The best frozen chicken burritos probably won’t rival the pollo-stuffed behemoths you get at your local taco stand (mine is outside of a grocery store, which is perfect for when I want to buy groceries but I don’t want to actually prepare and eat groceries), but they’re quick, convenient, and make a less fatty meal than their beef-stuffed counterparts.
How we chose the frozen chicken burritos
This was actually our second frozen chicken burrito taste test, and we specifically needed a refresh because the best chicken burrito we tried last time around simply isn’t available anymore. What a shame! Likewise, Trader Joe’s Chicken Chile Verde Burrito (which appeared on our original ranking) went away and came back with a new recipe, so we needed to re-taste that to see if it still deserves a spot on our list. For our most recent taste test, we sourced some chicken burritos we’d previously tried, along with some others we hadn’t.
How we prepared the frozen chicken burritos
We cooked all of these bad boys in the microwave. I’m sure some people heat their frozen burritos in the oven or air fryer, but frozen burritos should be fast, first and foremost, so we expected them to taste good after they were nuked according to the package instructions.
What we looked for in the best frozen chicken burritos
Frozen chicken burritos should—hear us out—have plenty of chicken. We’re talking about discernible pieces of chicken, not just chicken-y mush. We also wanted a filling that was well-seasoned, and if other ingredients were involved—beans, rice, etc.—we wanted those to add something rather than just serving as filler.
I think some people might assume white meat is best, but the best chicken burrito on our list is actually made with leg meat. Don’t turn up your nose at dark meat. Oh and, as always, frozen burritos should be encased in tender tortillas—for the most part, low-quality burritos with those gnarly, rock-solid ends don’t make our lists (although some of the budget options we like do tend to get stiff if you let them sit).
I wish there were more good options to add to this list. If you have a fave we didn’t try, by all means, let us know in the comments. But for now, these are the best chicken burritos at the grocery store.
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- Feel Good Foods Chicken, Bean & Cheese Burrito
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This comment in my notes is telling: “This could be worse!” This gluten free frozen chicken burrito definitely needs more chicken—it’s very saucy and the bits of chicken are very small—but I was willing to set my misgivings aside because this still tastes good and it’s nice to have a GF option on the list. No, it’s not the best chicken burrito in the world, but it’s good considering it’s made with a gluten free tortilla. It tastes a little funny on its own—a little sweet and chewy—but when you take a bite of the whole shebang, it works. This is a filling burrito, too, with rice, some corn, and whole pinto beans in the mix. It absolutely needs more chicken, but, hey, it’s nice that GF people have a frozen chicken burrito option. —Gwynedd Stuart
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
- Trader Joe’s Chicken Chili Verde Burritos
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This Trader Joe’s chicken burrito used to be in the #1 spot on our list. Alas, the version we loved went away, and TJ’s apparently found a new supplier and relaunched their Chicken Chile Verde Burritos with snazzy new packaging. Unfortunately, they’re just not as good as they used to be. The filling is gloopy and although we appreciate that they use both white and dark meat chicken, the chicken is stringy and gets lost in the sauce. The salsa verde, which used to be bright and zingy, now kind of tastes like it came from a can. And if you’re sensitive to pepper skins like I am, this will be tough to get through. The tortilla is still good, though—translucent, stretchy, and tender rather than thick, white, and tough. This isn’t the best chicken burrito anymore, but it’s better than a lot of others we tried. [Note: Trader Joe’s Chicken Burritos have also been discontinued for the time being, according to Reddit. We really hope they’re as good as they used to be if they come back.] —Gwynedd Stuart
Credit: Liv Averett / Trader Joe’s
- Jose Ole Chicken & Cheese Chimichanga
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This is perhaps the simplest frozen chicken burrito on this list, but that’s also why it’s one of the best frozen chicken burritos we tried. It’s made with cheese and beans and chicken. It’s not doing anything different, but it’s doing it all well. It’s gooey and savory and absolutely delicious. You could get one of these from a cart after a night out and you would be thrilled. I’m glad Jose Ole makes it so we can all have that experience at home. —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Merc / Instacart
- Red’s Organic Chicken Cilantro & Lime Burrito
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This burrito exploded a little while it was cooking in the microwave, exposing the insides to me before I was able to taste it. Sadly, the filling in this burrito looks like it would taste like a sock. It appears to be filled almost exclusively with white rice. When you taste it, however, it’s a totally different story. This thing has big salsa verde vibes. It’s tangy, bright, and wonderfully gooey inside. There’s plenty of chicken. It’s like they always say, “Don’t judge a frozen chicken burrito by the looks of its filling.” —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Merc / Target
- Red’s Grilled Chicken & Cheddar Burrito
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My favorite thing about this frozen chicken burrito is that the chicken actually tastes grilled, which I think is really impressive! Did they actually grill it? I always assume products sold as “grilled” are just artificially flavored with “grill” flavor, but this really tastes like it was cooked over a flame. I also love how much cheese they put in this burrito. Honestly, I wasn’t sure about cheddar in a burrito, but I love being surprised by food. This is the best chicken burrito for cheese lovers. And for now, it’s the best frozen chicken burrito, period. —Jordan Myrick
Related: Best Cheeses
Credit: Merc / Target
Best Gluten Free Chicken Burrito
Best Saucy
Best Classic
Best Rice
Best Cheesy
Other Products We Tried: El Monterey, Evol Cilantro Lime Chicken Burrito, Evol Chicken Bean And Rice Burrito, Red’s Chicken Chorizo Burrito, Vista Hermosa Burrito Bueno Very Spicy Chicken Burrito, Alpha Chik’n Burrito, Sprouts Fajita Chicken Burrito
Discontinued or no longer available: Trader Joe’s Chicken Burritos, Artisan Bistro Grilled Chicken Burrito
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!