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!
So every now and again I like to pick up an item that seemingly no one is talking about. This is a product I had to do a bit more research into to see if there is a bit of a difference. From everything I’ve put together, most commercial chicken are raised quite quickly. Heirloom on the other hand supposedly taste more like the way chicken did a long time ago (before even I was born in the 1980s). They are smaller and have spent their lives in a pasture.
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So on my most recent trip, I found this bag of newly marinated meat. And I have to be honest, I really like the Chicken Shawarma. It has such a nice blend of flavor it seems to be pretty consistent in terms of quality. So my hope is that these would be just as just albeit spicy chicken thighs as well.
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Sorry for the time off. I think it is fair to say that, I was glued to the news like so many of you. And for the last few weeks like seems less and less normal by the day. So on my most recent shopping trip, I picked up a few essentials (after waiting in line but walked into a fully stocked store) and brought home enough groceries to last a bit. I’d rather not be part of the problem. So, I usually go shopping at Trader Joe’s twice a week to do small shops. Now, I’m probably going to do one larger shop every other week.
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Ah, a new freezer item. I don’t know why I get more excited over these than other items. But anything to make a quick and easy lunch that I don’t need to think about.
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So Trader Joe’s has hit us with three new dips: Trader Joe’s Buffalo Style Chicken Dip, Trader Joe’s Black Bean Dip, and Trader Joe’s Green Goddess Dip. So I figured I would start with this one since it is the most familiar.
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So you are craving Chinese, but for some reason you aren’t going out or ordering in. This is a good, but not a great answer to not getting it at your local Chinese food establishment. Why isn’t it great?
Well, the answer is simple: if it’s chicken fried rice, I expect there to be chicken with a healthy dose of veggies in there. Trader Joe’s Chicken Fried Rice was mostly brown colored rice with chucks of scrambled egg….
The quest for a quick and flavorful lunch is really what got this blog started. My love of Trader Joe’s did start in the frozen section. And with the Indian selections that I was eating for lunch. Trader Joe’s quietly added a new item: this Cuban Citrus Garlic Bowl. Now, if you’ve ever had good Cuban food you know it is deeply flavorful with the right amount of acidity. So with fingers crossed, I grabbed this one day for a quick meal.
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Every now and again, I have to clarify that I’ve bought some products more than once for the sake of testing them. If you buy Trader Joe’s Chicken Chilaquiles Rojo, please read through my review, because I have to be honest, I wasn’t loving this product the first time around. Odds are you might think badly of this product too.
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There are some sections at Trader Joe’s where they can do no right: sushi would be an example. It’s so wrong, it has no chance of being right. There are other sections of the store where they can do no wrong. That section is the Indian selection, where they have now added Trader Joe’s Fiery Chicken Curry.
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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. …
After the Stuffed Cabbage Rolls that I tried, it had me longing for Stuffed Peppers. The premise in the end is pretty much the same, but the containment vegetable is much different.
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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: …
“Have you ever tried shawarma…I don’t know what it is, but I know I want to try it.” This was one of the ending lines of the first Avengers films. That particular scene takes place in NYC.
Although I’ve lived my whole live in and around NYC, I too had never had shawarma up until this point. What made that line so funny at the end of the movie was its complete randomness.
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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: …
