Trader Joe’s Hardwood Smoked Chicken features a refrigerated, heat-and-serve portion of seasoned and smoked chicken breast.
A 16-oz package was $8.99.
The Hardwood Smoked Chicken was very convenient to prepare. I just had to poke a few holes in the plastic pouch it came in and heat it for about 3 minutes in the microwave.
According to Trader Joe’s, the chicken is seasoned with garlic, paprika, salt, and pepper, plus a “special seasoning blend” that includes ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg. According to my taste buds, the chicken was lightly seasoned with a strong smoky flavor. It was nice enough to eat by itself but also lent itself well to eating with sauce as it wasn’t too salty.
Texture-wise, the meat was a little dry which wasn’t all that surprising as chicken breast dries out fairly easily. I haven’t had that much smoked chicken breast but I can’t remember any of it being juicy except for deli meat. The chicken still had a nice meaty bite though.
Taken altogether, Trader Joe’s Hardwood Smoked Chicken was a mixed bag for me. I liked the strong smoky notes and flavor but dark meat would have made for a more enjoyable texture. Still, some barbecue sauce or the like helped with the slight dryness.
Nutritional Info – Trader Joe’s Hardwood Smoked Chicken
Serving Size – 3 oz (84g)
Calories – 110
Fat – 2g (Saturated Fat – 0.5g)
Sodium – 200mg
Carbs – less than 1g (Sugar – 0g)
Protein – 21g
