We tried Chick-fil-A's new meal kits, and we discovered why the chicken chain should terminate the test
Chick-fil-A's meal kits cost $15.89 each, and they contain the ingredients to create meals for two people in 30 minutes or less.
Each meal is chicken-centric, but you won't find the classic, crispy chicken that made Chick-fil-A famous.
Instead, you have the ingredients for meals like chicken parmesan plus veggie sides.
Many of the issues with Chick-fil-A's meal kits are basic meal-kit problems. The packaging, for example, feels a bit excessive — a common complaint about meal kit makers like Blue Apron.
A more dire problem in one of the kits — that may have been caused by having the meal kit shipped to New York from Georgia — was found in the pasta, which came pre-cooked and had some moldy spots.
Fortunately, the rest of the kits were judged mold-free. In fact, one reviewer said that he found the produce to be surprisingly fresh, despite his delay in preparing the dish.
Reviewers had mostly positive reactions to the instructions, which were easy to follow, though perhaps not the most efficient in terms of timing and reducing the number of dishes made dirty.
The 30-minute time limit was also criticized. Three of the four kits took at least 40 minutes to cook— in part because of the time-intensive potato prep required for two of the kits.
The resulting meals were passable. However, they lacked the distinctive features that turns customers into Chick-fil-A loyalists.
Instead, following instructions produced forgettable meals that seem to have little in common with the chicken chain's beloved menu items. The serving sizes were a bit small, and one tester complained about extreme saltiness.
All reviewers finished their meals, but none said they would actually pay for a Chick-fil-A meal kit. With simple recipes and ingredients that could be picked up at any grocery store, we were left wondering why Chick-fil-A thought there was a market for these kits.
Picking up the necessary ingredients for dinner while you get lunch at Chick-fil-A sounds like an enticing option. But, the people most likely to do so — busy parents or over-worked young professionals — would likely either have these basics in their pantry already, or the ability to order a better meal on Seamless for a similar price.
Chick-fil-A's meal kits feel like an effort to use up leftover ingredients. If presented with the option of buying one, we recommend just getting an extra pack of nuggets — even cold, you're going to be happier than if you purchased these meal kits.
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