Whole & Simple Chicken, Cilantro, & Lime Burrito + Steak & Cheddar Burrito

Last Updated on January 18, 2021

Aldi’s Whole & Simple line of frozen foods has ramped up lately, with healthy options such as Mediterranean Breakfast Bowls, Adobo Chicken Power Bowls, Thai Style Coconut Curry Chicken Skillets, and more. Some burritos showed up in the ALDI Find freezer recently that caught my eye, so I brought them home.

Whole & Simple Burritos cost $1.99 for one 5-oz. burrito at the time of publication. That makes these pricier than any other burrito option available at Aldi but still less than what you might pay picking up a burrito lunch at a restaurant, so whether they’re worth the price may depend on your perspective. Also, be aware they are ALDI Finds (Special Buys), which means they’ll only be in stores for a short time.

They’re advertised as having no antibiotics or hormones (although federal regulations already prohibit the use of antibiotics and hormones in poultry). They also have no artificial colors (something Aldi got rid of in its house brands a few years ago) and no artificial flavors. I also appreciate the fact these have no natural flavors either.

If you’re watching out for allergens, these contain milk and wheat.

To prepare the burritos, you can heat them in a conventional oven (the preferred method, according to the package) or in the microwave.

The heat in the oven (which is how I prepared my burritos), remove the wrapper and thaw the burrito by placing it on a plate under a microwave-safe plate or bowl (I used a cereal bowl), and cook on high for one minute. Then place the burrito on a spray-coated baking sheet and cook for 12-14 minutes at 375 degrees or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees, flipping halfway through cooking for even crispness. Let sit one minute before serving.

To heat in the microwave, remove the wrapper and place the burrito on a microwave-safe plate and cover with a microwave-safe plate or lid. Cook for one minute per side or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Let sit one minute before serving.

It’s not listed in the instructions and I didn’t prepare them this way, but these burritos would probably do well in an air fryer if you thawed them first in the microwave.

Here’s a closer look at the two flavor choices.

Whole & Simple Chicken, Cilantro, & Lime Burrito

Whole and Simple Chicken, Cilantro, and Lime Burrito nutrition info and ingredients. (Click to enlarge.)

The ingredients are pretty straightforward in this burrito, including grilled chicken, white cheddar cheese, brown rice, black beans, tomatillo, corn, red bell pepper, garlic, lime juice, onions, and cilantro. Some might take issue with the processed canola and/or soybean oil in these burritos, though.

One serving has 290 calories, 9 grams of total fat (12% of your daily value), 2.5 grams of saturated fat (13% DV), 460 mg of sodium (20% DV), 40 grams of total carbohydrates (15% DV), 2 grams of fiber (7% DV), 2 grams of total sugars, 1 gram of added sugars (2% DV), and 12 grams of protein.

This burrito crisped up and browned nicely in the oven, and it had good lime and cilantro flavors, although the ingredients were more of a mush inside the tortilla and didn’t look as neat and distinct as the photo on the wrapper. The tortilla is also extremely thick and doughy, more like a bread with a crispy crust in some spots, but it was also very filling. I prefer the taste and texture of the crispy chicken and cilantro wraps I make at home on the stove top, but this isn’t bad for a frozen option. Whether it’s worth the $2 price per burrito is another question.

Whole & Simple Steak & Cheddar Burrito

Whole and Simple Steak and Cheddar Burrito nutrition info and ingredients. (Click to enlarge.)

This also has a lot of easily identifiable ingredients, including beef steak, pinto beans, cheddar cheese, brown rice, mozzarella cheese, yellow corn, garlic powder, jalapeno, onions, red bell peppers, sea salt, and sour cream. Again, though, some might be concerned about the canola oil and/or soybean oil used to make the tortilla.

One serving has 320 calories, 10 grams of fat (13% DV), 3.5 grams of saturated fat (18% DV), 700 mg of sodium (30% DV), 42 grams of total carbohydrates (15% DV), 3 grams of fiber (11% DV), 2 grams of total sugars, 1 gram of added sugars (2% DV), and 15 grams of protein.

This was my favorite of the two burrito options. It has a rich cheese sauce, strips of beef, and corn in the filling. They could be a little more generous with the beef, but it wasn’t bad. Like the chicken burrito, this had a thick doughy tortilla. It’s also filling for its small size.

The Verdict:

Whole & Simple Burritos come in Steak & Cheddar or Chicken, Cilantro, & Lime varieties. They are on the more pricey side for single burritos, but they contain plenty of whole, easily recognizable ingredients, and they taste good. They’re not a bad choice for a quick, easy lunch.