Product Review: Taco Bell Home Originals Santa Fe Style Bowlz Beef Variety

Mexican food and Taco Bell are very popular and Taco Bell is an inexpensive and often very tasty treat for Mexican food fans. In the last decade or so Taco Bell has introduced a line of what they call "Home Originals". The line is meant to emulate the Taco Bell products at home.

On a recent trip to our local store I came across a selection of Taco Bell Home Originals Santa Fe Style Bowlz. The bowls or bowlz as it is spelled on the package contain meat, rice, refried beans and vegetables. In the case of the type I bought, it contained, beef taco filling, Mexican style rice, corn, onion and red peppers. Needing a quick meal that night, I purchased this item for a $1.99 at my local Target store.

I wasn't too sure how this item would taste as many items done by restaurants for home versions tend to fall short of the restaurant version. Preparation for the product was easy; it only involved the removal of a few wrappings and microwaving the bowl for a minute and a half and stirring to combine the ingredients.

When the ingredients of this Taco Bell product are heated and mixed together they make a delicious Mexican dish that is extremely versatile. It has creamy texture due to the refried beans and is mildly spicy taste because of the spices involved in the beef taco filling. The corn, onion, and peppers and a fresh add crisp taste to the dish at the end of each bite.

This Santa Fe Style bowl can be eaten by itself or you can apply additions and use it as filling for burritos or a topping for nachos. I tried this product as a nacho topping and added some sharp cheddar cheese. It was very good; in fact it was better than anything I've ever had from any Taco Bell restaurant.

In the end, I would highly recommend this Taco Bell product to anyone who enjoys Mexican food or Taco Bell. Even though I know this is FAR from authentic Mexican cuisine I found it very delicious and enjoyable. The only fault I really find with this product is the amount of mixture in each container. I am a big believer in getting a lot for my money and this product was a bit too small for the price. It was a value in terms of its versatility, taste, and ease of preparation. The price of just over two dollars(after sales tax) for nine ounces of product is a bit steep in my estimation. For that price I would have like to have gotten a few more meals worth, after cooking the product it tends to shrink due to water loss. This product however is very tasty and versatile, well worth the money if you want a quick and delicious meal. Nutrition facts follow:

Taco Bell Beef Bowl Info

Taco Bell Home Originals:

Santa Fe Style Beef Bowlz.

Mexican-Style Rice, Refried Beans,

Beef Taco Filling, Corn, Onion,

And Red Bell Peppers.

Serving Size: 1 Bowl - 9oz (255g)

Servings Per Container: 1

Calories: 360

Calories From Fat: 70

% Daily Value

Total Fat: 7g (11%)

Saturated Fat: 2.5g (13%)

Trans Fat: 0g

Cholesterol: 30mg (10%)

Sodium: 780mg (33%)

Total Carbohydrate: 49g (16%)

Dietary Fiber: 7g (28%)

Sugars: 4g

Protein: 20g

Vitamin A: 15%

Vitamin C: 20%

Calcium: 6%

Iron: 20%