I tried Aldi's famous frozen chicken breasts, and I get why their fan club has nearly 15,000 members
- Aldi's Kirkwood Breaded Chicken Breast Fillets are so popular they have their own Facebook group.
- Called Red Bag Chicken or "RBC" by fans, it is sold in inconspicuous red packaging for only $5.99.
- Once cooked, the juicy and crispy chicken tasted almost exactly like a dupe for Chick-fil-A's.
Although a bag of frozen, breaded chicken fillets might not be at the top of most shoppers' grocery lists, it's a different story when it comes to Aldi's Kirkwood Breaded Chicken Breast Fillets.
Retailing at $5.99, the chicken comes in a red, 24-ounce bag - which is why fans have dubbed it Red Bag Chicken, or "RBC" - and is a hot commodity in Aldi's freezer aisle.
The fillets have been called a Chick-fil-A dupe, and have their own dedicated Facebook group with almost 15,000 members who congregate to sing their praises and share recipes using the crispy chicken, Terri Peters initially reported for Today.
After learning all of this, I knew I had to try this cult-favorite chicken. Read on to see if they lived up to the hype.
Because it's so popular, the chicken seems to often be out of stock
This chicken is available year-round at Aldi but, according to many members of the Facebook group, the popular offering isn't always in stock.
Fortunately, my apartment building is right next to a new Aldi location, so I was hopeful they'd have at least one bag of the RBC.
I went straight to the freezer aisle to look for the signature red bag and I noticed that there were a lot of varieties of frozen chicken - and many of them were already sold out.
Luckily, I saw quite a few red bags still in stock, which assured me that the secret wasn't out at this Aldi location yet.
Each bag is supposed to be 24 ounces and, judging by the Facebook group comments I read, it seems like most people get between five and six fillets.
At $5.99, that's about 25 cents per ounce or about $1 per fillet.
There are so many recipes for these fillets, but I chose to make chicken parmesan
These fillets are the star of dozens of recipes in the Facebook group - and many fans suggested pairing these with Aldi's brioche buns for an at-home version of a Chick-fil-A sandwich.
But I decided to make chicken parmesan, another dish that was frequently recommended online. I figured that by skipping a bun and going light on the sauce, I would really be able to let the breaded fillet shine.
Once I opened the bags and laid the fillets out, I was happy to see that the chicken seemed to be thin, therefore making it more likely they would be crispy when cooked.
Many group members suggested preparing these in an air fryer for maximum crispiness, but I didn't have one in my kitchen.
Instead, I followed the package instructions, and baked the fillets for 35 to 40 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, turning them over at the 20-minute mark.
I was surprised that they took so long to make as they had been precooked, but I patiently waited to boil spaghetti noodles and heat up some marinara sauce (I chose Aldi's Simply Nature Organic Tomato and Basil sauce) until the very end.
I also put a slice of fresh mozzarella on each piece of chicken so it would melt during the last few minutes in the oven.
Although the whole process took longer than I expected, I will happily wait 40 minutes to eat this chicken again
As someone who hasn't always had the best experience with frozen crispy chicken, I was pleasantly surprised by these fillets.
The chicken wasn't soggy at all - it had a juicy texture and a light and crispy batter.
It was tasty with and without any toppings, and I was definitely reminded of Chick-fil-A's chicken while I was eating it.
Some fans might prefer if the deliciousness of the RBC was kept a secret to avoid it flying off of store shelves even faster than it currently is.
But after trying this chicken, I'd tell Chick-fil-A fans to run, not walk, to pick up a bag (or three) the next time they're at an Aldi. These fillets are a great way for them to get their crispy-chicken fix on the cheap.
As for me, I'll be heading back to the RBC Facebook group for ideas on what to cook up next.
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