Lean Cuisine Thai-Style Chicken

June 8, 2006 | Reviewer: Carolyn

Price: $2.50 (on sale)
Serving: 1 tray, 9 oz.
Calories: 220
Fat: 6%, 4g
Sodium: 25%, 610mg
Protein: 17g
WW Points: 4 Winning Points
Diet Exchanges: 1 1/2 Lean Meat, 1 1/2 Starch, 1/2 Vegetable, 1/2 Skim Milk

Lean Cuisine says: Grilled chicken tenderloins served in a rich and creamy roasted red pepper sauce made with fire-roasted red peppers and basil, accented with lime. Long grain white rice, hand-picked red peppers, spinach and lime are tossed together to finish the dish.

Carolyn says: This meal was relatively filling, but the content was not all there. The redeeming quality that saved this from being a 1 star meal was the sauce. That was some pretty good thai-style sauce. But what would have made it better is doubling the veggies, adding more substance, and not using tasteless and mushy rice. The sauce was enjoyable and had a medium level of spice. It was a nice contrast to the Italian meals I normally pick up in the frozen food aisle.

comments

8 Responses to “Lean Cuisine Thai-Style Chicken”

Jessica on June 14th, 2006

I must disagree. This is one of the better entress in the LC line. When they were on sale for $1.99 at my local market, I bought about 10. The sauce makes the meal. It’s got a great cocanut flavor and a kick. And the chicken is tender — not dry like some that you’re sure they used to make broth before sticking it in your meal. Now the rice isn’t great. It reminds me of converted rice — something I hate — but I don’t expect that much from one of these meals.

I’m on a low calorie diet and in the last month have sampled a vast variety of entrees under 250 calories — and this is one of the best.
Jess on June 15th, 2006

I am going have to place my opinion somewhere in between these two reviews. Jessica, you are right. The sauce has got it going on. I had to stop myself from getting a spoon and scrapping the sides once the rice and chicken had been consumed, so that I could savor the remaining teaspoon of coconuty, tomatoey goodness. I did not do this, but only because I sit in a cubicle and, well, everyone would have seen this pitiful display and probably never let me live it down.

But I was frightened by the grill marks on the chicken. I hardly believe that there is a grill station along the Lean Cuisine Thai Chicken assembly line. Are they drawn on? And with what substance? Food dye? Eyebrow pencil? Chicken-staining laser pointer?

But Carolyn you were on the mark about the watery rice. They could have been more generous with the grains and need to increase per grain fluffiness. I also did not find it that filling. I would have liked another chicken strip.

I’d give it 3 stars. It has an original flavor that I have not found in other microwave fare. Just make sure the chicken is sufficently coated in sauce so your mind doesn’t wander about brown lines origins.
delegatrix on June 22nd, 2006

I also think this is one of the better Lean Cuisines. The sauce is better than the usual red tomato sauce one finds in several entrees. I think it could be a spicier, but that might fend off the less adventurous consumer. This is a Weight Watcher 4 point entree which, as noted above, helps out the dieters.
Carrie on September 12th, 2006

This is one of my favorite lean cuisine entrees. I’m not sure if there’s anything “Thai” about it, but I do enjoy the sauce. I agree it could be improved by adding some more vegetables, but overall, it’s one of my top choices when I grab something out of the freezer for lunch.
Nicole on January 17th, 2007

I’m eating this meal right now. Yes, the rice is mushy, but I don’t find it tasteless! it;s yummy and coconut-milk-y. The chicken serving size is sad - one large, two medium, and one small peice. And the first peice I tried was VERY CHEWY is the middle. As in, impossible to chew through. It’s the toughest miceo-meat I’ve had in my life. But the other chicken was fairly juicy and tasty. The red sauce kinda kicks ass - a bit spicy, a bit creamy, very smooth. The flavors earn four stars. However, becasue of the unchewable “chicken” peice and the small size of the meal, I’d give it a three, and be awfully happy I have a 150-caloris Swiss Miss Indulgence vanilla pudding cup.
Sara on March 1st, 2007

I had this dinner last night and I personally loved it though I must agree the rice is quite mushy but what really was good was the sauce, I was suprised by the amount that was given with the dish there was more then enough, i would of liked a bit more chicken though
Lauren on May 16th, 2007

I definitely disagree with the 2 star rating on this meal. Thai style chicken is delicious! It’s so different tasting than anything else LC makes. To me, the sauce is as good as something you could get in a restaurant. I’m always very impressed with this one, and while heating it in the work kitchen microwave, this meal always commands a “That smells great!” from co-workers. Defintely one of my favorites.
Lean Cuisine Thai-Style Chicken | HeatEatReview.com on November 14th, 2007

[…] photo above is from Carolyn’s review of the meal over a year ago. My rice was considerably better than hers and my meal looked much prettier, if […]