bold Cold Brew Praise poured in for the "super smooth coffee without any bitterness." With its slightly foamy top and deep coffee flavor, one tester proclaimed it "the best cold brew I've ever tasted. Ever!" Buy it! $3 for 1 and $25 for 12-pack, lacolombe.com WINNER: CREAM CHEESE Jen Causey Philadelphia Whipped Cream Cheese Garlic & Herb "Light, fluffy and spreadable," the garlic- and parsley-flecked dip is ideal for slathering on bagels, crackers and crudités—even right out of the fridge. Buy it! $4, walmart.com WINNER: CHEDDAR CHEESE courtesy Sartori Old World Cheddar Testers young and old gave it high ratings for "its sharp, buttery taste" and creamy texture. "It melts like a dream," said one staffer about the Wisconsin-made and European-inspired cheese. Buy it! $7, sartoricheese.com WINNER: FLAVORED CHEESE courtesy Boursin Caramelized Onion & Herbs Studded with dried onions, parsley and chives, the "creamy, soft" cheese is "simply delicious in every way." Buy it! $7, kroger.com WINNER: YOGURT Antonis Achilleos Oui Creamy Mocha & Chocolate Yogurt With flecks of espresso powder and chocolate shavings, it received perfect scores from staffers: "It's like a luxurious tiramisu in a jar!" Buy it! $1.50, ouibyyoplait.com WINNER: ICE CREAM BAR Antonis Achilleos Magnum Ice Cream Almond Duet Bars Fully-dunked in milk chocolate and chopped nuts and then half-dipped in dark chocolate, the almond ice cream pop with brown sugar almond butter swirls is the ultimate cravings buster. Buy it! $4.50, magnumicecream.com WINNER: ICE CREAM Antonis Achilleos Tillamook Butter Pecan Ice Cream "I begged my husband to hide it because I couldn't stop going back for more — it's that good," said a tester who loved the buttery ice cream base mixed with salted pecans. Buy it! $6, tillamook.com WINNER: MASHUP ICE CREAM courtesy Hudsonville & Little Debbie Cosmic Brownies Ice Cream There's a scoop of nostalgia in every spoonful of this brownie batter ice cream dotted with rainbow chips and brownie chunks. Buy it! $2.50, walmart.com WINNER: FROZEN YOGURT courtesy Noosa Chocolate Fudge Frozen Yoghurt Gelato The yogurt brand's first frozen dessert offering is a "creamy and decadent" treat with chocolate shards and fudge ribbons that impressed our testers: "I had a hard time putting [the pint] down." Buy it! $5, target.com WINNER: CHICKEN Antonis Achilleos Perdue Chicken Plus Tots The juicy combo of white-meat chicken, cauliflower, chickpeas, cabbage and potatoes covered in a crunchy panko coating made it a star with parents. "No one noticed the veggies!" Buy it! $7, perdue.com WINNER: FISH courtesy Gorton's Seafood Ancient Grains Crusted Fish Fillets "This is not your grandma's fish stick," said one tester, who praised the crispy quinoa crust and flaky white Alaska pollock, that is flash-frozen at peak freshness to lock in nutrition and flavor. Buy it! $6.50, gortons.com WINNER: TURKEY courtesy Butterball Boneless Turkey Breast Roast Don't wait until Thanksgiving! The refrigerated, bone-free cut "roasts up golden and moist" in about 90 minutes. Buy it! $5.50 per lb., butterball.com WINNER: HOT DOG Jen Causey Applegate Naturals the Do Good Dog With all the snap and none of the nitrates, the meaty all-beef franks are made for cookouts. "It's a real wiener — er, winner!" joked a tester. Buy it! $7, hy-vee.com WINNER: CRACKERS courtesy Goldfish Mega Bites Cheddar Jalapeño Double the size, double the love! Testers of all ages were fans of the extra-large crackers with a "subtly spicy kick." Buy it! $3, target.com WINNER: SNACK CAKES Entenmann's Minis Sprinkled Iced Brownie They're the ultimate lunchbox dessert: Staffers said the chocolate frosting-topped cakes are "perfectly fudgy and moist." Buy it! $5, entenmanns.com WINNER: SNACK BITES courtesy Bear Naked Honey Oat Crunchy Bites Granola on the go! Pumpkin seeds, whole grain oats, puffed millet and honey are rolled into "delightfully crunchy" clusters. Buy it! $5, bearnaked.com WINNER: POTATO CHIPS courtesy Lay's Layers Sour Cream & Onion Described as a "cross between a puff and a chip," these potato crisps pack more sour cream and onion flavor because of their "fluffy" shape and texture. Buy it! $4, target.com WINNER: COOKIES courtesy Keebler Chips Deluxe Fudge Dipped Duos With a thick chocolate base and generous smattering of chocolate chips, "it's like getting the best of two cookies in one bite," said a staffer. "The bottom shell also stops it from getting soggy when you dunk it in milk." Buy it! $4, target.com WINNER: TORTILLA CHIPS Greg DuPree Hippeas Tortilla Chips Sea Salt & Lime Made with chickpea and corn flour, they're crispy, salty and "sturdy enough for dipping into guacamole." Buy it! $5, kroger.com WINNER: CHOCOLATE BAR Twix Salted Caramel "That extra hit of salt takes it to the next level," a staffer gushed of this new twist on the classic candy layered with shortbread, caramel and milk chocolate. Buy it! $1.50, walmart.com WINNER: CHEESE SNACK Greg DuPree Cheez-It Puff'd Double Cheese Testers rewarded the "supremely airy" squares with high marks for their bold cheddar flavor: "They're worth your fingers turning orange!" Buy it! $4, walmart.com WINNER: NUTS courtesy Good & Gather Dill Pickle Cashews The mix of tangy, briny flavor and salty, buttery cashews had testers coming back for more. Buy it! $4, target.com WINNER: PEANUT BUTTER CUP courtesy Reese's Peanut Butter Big Cups Stuffed with Potato Chips "It's the candy mashup of my dreams,"said a staffer, who praised the "crackly chunks of chips" folded into the peanut butter filling. Buy it! $2, walmart.com WINNER: DIPPING SAUCE Jen Causey Tabasco Sweet & Spicy Sauce Get all the satisfaction of the classic hot sauce with a tangy, fruity kick (from pear puree!). "I only wish it came in purse-size," one tester said Buy it! $5, walmart.com WINNER: DRESSING courtesy Kraft Deluxe Dressing Bold Caesar "It could easily pass for homemade," said a staffer, who enjoyed the robust blend of garlic, Parmesan andDijon mustard in the creamy dressing. . Buy it! $4, walmart.com WINNER: HOT SAUCE courtesy Red Clay Peach Hot Sauce Our testers praised the medium-hot combo of sweet peaches, smoky habaneros and tart apple cider vinegar. One tester reported, "We poured it liberally on everything: chicken, burgers and even salad!" Buy it! $12, redclayhotsauce.com WINNER: TZATZIKI Jen Causey La Terra Fina Tzatziki with Feta Spread Packed with chunks of feta and flecks of dill, the Greek yogurt and cucumber dip is "so good, I could eat it out of the container with a spoon." Buy it! $5, laterrafina.com WINNER: MUSTARD Antonis Achilleos French's Creamy Yellow Mustard Spread Mustard fans enjoyed the sharp, "familiar" flavor from mustard seeds, turmeric and garlic powder while appreciating the "thicker, heartier" texture. Buy it! $3, stopandshop.com WINNER: MAYONNAISE Jen Causey Hellmann's Spicy Mayonnaise Dressing Spiked with paprika and hot cayenne pepper, this revved-up mayo makes deviled eggs, BLTs and pasta salads even better. Buy it! $4.50 for 11.5 oz., target.com WINNER: CHILI CRISP Antonis Achilleos Momofuku Original Chili Crunch The mix of three Mexican chilis (pulla, chili de arbol and japones), garlic, shallots and sesame seeds swimming in a pool of spicy red oil received perfect scores from every tester in the group. "Five stars simply doesn't seem like enough!" Buy it! $13, target.com WINNER: BARBECUE SAUCE courtesy Bachan's Yuzu Japanese Barbecue Sauce The sweet-tang balance is right on thanks to the mixture of citrusy yuzu juice and umami-rich soy sauce. It's "dynamite" on stir-fries and noodles or as a glaze for grilled meats and seafood. Buy it! $10, amazon.com WINNER: CAKE MIX Duncan Hines Dolly Parton's Southern Style Coconut Cake The country music icon's mix bakes up "soft and fluffy" with a "sweet but not overpowering" coconut flavor. Buy it! $2, heb.com WINNER: TINNED SEAFOOD Freshé Moroccan Tagine Salmon, chickpeas, vegetables and quinoa come together in this "light but filling" meal. "It's yummy on its own or over a salad," said a tester. "It's my new favorite lunch." Buy it! $4 for 1 and $40 for 10-pack, amazon.com WINNER: BOXED MAC & CHEESE Antonis Achilleos Cabot Macaroni & Cheese Classic Yellow Cheddar Staffers raved about the "perfectly al dente" shells, which "cradled" the creamy sauce. "The cheesiness did not disappoint," said a tester. "My kids gobbled it up!" Buy it! $2, dakinfarm.com WINNER: BAKING MIX Krusteaz Sweet Corn Muffin & Cornbread Mix Our testers gave the crumbly cornbread high marks for being "exceptionally moist" with the right balance of salt and "fresh corn flavor." Buy it! $3, kroger.com WINNER: PASTA SAUCE courtesy Bertolli d'Italia Cacio e Pepe Described as "silky and luscious," the classic Alfredo sauce is amped up with cracked black pepper and aged Pecorino Romano cheese. Buy it! $4.50, hannaford.com WINNER: SIDE DISH A Dozen Cousins Caribbean Coconut Rice Seasoning Sauce Cook rice, water and the savory-sweet sauce mixture in a pot, and you'll soon have "the best-tasting side dish ever," promised a tester. Buy it! $3.50, target.com WINNER: ROLLS courtesy King's Hawaiian Sweet Pretzel Buns "Do you even need the burger?!" asked a tester, who loved the "chewy, salty" pretzel crust and "tender and subtly sweet" bread. Buy it! $5, target.com WINNER: BAKING CHIPS courtesy Hershey's Cream Cheese Flavored Baking Chips Move over, chocolate chips! These tangy, quick-melting pieces are "super easy to bake with or eat right out of the bag," said a staffer. . Buy it! $4, hersheys.com WINNER: MEAL KIT Antonis Achilleos Old El Paso Street Taco Kit Asado Chicken The pack includes flour tortillas, "not-too-spicy" jalapeño sauce and a flavor-packed roasted garlic and chili pepper rub. "My wife asked me to make them every Taco Tuesday," said a tester . Buy it! $5, walmart.com WINNER: DOUGH courtesy Pillsbury Pull-Apart Kit Monkey Bread "I see why it's called monkey bread—my family went bananas for it," a staffer said of the gooey, caramel-sauce-smothered dessert. Buy it! $6, stopandshop.com WINNER: FROZEN SIDE DISH courtesy Green Giant Mashed Cauliflower Cheddar with Bacon Speckled with bacon bits and melty cheese, it's classic comfort food "without that overwhelming cauliflower smell" and fewer calories than traditional mashed potatoes. Buy it! $6, amazon.com WINNER: FROZEN POTATOES courtesy 365 by Whole Foods Market Potato Poppers Staffers were pleasantly surprised by their crispiness out of the oven, with one declaring them a "fluffier version of Tater Tots." Buy it! $2, wholefoodsmarket.com WINNER: FROZEN DINNER KIT courtesy Trader Joe's Tteok Bok Ki Boiled, sautéed or air-fried, the mini rice cakes tossed in a spicy gochujang sauce made an "easy and tasty" Korean dish in a pinch. Buy it! $4, traderjoes.com WINNER: CAULIFLOWER CRUST PIZZA Jen Causey Caulipower BBQ Chicken Stone-Fired Cauliflower Crust Pizza Our pizza purists were impressed with the "wheat-like," vegetable-based crust topped with white meat chicken, red onions, mozzarella and barbecue sauce. Buy it! $12, eatcaulipower.com WINNER: FROZEN BISCUITS Antonis Achilleos Red Lobster Ready to Bake Cheddar Bay Biscuits This at-home version of Red Lobster's fan-favorite biscuit lived up to our testers' high expectations. "Yummy, carby, cheesy, all the things they should be," said a staffer of the "pillowy biscuits" brushed with melted garlic-herb butter. Buy it! $5, walmart.com WINNER: FROZEN PIZZA courtesy Chuck E. Cheese Frozen Pizza Pepperoni Even without the animatronic mouse, this pie delighted (and shocked!) skeptics, who gave points for a crispy crust and "generous layer of cheese and pepperoni." Buy it! $7, ralphs.com WINNER: FROZEN WRAPS courtesy Saffron Road Samosa with Chickpeas Artisan Wrap A riff on the popular Indian snack, potatoes, chickpeas and peas are simmered in a thick, spiced tomato curry and wrapped in a soft flatbread Buy it! $3, giantfood.com WINNER: FRESH MEAL KIT courtesy Farmer's Fridge Burrito Bowl Layered with cilantro-lime brown rice, corn, black beans, quinoa, bell peppers, salsa and guacamole, "it tastes super fresh, like they made it this morning." Buy it! $7, farmersfridge.com WINNER: MEAT-FREE CHICKEN courtesy Beyond Chicken Tenders Whether they're prepared in the oven, air fryer or microwave, the faux-chicken pieces are packed with flavor and protein. The only complaint testers had with these "juicy" and "shockingly chicken-like" tenders: "It's too easy to eat the entire pack in one sitting." Buy it! $5, beyondmeat.com WINNER: PLANT-BASED FROZEN DESSERT Antonis Achilleos Kind Frozen Treat Bar Mint Chocolate Almond & Nut Creamy dairy-free mint ice cream is topped with dark chocolate chunks and drizzles, chopped almonds and a layer of nut butter. "There's nothing vegan-tasting about this!" said one staffer. Buy it! $5.50, target.com WINNER: ALTERNATIVE MILK courtesy Silk Nextmilk Whole Fat "It's super-rich and creamy so I didn't miss the dairy at all," a staffer said about the blend of oat and coconut milks. "It's as close to real milk as I've tasted." Buy it! $5, silk.com WINNER: VEGAN CHEESE courtesy Violife Mexican Style Shreds It got high marks for its melting ability ("not greasy at all!") and closely mimicking the flavors of cheddar, mozzarella and Monterey Jack cheeses. Buy it! $5, safeway.com WINNER: PLANT-BASED COOKIE Greg DuPree Tate's Bake Shop Vegan Vanilla Maple Cookies Staffers were bowled over by the "crispy snap" and pure maple flavor of these dairy-free cookies. Asked one baffled taster: "How do they make such buttery cookies without any butter?" Buy it! $6.50, target.com WINNER: NON-DAIRY CREAM courtesy Country Crock Plant Cream When you're looking to cut down your dairy consumption but don't want to sacrifice creamy flavors, this vegan cream does the trick. It's excellent for thickening soups and sauces and for making milk-free whipped cream. Buy it! $4, countrycrock.com