Review of Trader Joe's Frozen Chipotle Ranch Fries

Chipotle is hot! Popular hot and spicy hot. I really enjoy this smoky, jalapeno, Tex-Mex flavor. So, when I discovered that Trader Joe's has frozen Chipotle Ranch Fries, I knew I had to give them a try.

I was planning a simple meal of hamburgers and veggies, so fries were a natural choice as a side. Everyone in my family likes fries, especially the kids. Luckily, frozen oven baked fries are fairly low in fat, unlike the fries you'd get at a fast food restaurant. Chipotle fries sure sounded like something that would spice up an ordinary dinner.

Trader Joe's frozen Chipotle Ranch fries are easy to prepare. Simply open the package, remove the packet of chipotle BBQ sauce (don't bake it!), and place the fries in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Bake at 425 degrees for 18-22 minutes. I usually keep a big bag of regular oven fries in the freezer and just bake what I need. You will need to prepare the entire bag of Trader Joe's Chipotle fries all at once. However, the bag is only 20 oz., and between two adults and two small children we polished it off and could have eaten more.

While the fries are baking, place the pouch of BBQ sauce in a bowl of warm water to bring it to room temperature. When your oven timer dings, take out the fries and place them in a bowl. Drizzle on the chipotle BBQ sauce and toss until the fries are well coated. Fortunately, I had the foresight to set aside some plain fries for the kids before coating them. These fries definitely have a kick! My young kids would not have been able to tolerate the spice.

My husband and I both loved these fries. My only complaint is that the sauce makes the fries a tad soggy. The smoked BBQ flavor is tasty and spicy . . . but not too spicy. You won't be reaching for the water or wiping tears from your eyes. The taste of the chipotle fries kept reminding me of hot wings, so I pulled out some blue cheese dressing for dipping. Delish!

Trader Joe's Chipotle Ranch Fries were an excellent complement to the burgers, and they would also taste great with ribs, pork, steak, chicken, or sausage. These fries would be a good appetizer with dipping sauces such as ketchup, blue cheese dressing, ranch dressing, mayo, or salsa.

My 20 oz. bag of chipotle fries cost $2.99. Each serving contains 160 calories and 8 grams of fat (1.5 saturated fat, no trans fat.) There are 3 grams of fiber and 2 grams of protein in every serving. But be careful . . . there are 7 servings in a bag and these fries are delicious and addictive. I must have eaten at least 2 ½ servings. I'll just focus on the fact that I had a nice amount of fiber and protein!