Demystifying Gardein Chicken: Your Guide to the Meatless Marvel

If you’ve wandered down the frozen food aisle recently, chances are you’ve come across Gardein chicken. With packaging boasting crispy chick’n and tenders, you may have wondered – what exactly is Gardein chicken? As a long-time flexitarian exploring more plant-based options, I was curious too.

It turns out that Gardein chicken was one of the first plant-based meat alternatives that led to the plant-based revolution we’re seeing now. It looks like Gardein has pretty much figured out how to make plant-based foods taste and feel like chicken. I’ll explain what makes Gardein chicken so great and how you can use it to make your home cooking better.

A Meatless Protein Powerhouse

At its core, Gardein chicken is a meatless product designed to replicate the flavor, texture, and versatility of chicken in a way that appeals to both vegetarian and meat-eating palates alike. It’s made using a proprietary blend of plant-based proteins like soy, wheat, and pea.

Gardein uses these proteins not only to mimic the mouthfeel of chicken, but also to provide a solid nutritional profile. A serving of Gardein chick’n strips contains 10g of protein keeping up with a similar serving of the real thing. This makes Gardein chicken an awesome protein-packed addition to meatless meals.

More Than a One Trick Chick’n

When I first tried Gardein chicken years back it was in the form of their crispy chick’n tenders. While the tenders put Gardein on the map the brand has expanded their selection over the years.

Now you can find chick’n in every form imaginable – strips, fillets, cutlets, burgers, nuggets, and so much more There’s even chick’n salad, chick’n pot pie, and slow cooker chick’n recipes made exclusively with Gardein. Talk about versatility!

For me, having access to so many different textures and flavors is what makes Gardein chicken a regular in my meal prep rotation. I know I can swap it into any recipe that calls for chicken with delicious results.

Satisfying Taste Sans the Guilt

Of course, the million-dollar question is how does Gardein chicken taste? As someone who grew up eating chicken nuggets and tenders, I can say with certainty that Gardein makes tasty chicken. Seasonings and soy protein are mixed together to make a savory, meaty flavor.

The textures are spot on too. Gardein chick’n retains moisture incredibly well, so it never gets dry or stringy. The breading crisps up perfectly whether baked or air fried. Honestly, if I served Gardein chicken to dinner guests, most wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.

On top of tasted satisfaction, Gardein allows me to indulge without the side of guilt. Since it’s plant-based, Gardein chicken has zero cholesterol and less saturated fat compared to the real deal. It’s also processed in facilities with responsible environmental practices. A win-win in my book!

Get Cooking with Gardein Chicken

If you haven’t already, I hope I’ve persuaded you to try Gardein chicken. The brand has come a long way since the beginning. Gardein helps me quickly make tasty plant-based meals since I’m not a strict vegetarian but try to eat that way a lot of the time.

The possibilities are also endless when cooking with Gardein chicken. Here are some of my favorite ways to enjoy it:

• Crispy chick’n sandwiches and wraps

• Lettuce wraps with chick’n and veggie fillings

• Sheet pan fajitas loaded with veggies and chick’n strips

• Healthy chick’n noodle or rice bowls

• Inside quesadillas, enchiladas, or tacos

• Baked chick’n nuggets as a snack or app

• Chick’n caesar salad for a fun twist

• Inside pastas, stir fries, and curries

I always keep a bag of Gardein chick’n tenders in my freezer for nights I need a fast, filling meal solution. The prep is minimal and the flavor totally satisfies my chicken craving.

If you find yourself drawn to Gardein chicken at the store, you might want to bring some home to try out. Leave one or two bags for the rest of us, please!