Trader Joe’s Chicken Chile Verde Burritos: Worth the Folklore?

If you’re a busy professional, a frazzled parent, or just someone who considers “cooking” to mean “pressing buttons on a microwave,” then Trader Joe’s Chicken Chile Verde Burrito might just be calling your name. Promising the flavors of a slow-simmered chile verde but wrapped up in a convenient, hand-held package, this frozen meal seems like a dream for anyone who barely has time to eat, let alone cook. But does it deliver a fiesta of flavor, or is it just another soggy, microwaved disappointment? I bravely sacrificed my lunch break to find out.

Product Overview

Trader Joe’s has on their website a colorful tale about how a little boy loved his chicken chile verde and one day decided to put it in a burrito. Seems a little sloppy putting what is essentially a stew into a burrito wrapper. That is what I worried about too when I bought this meal. Was it going to be baby pablum like some of their other burritos that I have review recently. BTW, they have a very similar burrito in the grab and go fresh area that I just reviewed.

While browsing the freezer section at Trader Joe’s, the vibrant orange and teal packaging of their Chicken Chile Verde Burritos caught my eye (i’m sure the colors are like this on purpose). The box promises “authentic product of Mexico” containing two burritos (14oz/396g total) made with dark and white meat chicken. Each burrito clocks in at 410 calories, substantial enough to qualify as a meal, but not so caloric that you’ll need to immediately enroll in a weightloss bootcamp. The decorative papel picado inspired border and warm colors signal the Mexican-inspired flavors inside. I sure hope so.

The Folklore vs. Reality

Trader Joe’s markets these burritos with an endearing folk tale about a boy who discovers the joy of wrapping his beloved chile verde in a tortilla. It’s a charming bit of marketing that sets expectations for a comforting, homestyle meal. But does the product live up to its storybook introduction?

Preparation

As promised, these burritos go from freezer to table in about 2.5 minutes in the microwave, a genuine convenience for busy professionals whose lunch “hours” have mysteriously shrunk to 12 minutes, or frazzled parents whose children have suddenly declared they’re “starving” despite refusing dinner 30 minutes ago. The packaging suggests no bowl or spoon required, embracing the handheld nature that made the fictional boy in their story so delighted and making them perfect for one-handed eating while you respond to emails with the other.

For a better experience, you might want to bake these in the oven or air fryer, although I think both methods would dry out the tortillas. I didn’t do the oven method because it takes over 30 minutes for one burrito. I can deal with soggy tortillas and save 28 minutes.

Flavor Profile

The filling combines tender chunks of both dark and white meat chicken in a verde sauce made from onions, jalapenos, green bell peppers and Anaheim chilis. No tomatillos here. The sauce provides a mild-to-medium heat level that builds gradually rather than overwhelming the palate. The jalapenos offer that distinctive tangy brightness that defines a proper chile verde.

Texture

The flour tortilla maintains a “pleasantly chewy texture” as advertised, though as with most microwaved wraps, some sections became slightly tough while others remained soft. Unfortunately, the filling falls short of expectations – despite the flavorful sauce, the meat content is surprisingly sparse. The chile verde filling has a problematically soft, almost mushy consistency reminiscent of baby food, lacking the textural contrast you’d hope for in a satisfying burrito experience.

Value Consideration

These burritos are at $3.99 for the two of them. Compared to convenience store burritos, these are much cheaper, though they’re smaller than restaurant-sized burritos. A Chipotle burrito might set you back $10 or more, but then you are getting a fresh burrito. Two might be necessary for a hearty appetite, making this more of a meal for one than the serving for two the package might suggest. It’s not bad for a quick meal and they aren’t too spicy to give to your kids. Value-wise they aren’t bad.

Final Verdict

Trader Joe’s Chicken Chile Verde Burritos deliver on their promised flavors but fall short on texture and substance. While the sauce offers authentic chile verde tanginess, the sparse meat content and baby food-like consistency of the filling create a disconnect between the charming marketing story and the actual eating experience. It’s as if the fictional boy in their tale was actually being fed pureed chicken by his well-meaning but overenthusiastic mother.

For busy professionals and parents in the throes of chaotic weekday schedules, these still represent a viable “better than nothing” lunch option. The convenience factor remains a plus, and at 410 calories each, they’re substantial enough to power you through your third Zoom meeting or toddler meltdown of the day.

For those prioritizing convenience and flavor over texture, these might work in a pinch, but they likely won’t become a freezer staple for discerning burrito enthusiasts. Consider serving with additional toppings like fresh avocado or sour cream to enhance the eating experience – or as I like to call it, “putting lipstick on a pureed pig.”

Product Rating

Ingredients

• FILLING (DARK CHICKEN MEAT, BONELESS SKINLESS CHICKEN BREAST, WATER, WHITE ONION, CRUSHED TOMATILLO, GREEN CHILE PEPPER [GREEN CHILI PEPPER, WATER, SALT, CITRIC ACID {ACIDIFIER}], CORNSTARCH, CHICKEN STOCK, DEHYDRATED GARLIC, DEHYDRATED ONION, JALAPENO PEPPERS [JALAPENO PEPPERS, WATER, DISTILLED WHITE VINEGAR, SALT, CALCIUM CHLORIDE], SALT, BLACK PEPPER, CUMIN, DISTILLED WHITE VINEGAR, ANAHEIM CHILE PEPPER, GREEN BELL PEPPER, GUAR GUM, CORIANDER, TURMERIC)
• TORTILLA (UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR [WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID], WATER, CANOLA OIL, SALT, CULTURED WHEAT FLOUR [TO PRESERVE], FUMARIC ACID, MONOGLYCERIDES, ENZYME)
• CONTAINS WHEAT.