Boston Market Chicken Parmesan

January 16, 2008 | Reviewer: Abi Jones

Boston Market Chicken Parmesan Price: $2.50 on sale
Serving: 1 package, 16oz.
Calories: 620
Fat: 37%, 24g
Cholesterol: 17%, 50mg
Sodium: 66%, 1580mg
Protein: 33g
Carbs: 23%, 69g
Fiber: 26%, 7g
Weight Watchers Points: 14 Points

Boston Market says: We start with white meat chicken, dipped in a seasoned batter and cooked to a golden brown. The chicken is placed over a bed of freshly-made spaghetti and covered in a marinara sauce made with diced tomatoes. A layer of real mozzarella cheese is sprinkled on top to finish the dish.

Abi says: While I’ve been in Oregon (arrived Saturday, leaving today) the temperature has hovered around 45 degrees during the day and well below freezing at night. As a newly minted Californian (okay, so I’m still studying for my driving test), I find this horrifying. Sure, it is fun to be in the hot tub while there’s ice outside, but at the same time that means freezing your buns on the way from the house to the tub.

On days like these, I want a meal that is warm and filling. I want the epitome of heartiness. I want something that is fried and contains pasta. I want chicken parmesan.

Boston Market seems like the right beacon to steer my boat of neeeding food toward, but it turns out that this item is fraught with peril. While I don’t doubt that Boston Market starts out with white meat chicken, I do think they are missing several steps in their meal description. The impressively large piece of chicken is disconcertingly spongy and made an odd sucking noise while I cut it into pieces.

The pasta was ho-hum, floppy, and flavorless. The sauce was never anything more than watery, generic tomato sauce. I know that I shouldn’t except gourmet when I eat a Boston Market frozen meal. But I should expect hearty and hearty this sauce was not. The flipping and mixing required in the cooking process also meant that any hint of melty cheese quickly disappeared.

I’ll definitely stick with the Michael Angelo’s Chicken Parmesan, a clear winner over this dud from Boston Market. Rebecca only gave it three stars, but that doesn’t stop me from picking up a box whenever I see it on sale.

comments

7 Responses to “Boston Market Chicken Parmesan”

Julie on January 17th, 2008

odd sucking noise???? eeek…thanks for the warning.
Crow on January 18th, 2008

“The impressively large piece of chicken is disconcertingly spongy and made an odd sucking noise while I cut it into pieces.”

Gagh is supposed to be served live.
sir jorge on January 18th, 2008

3 out 5? really? it looks so good though
Red Icculus on January 18th, 2008

I usually like what Boston Market puts out, but that looks horrible. You are brave.
Madam Cyndi on May 16th, 2008

My husband loves Boston Market frozen dinners so I purchased several to send to work with him. While heating one up he started reading the nutrition facts on the box and now he thinks I’ m trying to kill him! LOL For instance the Turkey Breast Medallions with Stuffing has 81 % of the daily value of salt other wise known as sodium. So if you had a glass of V-8 juice in the morning plus one of these dinners no more salt for the day.
Libby on June 16th, 2008

I bought one of the Chick Parms and one of the Sal Steaks tonight at Target for over $3 a piece. Now, I almost never buy frozen meals… but we just got back from a camping trip and my kids are with the grandparents and I’m pooped and it seemed like a good idea. In fact, usually the only time we do buy frozen is if I’m leaving my husband home alone for an extended period and then I buy him the cheapest stuff I can because he would eat cardboard if it would fill him up. Anyway….

I didn’t hate the Chick Parm. I do wish food companies would get over their love affair with red peppers… and the tomato chunks were very tough. The chicken was an actual solid piece, not a pieces/parts monster and was tasty, tho the breading kind of turned to paste. I was impressed that the pasta was firm and not mushy. The sauce was just ok, with an odd spiciness… plus the damnable red peppers. I’d buy it again if it was on sale just to have on hand in an emergency. However the nicest thing I can say about dinner tonight is that using the microwave didn’t heat up the house as much as making a frozen pizza would have.

I did sample a couple pieces of the mac n cheese from the Salsbury steak dinner my husband had… undercooked and not cheesy. The meat seemed about standard for frozen salsbury steak…. salty and greasy…. but he ate it and didn’t gripe. The next time these go on sale I would like to try out some of the other varieties now that I’ve read these reviews. We could have a tasting party! Does this mean I should get out more?

Thanks!
Farren Young on September 7th, 2008

I have had these meals the past two nights for dinner and I think they’re the greatest frozen meal ever! I’m anxious to try other Boston Market frozen dinners, though I’m not sure any can compare to the delectable taste of the chicken parmesan!!!!!!