Lean Cuisine Fiesta Grilled Chicken

August 4, 2006 | Reviewer: Abi

Price: $2.00 (good sale at Safeway)
Serving: 1 package, 8.5 oz.
Calories: 310
Fat: 10%, 7g
Sodium: 25%, 620mg
Protein: 19g
Carbs: 9%, 27g
Fiber: 12%, 3g
WW Points: 5 Points
Diet Exchanges: 1 1/2 Lean Meat, 2 Starch, 1/2 Vegetable

Lean Cuisine says: Seasoned and grilled chicken tenderloins with hand-picked red and yellow peppers. Served with a Santa Fe-style medley of long grain white rice, black and pinto beans, whole kernel corn,green poblano and red chiles, topped with a creamy sour cream sauce with Mexican tomatillos and cheese.

Abi says: As I’ve explained before, if something has the word ‘fiesta’ in the name, I have to try it. Why, you ask? I am irresistably drawn to things that are vaguely hispanic, like me.

Yes, I used that line before when describing Healthy Choice’s Fiesta Chicken meal. I’m happy to report the Lean Cuisine kicks some Healthy Choice butt in the ‘vaguely hispanic’ department. Let’s start with the chicken. Can you see those seasonings? Well, maybe not, that it a rather small picture. The important thing is that I could see them. I didn’t even know what it was…Oregano? Pepper? Parsley? Who cares? It supplied those little chicken cutlets (I know that’s not the right word) with just enough oomph to make me enjoy the meat. Yes, a rarity in this world of chicken mushiness.

Drawbacks? I’d appreciate a better bean-to-rice ratio in this meal. Sure, they include black and pinto beans in the description. I estimate the black bean count at three and the pinto bean count at two. Hello Lean Cuisine! We are not scared of beans! Beans keep us full!

Aside from the lack of beans, this is a hearty and deliciously filling meal. You should, of course, take ‘hearty’ with a grain of salt as I am talking about a standard Lean Cuisine meal. This is hearty compared to other Lean Cuisines but can’t hold a candle to a Boston Market meal.

Ok, so I cheated and added a little bit of Trader Joe’s Mexican Sauce to this meal. You can’t see that in the picture because I usually take the pictures before making any modifications to
the meal. I recommend that you take that extra step too; add a couple spoonfuls of salsa or picante sauce to your tray of Lean Cuisine Fiesta Grilled Chicken and you’ll have a happy tummy.

My stellar review of this meal must show you just how disenchanted I am with most frozen food offerings. Yes, I did write ‘happy tummy’ in that last paragraph.

comments

5 Responses to “Lean Cuisine Fiesta Grilled Chicken”

Anna on August 4th, 2006

This one’s been around for a while, but they re-did the box and suddenly a lot of people seem more interested in it. I haven’t had it in a while. I think the last time I did I paired it with some Riesling.
Abi on August 4th, 2006

I ate this during a meeting at work, so wine might not be appropriate. I’m actually on my way home to Oregon right now. While there I plan on procuring a variety of delicious wines. One of my favorites is actually Chateau St. Michelle’s Eroica Riesling, which is from Washington State. I picked up a couple of bottles at Costco for a semi-reasonable price.
Anna on August 7th, 2006

That would be funny if you just showed up in the meeting with your lunch and a glass of wine. You’d have to act really casual — like it was nothing.

Well, I bought the Fiesta Chicken today. Maybe now I have a reason to buy the Eroica Riesling.
Whole Kitchen Chicken Enchiladas : HeatEatReview.com on January 22nd, 2008

[…] Finally a somewhat inexpensive all natural Mexican-type food that I can eat in the office. Lean Cuisine Fiesta Chicken gets old fast and a lot of stuff out there that looks good isn’t so good for […]
Francois on June 5th, 2008

Yuck !!!