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: This post contains affiliate links. I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
If you've read through this blog at all. You'll realize that I always complain about being busy.
I mean where does the time go? I feel like each and every year I have less and less time. This year has been no exception. I wonder how many of you feel the same way.
Now to be fair, as a teacher I won't utter these words come July and August. Not everyone has that luxury. But I still do wonder where the time has gone even during those months.
This blog started in earnest about cooking, but quickly shifted into the "ain't nobody got time for that" cooking stuff.
Say what you want, but cooking can take up such a big portion of my evenings. My husband and I are on completely different schedules so we sit and have a meal together maybe once or twice a week.
So often I am eating by myself and I leave my husband a meal or two in the refrigerator when he gets home in the morning.
When you cook for one person, it is so easy to skip over most food groups as to not make a mess of the kitchen. I've found making my own little meal prep containers to be both life saver and a time saver. Yes, they are microwave, oven, and dishwasher safe. They have three separate areas and force me to remember those things called vegetables.
Now, I am fortunate enough to live by a Costco. I mean literally half a mile and I am there. But I don't like their checkout process. If I do go I'm grabbing one or two items, which is easy enough, but the lines can be pretty long and slow. One of my favorite items to run in there and grab is their $5 rotisserie chicken.
You can't beat it in terms of price or in terms of making meals from it.
But there are times where I am just not willing to wait in line. That's where this little bag of chicken strips come in handy.
Already cooked, this is moist white meat chicken. The flavor here is as simple as it gets: salt, pepper, lemon juice, and some garlic. But nothing that really takes center stage.
Nope, pardon the cliché, but this just tastes like chicken.
Moist chicken that is. Grilled chicken can be quite dry. This fortunately is not.
Best of all, if you are making lunch the night before just grab some strips out of the bag and let it defrost over night. Boom. Lunch is made. Or dinner. No muss. No fuss. Minimal clean up.
For $5.49 this isn't the most cost-effective item I've purchased. But it is a tremendous time saver too. As an easy grab and go item to keep on hand, it tastes good and makes for a filling lunch to serve with just about any side.
The bag of Trader Joe's Just Grilled Chicken Strips:
The nutritional information and the ingredient list:
How to prepare:
Out of the package. My lunch for the next day. It will defrost and make a nice lunch. I got these meal prep container from Amazon.com:
Would I buy this again? Yes, Trader Joe's Just Grilled Chicken Strips are a regular item on my shopping list.
Want to see more items I've reviewed from Trader Joe's? Click on Thoughts & Reviews of Trader Joe’s for a searchable list.
Did you try it? Let me know what you think in the comments section!
Alek says
These can be used in many approaches when you don't want to handle raw chicken or go through prep. Chop it up and add to pot pies, soups, stews, and much more.
becomebetty says
Hey Alek! Great suggestions and valid point, so many people are scared of raw chicken. Thanks so much for sharing suggestions and stopping by!
Dag says
Wow! Look at you with your compartmentalised lunch! I am truly impressed! I am usually far 2 tired when I get home at night to even think about putting something together and the next morning I get up with virtually no extra time to get out the door. I have purchased this product many times. It is great to be able to take out a few pieces at a time to make a chicken panini, chicken quesadilla or to add to a salad. I really love roast chicken but the thought of pulling all the meat off the bones, putting it into a container and then disposing of the carcass is just draining. I am pathetic, qui??!!!!! I end up eating some of it & then forget about it's very existence and end up finding a mystery container of what is left days later im the back of the fridge. I have then tossed it in the freezer but it just doesn't taste the same thawed out later on. This isn't a bad value for a single person and/or two person family in my opinion although I certainly miss the crispy parts of chicken skin you get on a roast chicken.
becomebetty says
Hey Dag! I had it when certain things have different moisture levels and my lunch gets soggy. Sometimes one undivided container works, other times it just ruins things. Nope, you are not pathetic on that. I do the same thing because its a smaller household thing too. We end up wasting if it gets pushed to the back. Nothing beats crispy skin, but if you are watching what you eat then unfortunately that adds a lot of calories. Bummer. Thanks as always for stopping by and sharing!
Bonnie R Millard says
Going to TJ today and so glad I found you from Reddit! I will be scouring your lists in the future.
becomebetty says
Hey Bonnie! Welcome to BecomeBetty. Glad you found me. If you have any questions, just let me know, I'm happy to help and have absolutely no affiliation with the company.
Bette Davis says
I wondered if you knew if these chicken strips are gluten free? I see nothing in the ingredients that would be a problem... I am trying to find out why I had a problem... Could be something else. but, wondered if you could give me any help..Thanks, BETTE
becomebetty says
Hey Bette! I always err on the side of caution, especially with dietary items. I've learned that there can be substantial regional differences in certain products as well. That being said, I think the best thing for you to do would be to reach out to Trader Joe's Corporate and ask them directly. You can reach them here: https://www.traderjoes.com/contact-us/product-feedback
Sofia says
Trader Joes discontinues its frozen chicken strips. I know they don't make their products, so do you know who makes these? I tried Foster Farms Frozen No Antibiotics Ever Grilled Chicken Breast Strips....and gave them to the dog.
becomebetty says
Hey Sofia! The chicken strips just came back. Just look for new packaging.