10 Things to Know Before Buying Trader Joe’s Chicken
Trader Joe’s is known for some of its items in the freezer and refrigerated sections, including orange chicken and even raw marinated chicken.
If you’ve never had Trader Joe’s Chicken and you’re a little unsure whether to buy some at your next grocery store, here are 10 things you need to know before buying Trader Joe’s Chicken!
10 Things to Know Before Buying Trader Joe’s Chicken in 2022
1. Trader Joe’s Orange Chicken is a hit
Trader Joe’s famous Orange Chicken is a hit in homes across the United States, and on busy weeknights, it’s certainly a light-hearted dinner the whole family will love.
In fact, customers say it tastes the same as what you order at a Chinese restaurant.
For your convenience, the orange chicken is fully cooked and then frozen, and heating instructions are quick and easy.
Oven instructions for chicken are as follows:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees for 10 minutes.
- Place the chicken pieces on the baking sheet.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes, until crisp and golden brown.
If you want to cook chicken in a skillet, please refer to the following instructions:
- Heat ¼ cup oil in a large frying pan.
- Add chicken nuggets.
- Cook for 8-10 minutes, turning regularly, until the pieces are crisp and golden.
Chicken sauce can be made in the microwave or in a skillet. The two options are explained below, starting with the microwave instructions:
- Pour the sauce into a microwave-safe bowl.
- Microwave for 1-2 minutes until the sauce is hot.
For the pan:
- Open the package and pour the sauce into a small saucepan.
- Heat on low until hot.
- Finally, toss with the heated chicken pieces and serve.
While the package directions recommend that you bake or fry the chicken, the average consumer of this product recommends that you try cooking it in an air fryer, as this tends to give the best results.
2. Trader Joe’s Raw Chicken
You might be surprised that Trader Joe’s not only has things like bread, dips, and chocolate, but also a good selection of fresh meats.
This includes beef, pork and chicken. Whether you’re looking to buy whole chickens or shredded chicken, Trader Joe’s has you covered.
The chicken that Trader Joe’s sells in its stores is raised completely without antibiotics or added hormones and is vegetarian-fed.
Trader Joe’s has unseasoned meat for you to buy.
But if you’re not that creative with your way of cooking, Trader Joe’s also offers marinated chicken.
3. Trader Joe’s has a great return policy
Trader Joe’s has such a generous return policy that you can bring pretty much anything you want back to the store for a full refund, whether you have a receipt or not.
According to employees, this includes items that are opened or even half eaten simply because you don’t like anything you buy.
So there’s no reason to avoid trying Trader Joe’s chicken because if you don’t like it, or it doesn’t live up to your expectations, just return it.
4. Fresh chicken at Trader Joe’s doesn’t last long
Like chicken you buy from any grocery store, it doesn’t last forever. Trader Joe’s chicken is no exception, and it definitely has an expiration date.
Of course, proper storage of fresh and frozen chicken products will help them stay fresh longer.
When buying pre-frozen chicken, be sure to put it in the refrigerator as soon as you get home from shopping.
As a tip, you want to make sure you don’t make too many stops on your way home from the grocery store, as your chicken may go bad. This also applies to fresh chicken.
All chicken products need to be stored at the proper temperature so they don’t spoil faster than you might expect.
5. Trader Joe’s Salad Has Chicken
Trader Joe’s has plenty of chicken options, such as frozen chicken dinners, chicken soup, and even adding chicken to some ready-made salads.
The Lemon Chicken and Arugula Salad is a hit at Trader Joe’s for a delicious and quick lunch.
6. Surprisingly, Trader Joe’s Has Vegan Chicken
If you live a vegan lifestyle or are trying to cut back on your meat consumption, you might want to consider trying Trader Joe’s Vegan Chicken.
As mentioned earlier, Trader Joe’s Orange Chicken is a hit with shoppers.
You’ll be happy to hear that Trader Joe’s also offers a completely vegan version of this popular dish called Chicken-Free Orange Nuggets, which also has good reviews.
If orange chicken isn’t your cup of tea, Trader Joe’s has other vegetarian chicken options, such as Impossible Chicken Nuggets and Chickenless Crispy Tenders.
7. Trader Joe’s has chicken noodle soup
There’s nothing better than a delicious bowl of homemade chicken noodle soup on a cold day, or when you’re not feeling well.
Unfortunately, there isn’t always enough time in the day to make it ourselves, and sometimes we have to resort to buying prefabs.
Luckily, Trader Joe’s has delicious pre-made chicken noodle soup just when you need it most.
8. Trader Joe’s has chicken sausage
Trader Joe’s has a wide selection of chicken sausages, whether you prefer precooked sausages or want to buy raw sausages to cook yourself.
Some of the chicken sausage options offered by Trader Joe’s are as follows:
- Spicy Jalapeno Chicken Sausage
- Sweet Apple Chicken Sausage
- Smoked Andouille Chicken Sausage
9. Trader Joe’s Marinated Chicken
As mentioned, Trader Joe’s has marinated chicken products, and based on reviews, most of them are pretty good.
One customer said they especially liked Trader Joe’s Shwarma Chicken Thighs, which they serve on pita bread with a variety of different toppings.
10. Trader Joe’s Frozen Chicken
As mentioned earlier, Trader Joe’s Orange Chicken is hugely popular, but there are other fast food ideas, including chicken from the freezer section.
Some of these meals include:
- BBQ Teriyaki Chicken
- BBQ Pulled Chicken
- Chicken Burrito Bowl
- impossible chicken nuggets
- No Chicken Crispy Tenders
- Chicken-Free Orange Nuggets
- Chicken Sausage Breakfast Burritos
To learn more, you can also check out our post on who makes Trader Joe’s food, and what to know before buying Trader Joe’s fried rice and ice cream.
in conclusion
Trader Joe’s has a great selection of chicken and vegan chicken.
Whether it’s a busy weeknight, you’re looking for a quick and delicious meal for your family, or you like to cook something extravagant on the weekend, you can be sure you’ll find some chicken that everyone will love at Trader Joe’s.
