Provided herein are methods and compositions for generating engineered cells, such as cells expressing a recombinant receptor, including methods involving stimulation and/or engineering of an input composition having a defined ratio of naive-like CD4+ T cells to naive- like CD8+ T cells. In particular, the methods can be used to engineer T cells with genetically engineered receptors, such as genetically engineered antigen receptors such as engineered (recombinant) TCRs and chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), or other recombinant chimeric receptors. Features of the methods include producing a more consistent and/or predictable T cell product and/or a product with lower toxicity compared with other methods.
