I tested supermarket chicken nuggets – the budget winner is joint with M&S and over HALF price compared to Birds Eye

The Sun

6 hours ago

FROZEN foods like chicken nuggets tend to get a bad rap.
But this freezer staple can be incredibly helpful for busy weeknights and many offer up a decent serving of protein to hungry kids.
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Emma Shafqat, of dietitianwithadifference.co.uk, said: "Chicken nuggets often get a bad reputation, but they can be a convenient and reliable source of protein especially for fussy eaters.
"Look for ones made with chicken breast as the first ingredient and aim for low salt and saturated fat per serving.
"A short, recognisable ingredient list (foods your find in your kitchen cupboards) is a good sign.
"Nuggets can be a quick source of protein when added to wraps or salads for a balanced meal.
"Like any processed food, it's about the quality you choose and what you serve alongside it."
But which nuggets to choose? LYNSEY HOPE investigates:
M&S Breaded Chicken Nuggets (600g)
£4.75, £7.91 per kg
Cook from frozen: 20 minute s
Lynsey says: "Impressive nuggets from M&S, which looked and tasted great. Chicken makes up 53 per cent of the total ingredients and it's all breast meat.
Once cooked, it was tender, while the breadcrumbs were nice and crisp after the recommended 20 minutes in the oven.
"The ingredients list garlic, herb and sage which were subtle but gave these nuggets a tasty flavour.
"The bag is mega expensive, setting you back £7.91 per kg which was even more than Birds Eye. But as they tasted great, I've still given them a reasonable score on value for money.
"If you can afford to spend a bit more on nuggets, I'd recommend these ones."
Taste: 5/5
Value: 4/5
Total: 9/10
Birds Eye Chicken Dippers (697g)
£5.50 for 38, £7.80 per kg
Cook from frozen: 15 minutes
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Lynsey says: "The branded nuggets have a very distinctive taste and that is down to the batter I think, which is lightly fried.
"Overall chicken make up 50 per cent of the ingredients and again, it's all breast meat. They are pricey but quite moreish and well-filled with meat.
"One of the quickest to cook in the oven, taking just 15 minutes. They were quite similar to McDonald's nuggets in flavour and texture.
"The biggest problem is the price, they cost nearly double most own brands per kilogram and the difference is minimal."
Taste: 4/5
Value: 2/5
Total: 6/10
Sainsbury's Breaded Chicken Nuggets (450g)
£1.49 for 30, £3.31 per kg
Cook from frozen: 15 minutes
Lynsey says: "Very meaty nuggets with British chicken making up 60 per cent of the ingredients - it's not necessarily breast meat though. The ingredients were simple, which I liked, with less rubbish in than other own brands.
"They cooked well in the recommended 15 minutes and the breaded coating came out an appetising colour and had a lovely crunch.
"The nuggets were small but excellent value too, on a par with Aldi when it comes to price per kilogram."
Taste: 3/5
Value: 5/5
Total: 8/10
Asda Battered Chicken Nuggets (670g)
£3, £4.48 per kg
Cook from frozen: 18 minutes
Lynsey says: "Asda's nuggets are made with 100 per cent breast meat and chicken makes up 58 per cent of the ingredients so a decent proportion.
"They took a while to cook, probably closer to 20 minutes than the recommended 18. But once cooked, the batter was nice - they were very similar to McDonald's nuggets with quite a salty taste.
"I also thought that there was quite a lot of air in the batter and they could have done with a bit more meat to fill them out."
Taste: 4/5
Value: 3/5
Total: 7/10
Aldi Roosters Chicken Nuggets in Breadcrumbs (450g)
£1.49 for 30, £3.31 per kg
Cook from frozen: 16-18 minutes
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Lynsey says: "Excellent value nuggets from Aldi and a decent sized bag. They are one of the meatiest with 60 per cent chicken in the ingredients and it's breast meat too.
"Filling - though the flavour was a little bland, perhaps they need a little more seasoning in the meat."
Taste: 3/5
Value: 4/5
Total: 7/10
Morrisons Battered Chicken Dippers (450g)
£2.30 for 25, £5.11 per kg
Cook from frozen: 16-18 minutes
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Lynsey says: "Apparently these contain chicken breast but it was a strange texture and a grey mushy colour which was a bit off putting.
"The batter was light and cooked well but it fell off the meat when I was trying to serve them and it all got a bit messy.
"Over priced too. At £5.11 per kilogram they were more expensive than every other own brand, bar M&S. There wasn't 25 in the bag either - only 24."
Taste: 2/5
Value: 2/5
Total: 4/10
Lidl Braemoor Red Hen Breaded Chicken Nuggets (1kg)
£3.25 for 65, £3.25 per kg
Cook from frozen: 14 minutes
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Lynsey says: " Lidl 's nuggets were great value and this was a supersized family bag which is great for the freezer. The meat is 100 per cent chicken breast, though it's from Poland and not UK.
"They were well-seasoned, filling and flavoursome. This bag is over £2 cheaper than Bird's Eye and you get 27 extra nuggets for your money."
Taste: 4/5
Value: 5/5
Total: 9/10
Tesco Battered Chicken Dippers (450g)
£1.49 for 20, £3.31 per kg
Cook from frozen: 17 minutes
Lynsey says: "These had an usual chemically taste and I wasn't a fan. The meat was very bitty too and I couldn't finish my portion, chucking three out of five in the bin.
"They do contain 53 per cent chicken in the ingredients but it's not breast.
"There weren't 20 in the bag either- I only got 18. Whilst they are good value, I wouldn't buy these again."