Trader Joe's Mango Chili Chicken

This is Day 20 of a how-long-can-this-go-on New Products Week, and Day 11 of Mangopalooza. 


This is one of the better new mango products I've tried in the past couple of weeks. But it has some problems.

First, it's kind of a pain in the neck to whip up. You have to bake the chicken pieces, while you're defrosting the packets of mango pieces and sauce. Then you have to sautee them all together. And you're probably making rice or noodles separately to put the finished concoction on. It ends up being a lot of work and a lot of stuff to clean up, and a lot of packaging to throw away.

Second, orange would work better than mango, as evidenced by the ongoing popularity of TJ's own Mandarin Orange Chicken.

Third, there's virtually none of the promised chili. There's no kick, no heat--just sweetness in the sauce.

Fourth, I wish they'd make a fake-meat version either instead of or in addition to this.


Will I buy it again? 

No. For a bunch of reasons, I'd much rather have more of this.