The Freezer Meal Frenzy crew was craving a southwest-style dish, but we’d been a bit self-conscious about our calories since trying Devour’s delicious-yet-fattening Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese. Hoping to satisfy that southwest craving with something a bit lighter, we decided to check out Lean Cuisine’s Fiesta Grilled Chicken. According to the box, this frozen food has a nice blend of ingredients, yet there are only 250 calories within (45 from fat). That doesn’t sound half bad, right?
Unfortunately, what sounds great on paper doesn’t end up working out so well in practice, and that’s exactly what happened with this Fiesta Grilled Chicken. There are a lot of pieces to this dish, but none of them rises above mediocrity.
The chicken, which we’ll call the centerpiece of this dish, is really inconsistent. Sure you might find a piece or to that’s spot-on, but much of it is overly soggy, while some is overly dry — even when covered in the white sauce. The sauce itself is watery and flavorless, so it doesn’t make matters any better.
There are plenty of veggies, but none of them can redeem this dish. The corn is mushy and has an odd taste, the bell peppers are just plain bland, and the pinto and black beans have a dried-out texture and taste.
The best part of this dish is undoubtedly the rice, but even that is just a shade above mediocre.
Lean Cuisine’s Fiesta Grilled Chicken may look like it has potential, but don’t be fooled by the packaging. It’s a barely passable frozen dish that will mainly save you calories because you won’t want to finish it. If you want a better healthy southwest-style dish, try Amy’s Kitchen’s Roasted Poblano Enchilada — or their Light & Lean Black Bean & Cheese Enchilada if you’re willing to trade a little bit of taste for a lower calorie count. But Lean Cuisine’s Fiesta Grilled Chicken is unlikely to satisfy.
If you’re curious about the nutrition content or ingredients, check out our package scans below.
