Good Pre-Cooked Chicken Breast

Jimmyftw94
Jimmyftw94 Posts: 75 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hello, first off I want to say that this website has been really helpful for me so far. So a few days from now I'm going to be heading back to college and I'm not going to have time to cook my meal each and everyday. So I was thinking of prepping food ahead of time like 3-5 days and putting them in microwave safe container so I can just heat it up and eat.

I want to know what are some good pre-cooked chicken breast available in stores so I can have some convenient protein source. An example of a meal I'm planning is white rice, some steamed veggies and the chicken all in the container and ready for meal.
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Replies

  • SergeantSausage
    SergeantSausage Posts: 1,673 Member
    Jimmyftw94 wrote: »
    Hello, first off I want to say that this website has been really helpful for me so far. So a few days from now I'm going to be heading back to college and I'm not going to have time to cook my meal each and everyday. So I was thinking of prepping food ahead of time like 3-5 days and putting them in microwave safe container so I can just heat it up and eat.

    I want to know what are some good pre-cooked chicken breast available in stores so I can have some convenient protein source. An example of a meal I'm planning is white rice, some steamed veggies and the chicken all in the container and ready for meal.

    Just buy plain old, normal chicken breast. It takes a half hour to cook, only 3 minutes of which are you actually doing anything. I cook up 6 pounds of it every Sunday afternoon and the wife and I hit it all week long until it's gone.

  • cheshirecatastrophe
    cheshirecatastrophe Posts: 1,395 Member
    There is canned chicken breast available next to the canned tuna in basically every grocery store (assuming USA because you said "college" not uni). It's kind of shreddy (like canned tuna) rather than a single breast-shaped chicken breast, but it's quite yummy.

    1 can chicken breast, lowfat mayo, grapes, roll => boom, portable lunch.
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    I did this often at first, until I realized how much sodium is in the precooked kind. Trader Joes has some that is "just chicken", that is lower in sodium comparatively. If you have the time, buy a large package of chicken breast, season and broil or bake yourself. Chop this up, toss it in a gallon size zip lock and you have yourself some nice protein for the week.
  • ChronicOptimist
    ChronicOptimist Posts: 558 Member
    I second what everyone else has said. I used to buy the pre-cooked chicken at the store, but (1) it never tasted very good and had lots of icky parts, (2) it had lots of additives that are probably not the best for you, and (3) it's SO expensive!! I now make my chicken for the week on Sunday, and either throw it in the fridge or the freezer until I need it. I use the fool proof method on the recipe below and it's always perfect!

    http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-cook-moist-tender-chicken-breasts-every-time-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-36891
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  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    RaspberryTickleChicken wrote: »
    Skipped the white rice ... substitute it with quinoa

    Why?
  • AngryViking1970
    AngryViking1970 Posts: 2,847 Member
    I don't know where you are, but Wegmans has a tasty grilled lemon garlic chicken breast in the prepared foods area.
  • lbride
    lbride Posts: 248 Member
    I like the Tysons (frozen precooked chicken) in the "green" bag (not sure what it's called). They have one that's grilled chicken (no breading) and one that's lightly breaded. Both are good. Prob high in salt but for us, it works!

    Also, I really like my frozen, pre-cooked breaded chicken - more calories, yes, but keep it in the calorie amount (ie, Tyson southern breaded chicken strips or something).
  • lbride
    lbride Posts: 248 Member
    I just googled; the grilled chicken is called "Tyson's grilled and ready chicken breast strips"
  • dawne000
    dawne000 Posts: 44 Member
    The Tyson - Green bag chicken tastes the best! Just watch the sodium!
  • rekite2000
    rekite2000 Posts: 218 Member
    Shredded tyson chicken is nice- just grab a handful to throw into your food. I try to make my own, but I use this a lot to add to other meals or when really busy.
  • ketorach
    ketorach Posts: 430 Member
    Just cook ahead. If you're a poor, starving college student, this is your best bet.
  • sheldonklein
    sheldonklein Posts: 854 Member
    If you are have Costco access, their Kirkland Foster Farms chicken breast is good.
  • cosmichvoyager
    cosmichvoyager Posts: 237 Member
    A suggestion too: before you cook them, brine your chicken breasts! It makes them soooo much better.
    http://www.thekitchn.com/weeknight-meal-tip-try-a-quick-95560

    it adds sodium so if you are trying to avoid that for medical reasons, then don't brine but man is it an improvement and basically no work.
  • Jimmyftw94
    Jimmyftw94 Posts: 75 Member
    sheldonklein wrote: »
    If you are have Costco access, their Kirkland Foster Farms chicken breast is good.


    I don't like Costco because they charge membership fee :/
  • williams969
    williams969 Posts: 2,528 Member
    I've had the Tyson (green bag) ones. They're pretty good. If you have any access to an oven (or even a crock pot/slow cooker), you can batch cook some fresh ones once a week, cut into strips or shred them, and then you can grab whatever you need throughout the week. Both of these cooking options take less than 5 minutes of prep, and largely unattended cooking.

    Pro tip: refrigerate 1/2 of them to use within 3 days or so, and freeze the rest in individual portions to use the latter part of the week to keep them from going bad.
  • marisagb02
    marisagb02 Posts: 6 Member
    I always buy the Tyson Fully Cooked Grilled Chicken Strips (green bag). For some reason tonight they seemed really salty. Is there another brand I could buy that isn't so salty or is it just because they're frozen they'll be salty no matter what?
  • Sumiblue
    Sumiblue Posts: 1,597 Member
    Rotisserie chicken at most grocery stores is good. But, you’d spend less if you cooked up a bunch of chicken breasts in a slow cooker or instant Pot and portioned out.
  • boymom121
    boymom121 Posts: 33 Member
    edited January 2018
    Have you ever heard of John Soules brand. They have pre cooked grilled chicken in small strips and also comes in beef. Not sure if it’s available where you are. They have beef fajita meat pre cooked as well. We use the chicken for salads and if we want quick fajitas we use that and cook some onions and bell peppers and make a quick dinner. I usually add more season to it cause of my taste preference. Usually about a pound i believe in a bag if you get the family size.
  • boymom121
    boymom121 Posts: 33 Member
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  • itsmyvwbeetle
    itsmyvwbeetle Posts: 272 Member
    I am not sure where you live but we get ours from Guaranteed Foods. Lower sodium, precooked and individually packed.
  • toxikon
    toxikon Posts: 2,383 Member
    cosmichvoyager wrote: »
    A suggestion too: before you cook them, brine your chicken breasts! It makes them soooo much better.
    http://www.thekitchn.com/weeknight-meal-tip-try-a-quick-95560

    it adds sodium so if you are trying to avoid that for medical reasons, then don't brine but man is it an improvement and basically no work.

    Make sure to dry-brine, not wet-brine for the best flavour and texture. :)

    http://www.seriouseats.com/2014/11/quick-and-dirty-guide-to-brining-turkey-chicken-thanksgiving.html
  • mom23mangos
    mom23mangos Posts: 3,069 Member
    boymom121 wrote: »
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    yjhc1gvy1hd3.jpeg

    I buy something similar to this at HEB. It is store branded, so unless you live in Texas, probably out of luck there.
  • aeloine
    aeloine Posts: 2,163 Member
    The thing is that if you're going to get pre-cooked, you're often going to spend more money than if you were to get raw, especially if you're looking for lower sodium or less processed options. Sprouts has really good pre-cooked/heat & go options but each one costs as much as a pound of chicken.

    You can always go the deli-meat route. You don't even have to heat it up, but it's going to be super high in sodium.
    Sumiblue wrote: »
    Rotisserie chicken at most grocery stores is good. But, you’d spend less if you cooked up a bunch of chicken breasts in a slow cooker or instant Pot and portioned out.

    This is another really great option but it'll cost you more in the long run.
  • stanmann571
    stanmann571 Posts: 5,727 Member
    lbride wrote: »
    I like the Tysons (frozen precooked chicken) in the "green" bag (not sure what it's called). They have one that's grilled chicken (no breading) and one that's lightly breaded. Both are good. Prob high in salt but for us, it works!

    Also, I really like my frozen, pre-cooked breaded chicken - more calories, yes, but keep it in the calorie amount (ie, Tyson southern breaded chicken strips or something).

    The Green bag is good stuff, but never seems to come out quite right for texture when microwaved.
  • 1houndgal
    1houndgal Posts: 558 Member
    Costco rotissere chicken rocks my world.
  • garber6th
    garber6th Posts: 1,890 Member
    1houndgal wrote: »
    Costco rotissere chicken rocks my world.

    I love their shredded rotisserie chicken breast meat that you can buy separately from the whole chickens.
  • MelanieCN77
    MelanieCN77 Posts: 4,047 Member
    I'm another vote for cook it yourself. I've never had frozen prepared chicken I enjoyed, and you'll also pay more for it. You can slice up a breast or two and pan saute it in 10-15 minutes with a little oil and whatever seasoning you like. Garlic and lemon and pepper is great!

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