Aldi Red Packet Chicken (The Complete Guide to Making the Most of It!)
Whether you’re cooking for 2 or 12, frozen meals make it easier and more convenient to get dinner on the table without the fuss.
Frozen chicken is versatile, and Germany-based grocery chain Aldi offers surprisingly good options at low prices.
Have you heard of Aldi’s Red Bag Chicken? While there are a few social media groups dedicated to the phenomenon, if this is the first time you’ve noticed the product, you’re not alone.
Here’s everything you need to know about this cult status item!
What is Aldi Red Packet Chicken?
Aldi’s Kirkwood Chicken Breast Fillet, nicknamed Aldi Red Bag Chicken or RBC, is a fully cooked frozen product packaged in the titular red bag. Retailing for $5.99 per bag of 4 to 6 pieces, the product is an Aldi favorite because of its resemblance to Chick-fil-A chicken.
Aldi fans love the chain’s products, but this chicken has a special appeal. Read on to find out why, where you can find it in stores, and why some people are starting to defy the hype!
Why do people love Aldi Red Packet Chicken so much?
Aldi fans are so well known for their love of RBC that they are even mentioned several times on Aldi’s website. According to the website, “With no added hormones or steroids, these frozen chicken breasts are the perfect addition to any meal…”
The lack of hormones or steroids in the chicken is just one of the reasons fans go crazy over those red bags.
RBC is a daily buy, which means fans won’t just show up once a year like some Aldi Finds – or show up in stores over and over again – fans will be able to buy every time they go grocery shopping This chicken, provided it is in stock.
Then there is the price. Four to six pieces of breaded chicken cost just $6 (the most common amount in the bag seems to be five, if you’re lucky, six), and a similar Chick-fil-A sandwich – just a sandwich – would have cost More than half the price of your entire RBC package.
Everyone raves about the taste and quality. Think juicy, tender chicken lightly breaded and perfectly seasoned. How crispy you want it to be on the outside is up to you, but still juicy on the inside.
It’s also important to note that this isn’t a molded hockey puck-shaped patty like McDonald’s McChicken. These are whole briskets, about four or five ounces each, and vary in width and texture.
RBCs are also very easy to prepare. As the package says, the chunks are fully cooked, so you don’t have to worry about undercooked raw chicken and all the attendant cross-contamination issues.
You have several options when it comes to reheating these fillets. We’ll discuss that below!
How much is Aldi Red Packet Chicken?
Aldi RBC is only $5.99 in stores plus applicable sales tax.
That said, if you shop at Aldi through their partnership with grocery pickup/delivery company Instacart, you’re likely to see a markup on those fillets. (Currently on my Instacart, they’re $6.59.)
Where can I find Aldi Red Bag Chicken in stores?
This infamous chicken is in the freezer (must be kept frozen at home). If its location doesn’t immediately jump at you—sometimes it’s on a lower shelf—look for general frozen chicken items, like purple, yellow, or green bags.
RBC is notorious for being sold out due to its popularity, leading some to fear Aldi has discontinued it.
do not be afraid! As of this writing, RBC is not discontinued. If you can’t find it, your store may be waiting for a new shipment.
Next time you’re in the store, politely ask the staff to see if they know when the next truck will arrive, and then plan to get there as early as possible.
What is the nutritional information for Aldi Red Bag Chicken?
Besides being free of antibiotics and hormones, Aldi’s RBC won’t win any nutritional awards for its crumbs. However, splurging a little once in a while never hurts anyone!
Here is the nutritional information:
How do you make Aldi Red Packet Chicken?
You can cook Aldi’s RBC in a number of ways.
microwave: It’s not the best way, as you won’t get the crumbs crispy, but if you’re in a hurry, it will work and still be delicious. Try it for a few minutes first, then add 30 seconds if more time is needed.
oven: Oven baking is the recommended method for bags. Preheat oven to 400°F, place chicken on a baking sheet and bake 20 minutes per side.
oven: Don’t want to warm up your whole house in summer? You can follow similar instructions to the oven, only on a smaller scale. Just make sure you keep an eye on the chicken as the oven can overheat and catch fire.
Oh, and make sure the setting is “oven” and not “toast”.
Air fryer: Die-hard RBC fans swear by the air fryer method (and I have to agree). Set the air fryer to 400 and cook 10 minutes per side. This will get you to a moderate level of crispness; if you want a crisper crumb, try baking 15+ minutes per side.
And don’t forget to have long tongs ready, as it can be a pain to get the red blood cells out of the deep bowl of some air fryers.
How to make a Chick-fil-A Sandwich with Aldi RBC?
What got people so excited about RBC in the first place was that it was available as a Chick-fil-A dupe in a crispy chicken sandwich. Even better, you can make entire sandwiches entirely with Aldi ingredients.
Shop RBC, the baked goods aisle for specialty brioche bread with great cucumber dill or sweet pickles.
Alternatives if you don’t have these on hand (recipe courtesy of Today.com): ¼ C honey, 2 tablespoons yellow mustard, ¼ C barbecue sauce, ½ C mayonnaise, and juice of one lemon.
Mix up the sauce, spread a generous dollop on a bun (you can’t go wrong with a quick toast on top), and pile on the red blood cells and pickles.
You can also turn it into a Whataburger Chicken Biscuit Sandwich, or ditch the sandwich entirely with these clever dinner ideas.
What can you get if Aldi’s red envelope chicken is sold out?
The bane of RBC hunters’ existence: Chickens are sold out where they should be.
However, Aldi’s frozen chicken selection is stellar, so if you can’t get RBC, try Blue Bag Chicken – Kirkwood Crispy Chicken Strips.
Also green bag, Kirkwood Parmesan herb-studded chicken tenders and yellow bag chicken, delicious sounding Kirkwood honey battered chicken tenders. These all have similar price points and their own little fan clubs.
Green, blue and yellow bagged chicken can also be heated in the air fryer for maximum convenience.
Aldi aside, if you’re craving chicken, Sam’s Club has some breaded chicken offerings to compare and compete with.
Try the Member’s Mark Southern Style Chicken Sandwich, which comes in packs of 10 and retails for $15.98.
Their Member’s Mark Southern Style Chicken Bites with “light dill pickles” cost $12.08 for a 48-ounce bag.
Finally, Walmart is selling 1.25-pound bags of Tyson’s Air Fried Perfectly Crispy Chicken Breast Fillets for $6.68.
If you’re looking for a healthier chicken snack, these fillets have fewer calories and less fat than similar fast food options.
Does Aldi Red Bag Chicken Really Taste Like Chick-fil-A?
Everyone’s taste buds will be different, but overall, the general consensus is that Aldi’s RBC and Chick-fil-A taste similar.
An Insider writer chronicled her experience at RBC, and after making Chicken Parmesan, she said it definitely reminded her of Chick-fil-A and advised fans of the fast-food chain to “run, not walk” to Aldi buys RBC.
Is there anyone who doesn’t like Aldi’s red envelope chicken?
Believe it or not, after all the hoopla about this beloved product, there are some detractors who claim that RBC lives up to the hype.
Redditor u/Paigenacage called the chicken “disgusting” and said it “tastes nothing like Chick Fil A [sic]’ and ‘This is too bad.
It turned out that many people agreed with her, saying they found the chicken “ridiculously sweet” or calling its sodium content “terrible.”
Fans of other bag colors also put in their two cents, with many expressing the superiority of blue or green.
To learn more about Aldi, be sure to check out our other posts on the best times to shop at Aldi, Aldi restock times, and whether Aldi accepts coupons and EBT.
in conclusion
Aldi’s Red Bag Chicken, like many of their great items, has earned Icon Status on the internet, and if you can get your hands on a bag, you too can enjoy homemade Chick-fil-A dupes in your own kitchen.
