Grilled chickenis a go-to meat option for so many reasons.
It’s also incredibly versatile, making it a popular add-on for any number of dishes.
For me, grilled chicken is an absolute staple.
Photos: The brands. Design: Eat This, Not That!
Enter bagged grilled chicken.
Found in your grocer’s freezer or refrigerator section, these convenient products come pre-sliced and ready to heat.
This grilled chicken gave off a strong smoky aroma that matched its flavor.
Brianna Ruback / Eat This, Not That!
However, I wasn’t a big fan.
It was also saltier than I would have liked.
These aren’t technically strips.
Brianna Ruback / Eat This, Not That!
But they’re a close alternative for those looking to get their grilled chicken fix fast.
In fact, it was the blandest of every option I tried.
The texture was notably soft and moist, but I found myself yearning for flavor.
Brianna Ruback / Eat This, Not That!
I suppose this shouldn’t be a shock given that the only flavoring on the ingredient list is salt.
I loosely covered the chicken with a paper towel and heated the strips for a minute-and-a-half.
The taste:The chicken smelled rather blandas if it had been boiled instead of grilled.
Brianna Ruback / Eat This, Not That!
The flavor proceeded to match the aroma, presenting a slightly savory taste that wasn’t particularly notable.
Overall, this option was quite plain and begging to be covered in some sort of marinade or seasoning.
Despite the lackluster taste, the texture was still moist and juicy.
Brianna Ruback / Eat This, Not That!
Everything else came frozen.
I picked up this eight-ounce bag for $5.99, the cheapest of the bunch.
I then microwaved the strips for 40 seconds, as per the instructions.
The look:Not the most enticing in appearance.
The chicken was decently seasoned, showcasing the garlic and onion powder, though it was a bit salty.
However, the texture was what stood out to me the most.
It wasn’t dry and was instead quite tender.
Still, I wasn’t overly blown away by this.
There was just one option that I’d add to my grocery list going forward.
There’s also a plain variety.
I opted for the 16-ounce bag offrozen grilled chicken strips, which cost me $8.99.
My roommate noted that it tasted almost like turkey, which I oddly understood.
“That would be perfect with some gravy and mashed potatoes,” my roommate concluded.
To my delight, the texture was even juicier than the previous iteration.
I also preferred these to the plain grilled chicken found in TJ’s refrigerated section.
