Trader Joe’s Chicken and Cheese Tamales

October 27, 2006 | Reviewer: Abi

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Trader Joe's Chicken and Cheese Tamales

Price: $2.29
Serving: 1 tamal(e), 5 oz.
Calories: 250
Fat: 19%, 12g
Sodium: 28%, 660mg
Protein: 10g
Carbs: 9%, 27g
Fiber: 14%, 4g

Trader Joe says: Handcrafted chicken and cheese tamales wrapped in corn husks

Abi says: While I was heating these, my coworker Sara looked on in envy.

“Did you make those yourself?” she asked in awe
“No, they’re from Trader Joe’s.” I replied
“I love tamales, you’ll have to let me know if they’re good.”

Sara, these are good. They are good in a way that few microwave tamales can match. Yeah, you’ve had those ones with the smattering of fatty pork surrounded by a dry lump of masa. Well, after trying these Trader Joe’s ones, you’ll never go back. I’m thinking about stocking up on these (and the Green Chile Cheese variety) and hosting a tamale-based dinner party. Nobody would be the wiser, except that half the people I’d invite write for HeatEatReview.com. It wouldn’t exactly be a surprise, would it?

Ok, so each tamale costs over a dollar. That’s a lot when you’re coming from Texas and used to paying four bucks for a dozen tamales made by a really cute little old lady named Irene. Fortunately I am a salaried employee and I can afford to splurge on the occasional tamale, especially since two make a filling lunch. Throw in a little Mexican sauce (it is a TJ’s thing) and a piece of fruit and you’ve got yourself a muy delicioso meal.

No, they’re not going to taste like you’re grandmother’s tamales and the chicken to masa ratio is still pretty masa-centric (and where’s the cheese? hmmm?), but these are still quite enjoyable.

comments

8 Responses to “Trader Joe’s Chicken and Cheese Tamales”

Crow on October 27th, 2006

I had to look up what masa was on Wikipedia. My mother makes tamales, never mentioned this masa stuff. I’m a bad person of half-Mexican descent many generations ago.
TG on October 27th, 2006

has abi previously divulged which part of tx she comes from? inquiring minds that are currently residing in texas want to know. meanwhile, a pox on you for finding something so alluring that’s not available in your former homestate. ok, maybe not a POX but grrr and tsk! and hrrumph
FIONA K on October 27th, 2006

Your site is incredibly helpful. Frozen food has become my way of life since eating out for lunch in midtown NYC is expensive and often, boring. Viva Heat, Eat Review! Check out my blog, it’s funny…
Abi Jones on October 27th, 2006

Crow: You know that you’re Mexican when there’s one of these in your kitchen drawer. Really important when your family makes 70 dozen tamales at Christmas. Yes, 70 dozen.

TG: I was born and raised in Oregon. Prior to moving to Washington, DC, I lived in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley. Specifically, I lived in Weslaco and my apartment was approximately 2 miles North of the Rio Grande. Here’s some satellite imagery: From Weslaco to the border.

What’s funny is that Teach For America sent me to South Texas, but the Rio Grande Valley is the homeland of my dad’s side of the family. So, while all of the other teachers were getting a nice bit of culture shock, I was coming to better understand my own family. Ok, and experiencing some culture shock: my students loooooved dill pickle popsicles.

FIONA: I’m glad that you’re finding the site useful and I hope that it helps you in your journey toward health and higher self-esteem. That sounds a lot more new-age-ish than it was supposed to.
eric on November 1st, 2006

Trader Joe’s tamales are pretty amazing for a microwave meal. They’ve got a lot better filling-to-masa ratio than some restaurants.

Man, I miss Trader Joe’s. Not like they have much of a market in North Dakota. Actually, I miss ethnic food period. I’m surrounded by hotdish!
Abi Jones on November 1st, 2006

I had these for lunch today and I was reminded why there is often a cooking time range on frozen meals. I used the wimpy school microwave for 6 minutes and 30 seconds. The cheese tamal was perfect, but the chicken one was a masa brick filled with tongue-searing meat; not a good lunch situation.
Teo on April 5th, 2007

I love these. I feel like I eat them every other day. They’re that good!

My freezer has like 10 bags in it, both the chicken and the chile ones.
Trader Joe's Chicken Tamale Pie | HeatEatReview.com on July 18th, 2007

[…] dropped the ball in issuing this bland waste of calories. Forego the tamale pie and have yourself a Chicken Tamale or Chile Cheese Tamale instead. Oh yeah, and that yellow stuff seeping out of the top of the […]