If you have not yet discovered the selection of refrigerated ready-to-heat entrees near the deli area at Aldi, it’s well worth checking out during your next shopping trip. When you’re in need of quick and easy meals on busy days, Aldi sells several options under its Park Street Deli brand, which is not a separate company but rather a private label for certain deli products at Aldi. These include burnt ends, beef brisket, pulled pork, stuffed chicken breasts, Thai coconut chicken thighs, and chicken fajitas.
The latest entrée I picked up to try is this Korean style BBQ chicken. Korean BBQ sauce is different from American BBQ sauces. This one contains soy sauce, ginger, sesame seeds, and red chile flakes, among other ingredients, giving it a distinctly Asian-inspired flavor. Some people describe Korean BBQ sauce as somewhat similar to teriyaki sauce, and it can be both a little sweet and a little spicy.
Park Street Deli Korean Style BBQ Chicken cost $7.49 at the time of publication. The package describes this as “charbroiled boneless skinless chicken thighs in a sweet and tangy sauce.”
This is a Regular Buy, which means it should be in stores any time of year.
If you’re looking out for allergens, this contains soy and wheat.
As is often the case with ready-to-eat entrees that need to last on store shelves for a bit, this has a fairly lengthy ingredients list that includes some processed items such as maltodextrin as well as xanthan and guar gums and carrageenan. It also has a moderate amount of fat, sodium, and added sugars, although it’s not the most unhealthy meal we’ve seen.
There are about 3 servings per container. One 5-ounce (140-gram) serving has 190 calories, 8 grams of total fat (10% DV), 4 grams of saturated fat (19% DV), 800 mg of sodium (33% DV), 11 grams of total carbohydrates (4% DV), 9 grams of total sugars, and 8 grams of added sugars (15% DV).
Nutrition information and ingredients. (Click to enlarge.)
This is fully cooked and is perishable, so it should be kept refrigerated. It can be frozen if you don’t plan to eat it right away. To defrost, place the product in the refrigerator for at least 12 hours. Then follow the heating instructions. Use the product within three days of defrosting.
This can be heated in a microwave (recommended) or on the stovetop. To microwave, remove the outer cardboard sleeve from the tray. Leave the inner pouch in the tray. Puncture the inner pouch and place the tray with pouch in the microwave. Heat on high for 3 minutes or until hot. Open the pouch carefully and empty the chicken and sauce into a serving dish.
To heat on the stovetop, heat water to a soft boil and place the bag of chicken and sauce in the water for 15 minutes. Using tongs, remove the package from the pot. Let product rest for 2 minutes before opening the bag.
Ready to serve.
I heated this chicken in the microwave. It’s tender with grill marks and a mildly spicy, slightly sweet flavor. It’s fine to serve on its own, but it also goes well with rice or other Asian-themed sides such as spring rolls. When you want a convenient meal that isn’t fast food, this is a good option.
The Verdict:
Park Street Deli Korean Style BBQ Chicken features charbroiled boneless, skinless chicken thighs in a sweet and spicy sauce. It heats quickly and easily in the microwave any time you need hot food fast.
