I tried supermarket chicken kievs – my winner was cheap and had a delicious ingredient that added an amazing crunch

The Sun

2 days ago

GOLDEN, garlicky and oozing with buttery filling - we all love a chicken kiev.
They were first introduced to the UK by Marks & Spencer in the 1970s as its very first ready meal.
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Today, supermarket shelves are packed with options, from budget packs to 'gastro' meals. But which are best?
We grabbed our knives and forks (and a LOT of napkins) to put a selection of supermarket chicken kievs to the ultimate taste test.
Whether you're after an easy option to feed picky kids on a playdate, or rustling up a posh twist on a retro classic for dinner, we've picked the perfect kievs.
LUCY TOBIN finds out:
Tesco Breaded 4 Garlic Chicken Kievs (500g)
£2.75
277 calories per 100g
At just 93p per portion, this is Tesco's mid-range offering and my kids loved it.
With the packet of four kievs cooking from frozen in 30 minutes, I found the pack made for a convenient family dinner.
There's an average 277kcal per 100g, so on the high side for dieters.
The actual meat content in this chicken kiev stands at only 53%, which explains the soft texture.
The coating wasn't as crunchy as others, and the garlic butter centre is mild and creamy rather than packing a herby punch.
This helped explain its popularity amongst the kids: it tastes a bit like a giant chicken nugget with a garlic butter dip, and everyone's plates were almost licked clean.
Free from artificial flavours, colours, and preservatives, Tesco's chicken kievs tick the box for a fuss-free family meal, being affordable, mild, and easy to cook – but they lack the wow factor for a special dinner.
3/5
Exceptional by ASDA 2 Wild Garlic Chicken Kievs (385g)
£4.98
221 calories per 100g
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These kievs stood out for their generous size: they were far chunkier than the other chicken dinners we tried.
Maybe their wonky scale comes from the fact that these chicken kievs are made with whole chicken breast, not reformed meat – it's less fast food nugget, more restaurant-style mains.
The chicken is tender and juicy, and holds its shape together properly when cut.
But when you do cut it, a rich, buttery wild garlic filling oozes out. It's smooth and herby, with a really strong garlic and parsley hit.
You won't worry about a vampire visit with this on your breath. The breadcrumb coating on Asda's wild garlic kievs crisped up evenly in the oven, providing a satisfying brown crunch without going soggy.
And it's 221kcal per 100g, if that's a concern.
Visually, these kievs look posh – thick, golden, and well-filled. At almost a fiver for two, they're no bargain, but the generous size, honed recipe and well-balanced flavour justify the higher price for a special weekend dinner.
4/5
Sainsbury's Fresh British Chicken Breaded Kyiv with Garlic & Herb Butter x2 (260g)
£3
259 calories per 100g
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What stood out about Sainsbury's two-pack of chicken kievs was that they were almost mess-free.
Unlike the others, this garlic and herb butter filling stayed inside the chicken during the oven cooking process, so there was no elbow grease required to wash up the baking tray.
Still very buttery, though, and coming in at 259kcal per 100g.
The chicken breast was tender and moist, while the breadcrumb coating was satisfyingly crunchy, although not quite as crisp as Aldi's kiev.
The herb blend in the butter tastes fresh and perfectly garlicky.
This was decent value for the portion size - it fed two adults and a child in our household, and delivers on both taste and looks for a popular midweek meal.
4/5
How to save money on your food shop
Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how you can save hundreds of pounds a year:
Odd boxes - plenty of retailers offer slightly misshapen fruit and veg or surplus food at a discounted price.
Lidl sells five kilos of fruit and veg for just £1.50 through its Waste Not scheme while Aldi shoppers can get Too Good to Go bags which contain £10 worth of all kinds of products for £3.30.
Sainsbury's also sells £2 "Taste Me, Don't Waste Me" fruit and veg boxes to help shoppers reduced food waste and save cash.
Food waste apps - food waste apps work by helping shops, cafes, restaurants and other businesses shift stock that is due to go out of date and passing it on to members of the public.
Some of the most notable ones include Too Good to Go and Olio.
Too Good to Go's app is free to sign up to and is used by millions of people across the UK, letting users buy food at a discount.
Olio works similarly, except users can collect both food and other household items for free from neighbours and businesses.
Yellow sticker bargains - yellow sticker bargains, sometimes orange and red in certain supermarkets, are a great way of getting food on the cheap.
But what time to head out to get the best deals varies depending on the retailer. You can see the best times for each supermarket here.
Super cheap bargains - sign up to bargain hunter Facebook groups like Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK where shoppers regularly post hauls they've found on the cheap, including food finds.
"Downshift" - you will almost always save money going for a supermarket's own-brand economy lines rather than premium brands.
The move to lower-tier ranges, also known as "downshifting" and hailed by consumer expert Martin Lewis, could save you hundreds of pounds a year on your food shop.
Aldi's Sourdough Breaded Wild Garlic & Jersey Butter Chicken Kievs, two pack, (375g)
£3.99
221 calories per 100g
I was sceptical about whether sourdough was really needed on a chicken kiev or just a bit of foodie buzzword bingo.
It sounded like a marketing gimmick - until I bit into the brilliantly crunchy, deep golden crust.
Oh, it was delicious.
The chicken inside was succulent too, and the garlic butter oozed out perfectly.
It seems the sourdough crumb wasn't just for show, as it added a toasty flavour and an extra crunch that set Aldi's chicken kiev apart from those with usual breadcrumb coating.
And they come in at 221kcal per 100g.
The only downside was that the garlicky interior squirted out quite violently during the baking process, leaving an oven cleaning job that I didn't want to face after opting for a quick convenience meal for dinner - next time I'll use the air fryer. Crunchy and flavoursome kievs, though.
5/5
Deluxe Lidl Garlic and Herb Chicken Kievs, (385g)
£3.99
230 calories per 100g
This was a chunky chicken kiev, with a generous portion and a herb-heavy filling.
In fact, the centre tasted more like cooked green veg than garlic - the flavour wasn't as strong as in other dishes, so it will appeal to those who prefer milder tastes.
The breadcrumb coating is crisp and evenly golden, although not as crunchy as Aldi or Asda's meals.
The chicken breast meat had a good, juicy texture, and the kiev came in at 230kcal per 100g - about standard for this dish.
Overall, a decent dish, but it didn't stand out like some others, and, at £3.99, it's not the bargain we sometimes expect of Lidl.
3/5
Iceland 4 Garlic & Herb Butter Chicken Breast Kievs 500g, £3.50
These chicken kievs are coated in pale breadcrumb and also look like giant chicken nuggets - they're not a posh option to wow friends over dinner, but they're brilliant value.
At 87p per kiev, they are a top choice for an easy supper or when your kids have invited friends for tea.
The filling is nice and green thanks to the herbs, and properly garlicky, although some parts did look a bit oily.
The chicken was tasty enough but not as succulent as others and tasted a bit dry in parts.
Overall, a good value option but no show-stopper.
3/5