Thursday, July 23, 2009

Tyson Skillet Creations


I was recently given the opportunity to try the new meal kit from Tyson - Tyson Skillet Creations. "Tyson Foods has teamed up with Food Network host Robin Miller to offer their brand new Skillet Creations Meal Kits, which have 45 percent less sodium than their previous frozen meal kits and less sodium than many of their key frozen meal kit competition competitors."

I sent my husband to the store to choose the variety, he came home with Grilled Chicken Tuscanny and Penne. The description indicates penne and grilled chicken with cherry tomatoes, onions, fire roasted zucchini and red bell peppers in tomato sauce.

The preparation is rather easy. I took the bag direct from the freezer, dumped the contents into a pan over medium heat, placed the lid on the pan, and let it cook for 10 minutes, stirring once. When I dumped the bag, I could see the pasta, the chicken, the peppers and onions, the zucchini and the whole cherry tomatoes. What I didn't see was sauce - but it is in there somewhere, because when I opened the pan to stir it up there was a nice tomato sauce covering the pasta.

Overall, the meal was pretty tasty. The zucchini and red peppers are fire grilled which gives them both a nice flavor. The tomato sauce is a nice simple sauce, although my husband felt it could have been more flavorful. He adjusted that by adding some Tabasco sauce.

Each serving has 320 calories, 6g of total fat, 5 g of dietary fiber and 22g of protein. To me, for a dinner entree, this seems like a reasonable amount.

As to value, the Tyson Skillet Creations were priced at $5 at my store. Not a bad price for a meal kit that includes the protein. The Skillet Creations also come in Steak Stroganoff with Noodles, Asian Style Orange Chicken, Grilled Chicken Fajitas and Grilled Steak Fajitas. One thing that I do have to say that I like about all of the meals is that they really are a complete meal - they have the protein, the vegetable and the grain - a pasta or a tortilla - as part of the meal kit. I have seen meal kits that don't include the protein and those that don't include the pasta or the tortillas, so the fact that these are complete is great.

The biggest challenge I have with the Tyson Skillet Creations is a challenge I have with other frozen meal kits - they are only 2 servings. Out of fairness, the line is positioned "as a convenient way for busy couples to prepare high-quality meals at home without high sodium levels" (MediaPost Publications). I just want to express my interest in a convenient way for busy moms to prepare high-quality meals at home without high sodium levels. It only seems fair right? We had more time when we were a busy couple than we do now that we are a busy family. Right now, I am able to stretch this 2 servings package to feed my family as long as I add a side dish or a salad, because my kids are young and don't eat as much. I have to imagine though that when my kids are older, this would not be enough to feed the family, even with a salad and side dish. A busy mom needs options like this for a quick family meal - only 10 minutes of prep time allows me more time to play with the kids before and after dinner and the complete kit means no prepping or special ingredients to buy. I think that companies could offer a 4-serving bag (preferably with a price advantage to purchasing two 2-serving bags) that would be better suited for families.

Giveaway!
In addition to trying the Tyson Skillet Creations, I also am able to extend to 2(two) of my lucky readers a chance to try the Tyson Skillet Creations for free.

To enter, leave a comment telling me which Tyson Skillet Creation you are most interested in trying.

For an additional entries:
- Blog about this giveaway. Be sure to come back and leave a link to your post in the comments.
- Follow me on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway using @ABusyMomofTwo. Leave a comment with a link to the Tweet. You can get one entry per day for tweeting.

This contest will remain open until July 30th at 7 pm. I will use a random number generator to select the winner. I will contact the winner by e-mail and they will have 36 hours to respond with their contact information or a new winner will be drawn.

Not the winner and still want to try the meals for less? You can always use this $1 coupon to purchase or use this Try Me Free rebate.

Don't forget to enter my other giveaways going on now in celebration of my one year blogging anniversary:
Honey Kix Prize Pack ends 7/27
Smooshie Kit ends 7/29

55 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mmmm Grilled Chicken Fajitas

Anonymous said...

Grilled Chicken Fajitas or the Asian style orange

Brandi said...

We'd love to try the Chicken Tuscany with Penne pasta. Thanks for the chance to win.
Brandi
lawyer180@yahoo.com

rebecca said...

I want to try the Chicken Tuscany with Penne, but hubby would probably want the steak fajitas!

gitrecca at gmail dot com

Lori Sifuentes said...

I would love to try the chix fajitas.

Thanks

Anonymous said...

The Chicken Tuscany sounds pretty tempting...but it's awfully hard to resist chicken fajitas!

Tamara B. said...

I would love to try their Skillet Creations™ Chicken Tuscany & Penne.
tamben7996(at)aol(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I'd like to try one of the fajita kits- probably steak. Thanks for the chance to win!

deborahcraft at yahoo dot com

Linda said...

I would most like to try the Chicken Fajitas.

StephanieC said...

I'd like the try the Asian Orange Meal! Thanks, scg00387 at yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

The Chicken Tuscany Penne looks delectable.
Thanks for doing the giveaway!
-Leslie
carykhepburn@yahoo.com

JC said...

I'd love to try Skillet Creations™ Grilled Chicken Fajitas!

Dolphin Girl said...

THe Asian Style Orange Chicken sounds yummy!

amanda said...

I'd love to try the chicken fajitas.
oheeyore at hotmail dot com

Steph said...

I'd like to try the Grilled Steak Fajitas. Thanks for the giveaway!

ms0812@zoominternet.net

E said...

I'd like to try the Grilled Chicken Fajitas...and my dear husband would, too, I'm sure! :-) thanks!

~eunice
rsmile2u @dejazzd .com

GypsiesThread said...

I would love to try the Steak Stroganoff with Noodles

gypsiesthread@yahoo.com

Nancy said...

We already tried the Grilled Chicken Tuscany. It is OK for two but would need to be stretched with more vegetables, a salad, etc for a larger family, in my opinion.

Nancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

Ashley Phillips said...

I would like to try the Chicken Fajitas and the Asian style orange chicken... yummy... Thanks,
Ashleyphillips76@gmail.com

Beth said...

Skillet Creations™ Grilled Chicken Fajitas would be my pick!

Beth said...

Blogged about giveaway: http://simplylivingonabudget.blogspot.com/2009/07/few-giveaway-for-week-of-26-jul-09.html

Beth said...

Follow and Tweeted: http://twitter.com/simplybudgeted/status/2857083329

janetfaye said...

I would like to try Skillet Creations™ Steak Stroganoff with Noodles.

janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

Anonymous said...

Grill Chicken Fajitas sounds good.

janetfaye said...

I blogged:
http://blog-giveaways.blogspot.com/2009/07/tyson-skillet-creations-giveaway.html

janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

Diane said...

Skillet Creations™ Grilled Chicken Fajitas sounds yummmy

Diane said...

http://twitter.com/dwalline/statuses/2859881983

Michele P. said...

for me it is a toss up between the grilled chicken or grilled steak fajitas-I just might have to buy both!

micaela6955 at msn dot com

The Sanford Family said...

I love the sound of the Chicken Tuscany! Mmmmm. Thanks for the giveaway!

Unknown said...

I would love to try the Grilled Chicken Fajitas

lavery328 at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

follow on twitter lifestooshort7 and tweet

http://twitter.com/lifestooshort7/status/2863039864

lavery328 at yahoo dot com

Elizabeth said...

Ooh I would love try the Grilled Steak Fajitas- this post is making me hungry :)

bethwillis01@gmail.com

Holly said...

the asian orange style sounds super yummy!

matthollycart@gmail.com

Wanda said...

I love these.
Tried the steak fajitas. YUM

I'd like to try some of the pasta's.

Julie said...

The Grilled Chicken Fajitas

aunteegem@yahoo.com

Julie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
janetfaye said...

7/27 Tweet:
http://twitter.com/Janetfaye/status/2880067356

janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

Unknown said...

daily tweet

http://twitter.com/lifestooshort7/status/2891920380

lavery328 at yahoo dot com

Leslie M. said...

My Hubby would love the Asian Style Orange Chicken!!
Thanks so much for the chance to win!!
YUM
Leslie
LeslieVeg@msn.com
http://leslielovesveggies.blogspot.com/

Leslie M. said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Leslie M. said...

LeslieVeg is following you on Twitter and left a Tweet

http://twitter.com/LeslieVeg/status/2898080906
Leslie
LeslieVeg@msn.com
http://leslielovesveggies.blogspot.com/

Sandy S said...

I would love to try the Grilled Chickem Fajitas. It sounds like a convenient meal for busy nights. Thanks for the chance to win!

skstigger@hotmail.com

janetfaye said...

7/28 Tweet:
http://twitter.com/Janetfaye/status/2902848424

janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

Leslie M. said...

LeslieVeg left a Wed Tweet
http://twitter.com/LeslieVeg/status/2908866443
Leslie
LeslieVeg@msn.com
http://leslielovesveggies.blogspot.com/

Unknown said...

daily tweet

http://twitter.com/lifestooshort7/status/2909172756

lavery328 at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

Want to try the Steak Stroganoff with Noodles.

jennsicurella at verizon dot net

Rachel @ The Philosophers Wife said...

I would love to try the Grilled Steak Fajitas! They sound soooo tasty!

Rachel
cheap_chick@hotmail.com

bettycd said...

Love to try several but if I had to pick one ... Asian Style Orange Chicken

bettycd said...

tweeted bettycd following you
http://twitter.com/bettycd/status/2909895185

Christy Lee said...

Grilled chicken fajitas! Thanks for the great giveaway!

Christy
sheridesthatbigredhonda@yahoo.com

missydawnrox said...

It's all about the chicken fajita's in my house!! That will be our first try of prolly all these great products.

Drewbie said...

We love Fajitas here, so Chicken Fajitas!
pudyqat @ sbcglobal.net

Leslie M. said...

LeslieVeg left a Thursday Tweet
http://twitter.com/LeslieVeg/status/2929691425
Leslie
LeslieVeg@msn.com
http://leslielovesveggies.blogspot.com/

Unknown said...

daily tweet

http://twitter.com/lifestooshort7/status/2930133118

lavery328 at yahoo dot com

Marie said...

Skillet Creations Grilled Steak Fajitas.

mccataquet(at)comcast(dot)net