This Is the Greatest Trader Joe's Frozen Chicken Ever

Move aside, dino nuggets—there’s a new sheriff in town. And by “town,” I mean my air fryer, and by “sheriff,” I mean Trader Joe’s’ new frozen Chicken Karaage. 

I always have some version of frozen crispy chicken in my freezer for late-night snacks, salad toppers, and so-hungry-I-can’t-think moments where only nuggets (or relatives) will do. But until now, none of my all-time favorites came from dear ol’ Trader Joe. Trader Joe’s’ standard nuggets never get as crispy as I want, and its gluten-free popcorn chicken is excellent, but expensive for a small portion. But now I will exclusively be buying—and possibly stocking an entire shelf in my freezer—with its new Japanese-inspired karaage.

Trader Joe’s New Chicken Karaage

According to TJ’s website, the karaage is made with “bite-sized pieces of boneless, skinless, leg meat that have been tenderized and flavor-infused after marinating in rice wine (mirin), soy sauce, and white wine vinegar—along with garlic and ginger powders.” I had never thought to debone and cut up chicken legs for fried chicken, but on a supply chain and food waste level, it’s smart, as not many companies or home cooks are utilizing chicken legs in this way.

The dark meat chicken is juicy, tender, and flavorful from the marinade, and then dusted with a trio of wheat flour, cornmeal, and starch. This combination makes for a light, crispy crust that just coats the chicken on its first fry at TJ’s’ factory, and then again in the air fryer or oven. 

How To Cook Trader Joe's Chicken Karaage

I opted to cook it in my air fryer, which has a perforated rack that fit all of the chicken in one even layer with space in between. If you use an air fryer with a circular basket, you may need to fry in batches so they can evenly crisp up. I followed the package instructions for an air fryer (390 degrees F for 16 minutes) and ended up shaking the karaage halfway through cooking to make sure it evenly crisped.

I found that a little spritz of avocado oil (also from TJ's) before air-frying also helps any frozen crispy thing along without making it too oily or greasy. That also helps a good pinch of kosher or flaky salt stick to the hot food right after it comes out. I burnt my mouth taking a bite, and heard the cruuunch ringing in my ears like an angel singing. Worth it.

Now, about the dipping sauce that comes with the chicken. It's...fine. It’s a lemon-ish (and I say “-ish” not “-y” because it’s very faint lemon flavor), slightly sweet mayonnaise that may be Kewpie or something similar. I added half of a lemon’s worth of juice and a pinch of kosher salt to the sauce and it was much better. You could garnish the chicken itself with a squeeze lemon, which is usually how the Japanese dish is served, and also sprinkle with togarashi (a Japanese pepper seasoning), black pepper, or furikake. But I didn’t because it was plenty flavorful on its own, especially if you zhuzh up the sauce.

How To Use Trader Joe's Chicken Karaage

I first ate a plate of these as a mid-afternoon snack, then dipped them into my Caesar Salad Dip and wrapped it all up in little gem lettuce (also new at Trader Joe’s!), and then chopped the rest up and put into a quick quesadilla. To keep the chicken crispy even after a few days in the fridge, I lined an airtight container with a paper towel to absorb any excess grease and moisture. I added the leftover chicken, then another paper towel. This works for anything crispy that I make and don’t want to turn into something dreadfully soggy.

If you want to take it to the next level, Trader Joe’s’ Karaage could also be used to make:

• Chicken piccata bites, made by simmering it in a quick lemon butter sauce with capers
• Shortcut chicken teriyaki made with a store-bought sauce (my favorite is Bachan’s Miso Japanese BBQ Sauce) and served over rice or stir-fried with noodles
• A protein-packed Caesar salad or any salad that you want to top with crispy chicken
• A chicken wrap of any kind—perhaps a copycat Snack Wrap?
• A fun twist on Vietnamese-style fresh spring rolls
• Oyakadon, but with karaage instead of plain chicken thigh bites (more reminiscent of Katsudon)

The bag claims 1/4 of the bag is a serving, and I think that’s accurate if you're enjoying it as a snack, but eat half the bag if it’s the main protein in your meal—or just because you want to! It’s still cheaper than getting karaage at a Japanese restaurant, and even less than most fast food spots. And, unlike at a restaurant, you can eat karaage while in your pajamas watching reruns of The O.C., and you can thank Trader Joe for that. Karaage, here we come!