Trader Joe’s Beef & Queso Bowl
I like making a good burrito bowl for dinner. It’s easy and delicious. Set out bowls of brown rice, seasoned meat, pico de gallo, salsa, guacamole, cheese, lettuce, diced tomatoes, beans, and anything else you fancy, and you have the makings of a customizable meal that just about everyone loves. And it costs a fraction of what you’d pay at a place like Chipotle.
For days when you don’t have time to cook and assemble all the components of burrito bowls, Trader Joe’s offers a ready-made single-serving option. TJ’s, by the way, is a cousin to Aldi.
I found this beef & queso bowl in the freezer aisle at Trader Joe’s. The box states it features Spanish style rice, seasoned ground beef, queso cheese sauce, vegetables, and shredded white cheddar cheese.
We buy products for review using our own money. I paid $4.49 for a 9.5-ounce Trader Joe’s Beef & Queso Bowl in 2026. That’s around 47 cents per ounce.
If you’re looking out for allergens, this contains milk.
One bowl has 420 calories, 20 grams of total fat (26% DV), 8 grams of saturated fat (40% DV), 830 mg of sodium (36% DV), 42 grams of total carbohydrates (15% DV), 3 grams of dietary fiber (11% DV), 5 grams of total sugars, less than 1 gram of added sugars (2% DV), and 19 grams of protein.
The box has directions for heating this from frozen in the microwave. Remove the bowl from the outer box and pierce the film 2-3 times. Microwave the bowl on high for 4-5 minutes or until heated through. Let stand for 1 minute. Remove the film, stir, and serve.
The rice and bell peppers are soft, and the beef is finely crumbled, all making for a somewhat mushy texture overall. Still, it’s flavorful and I liked it. A home-assembled burrito bowl is better, but this is fine if you need an easy lunch to take to work.
The Verdict:
Trader Joe’s Beef & Queso Bowl features rice, seasoned ground beef, cheese, and peppers. It tastes good, even if it doesn’t look great when all the ingredients are stirred in together.
