The folks working in Trader Joe’s test kitchens are working double time, all the time. (Side note: Please let us visit the TJ’s test kitchens if they’re real, we promise not to Augustus Gloop into the river of Everything and the Elote yogurt dip.) There’s simply no shortage of fun new Trader Joe’s items popping up on the Trader Joe’s shelves. But not every shot is on target. There are certainly some hits, but there are also some misses. And that’s why we do what we do. We taste the new Trader Joe’s foods so that we can tell you if they’re worth your cash.
Our latest Trader Joe’s haul included a new frozen dish: Trader Joe’s Beef & Queso Bowl. It’s not, as I initially thought, a loaded queso dip. Instead, it’s a rice bowl with seasoned ground beef, “fajita-style vegetables,” shredded white cheddar, and a queso sauce. I scoured the box, found the instructions (after turning it over at least four times), and nuked this bowlful of what I hoped would be tasty goop in the office microwave. Here’s my review.
Pros: The Spanish-style rice is great. It’s tender and flavorful—like the best side of rice you get from a neighborhood Mexican joint. And the overall flavor of the bowl is good (though you do have to like cumin) and just spicy enough. It needs sour cream and avocado and salsa and hot sauce, but it’s a great start to a meal.
Cons: The ground beef is dry. Very dry. And the queso sauce is nonexistent. There’s melted cheese, but it mostly just seems like general melted cheddar. And, as I implied above, there’s simply not enough going on. This dry bowl needs some wet. I’m also generally let down that it’s not frozen loaded queso. Make that next, Trader Joe’s! Maybe we can work on it together in your test kitchen!
Verdict: A fine start to a decent desk lunch as long as you’ve got plenty of toppings and condiments nearby.
Hi! I’m the editor-in-chief of Sporked. I will never turn down a fresh-shucked oyster but I’ll also leap at whatever new product Reese’s releases and I love a Tostitos Hint of Lime, even if there is no actual lime in the ingredients.
Why you should trust me: I have been writing about food and beverages for well over a decade and am an avid at-home cook and snacker. I began my career writing about fine dining and recipes, moved into cocktails and spirits, and now I talk about groceries. If you can eat it or drink it, I’ve probably written about it.
What I buy every week: Trader Joe’s dried okra. Appleton Farms prosciutto from Aldi. Some sort of Trader Joe’s cheese (I’m into the aged gouda at the moment). Frozen waffles (usually the Eggo Cinnamon Toast Minis). Spindrift water (loving the Cosmopolitan right now).
Favorite ranking: Smoked salmon. Imagine me as Scrooge McDuck but instead of coins I’m diving into a vault of slippery smoked salmon slices. Pure joy. I also found some real steals in that taste test!
Least favorite ranking: Canned oysters. I had such high hopes for this but it quickly became a chore. The kitchen smelled like an uncleaned aquarium.
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!
Justine Sterling
Jordan Myrick
Gwynedd Stuart
Jessica Block
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!