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The bok-boking the rotisserie chicken trend.
For years, customers urged the cult-favorite grocery store to debut their own rotisserie chicken. Now, crazed fans’ prayers have been answered, but in a way that’s best for meal-preppers.
Trader Joe’s new pre-seasoned and shredded rotisserie chicken breast is only $8.99, and the beloved grocery store is marketing it as the perfect way to add protein to salads, sandwiches and burritos.
For some, it’s the ultimate lazy-meal protein, and for others, it’s an overpriced scam.
It’s seasoned with garlic, onion and chicken broth, and reviewers are loving the convenience of adding it to a number of quick, easy meals. The package comes with one pound of white chicken to use throughout the week.
It’s moist, flavorful and the right amount of salty according to Simply Recipes, which also said the Costco rotisserie chicken is dry, stringy and bland in comparison. Simply Recipes also recommended using the chicken in tacos, greek bowls, caesar salad or buffalo wraps.
Trader Joe’s never carried rotisserie chickens before, and added this one to their repertoire to make a “simple pleasure even simpler” and help those who meal prep weekly. Before this release, the closest item they had to rotisserie chicken was their Hardwood-smoked pulled chicken.
But people online are skeptical about the packaging, authenticity and price.
“$9??? Is it organic? Humane certified? Free range? Looks from the package like it’s factory-farmed chicken just cooked and shredded,” one Redditor said.
“That’s sketch and this is some desperate stuff,” said another. “I might as well buy canned chicken instead.”
From those who tried it, reviews are mixed, with some saying it’s moist and flavorful, and others saying it was dry and bland unless it was thrown into something already with flavor, like a casserole or making it buffalo-style.
Reviewers are also giving recipe ideas for the chicken.
“We mixed it in with the Spicy Queso Dip, and it was delicious with Tortilla Chips :)”
“It’s a pretty decent ready-to-go protein. I wasn’t fond of the wetness and decided I needed to blot it with a paper towel before I put it in a salad. It was better thrown in a skillet with some pasta.”
Convenience is the one point of agreement between reviewers, as the pre-shredded and seasoned aspect makes it easy to throw into any dish.
“It doesn’t get any more convenient, and it’s inspired me to make a number of quick and easy lunches,” agreed Simply Recipes, who also loved that there is no mess from picking at carcasses and carving a full chicken.
One Instagram account @traderjoesairfry posts her various air fry recipes with Trader Joe’s items, and used the chicken on a Focaccia sandwich, with her review being that the chicken was super juicy and well seasoned.
If you value your time more than you value flavor, the $9 investment in the pre-shredded meat may be your new favorite purchase.
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