Review of Stouffers Corner Bistro Chicken Panini

How to Make the Southwest Style Frozen Chicken Dinner Taste Homemade

Nov 8, 2008

Stouffer's Corner Bistro Chicken Panini Dinner is fast and convenient. But how does it taste? Ways to spice up this Southwest style meal and where to find coupons/deals.

When you think of a Southwest style chicken panini, you imagine biting into something a little zesty and and somewhat spicy. Stouffer's version of this south-of-the-border classic isn't spicy and it isn't zesty....But with a few additions from your fridge, this hot sandwich is downright edible.

Price

$3.08 for a 6 ounce sandwich (one serving)

How to Prepare Stouffer's Southwest Style Chicken Panini

Do NOT follow the microwave directions on the package. The bread turns out soggy and the chicken is limp. But if you heat this sandwich in the oven, the bread is actually crispy and the chicken turns out nice and brown.

Take the sandwich out of the box and remove plastic wrapping.
Place the panini on a baking sheet or a piece of tin foil.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Place the sandwich on the center rack and bake for 15 minutes.
Broil at 500 degrees for the last two minutes.
Remove sandwich carefully from the oven.

Taste

This is a surprisingly good hot sandwich (as long as you heat it in the oven, not the microwave.) The sourdough bread actually has a fresh taste which you wouldn't expect from a frozen panini. The chicken is moist and tender, and the cheese and Southwest style sauce add a nice touch. There is bacon crumbled in the sauce but you really can't taste it.

If you were expecting a little kick to this dinner, you will be disappointed. But you can dial up the spice factor on this meal considerably by adding a few simple ingredients (see below.)

Nutrition Information

Calories 360
Calories from fat 150
Total fat 16 grams
Saturated fat 7 grams
Trans fat 0 grams
Cholesterol 45 mg
Sodium 920 mg
Total carbohydrates 31 grams
Dietary fiber 3 grams
Sugars 2 grams
Protein 20 grams

How to Make Stouffer's Corner Bistro Southwest Style Chicken Panini Taste More Like Homemade

Add some spices. When you take the sandwich out of the oven, sprinkle Weber Kick'n Chicken spice over the entire panini. If that doesn't do it for you, add a little pepper as well.
Top the panini with Jalapeno peppers for a truly hot southwest experience, but keep some ice water nearby!
Try some Trader Joe's Black Bean and Roasted Corn Salsa as a side dish ($2.99 for 12 ounces.) It's low in fat and sodium, and loaded with nutritious veggies like green peppers, red onion, ground chipotle peppers and plenty of diced tomatoes...all blended in a healthy olive oil sauce.

Best Coupons and Deals

Go to Stouffers.com for information on joining the dinner club. You can collect points and bid online for prizes. There you can also sign up for the newsletter to keep up with new products and specials.

Lower Calorie Alternative

Smart Ones Chicken Enchiladas Monterey: 310 calories, 10 grams of fat

Tired of chicken? Try this easy vegetarian panini recipe.

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The copyright of the article Review of Stouffers Corner Bistro Chicken Panini in Consumer Education is owned by L. Marie Dubuque. Permission to republish Review of Stouffers Corner Bistro Chicken Panini in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.