Chicken, Blueberry and Hazelnut Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette, made with Tyson Grilled & Ready Chicken - Review and Giveaway

Being a graduate student I’m pretty busy and some weeks are busier than others.  Although I have a passion for food, sometimes I just don’t have time to cook the the way I’d really like to.  It helps to have a few meals in my back pocket, that I can pull out as needed.
 
When I was asked to review Tyson Grilled & Ready Chicken I thought it sounded like it could be an answer to those busy nights.  Tyson Grilled & Ready Chicken is fully cooked and defrosts in minutes in the microwave.  It comes frozen and can be found in the freezer section of your grocer!  I found mine at SuperTarget for $6.99.

A few more facts about Tyson Grilled & Ready Chicken:

• Fully cooked
• Available as breasts or strips
• 98% fat-free
• No preservatives
• 100-110 calories and 1.5g of fat per serving (depending on variety)
• 19g of protein

I decided to use the chicken breast strips to make a delicious salad (recipe below) as well as a Chicken, Bacon and Leek Pocket, perfect for a special treat or a snack during a film. 

I thought the Tyson Grilled & Ready Chicken Strips were useful and tasted pretty good.  They defrosted in 3 minutes in my microwave.  I found the texture a little unusual but they tasted like chicken.  They don’t have as strong a grilled flavor as chicken you’d make on your backyard grill but they do taste very much like grilled chicken.
 
These are definitely a product I would like having on hand.  Although I wouldn’t use them to replace home-cooked chicken for every meal, I can see myself using these on salads or for a quick version of fajitas, quesadillas or enchiladas.  I like that they’re low in calories and fat but high in protein.
 
Stay tuned after the recipe for your chance to win a coupon for free Tyson Grilled & Ready Chicken!
 
Chicken, Blueberry and Hazelnut Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
 
Ingredients:
Tyson Grilled & Ready Chicken Breast Strips
Spring greens, washed
Fresh blueberries
Hazelnuts, toasted and chopped
Balsamic vinaigrette (homemade or store bought)
 
Directions:
Remove chicken strips from the package.  Place in a covered dish and microwave 3-4 minutes.
 
Lay lettuce on a plate.  Top with thawed chicken strips.
 
Sprinkle salad with blueberries and chopped, toasted hazelnuts.  Drizzle with balsamic vinaigrette and enjoy!

Win It!

Want to win a coupon for a free bag of Tyson Grilled & Ready Chicken?  Ten lucky winners will each receive a coupon good for one free bag of Tyson Grilled & Ready Chicken Breasts or Strips!

How to enter:

Leave a comment telling me how you would use Tyson Grilled & Ready Chicken! 

Want additional entries?

Do any of the following and post another comment telling me you've done it.

- Leave a relevant comment on any other blog post! (I love comments!)

- Promote this giveaway in some form (suggestions: a Mr. Linky, your blog, etc

- Become a fan of A Self-Confessed Foodie on Facebook

- Sign up for the A Self-Confessed Foodie email or RSS feed

- Sign up for the Today Is My Someday email or RSS feed!

Contest closes Sunday March 14, 2010 at 7:00pm CST and is limited to those 18 and over who reside in the United States! And now for the fine print:

Open only to those 18 and over. United States residents only.

Contest closes March 14, 2010 at 7:00pm CST. I will randomly select winners shortly after and notify those people by email. Winner(s) have 48 hours to contact me with their mailing address.

If a winner does not contact me within 48 hours of notification I will choose an alternate winner.



Tyson and Collective Bias are sponsoring this post and providing the prizes.  This review is entirely my own opinion and has not been influenced in any way. The prize is being offered courtesy of the sponsor and is the responsibility of the sponsor, not this blog. For more information see my disclosure.