Aldi’s taquitos were a popular frozen food item sold at Aldi grocery stores across the United States. However, in late 2022, customers began noticing that the taquitos were missing from store freezer sections. This led many to ask: What happened to Aldi’s taquitos? Where did they go? And will they be coming back?
When did Aldi’s taquitos disappear?
Reports of the disappearing taquitos began surfacing in October 2022. Customers took to social media sites like Twitter and Facebook to ask about the absence of the beloved frozen snack. Based on these customer accounts, it appears that Aldi stores nationwide pulled the taquitos from shelves in the fall of 2022.
Why did Aldi discontinue the taquitos?
Aldi has not provided an official explanation for why the taquitos were discontinued. However, food industry experts speculate a few possible reasons:
- Supply chain issues – Packaging, ingredient, or equipment shortages may have made it difficult for the taquito supplier to meet production demands.
- Quality concerns – Aldi may have encountered quality control issues leading them to halt taquito sales.
- Low sales – The taquitos may not have been big sellers, leading Aldi to discontinue them.
- Seasonal or limited time product – Aldi sometimes introduces products for a short time or season. The taquitos may have been a limited offering.
Without an official explanation from Aldi, the true reason remains unknown. But these factors are all possibilities in the complex global food market.
What were in Aldi’s taquitos?
Aldi’s taquitos were filled with chicken, monterey jack cheese, and seasonings. The appetizing filling was wrapped in a crispy, corn tortilla shell. They came frozen in a bag of 20-22 taquitos that customers could quickly bake or microwave for a fast snack or meal.
Some more details on the taquito ingredients:
- Chicken – The filling contained chicken breast meat as the main protein source.
- Monterey Jack Cheese – This semi-soft white cheese offered a nice melting quality and mild flavor.
- Seasonings – Spices like cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika were likely used to season the filling.
- Corn tortilla – A crispy fried yellow corn tortilla wrapped around the taquito filling.
The ingredients struck a tasty balance of textures and flavors in each bite.
What were customers’ reactions?
Judging by social media posts and reviews, Aldi shoppers were big fans of the frozen taquitos. Some of the characteristics customers raved about include:
- Convenience – The taquitos were ready in minutes right from the freezer.
- Taste – Customers loved the flavorful filling and crunchy shell.
- Value – A bag of 20-22 taquitos offered an appetizing snack at a bargain Aldi price.
- Versatility – People found creative ways to enjoy the taquitos, from snacks to appetizers to light meals.
When the taquitos disappeared, disappointed customers made it known how much they would miss the grocery store staple. The outcry made it clear these were not just any frozen taquitos – they had a loyal fanbase.
Will the taquitos return?
The big question is whether Aldi plans to bring back the much-loved taquitos. Unfortunately, Aldi has not officially commented on future plans for the product. The company’s approach is usually to avoid announcing potential new products too far in advance.
But dedicated fans should not give up hope yet. One possibility is that the taquitos could return once any supply chain or production issues are resolved. Discontinued products sometimes cycle back onto Aldi shelves down the road. Customers who want the taquitos back would do well to make their opinions heard by reaching out to Aldi customer service.
Aldi keeps its ear to the ground on shopper feedback. So persistent customer demand could influence the grocery chain to restock frozen taquitos in stores. For now, the fate of the taquitos remains a mystery. But loyal shoppers believe the odds are decent these convenient frozen snacks may reappear someday.
Where else can you purchase taquitos?
Until Aldi brings back its taquitos, customers have some other options for buying pre-made frozen taquitos elsewhere:
- Costco – Their Kirkland Signature Chicken Taquitos are comparable to Aldi’s version with chicken, cheese, and seasonings.
- Walmart – Various store brands like Great Value or Foster Farms are carried at reasonable prices.
- Target – Brands like Market Pantry and El Monterey offer quality frozen taquitos.
- Trader Joe’s – While not always in stock, they carry frozen taquitos under the Trader Jose’s label.
- Amazon – A wide selection is available through Amazon Fresh groceries if you cannot find them locally.
The alternatives may not be exactly the same as Aldi’s taquitos. But trying similar products from major national brands and retailers may satisfy the craving.
Nutrition Facts of Taquitos
Taquitos can make for a quick and tasty snack or meal. But how do they measure up nutrition-wise? Here is a look at the nutrition facts for a typical frozen chicken and cheese taquito:
Serving Size
Many frozen taquito packages indicate a serving size of 1-2 taquitos. Two taquitos is a more significant snack, while one taquito could be more of a mini snack.
Calories
One chicken and cheese taquito may contain around 70-150 calories. So two taquitos could have 140-300 calories, depending on the brand. For comparison, two Aldi taquitos had 220 calories.
Fat
Taquitos get a decent amount of fat from the cheese filling and oil used for frying. Each taquito may have around 5-12g of fat, with 2-5g saturated fat. Again, Aldi’s version landed right in the middle with 9g fat and 3.5g saturated fat per 2 taquitos.
Sodium
Like many frozen snacks, taquitos can be quite high in sodium. Expect 200-400mg sodium in just one taquito. Two Aldi taquitos contained 360mg sodium.
Protein
The chicken meat provides a good protein kick. You’ll get around 5-10g of protein per taquito. Two of Aldi’s taquitos had 12g protein.
Carbs
Carbs mostly come from the tortilla shell. One taquito may have 10-15g carbs. Aldi’s nutrition label showed 16g carbs per 2 taquitos.
| Nutrient | 1 Taquito | 2 Taquitos |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 70-150 | 140-300 |
| Total Fat | 5-12g | 10-24g |
| Saturated Fat | 2-5g | 4-10g |
| Sodium | 200-400mg | 400-800mg |
| Protein | 5-10g | 10-20g |
| Carbs | 10-15g | 20-30g |
So in moderation, taquitos can be part of a balanced diet, providing protein, carbs, and a little fat. But the high sodium content means they should not be consumed in excess.
How to Cook Frozen Taquitos
Cooking frozen taquitos is a breeze. Here are some quick tips for frying, baking, or microwaving frozen taquitos:
Frying
Frying gives you that crispy exterior:
- In a skillet, heat 1/4 inch of oil to 350°F.
- Fry 1-3 taquitos at a time 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown.
- Drain on a paper towel and season with salt if desired.
Baking
For a lower fat cooking method, baking is great:
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Place taquitos on baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake 10-15 minutes, flipping halfway through, until crispy.
Microwaving
Microwaving provides the quickest single serving option:
- Place 1-3 taquitos on a microwave-safe plate.
- Microwave on high 1-2 minutes until hot, checking frequently.
- Let stand 1 minute before eating.
Pro tips:
- For an extra crispy tortilla, brush taquitos with oil before cooking.
- Top cooked taquitos with fresh ingredients like lettuce, salsa, cheese, or guacamole.
In just minutes, you can enjoy piping hot taquitos from the comfort of your home. They make for a great anytime snack or light meal.
Taquito Recipe Ideas
Beyond cooking frozen store-bought taquitos, you can also get creative by making homemade taquitos with unique fillings. Try out these fun ideas:
Beef Taco Taquitos
Channel taco flavors into taquito form by filling tortillas with seasoned ground beef, cheese, lettuce, salsa, and more.
Buffalo Chicken Taquitos
These are made by mixing shredded chicken with hot sauce, blue cheese, and other Buffalo wing flavors.
Breakfast Taquitos
Breakfast meats, eggs, cheese, and hash browns wrapped in a tortilla make for a tasty morning taquito.
Black Bean and Corn Taquitos
Veggie lovers will enjoy the southwestern flair of these filled with black beans, corn, peppers, and spice.
Dessert Taquitos
For a sweet treat, fill tortillas with fresh fruit, chocolate, or cinnamon and sugar and top with whipped cream.
Get creative and customize taquitos to match your tastes. Just about any combination of fillings from meats to veggies to cheese can be made into taquito form.
Taquito Dipping Sauce Recipes
What really brings taquitos to life is the dipping sauce! Whip up one of these tasty sauces:
Creamy Jalapeno Sauce
Mix 1/2 cup Greek yogurt, 1 minced jalapeno, 1 tsp lime juice, and salt and pepper to taste.
Avocado Ranch
Combine 1 mashed avocado, 1/4 cup ranch dressing, 1 tbsp lime juice, and 1 minced garlic clove.
Chipotle Sour Cream
Stir together 1/2 cup sour cream, 1 minced chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, and a squeeze of lime.
Cheddar Cheese Sauce
Melt 1/2 cup cheddar cheese with 2 tbsp milk and season with pepper and cayenne pepper.
Pico de Gallo
Mix 2 diced tomatoes, 1 small diced onion, 1 minced garlic clove, cilantro, and lime juice to taste.
Chimichurri
Whirl together 1 cup parsley, 1/4 cup olive oil, garlic, oregano, red pepper flakes, and vinegar.
With flavorful dipping options, the taquito experience goes from great to spectacular.
Taquito Party Ideas
In addition to snacking, taquitos are great for parties and entertaining. Here are fun taquito bar ideas:
Taquito Toppings Bar
Let guests get creative by offering various toppings like lettuce, tomato, salsa, cheese, guacamole, bacon bits, and more so they can customize their taquitos.
Taquito Dip Bar
Set out several dipping sauce options like salsa, cheese sauce, sour cream, and avocado ranch so people can mix and match dips with their taquitos.
Do-It-Yourself Taquito Bar
Offer tortillas, shredded chicken, ground beef or pulled pork, and toppings so guests can have fun making their own taquitos.
Margarita Taquito Bar
What pairs better with taquitos than margaritas? Offer margarita pitchers and ingredients like limes, salt, and flavor syrups.
Loaded Nacho Taquito Bar
Cross taquitos with nachos by providing chips, beans, queso, shredded meat, and fixings to load taquitos nacho-style.
A taquito bar makes for a festive, interactive way to enjoy appetizers with friends. The options are endless for creative combinations!
Conclusion
To the disappointment of many shoppers, Aldi’s popular frozen taquitos mysteriously disappeared from store shelves in 2022. The frozen snack had cultivated a loyal following before vanishing without a trace. While taquito fans await their potential return, the recipe and cooking instructions provided here offer ways to get your taquito fix.
This taquito guide covers topics ranging from nutrition facts to dipping sauces to party food ideas. So the next time a taquito craving strikes, use these insights to whip up quick taquitos on your own terms. And here’s hoping we see the comeback of Aldi’s famous budget-friendly taquitos someday soon!