Best Things to Buy at H-E-B: My Favorite Texas Grocery Finds

After living in New Jersey for about eight years, moving to Texas came with a lot of little discoveries—and H-E-B was definitely one of them. After shopping there regularly, I’ve slowly put together my own list of the best things to buy at H-E-B—at least, based on what I actually bring home and use.

I kept hearing about H-E-B from people around me. Everyone seemed to love it for the quality, huge selection, and reasonable prices, so of course I had to see what all the hype was about. The first thing that surprised me was just how big the store was. The second was the prices.

The overall cost of living in Texas hasn’t felt dramatically different from New Jersey, but grocery shopping is one area where I’ve definitely noticed a difference. I shop for groceries every week, and based purely on my own experience, my grocery bills here can sometimes feel about a third cheaper than what I was used to paying in New Jersey.

As a Korean, I still shop at H Mart pretty regularly for Korean ingredients and groceries. But interestingly, I don’t find myself going to Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s nearly as often as I did when I lived in New Jersey. H-E-B simply has so much to choose from, and I’ve also been really impressed by the quality of many of their own products.

It has quickly become one of my go-to places for weekly grocery shopping, and along the way, I’ve found quite a few products that I now buy over and over again.

So today, I’m sharing some of my favorite H-E-B products—the ones that have actually made it into my regular grocery rotation.

🥯H-E-B Bakery Blueberry Bagels — $2.98 for 4

Living in New York while I was in school definitely made me a bagel person. 🗽🥯 I used to grab bagels all the time, but after moving to Texas, I quickly realized that finding a good bagel shop nearby wasn’t quite as easy.

One day, I was browsing the bakery section at H-E-B and spotted their blueberry bagels. 🫐 A pack of four was only $2.98, so honestly, I wasn’t expecting too much—but for that price, I was definitely curious enough to give them a try. 😅

They ended up being so much better than I expected! You won’t find huge chunks of blueberries inside, but there are lots of little blueberries throughout the bagel. 🫐 The texture is soft and chewy, and to me, they taste much more like a proper bakery-style bagel than many of the packaged bagels you find at grocery stores. I also thought they might be pretty sweet because they’re blueberry, but surprisingly, they’re not overly sweet at all—which I really like.

Since they’re from the bakery section, they don’t stay fresh for very long. My little trick is to slice each bagel in half as soon as I get home and put them straight into the freezer. ❄️ Whenever I want one, I just pop a half into the toaster and have it with cream cheese. So simple, but so good! 🤍 It has become one of my favorite quick and easy breakfasts.

And at $2.98 for four, the price is honestly hard to beat. 💰 I was a little skeptical at first because they were so inexpensive, but after trying them, they officially earned a spot on my must-buy list every time I go to H-E-B. 🛒✨

If you love bagels or just want something quick and easy to keep on hand for breakfast, these are definitely worth trying! 🥯🫐

🥚Central Market Pasture-Raised Large Brown Eggs — 18 Count

Growing up in Korea, I ate brown eggs my entire life, so one of the little things that surprised me when I moved to the U.S. was seeing so many white eggs at the grocery store. 🇰🇷➡️🇺🇸 I was curious and bought a carton to try, but the ones I tried had such a strong eggy smell that I couldn’t even finish them. 😅

That experience actually made me start paying more attention to the different types of eggs sold in the U.S. After trying several options, I eventually started buying pasture-raised eggs, and they’ve been my personal preference ever since. 🐓🌿 I haven’t had the same issue with an unpleasant eggy smell, and I’ve been much happier with the quality.

One of my current favorites is the Central Market Pasture-Raised Large Brown Eggs. You can find some Central Market products at H-E-B, and this is one I was really happy to discover there. This carton comes with 18 large eggs, which is perfect for us since eggs are something we eat almost every day. 🍳

And honestly, the price was one of the biggest surprises! 💰 An 18-count carton is currently listed at $8.87, which I think is a pretty good value for pasture-raised eggs. I’ve bought Vital Farms pasture-raised eggs many times before, so finding another option I really enjoy at a price I’m happy with was such a nice surprise.

The quality has been great, too. ✨ The yolks look rich and fresh, and I really like the texture of the egg whites. Since we go through eggs so quickly, they’re pretty much an automatic addition to my cart every time I grocery shop—and this carton has definitely become one of my favorite H-E-B finds. 🛒

If you already love pasture-raised eggs or your household goes through a lot of eggs during the week, this 18-count carton is definitely worth checking out! 🥚🤍

🥑 H-E-B Mini Hass Avocados — 6 Count

Avocados are always on my grocery list because I use them in so many different ways. 🥑 I usually have them with eggs in the morning, make avocado toast, or use them for guacamole and other dishes.

The only problem I have with regular-sized avocados is that I can rarely finish a whole one by myself. I usually eat half and put the other half in the fridge, but once it starts turning brown, I honestly don’t feel like eating it anymore. 😅

That’s exactly why I love these H-E-B Mini Hass Avocados. They come in a bag of six for $3.48, and the smaller size is perfect for me. One avocado is just enough for a single serving, so I can use the whole thing at once without having a leftover half sitting in the fridge. 🙌

Even though they’re smaller, the taste and texture are just like regular Hass avocados—smooth, creamy, and soft once they’re ripe. 🥑✨

The ones I buy are usually already somewhat ripe, so I normally leave them on the counter for another day or two. Once they reach the ripeness I like, I move them to the refrigerator. ❄️ This has worked really well for me, and I can usually enjoy them over the next couple of weeks without having all six ripen at once.

Since avocados are something I almost always have at home, the mini size just makes so much sense for the way I eat them. They’re convenient, easy to portion, and reasonably priced, which is why this little bag has become another regular on my H-E-B shopping list. 🛒💚

If you love avocados but always end up with half of one left in the fridge, the mini size is definitely worth trying! 🥑

🍅 H-E-B Cloud 9® Medley Tomatoes — 12 oz

Tomatoes are another item that never leaves my grocery list. 🍅 I love adding small tomatoes to pretty much everything, so I always like to have a container in the kitchen.

One thing that has surprised me, though, is how expensive cherry and grape tomatoes can be compared to some other fruits and vegetables. That’s one of the reasons I really like these H-E-B Cloud 9® Medley Tomatoes. A 12 oz container is $3.98, which I think is a really reasonable price for the quality and amount you get. 💰

I also love the mix of colors! 🌈 Instead of being all red, the container has lots of orange and yellow tomatoes mixed in, which instantly makes whatever I’m cooking look a little more colorful and appetizing. It’s such a small detail, but I love how they brighten up a plate. 🍅💛🧡

Flavor-wise, they have everything I want from a good little tomato—they’re sweet, slightly tangy, and full of tomato flavor. The skin is fairly thin, but the tomatoes still have a nice firm bite to them. I usually keep mine at room temperature, and in my experience, they hold up really well without getting soft too quickly. ✨

Lately, one of my favorite ways to eat them is tossed into scrambled eggs for breakfast. 🍳🍅 I also add them to pasta all the time, and I even use them in sandwiches instead of slicing up a large tomato. They’re just so easy to throw into almost anything.

Between the quality, price, and convenience, these have become another product I pick up pretty much every time I shop at H-E-B. 🛒❤️ If you use tomatoes as often as I do—or just want an easy way to add a little more color to your meals—these are definitely worth adding to your cart!

🥩 H-E-B 100% Grass Fed & Finished Ground Beef — 2 lb

This was actually one of the first H-E-B ground beef products I decided to try, and it quickly became one of my favorites. 🥩 The package comes with two individually packed 1 lb portions for $17.99, which is one of the things I really like about it. It makes meal prep so much easier because I can use one pack now and save the other for later.

The first thing I noticed after cooking it was the quality. Compared to some regular ground beef I’ve tried, this one has less of that strong beefy smell, and I personally find the texture much softer and more tender. It’s 85% lean and 15% fat, but surprisingly, I don’t end up with a huge amount of grease in the pan when I cook it. 🙌

I also love how versatile ground beef is, so I use this for all kinds of meals. I’ve made fried rice, homemade burgers, and Korean-style tteokgalbi with it. 🍔🍚 Lately, though, I’ve been really into tacos, so my favorite way to use it is to cook the beef with taco seasoning and make an easy taco bowl at home. 🌮🥑

The package is especially convenient for the way I cook. Since each pound is already separately packed, I usually keep one in the refrigerator if I’m planning to use it soon and put the other straight into the freezer. ❄️ It saves me from having to portion out a big package of ground beef myself.

The package also states that the beef is 100% grass fed and finished, with no antibiotics and no growth hormones ever. 🌱 Those are qualities I personally like to look for when buying beef, so combined with the taste, texture, and convenient packaging, I’ve been really happy with this one.

At $17.99 for 2 lb, it isn’t the cheapest ground beef option, but for the quality and convenience, I think it’s worth it. 🛒✨ If you use ground beef often for quick weeknight meals, burgers, tacos, or meal prep, this is definitely one I’d recommend trying!

🌮 Three Taco Seasonings I Picked Up at H-E-B

Lately, I’ve been really into making taco bowls at home, so of course I had to check out the taco seasoning section at H-E-B. 🌮🥑 There were so many options, but I ended up picking up three familiar brands to try: McCormick, Taco Bell, and Old El Paso.

I haven’t tried all three yet, so I can’t pick a favorite just yet! 😋 But based on their ingredients and how each brand describes the seasoning, they each seem to have a slightly different flavor profile.

🌶️ McCormick 30% Less Sodium Mild Taco Seasoning

This one seems like a great option if you want a milder, spice-forward taco flavor without too much heat. It includes chili pepper, paprika, cumin, onion, and garlic, so I’m expecting that classic warm and savory taco seasoning flavor. Since it’s labeled mild and has 30% less sodium than McCormick’s regular mild taco seasoning, this is probably the one I’d reach for when I want something flavorful but not overly spicy or salty.

🔔 Taco Bell Original Taco Seasoning

If you love that familiar fast-food-style taco flavor, this one sounds fun to try. The seasoning includes chili pepper, garlic, onion, paprika, and other spices, along with ingredients that can add savory and slightly tangy notes. It also has more sodium per listed serving than the two reduced-sodium options here, so I’m expecting a bolder, saltier, more savory flavor. I’m especially curious to see how close it feels to that familiar Taco Bell-style taste! 🌮

💛 Old El Paso 25% Less Sodium Taco Seasoning

This one seems like the most classic and straightforward taco seasoning of the three. It contains chili pepper, onion, and a blend of spices, and it has 25% less sodium than Old El Paso’s original taco seasoning. I’m expecting an easy, familiar Tex-Mex flavor that would work really well for ground beef tacos or a simple taco bowl.

I love that all three have slightly different flavor profiles, so I’m excited to compare them side by side. 🌮✨ Once I’ve tried all three, I’ll have to come back and update this with which one officially becomes my favorite! 😋

🍑 H-E-B Fireglow Plumcots — My Favorite Summer Fruit

Summer is the season when I look forward to peaches and plums the most. 🍑 There are so many different varieties to choose from, but this year, I somehow became completely hooked on plumcots.

I had actually never tried a plumcot before. I spotted these H-E-B Fireglow Plumcots while grocery shopping and picked up a bag simply because I was curious. And I’m not exaggerating when I say I think I’ve bought them almost every single time I’ve gone to H-E-B this summer. 😅🛒

I’ve also seen plumcots at places like Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s, but from the ones I’ve personally tried, the H-E-B ones have been my favorite for the combination of taste, quality, and price. They’re sold by weight, so the total price varies, but I usually see them at around $3.98 per pound.

The flavor is everything I love about summer fruit—sweet, slightly tart, and refreshing. 🍑✨ But what really makes me love them is the texture. They’re crisp and firm rather than overly juicy or soft, which makes them such an easy snack.

I actually tried letting them ripen on the counter when I first started buying them, but they became softer than I personally like. Since I’m definitely a crunchy-fruit person, I now eat them pretty much right after I bring them home. 😋

That’s also one of the reasons I prefer them to regular plums for snacking. Plums can be so juicy that eating one whole can get a little messy, but these plumcots have firmer flesh and are really easy to slice. I usually wash three or four at a time, cut them into bite-sized pieces, and snack on them throughout the day. 🍑🔪

My husband loves them too, so I often pack some in his lunch as a little afternoon snack. 🤍 They’ve become one of those fruits that disappears surprisingly quickly in our house!

If you love sweet-and-tart fruit with a crisp texture, definitely keep an eye out for these during the summer. They’ve easily become one of my favorite H-E-B finds of the season. ☀️🍑

🛒 Final Thoughts on the Best Things to Buy at H-E-B

These are some of the best things to buy at H-E-B based on what I actually bring home, use, and repurchase regularly.

Since moving to Texas, H-E-B has quickly become one of my favorite places to grocery shop. What started as a store I was simply curious about has now become part of my weekly routine. 🤍

From fresh bakery items and produce to everyday staples like eggs and ground beef, I love that I can find almost everything I need in one place—and at prices that often feel very reasonable for the quality.

These are just some of the things that have made it into my regular shopping rotation so far, and I’m sure this list will keep growing as I discover more H-E-B finds. 🛒✨

If you’re new to Texas, visiting H-E-B for the first time, or simply looking for something new to try on your next grocery run, I hope this list gives you a few ideas!

And if you already shop at H-E-B, I’d love to know what’s always in your cart. I’m always looking for something new to try! 😊