Lean Cuisine - Chicken, Spinach & Mushrooms Panini Review

The Chicken, Spinach & Mushrooms Panini from Lean Cuisine was something that I bought on a whim when it was on sale at my local Kroger for $2.50. It now takes up frequent residence inside of my freezer. If I had to rate this on a scale of 1 to 5, it would most definitely be a 5.

Nutritional Information

Calories - 320
Calories from Fat - 60

Total Fat - 7 g
Trans Fat - 0 g

Sodium - 660 mg
Dietary Fiber - 5 g

Weight Watchers Point Value - 6

Overall, the Chicken, Spinach & Mushrooms Panini fits well within my diet, nutritionally. I eat based on the Weight Watchers Flex Points Plan and this makes a perfect lunch combined with a side of mixed vegetables. The only concern I have with this meal is the sodium. 660 mg of sodium equates to 28% of the daily recommended value according to the nutritional information on the packaging.

Preparation

Lean Cuisine has designed the box that the Chicken, Spinach & Mushrooms Panini comes in to be used as a cooking platform. Once you tear off the perforated edge, you lift up the entire front of the package and it ends up being bent around to the other side so that the front image is against the back packaging image.

Once you've maneuvered the outside packaging, you simply remove the plastic wrapping from around the sandwich and crisping platform. You align the sandwich halves so that they line up with the crisping platform and place it on top of the box/cooking platform. The box instructs you to cook the panini on High for 2 minutes and 45 seconds to 3 minutes and 15 seconds. In my microwave, I have to cook it for the longer time in order to make sure that the cheese is completely melted. Once the time had passed, I let it sit in the microwave for another minute before removing it.

You then place the two halves of the sandwich together. I noticed that the grill marks were there and therefore the crisping platform had done it's job. I used a sharp knife to slice my sandwich in half so it was easier to eat.

Taste and Quality

My first bite into the Chicken, Spinach & Mushrooms Panini was surprising. I have eaten many Lean Cuisine meals in my day and some of them are good and some of them aren't. This panini was delicious. I couldn't believe how good it could be. It was crispy on the outside, the cheese was melted and the chicken was tender. The spinach and mushrooms added that flavor that I was looking for. It was much better than I could have anticipated.

Conclusion

My only suggestion would be for Lean Cuisine to make packages that include more than one since I personally buy at least 2 whenever I purchase them. It would save on packaging costs and waste if they were able to do that.

For me, this is hands down one of the top five microwavable dishes that I've ever eaten. It was only 6 Weight Watchers points and it allows me to have something tasty and quick, but still filling. The Lean Cuisine Chicken, Spinach & Mushrooms Panini is a winner and everyone who likes these kinds of things should give it a try.