Trader Joe's Mini Beef Tacos have returned to store shelves. They've been off of store shelves for a while and presumed discontinued. But they are back in the frozen aisle and seem like they've been reformulated. They are also now clearly labeled as gluten-free and have a higher price tag.
Review
Are Trader Joe's Mini Beef Tacos discontinued? Apparently not. From time to time we see products disappear and come back. Sometimes it is a seasonal thing. Sometimes it gets reformulated. Or sometimes it is just a new manufacturer. But they are back.
If you've tried this product previously then you know that it: was decent and never really look like the packaging. And in fact, that was a big center of internet debate. That has been corrected.
The new/returning Trader Joe's mini beef tacos seem to have had a bit of a makeover.
What is the same as the original mini beef tacos are the texture of the meat and the tiny size. The meat is ground fine enough to qualify as Taco Bell meat. But that seems to be where the similarities end.
What is new about Trader Joe's Mini Beef Tacos is that they are clearly labeled as gluten-free and the green salsa they are cooked in seemed to have a bit more flavor. The previous ones were a bit beefier in flavor.
And when I say beef, there is probably at most about a tablespoon of actual meat in this. But making these in the air fryer you might have a better chance of tucking in some extra toppings to add a bit more flavor.
But the tortilla can crisp up decently but not perfectly. That being said, these are ok tacos. Nothing mind-blowing. It's a decent nibble that cries out for something else to be added or served with something.
If you want really good tacos, then keep an eye out for Trader Joe's Beef Birria and yes, do it yourself.
Cooking Instructions
When I originally published my review of this product back in 2016, the air fryer hadn't caught on. Cooking instructions for trader joe's mini beef tacos are as follows: Heat your air fryer to 375F. Cook for 3-5 minutes. Make sure these are in a single layer. I did find these needed 1-2 extra minutes to get really crispy.
If you are making these in the oven, then preheat your oven to 425 degrees. Place them on a baking sheet for 5-7 minutes.
Packaging
The packaging is improved. Yes, it does now actually look a lot more like the final product. The filling has been pushed up in the taco for the sake of the packaging which may have you believe this will be meatier than it actually is. But the interior bag that this comes in is more vacuum-sealed to prevent freezer burn. Mine seemed stuck together which made it hard to pull them apart because they were so squished together.
Overall
Yes, the price has gone up for these new mini beef tacos. They are priced at $5.99 which is a pretty big jump from the original $4.29. But the quality of the tacos and the directions have improved. And yes, if you are a fan of the Trader Joe's Mini Chicken Tacos those are back and improved too.
Would I buy this again? Yes, I would buy Trader Joe's mini beef tacos again. They were a favorite around my house beforehand and they are even better today.
Product photos
The new packaging for Trader Joe's Mini Tacos:
Nutritional facts, calories, and ingredients:
Mini beef taco cooking instructions:
Out of the box:
Cooked in the air fryer:
The Bottom Line
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Previous product
The following images refer to the original product I reviewed back in 2016. The images below have been replaced by the product above.
The box of Trader Joe's Mini Beef Tacos:
The nutritional information and ingredients:
How to prepare:
What you get in the box:
What came out of the oven:
Trader Joe's Mini Beef Tacos
Product Name: Trader Joe's Mini Beef Tacos
Product Description: Trader Joe's Mini Beef Tacos are back with new packaging and air fryer directions.
Price: $5.99
Summary
Trader Joe's Mini Beef Tacos are back after a hiatus.
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Taste
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Value
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Worthy of Repurchasing
Pros
- More accurate representation of the final product on the box
- A decent snack
- Seasoning flavor comes through on these more than I remember with the previous rendition.
- Air fryer directions included.
- Now clearly labeled as gluten-free
Cons
- Price has jumped from $4.29 to $5.99
- Mine were frozen like a log and I saw other people saying they had similar experiences.
- These aren't mind-blowing tacos. They're a mediocre snack.
I just picked these up and your review is exactly what I thought. They were greasy, I did take a paper towel to soak up the grease, I could have cooked them longer to get them more crispy. No way can you add anything in them, I smashed a half of avocado and put that on TOP of them. they were tasty and filling. Would I buy them again? No.
Thanks for sharing!