Trader Joe's Worst High-Protein Product Is So Bad It Should Be Removed From Stores - Tasting Table

"The low cost and relatively high protein stood out - 16 grams in four meatballs, with four servings per package and a price tag of only $3.99 - but that was where the positivity ended. When she got home and actually set about heating and eating, the experience turned bland and unpleasant."

"Now, blandness can be tackled with the addition of a good sauce, but textural issues are tougher to overcome, and Varner found the overall texture of the meatballs to be distinctly rubbery. Worse than that, they were also packed with bits of connective tissue that pushed the experience from bland and chewy to distinctly unpleasant."

"Online reviews also point out the distressingly gristly texture of meatballs that purport to be made from just ground chicken breast and thigh meat. Clearly, there needs to be a bit more trimming added somewhere in the process."

Trader Joe's chicken meatballs rank poorly despite attractive nutritional and price benefits: 16 grams of protein per four meatballs at $3.99. While the ingredient list includes herbs and spices like basil, oregano, garlic, and onion, the actual taste is bland with minimal flavor beyond plain chicken and pepper. The primary issues are textural problems—the meatballs have a distinctly rubbery consistency and contain noticeable bits of connective tissue and gristle. These textural flaws cannot be easily remedied with sauce. Multiple consumer reviews confirm the gristly texture despite claims of being made from ground chicken breast and thigh meat, suggesting inadequate trimming during production. Some consumers have also reported gastrointestinal distress after consumption.

Read at Tasting Table