Trader Joe's blog and cooking.
The average Trader Joe's store offers quite a few options for the chicken lover. But quality can vary, fortunately, that's why you have this site!
From Lemon Spatchcocked Chicken to the Hot & Spicy Chicken Wing Sections to their very popular Chicken Shawarma find hundreds of reviews of Trader Joe's products and see which ones are worth your time and which ones you may want to consider leaving on the shelf!
Once again, a seasonal favorite has returned. It does not seem to have changed much from the previous review. If you are looking for a fully cooked skewer with pretty grill marks and full of Caribbean flavor, then for a frozen item, Trader Joe’s Grilled Jerk Chicken Thigh Skewers is pretty good overall.
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Finally. Something that can be considered real food. An actual meal. The past month, all the new items that have landed in store have been more or less junk food. I’ve had enough of cookies and sweets for a bit. Well, if it weren’t for one last lap around the store, I would have missed these. These are the newest addition to the fresh pasta aisle since the addition of the Italian Sausage and Four Cheese Ravioli.
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Happy New Year! I hope 2019 is off to a good start for everyone. I spent a bit of the last week relaxing on the couch and spending time with Netflix, Hulu, and my other streaming services.
Last night I had found a new series on my Amazon Prime membership that I had not seen before. I grew up watching Emril Lagasse when I was a kid and a teenager. I think he is one of the many Food Network stars that helped inspire an entire generation of Foodies.
If you happen to be a prime member, the name of the show is Eat the World. It’s episode 2 that I got to watch last night which just happened to be about Shanghai Soup Dumplings. In the episode, they focused more on the traditional pork flavored dumpling: Xiao Long Bao. …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Stuffed Peppers make for an easy meal at a reasonable calorie count.
The cons: This might be a regional item as I’ve only seen it a handful of times. In fact, I’ve seen it more via social media than in person.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Asian Style Ground Chicken is a new pre-marinated product that can make a meal a breeze.
The cons: Nothing really stands out.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Chicken Gyoza Potstickers are well done dumplings that are quick, easy, and relatively low in calories.
The cons: This is better if you have a dipping sauce.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Pollo Asado Autentico is a long standing favorite in the refrigerated aisle.
The cons: It is best on the day you prepare it. The leftovers just aren’t as outstanding the next day.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Just Grilled Chicken Strips are an easy as can be, good to keep on hand product that makes for a quick meal or salad.
The cons: You are paying the same amount for this one pound bag as you would in Costco for an entire rotisserie chicken.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s BBQ Seasoned Spatchcocked Chicken is an easy and delicious pre-seasoned item that comes out very moist.
The cons: This item is likely seasonal. But the package also mentions that it can be frozen. Keep in mind this is BBQ seasoned, but not BBQ flavored.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Harvest Salad with Grilled Chicken is a filling and good salad option where the calorie count isn’t too terrible.
The cons: You’ll need a spare plate to dig out the dressing or at least to mix the dressing in.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Shawarma Chicken Thighs are super flavorful, moist, and tasty chicken thighs.
The cons: The thighs are uneven which leads to over/under cooking. These would be more successful if they were sliced into kabob sized slices.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Breaded Chicken is a quick, flavorful, ready made chicken that could be turned into a tasty dish quickly.
The cons: There is a slight premium to this pre-made product, but is not much more expensive than their uncooked chicken tenderloins in the refrigerated section.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Truffle Mousse Pate is a truly unique product that will have its raving fans. For those with a curious palate and not a big wallet, it’s a neat item to try.
The cons: This is neither a taste nor texture that everyone will appreciate. If you’ve been curious about pate and can stomach the flavor of truffle, this is a well made one to reach for. Pate is not diet food, so don’t be surprised by the calorie count.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Organic Chicken Wing Sections are a solid option in the freezer case of Trader Joe’s.
The cons: For a group of hungry adults, this two pound bag might only feed two people so plan accordingly.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Chicken Taquitos are quick freezer food that are only 110 calories per taquito
The cons: These are pretty close to flavorless. You will need to get creative with a sauce or toppings in order for this to have flavor.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Chicken Cilantro Mini Wontons make for a quick and easy snack or meal.
The cons: You’ll still want a bit of dipping sauce as these are a bit bland on their own.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Pesto Genovese Chicken Breast makes for tender chicken that is ready quickly.
The cons: Has an acidic taste. The pesto might be better if it were something you added on like a chimichurri rather than a marinade.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Chicken Drummellas are basically just chicken nuggets.
The cons: For me there was a slight taste of raw flour and the breading lacked flavor.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Chicken Noodle Soup with Veggies is basic chicken noodle soup. Nothing terrible, but nothing standout either. It’s shelf stable
The cons: Save this for when you are sick and can’t taste anything.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Gluten Free Chicken Breast Nuggets are perfect with those who cannot have gluten which won’t have you feeling deprived of the experience of chicken nuggets.
The cons: These aren’t quite a perfect clone of the regular chicken nugget, but they come close enough.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Chicken and Vegetable Wonton Soup makes for a quick and low calorie meal. The wontons are the highlight here.
The cons: You will still need to add water and I wasn’t crazy about the veggies in the broth.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Chicken and Mushroom Pelmeni is new and can be prepared quickly from the freezer.
The cons: Bag is not resealable and my leftovers were a bit gummy the next day.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s BBQ Teriyaki Chicken can be made entirely in the microwave, reasonably priced considering how much of the work is done for you.
The cons: Not as flavorful as true BBQ Teriyaki chicken. Lacks the reddish hue that appears on the bag and is found on traditional BBQ. Veggies would have made a great addition to this bag.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Simply Roast Chicken Breast is fresh, pre-sliced, well seasoned (almost to a fault).
The cons: Black pepper was overwhelming at some points. A bit pricey for a pound of roast chicken.
The verdict: …
