Product Review: Kirkland Signature Chicken Corn Chowder

I always thought a chowder was made with seafood so the first thing I did was look "chowder" up in the dictionary. Here is the definition of chowder: a soup or stew of seafood (such as clams or fish) usually made with milk or tomatoes, salt pork, onions, and other vegetables (such as potatoes); also: a soup resembling chowder (such as corn chowder). Therefore, a chicken corn chowder is a soup or stew that resembles a regular seafood chowder only made with chicken and corn instead of seafood.

I found Kirkland Signature™ Chicken Corn Chowder one day while shopping at Costco. Kirkland Signature™ is Costco's brand name. There are two tubs of chicken corn chowder inside a cardboard sleeve. On the sleeve is a picture of two ears of corn, slices of grilled chicken, red peppers, parsley and a bowl of the soup, along with a stamp showing the product was inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, all making the product appear very inviting. It is also a product of the USA.

The chowder is creamy with lots of corn, large chunks of chicken and a few pieces of celery, onions and carrots. It is spicy, but not too spicy for my taste. However, if you don't like spicy food, you may not enjoy this chowder. There is a strong corn taste which can be expected. The tender chicken, along with the vegetables and spices being at just the right mix, brings the chowder to a tasty conclusion. The chowder must be keep refrigerated until used, but only needs to be heated in the microwave or on the stove top before serving.

Ingredients: cream, chicken stock, grilled chicken breast strips, corn, celery, onions, carrots, canola oil, enriched flour, modified cornstarch, cultured dextrose on maltodextrin, butter, brown sugar, cilantro, chipotle pepper puree, cajun seasoning, cilantro flavor, citric acid, Italian seasoning, and annatto extract.

Nutritional facts: Serving size is one cup. There are about three cups per container. Calories are 410 with 300 from fat.

Total fat is 33g or 50% of the daily value based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Saturated fat is 19g of 94% of the daily value based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Trans fat is 0g.
Cholesterol is 130mg or 43% of the daily value based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Sodium is 780mg or 33% of the daily value based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Total carbohydrate is 17g or 6% of the daily value based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Dietary fiber is 1g or 6% of the daily value based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Sugars are 4g and protein is 14g. Vitamin A is 45%; vitamin C is 6%; calcium is 6%; iron is 4%.

Each container holds about three cups for a total of about six cups in both containers. The price is $9.49 or about $1.58 a cup. I'm giving this chowder three and a half stars out of five. The chowder is delicious however, the total fat content at 50% is very high. The clam chowder I have is 28% of the daily value of fat based on a 2,000 calorie diet for a serving size of one cup. I still eat this chowder but only about once every two months or so.