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.
Taste and review
Not too long ago, I went out with a few of my coworkers to a local restaurant called Ripe in Mount Vernon, NY. We picked the place because they have fabulous Caribbean food and the chef was on Throwdown with Bobby Flay (and yes, he actually beat Bobby). It's a restaurant that you could easily miss when driving by. Ever since then I've been craving Caribbean food, but haven't been willing to go for the drive.
It's just about summertime and mango tends to be the go-to flavor for Summer at Trader Joe's. This year is no exception. I picked up their Grilled Jerk Chicken Thigh Skewers. For $5.49, these weren't as good as the restaurant, but they were darn good for a freezer entree.
In the package, there should be 6 skewers. I cooked all of these at once and figured whatever was leftover I could put on a salad the next day. I cooked them in the toaster oven and avoided the microwave. Chicken and the microwave rarely get along. While the box says a grill pan is the recommended way, there was absolutely nothing wrong with putting them in the toaster. And if you are wondering, I ate 5 out of the 6 in one sitting because they were so good.
The chicken was so very tender and could be eaten in bite-sized chunks. The mango chutney added a nice thick fruity flavor on top. These are excellent to reach for, but I must caution most people out there on one thing.
These are medium to medium-hot in terms of spice. Anything with a jerk seasoning is usually spicy, however, Trader Joe's website doesn't mention it with complete accuracy. While they are saying it's not too spicy, I'll tell you there is a good amount of heat here. It won't hit you right away, but by the end of the skewer, it will slow you down.
Frequently asked questions
The following are common questions readers have about this product.
These are actually a seasonal item that tends to come around during the summer months.
Preheat your air fryer to 375F. Cook these for 9 minutes in a single layer. Be sure to defrost the sauce in advance.
These skewers are mildly spicy. However, the chutney adds an extra layer of spice.
Overall
This does justice to a Caribbean dish. It manages to be flavorful, tender and brings the heat. It's a balancing act. It's an act that is done well.
I did find one skewer that had been broken making for an unpleasant bite, but compared to the number of boxes of these I've purchased, it didn't deter me from buying is while it is on shelves.
Would I buy this again? This is a yes from me. I really like Caribbean food and if you can handle the spice then this is a good choice to reach for.
Product photos
The box of Trader Joe's Grilled Jerk Chicken Thigh Skewers:
Calories
Ingredients
Directions
Out of the package you get:
After Trader Joe's Grilled Jerk Chicken Thigh Skewers was cooked you get:
The Bottom Line
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Trader Joe's Grilled Jerk Chicken Thigh Skewers
Product Name: Trader Joe's Grilled Jerk Chicken Thigh Skewers
Product Description: A seasonal frozen chicken appetizer or entree
Price: $5.49
Currency: USD
Availability: Discontinued
Summary
Trader Joe's Grilled Jerk Chicken Thigh Skewers are a sign of summer and a returning favorite.
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Taste
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Value
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Worthy of Repurchasing
Pros
- Chicken is tender
- Mango Chutney is spicy and well done
- If you like less spice, then go easy on the mango chutney
Cons
- Seasonal. If you like them, then stock up
- I found one of my skewers was broken which made for a not nice bite.
- Otherwise, these make for a light dinner.
- If you are a fan of white meat, this is dark meat.
terri perriello says
Just biught these today and can’t wait to try ‘rm mon!!
Ed says
I just tried these and they were absolutely the WORST ever frozen entree. I was shocked to see the poor quality of the meat (approx. 80% fat). It looks like the manufacturer trims the chicken meat and sells it to it’s preferred customers, then puts the trimmings on skewers and sells it to Trader Joes. Avoid at all costs!
becomebetty says
Hi Ed! I'm glad you left me your thoughts on the product, because this probably isn't the first time that a product has quality inconsistencies and I'm happy you are highlighting this issue. Thanks for sharing your honest thoughts!
TJ says
I cooked them in the microwave and they tasted decent to me. I would definitely get again. Based on your review, it sounds like this might be a seasonal item? I guess I need to stock up! ?
becomebetty says
Hey TJ! That's good to know that they can go in the microwave. How long did you microwave them for? I don't work for and am not affiliated with TJ's but usually most of their Mango flavored products are seasonal to summer time. I'm sure sometime around Labor Day we will start seeing the pumpkin flavored items, so if you really like this, you should stock up. Thanks for stopping by!
TJ says
I don't remember...whatever it said on the instructions. Unfortunately they were out of the skewers when I went the other day. I loaded up on the turkey burgers though!
Dagmar says
So Brenda were the skewers you got fatty at all? I generally prefer whitening over dark meat but if it dark meat is not fatty then I'm good with it
Cathy says
We just had these, after reading your review and loved them! Loved the mango chutney as well....still have some left over which we plan on using on bbq chicken or pork chops. But the chicken skewers were very tasty....easy to make, from frozen which is always nice, no defrosting or planning involved. I had two skewers the hubby had four, with a side of some sort of rice or veggie, it was a nice light dinner! Way to go Betty!!!
Ana says
Hello I am Ana, The chicken was amazing but one time the box came without a sauce, I had BBQ at home, another box I got had only 5 skewers instead of 6…
Thanks
becomebetty says
Thanks for sharing ana!