Various marinated meat packages
FOOD NEWS
Ranking Trader Joe's Marinated Meats From Worst To Best
BY Emily Hunt
8. Pollo Asado
Pollo Asado Autentico's label says it's "seasoned with an authentic recipe," but paprika dominates the other ingredients, like achiote paste, oregano, and herbs.
The thin-sliced chicken breasts have a slight spicy kick to them, but the lime and lemon juice powders add an unpleasantly acidic taste. You may like them if you love paprika.
7. Chicken Tenders
Trader Joe's Sun-Dried Tomato & Basil Chicken Tenders are too salty, which may be amplified by the Maillard reaction when cooked in a skillet.
Plus, the sun-dried tomato feels more like an afterthought, and the basil is hardly perceptible. The flavors are simply too subtle for these tenders to be enjoyed on their own.
6. Pesto Chicken Breast
Pesto Chicken Breast from Trader Joe's not only has uneven cuts, which may require you to monitor them more while cooking, but it also lacks enough pesto.
The pesto is too gentle to pack a punch, especially if add this chicken to another dish. Due to this subtlety, it's difficult to pick apart its flavor profile.
5. Herbed Chicken Thighs
The Savory Herbed Chicken Thighs are well-seasoned, herby, and crisp nicely when cooked. The mint in its herbal blend offers it some gentle dimension.
The apparent mint gives it a unique touch. Additionally, the basil comes through very well in the dish, but it may leave you wishing for the presence of some rosemary.
4. Beef Steak Tips
The Balsamic Rosemary Beef Steak Tips are likable but fail to overly impress. They tend to be tender rather than chewy but vary wildly in size.
The balsamic and rosemary flavors balance each other pretty well, but without anything else added, the two overpowering flavors lend the steak a slightly bitter taste.