Trader Joe’s Rants & Raves (mostly raves, a few rants)

I was pretty impressed with these new sausages, called UNEXPECTED CHEDDAR CHICKEN SAUSAGE. In fact I’m going to say these sausages are the bomb. We’re talking so juicy & flavorful. Overall flavor of these sausages is terrific. It’s Ingredients include chicken, unexpected cheddar of course plus caramelized onions and red bell peppers. Personally I really like the snap of the natural pork casing they use, but some have said they think it’s too “thick”* . They didn’t drip or ooze out cheese, if that’s what you are are expecting, its not cheesy like that, it’s more about flavor. I guess the cheddar just melts in and gives them a lot of flavor and obviously some juiciness. I thought they were delicious and we both really enjoyed these when we ate them for dinner as a dish with a side of sautéed potatoes and vegetables.

These can be served in many ways. Want super easy? Just grill them up a bit and put them on a good bun with mustard and sauerkraut. Maybe the TJ’s Brioche Hot Dog Buns! I did a “German style” dish with them with sauteed potatoes. I grilled the sausages on the stove. Along side the sausages, I made sautéed vegetables (potatoes, onions, peppers and some cabbage). The sausages with these vegetables were a really good combination and we enjoyed it all with slices of TJ’s MARBLE RYE bread and DIJON MUSTARD and some of TJ’s excellent SAUERKRAUT. Very German. OK the Dijon was French.

These sausages are already fully cooked. However I think browning them is a must. I just learned you should not prick sausages as we’ve been taught. That they stay juicier if you don’t prick them. OK one of them burst a bit on me but it was fine.

One of these sausages has only 160 calories, and while they are not low in sodium, they are not super high either, these sausages have a bit less sodium compared to TJ’s Andouille Chicken Sausages.

I think these CHEDDAR CHICKEN SAUSAGES are a terrific addition to all the other chicken sausages that Trader Joe’s carries. In fact for me, these are so impressive I’d say these go right to the top of my list of all of TJ’s chicken sausages. I would buy these again. These are $4.49 a package (12 oz) PS – * Personally I love the snap that a real traditional pork casing gives a sausage however if you don’t want it one reader writes he carefully peels off the casing before cooking them.

https://www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/unexpected-cheddar-chicken-sausage-074048