Trader Joe’s Trader Jose’s Bean, Rice and Cheese Burritos
I’m a big fan of Mexican food, and one of my all-time favorite items from Aldi is the Casa Mamita Bean and Cheese Burritos. Top them with salsa, sour cream, and occasionally jalapenos, and you have one of my go-to lunches.
During a recent trip to Trader Joe’s, which is a cousin to Aldi, I came across their own microwave burritos under the name “Trader Jose’s” that they use on all their Mexican-inpsired food. The TJ’s burritos came home with me that day.
The Trader Joe’s Trader Jose’s Bean, Rice and Cheese Burritos are $3.69 for a 2-pack, which we thought was a bit pricey. It comes out to about $1.85 per burrito.
A single serving is one burrito, and each serving has 240 calories, 1 gram of total fat, no saturated fat, 550 milligrams of sodium, 42 grams of total carbohydrates, 5 grams of dietary fiber, 1 gram of total sugars, and 13 grams of protein.
If allergens are of concern, these contain milk, soy, and wheat,
On the packaging, there are two ways to cook the burritos. I used the microwave option, which is the quickest. Remove the burrito from the packaging, and put it on a microwave safe plate wrapped in a damp paper towel. For one burrito, heat on high for 2 to 2 ½ minutes, or 3 ½ to 4 minutes for two burritos.
There’s also an option for baking in a conventional oven. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, then place the burrito on a baking sheet and bake uncovered for 10 minutes. Afterward, remove it from the oven, wrap in foil, and put it back in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes. This method takes longer, but it will give the outside of the burrito a more crispy texture.
When I prepared the burrito, I heated it fully in the microwave, then sprinkled shredded cheese on it, and heated it for another 20 to 25 seconds, which melts the cheese but doesn’t overcook the burrito. I also topped it with salsa, sour cream, and jalapeno pepper slices to give it more flavor.
In terms of taste and texture, I’m most familiar with the Aldi Casa Mamita burritos compared to any other frozen burritos. One thing I noticed right away was that the TJ’s burrito is quite a bit softer, making it easy to cut into. Because these are frozen burritos, the beans, rice, and cheese are more of a blended paste inside the burrito, but I thought it had good flavor, and maybe a little kick, too. They’re a little pricey, so I don’t know if they’ll be something I’d regularly buy, but they aren’t bad.
The Verdict:
The Trader Joe’s Trader Jose’s Bean, Rice & Cheese Burritos were good, but they’re a little pricier than frozen Aldi burritos. They had good flavor and texture, but I’d rather purchase the Aldi burritos for less, or just purchase a restaurant-quality burrito.
