My Irish Eyes Are Smiling at This New $2.99 Trader Joe’s Find

This product is only available through the holidays, so enjoy it while you can.

Potatoes and blue cheese are an ingredient combination sent straight from heaven. A potato vodka martini with blue cheese-stuffed olives? Iconic. Creamy mashed potatoes with tangy blue cheese swirled in? A work of art. So imagine my surprise (and delight!) when I found this swoon-worthy pairing in the aisles of Trader Joe’s.

There are few things I love more in this life than a crisp, salty potato chip and a funky blue cheese. TJ's has combined the best of both worlds with their new Cashel Blue® Cheese Irish Potato Chips, which are available for a limited time. You can get a 5.5-ounce bag for $2.99. If that sounds like a small bag, you’re right. It’s about half the size of a standard bag of chips, but perhaps for good reason. Once you pop open a bag of these savory, rich, crispy, and salty chips, it’s nearly impossible to stop devouring them.

Trader Joe’s Cashel Blue Cheese Irish Potato Chips

• Price: $2.99 for a 5.5-ounce bag
• Why I Love Them: These savory, rich chips taste better than the best sour cream and onion chip you've ever had, but way more sophisticated. They have ridges and are sturdy enough for dipping, but you'll probably just want to eat the whole bag on its own.

Why I Love Trader Joe's Blue Cheese Potato Chips

As a big fan of Irish crisps, one thing that surprised me about these was their shape. They are decidedly thick and have ridges, making them a good option for snacking or dipping. The weight of the chip is worth noting. While they are shatteringly crisp, they have a texture that you can really sink your teeth into and would stand up quite well to a little crème fraîche and caviar if you’re feeling fancy. 

The chips are coated in a generous amount of a buttery, funky, cheesy coating derived from Cashel Blue® (note the trademark!), one of the most famous cheeses produced in the Emerald Isle. Cashel Blue® is a robust, semi-soft blue cheese that has been made in the same style for 40 years in County Tipperary. It’s bold but more approachable than a classic Stilton. Think more round and buttery, less funky and pungent. The taste is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced in a chip, but if I had to try to describe it, I would say it tastes like the best sour cream and onion chip you’ve ever had, but slightly better and way more sophisticated. 

According to the Trader Joe’s website, they will only be available throughout the holidays, so be sure to stock up now for all your snacking needs! They would be fantastic on a cheese or charcuterie board and would take any onion dip to the next level.

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