I am all about convenience, especially meals that you just need to heat up. I have tried a few Thai pre-packaged meals from Costco, but one Pad Thai from a different brand recently left me underwhelmed and extremely disappointed. I spotted Destination’s Panang Curry with Chicken in the freezer aisle. So I had to find out: Is Costco Destination Chicken Breast with Panang Curry a hit or a pass?
Panang Curry Origin
Panang curry is a Thai dish with origins tracing back to Central Thailand. It is believed to originate from the word phanaeng, meaning “crossed,” referring to the meat being placed across itself in the wok while being cooked.
Product Overview
Each container comes with two vacuum-seal packs of sou-vide chicken bread and two packs of the panang curry. The whole meal kit was around $17. The container states that it is made in Thailand and the spice level is medium spicy.
Costco Destination Chicken Breast with Panang Curry Rating
Since the chicken was sous vide, it turned out very tender and fresh-tasting. Sometimes curry dishes have chicken that feels dry, but that was not the case here. The portion size of the chicken was generous. Even though the package says six servings, I think it is more like 4 servings for the person to be full.
However, I found the spice level to be on the mild side despite the “medium spicy” label. You can taste the coconut in the Panang curry, but the flavor was bland overall. It had a good ratio of sweetness and savoriness, but I wish the flavors were more amplified.. I did enjoy the variety of vegetables in the pack, especially the baby corn and green soybeans.
Nutrition Facts
- Serving Size 3 oz Chicken + 2 oz Curry Sauce
- Servings per container: 6
- Calories: 190
- Total fat: 10g
- Total Carbohydrate: 6g
- Protein: 19g
Ingredient List
Seared Chicken Breast Ingredients: [Chicken Breast, Water, Corn Starch, Seasoning (salt, sugar, onion powder, spices, garlic powder, paprika)
Chicken Base: [Chicken and chicken stock, salt, cane sugar, rendered chicken fat, onion powder, potato flour, turmeric, spice extractives (contains celery)]
Sea salt, extra virgin olive oil, and smoke flavor. Smoke flavor added
Panang Curry Sauce Ingredients: [panang curry (coconut milk(coconut milk (coconut, water), guar gum), panang paste (coconut sugar, lemongrass, water, garlic, sunflower oil, dried red chili, galangal (Thai ginger), salt, coriander powder, shallot, cumin powder, kaffir lime peel), refined rice bran oil, salt), Coconut shoot (contains sulfites), baby corn, green soybean, red finger chili
Contains: Tree nut (coconut), soy
Costco Destination Chicken Breast with Panang Curry Cooking Instructions
Microwave Oven:
Open the pouch of seared chicken breast and separate slices into a microwave-safe dish. Discard the plastic pouch. Microwave on high for 1 minute. Open the pouch and pour the Panang curry sauce over the chicken. Discard the plastic pouch. Cover with a paper towel and microwave on high for 1-2 minutes.
Stove Top
Heat the skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tbsp of your preferred cooking oil. Open pouch of seared chicken breast and separate slices into the skillet. Discard the plastic pouch. Using tongs, heat the chicken on both sides for 1-2 minutes.
Reduce the heat to low, open the pouch, and pour the Panang curry sauce into the skillet. Discard the plastic pouch. Simmer for 30 seconds, stirring chicken to coat with sauce. Let rest for 1 minute before serving.
Caution: contents will be hot
If you enjoyed this Costco Panang curry review, you might also like my Costco takoyaki review.
