The 88-Cent Walmart Find I Always Stock Up On

When dinner plans don’t go as expected—or when I just haven’t made it to the store—I rely on pantry and freezer staples to pull a meal together. But let’s be honest: Those last-minute meals can be a little … bland. No fresh cilantro or parsley to add a pop of color (I eat with my eyes first), no bright squeeze of lemon, or a bite of heat from a pepper—it can be a little sad.  That’s why I always keep a can of Great Value diced jalapeños in my pantry.

At just 88 cents, I never leave Walmart without stocking up on this item. The jalapeños add heat to my Southwest rice and bean salad, chicken adobo soup, and tacos. Sure, fresh jalapeños are ideal, but by the time I need one, it’s usually shriveled and sad in my crisper drawer. 

Why I Love Walmart's Canned Jalapeño Peppers

With a simple ingredient list—just jalapeños, water, salt, and citric acid (as a preservative)—I love that these don’t come with extra spices or mystery ingredients. That means I can swap them in for fresh jalapeños without mucking up my recipe.

If you’ve ever accidentally brushed jalapeño juice into your eye (and then tried to host a dinner party with one eye swollen shut), you know just how careful you need to be around this pepper. With canned jalapeños, there’s no risky chopping, no deveining, and no need to scrub your hands three times to make sure you won’t accidentally set your face on fire. Just pop open the can, drain, and toss them into whatever you’re making.

Another win is that the canned version consistently delivers great flavor. Fresh jalapeños can be unpredictable—one is mild, and the next has me dousing my dinner with sour cream and chugging the milk reserved for my morning coffee. These canned ones are the same every time, so I’m not playing a game of spicy roulette with my dinner.

The four-ounce can holds about two to three whole jalapeños, perfect for my “one to two pepper” taste buds. It adds just the right amount of kick to most soups, stews, and salads. Or, just spoon out a tablespoon or two as a topping for eggs, tacos, queso, or nachos. And thanks to its pequeño size, it won’t linger in the fridge for long or take up precious space next to that half-empty jar of salsa.

Sure, fresh jalapeños are great when I have them. But when I don’t? These cans are always there, waiting to save the day.

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