Karla News

Zatarain’s New Orleans Style Chicken & Rice Dinner Review

Glutamate, Monosodium Glutamate, Thiamine

I’ve seen Zatarain’s boxed meals countless times at the grocery store. But, not being used to eating spicy-hot Cajun foods, I’ve always passed them by. Until I spotted a box of Zatarain’s New Orleans Style Chicken & Rice Dinner at Big Lots recently. I read the box and checked the ingredients, then decided to give it a try. I figured it was worth the dollar. So, did the Zatarain’s taste good? Was it hot as fire? Will I buy this product again? Read this Zatarain’s New Orleans Style Chicken & Rice Dinner Review and find out!

Product Description
This boxed meal comes in a 7.5-ounce box. 1 box makes about 5 servings. You can make Zatarain’s New Orleans Style Chicken & Rice Dinner on your stove top, in the microwave oven, or bake it in the oven. All you need to add is 3 cups water and 3 to 3-1/2 pounds of bone-in chicken. I added a large can of boneless chicken instead to the Zatarain’s. Preparation was very easy. In a minute, the meal was in the oven. 45 minutes later, I had a piping hot casserole dish full of Zatarain’s New Orleans Style Chicken & Rice Dinner to set on the table.

Ingredients
The ingredients of Zatarain’s New Orleans Style Chicken & Rice Dinner are: Enriched Long Grain Parboiled Rice (Iron Phosphate, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate and Folic Acid), Enriched Wheat Flour (Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Malted Barley Flour, Onion, Salt, Modified Corn Starch, Green Peas, Carrots and Bell Pepper. There is also Chicken Flavor (Monosodium Glutamate, Salt, Sugar, Yeast Extract, Onion, Corn Oil,
Hydroloyzed Corn Gluten, Dextrose, Modified Corn Starch, Garlic, Corn Syrup Solids, Natural Flavor), Maltodextrin and Hydrolyzed Soy Protein in Zatarain’s New Orleans Style Chicken & Rice Dinner. And, Natural Molasses Flavor (Molasses Extract, Caramel Color, Propylene Glycol), Turmeric, Disodium Inosinate and Disodium Guanylate, Citric Acid, L-Cystein Hydrochloride and Thiamine Hydrochloride, Silicon Dioxide, (Flow Agent), Garlic, Yeast Extract, Soy Sauce (100% Soybean), Thiamine Hydrochloride, Soybean Oil, Spices, Monosodium Glutamate, Chili Powder, Caramel Color, Cayenne Pepper, Turmeric, Parsley and Black Pepper ends the Zatarain’s ingredient list.

See also  Make-ahead Party Food

Nutritional Facts
A serving of Zatarain’s New Orleans Style Chicken & Rice Dinner is 1 prepared cup. It contains 150 Calories, 0 calories from Fat. There are 0 grams Fat, 0 grams Cholesterol, 890 milligrams Sodium, 32 grams Total Carbohydrates, 1 gram Dietary Fiber, less than 1 gram Sugar, and 3 grams Protein.

Taste Test and Conclusion
I’m pleased that Zatarain’s New Orleans Style Chicken & Rice Dinner contains no fat. The Sodium content is high. But, I checked the company web site and found out Zatarain’s is making reduced-sodium versions of some of their boxed meals. That’s excellent news!

When it comes to taste, Zatarain’s New Orleans Style Chicken & Rice Dinner is kicky. It’s peppery, it’s kind of hot, and it’s good! I’m used to eating mild chicken and rice dishes, so this was definitely a shock to my taste buds. The other adults at the table also enjoyed this spicy dish. The only one who didn’t like it, was my six-year-old grandson. He, of course, said it was too hot.

If you like Cajun-style food, and you’re looking for a quick and easy, one-dish meal, then try a box of Zatarain’s New Orleans Style Chicken & Rice Dinner.