10 Publix Items First-Timers Must Not Skip

Publix is an iconic grocery chain. The chain's tagline back in the day was "where shopping is a pleasure," and that's spot on. Growing up in South Florida, I am familiar with everything about Publix. From being a child pushed in the shopping cart to shopping for my own family as an adult, Publix is it. I never realized how special the grocery chain was until I brought someone to a store who had never been. It even became a vacation destination for my out of town cousins. I'm not joking, they would demand a Publix trip every time they visited and walked up and down each aisle ogling everything on the tidy and organized shelves.

After leaving Florida for a decade to live in the Northeast, I did not know you could actually miss a grocery store, but I did. The food scene might be top tier in cities like New York, but there's not a single grocery store in Manhattan that compares to a Publix. The staff is friendly and helpful, and the aisles are packed with everything you need for a full food shopping experience. Its prepared foods are impressive, the smells wafting from the bakery department are heavenly, and the sub and sandwich station is legendary. As a veteran Publix customer, I'm going to give you the ins and out of what you should not skip on your first visit to the beloved grocery chain.

If you are a parent, your first stop (regardless of what's on your grocery list) should absolutely be the bakery department. Behind the counter, you will see employees icing fresh cakes and cupcakes with precision. There are tables of every kind of sweet treat you can imagine, including many varieties of cookies. From chocolate chip to toffee, it's a cookie lover's dream come true. Before you start adding them to your cart, pop by the counter first because there's a special treat in store. Kids can ask for a free cookie, and as a parent, this really does enhance the shopping experience on many levels.

Use it as leverage for A+ behavior. Harness that cookie as a bargaining chip with a cranky toddler on the verge of a meltdown. Hold onto it as a bribe until the shopping is complete if that works better. Whatever you do, make sure you claim that free cookie because it's a game changer. There is usually a choice between a chocolate chip cookie and a rainbow sprinkle one, and the folks behind the counter sometimes like to sneak you an extra. Also, for what it's worth, even if you strut up to the bakery counter without a child in tow, the chances of them turning you down are slim. So, grab your kids, or yourself, a fresh, chewy cookie and enjoy a little snack while you continue on your shopping trip.

The smells coming from the Publix bakery are capable of making you salivate right there on the spot. It's seriously intoxicating and makes me want to carb load right there on the spot. There are rows and rows of freshly baked breads. Sourdough, rye, baguettes, bagels, and so many other varieties line the shelves around the bakery counter. Listen, for every person making their own, or buying sourdough starter from a bakery, some of us just want the path of least resistance. The absolute star of the carb show, however, is the challah, or egg bread. Like the other loaves, it's baked fresh on the premises, and if you are lucky enough for the stars to align in your favor, a batch will emerge from the oven while you are shopping.

There is something truly special when the challah is so warm that it cannot be sealed in a plastic bag, and instead it has to remain open. This also makes it super convenient to grab a slice or two in the car on the way home. The way the plastic bag steams up like a shower door practically begs you to sample it before you even hit the parking lot. All of the bread is baked in house and it shows. Toast a slice with some butter, use it for a sandwich, or make french toast. Just do not complete your Publix trip without grabbing at least one type of freshly baked bread.

There is nothing (and I mean nothing) quite like a Publix Cake. They have been a constant in my life from day one. Every birthday, graduation, or other celebratory milestone has been marked with a Publix cake. My own kids share the same legacy. As a matter of fact, the same woman in the catering department of my local Publix has been creating my daughters' cakes for over a decade. While the bakery cases hold many specialty cakes, there is nothing like a good old sheet cake from the Publix bakery.

The moist and perfectly baked cake comes in chocolate, vanilla, funfetti, beloved red velvet, and other flavors. From there you can choose from whipped cream, buttercream, chocolate fudge, chocolate pudding, and other fillings. The buttercream icing is amazing and can be any color you want. Other topping options include sprinkles, pixie dust, and even an actual photo scanned on the cake. You can opt for some dainty buttercream rosettes on top, or thumb through the book of cake designs that is so vast it rivals The Cheesecake Factory novel of a menu. Any theme you can think of can be executed by Publix bakery staff. In case you are wondering about my go to celebratory cake order, it's half and half (chocolate and vanilla), with chocolate fudge filling and buttercream icing.

Chicken tenders have a huge and loyal fanbase. They are so legendary that there are t-shirts in the wild paying tribute to them. If my husband and kids could have only one meal for the rest of their lives, I have no doubt it would be Publix Tenders. Not only are they made fresh in the store, but they are hand breaded. Twice. The tenders fry up golden brown and crispy every single time. Enjoy them plain, or choose from barbecue sauce, honey mustard, ranch, or ketchup for dipping. Publix chicken tenders are also so versatile they can be anything you want them to be.

We order a couple of trays for every single kids' birthday party. You can snack on them straight from the bag when you grab some from the deli. They can be an afternoon treat when you pick up your kids from school. Keep them in the refrigerator at home for a quick bite on the run. You can also make them a meal. Go ahead and throw a few on a plate with any sides of your choice and dinner is served. Better yet, grab any of the delicious sides from the deli counter and you don't even have to turn your stove on. The crispy coating and tender, juicy white meat chicken is a Publix mainstay and deserves every accolade.

There's a reason why the sandwich counter at any given Publix has ongoing traffic and sometimes even a line. Publix subs, or as locals call them, Pub Subs, are the sandwich of the entire grocery chain. Each and every sub is customized and there are no limits to what you can create. A simple ham and cheese, an Italian sub, roast beef and cheddar, tuna, and every other type of sandwich in your head is a possibility at Publix. They are so good they could pass as sandwiches made at an authentic Italian deli. The fresh sub bread comes directly from the store's bakery, and the spread of toppings behind the counter is like paint you can use to create your sub canvas.

One of the most popular Pub Subs incorporates another store favorite we already talked about. If you want the quintessential Pub Sub experience, make sure to include Publix chicken tenders in your order. You have not lived until you have tasted a Pub Sub overflowing with crispy tenders as the main attraction. You can select white or wheat sub bread, make it a half or whole sandwich, or even pivot to a wrap with a wheat, white, sun dried tomato, or spinach tortilla. Everything is made to order while you watch, and you will not regret it.

One of the best things Publix has in its stores is a giant bag of popcorn. It may sound boring, but hear me out. Bagged popcorn usually tastes, well, bagged. I'm not saying there are not some good ones out there, but the Publix house popcorn is elite in every way. It's not fancy, nor is the packaging. The perfectly popped kernels come in a huge quantity in a clear plastic bag secured at the top with your run of the mill twist tie. I promise you it's special though.

Publix popcorn hits all the right notes. It's expertly salted with a rich buttery finish. The only thing that comes close is actual movie theater popcorn. It's often overlooked since the bakery and deli get so much attention, but I'm begging you not to sleep on this item. It's great to keep as a snack in your house. My daughter loves it in her school lunches. The quantity is ideal for any kind of gathering and you'll be lucky to have a single kernel left once your guests dig in. We also love to bring it to the beach and even in the car for long rides. Publix does make a small size bag, but I'm telling you, go big or go home.

Another chicken item Publix excels at is its fried chicken. It's another housemade chicken option in the deli section and it's a must. You can smell it from a mile away and there are always a generous amount of packages waiting to be grabbed near the deli. Grab the whole bird along with a few sides in the deli area and you automatically have a quality meal for the whole family. They would much rather feast on Publix fried chicken instead of whatever you have defrosting on the counter.

Again, the chicken is impossibly juicy and flavorful. The same delicious and savory breading on the tenders is also used for the fried chicken. If you don't want to commit to the whole chicken, you can also buy individual pieces, or even make a solo meal by pairing a couple of drumsticks, breasts, or wings with tasty Publix deli sides. The fried chicken is another deli item you can buy for entertaining, too. Having friends over for the big game? What's better than a platter of Publix fried chicken? From picnics to family dinner, a fried chicken from Publix puts comfort food on your plate without having to actually cook.

Many grocery chains offer rotisserie chicken, but some are better than others. Publix Rotisserie chicken has a reputation, and it's a good one. We affectionately call it a RotoChick, and there is one on my kitchen counter at least once a week. The same place that displays the cartons of fried chicken in the deli also offers rotisserie chicken. They are cooked right behind the counter, and watching them go round and round is hypnotizing. As soon as they are cooked, the birds are packaged in a paper bag with a window and are placed up for grabs. There are several flavors, including lemon pepper, original roasted, and mojo. You can eat it as is and will immediately understand that the hype is warranted.

That's not what I love most about a Publix RotoChick. It's a lifesaver that can create any chicken meal you want. I pull the chicken, scatter it over a sheet pan of tortilla chips, smother it with shredded cheese, jalapeños and other toppings. After 15 minutes in the oven, I have a giant serving of savory, cheesy nachos without ever having to cook a piece of chicken myself. It's great mixed into rice to make chicken bowls and let everyone pick their toppings. One of my favorite ways to use it is to pull the meat and toss it into a (semi) homemade soup. Basically if you want to skip cooking the chicken part of any recipe, let a Publix rotisserie chicken do the heavy lifting.

In most scenarios, I would not opt for a generic store brand ice cream. Put me in a Publix though and I am heading straight toward it. Publix ice cream is legit and I can say that with the utmost confidence since I have tasted a lot of them. Don't be blinded by brand names because I promise you that the Publix ice cream delivers creamy, delicious goodness and I urge you to give it a whirl. There are flavors to suit every sweet tooth, and once you taste it you'll wonder why you waited so long.

Of course Publix has all of the OG traditional flavors like chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. There's also a selection of speciality and seasonal flavors if you expect more from a scoop. How much more? Chilling in the freezer are Publix ice cream flavors like fan favorite moose tracks, Southern banana pudding, black jack cherry, Barnie's coffee, cookies and cream, butter pecan, and cookie dough. And that's just the tip of the ice (cream) berg. Publix does not skimp on any of the flavor inclusions either. Many of the Publix flavors also come in frozen yogurt. As far as seasonal flavors, there's pumpkin pie, peppermint stick, and Santa's white Christmas. That's just a few for the upcoming fall and winter lineup.

If you grow up in the vicinity of a Publix, it's likely that any birthdays celebrated at school come with Publix cupcakes. Just like the famous sheet cakes, the Publix bakery makes fantastic cupcakes, mini cupcakes, and muffins. The blueberry muffins are a great grab and go breakfast choice and the mini ones are ideal for a yummy lunchbox snack. The cake is just as good as the sheet cakes, as is the buttercream. All of the cupcakes can be customized and decorated. And, if you are in need of individual desserts, they come in full size and mini.

Pick any day at my kids' school and you are bound to see a parent dropping off a couple dozen cupcakes for a class party. The bakery also makes pull apart cakes made with the full size cupcakes. It's the best of both worlds with the illusion of a birthday cake, but instead of cutting and serving, you just pull a cupcake from the pack and no knives are needed. The minis are a staple because they are perfect for little fingers, or if you want just a little sweet treat without committing to a full size version. The muffins, also available in full and miniature sizes, come in flavors like corn, banana nut, chocolate chip, and blueberry. Every variety is moist and filled with flavor.

Having practically grown up in the aisles of Publix, I was able to make a list of must haves for first timers without skipping a beat. I am super familiar with everything Publix brings to the table, figuratively and literally. I have personally experienced every item on this list and can speak to each first hand. The years of shopping in a variety of Publix stores gives me the knowledge of the products on this list and beyond. I chose items that I buy on repeat and are staples in my own home.