The Trader Joe's Chicken Product That Went Viral For All The Wrong Reasons

When shopping in stores like Trader Joe's where there are seemingly endless options, it's a good idea to check what people on the internet are saying in order to get a better idea of which items are worth buying. So before you make your shopping list, to avoid any impulse buying, it can be helpful to search TikTok or Instagram to see if the product has been tested.

People love Trader Joe's for its convenience and bevy of proprietary products, some of which even have cult followings. Social media accounts like @traderjoesfoodreviews on Instagram are not affiliated with the store, but they highlight products and offer interesting tips on how to use them. One of the popular grocery store chain's latest items to hit the shelves is Buttermilk Brined Half Chicken, which has been reviewed by several TJ aficionados (including Trader Joe's Food Reviews). One TikToker's video of cooking the chicken even went viral, but not for the reason you'd expect.

Going viral on TikTok is usually considered a positive thing, but just because a video has a lot of views doesn't necessarily mean people like it. Meredith, who goes by @wishbonekitchen on the app, recently posted a video of her cooking the buttermilk brined half chicken from Trader Joe's, which has garnered over 800,000 views and 506 comments and counting. In the video, the private chef simply seasons the brined chicken with only salt, and TikTok was not happy about that. "Just salt is absolutely rancid," commented one user. "dam SHE ain't even use pepper at least," said another, while someone else asked, "Where is the flavor what the cluck?"

Shortly after the original video was posted, the TikToker uploaded a follow-up post, showing that they served the dish with a roasted red pepper and harissa sauce and Trader Joe's garlic naan. Some users were pleased to see a flavorful sauce paired with the simply seasoned chicken, but others were still skeptical. "Now imagine if you would've added some spices," wrote one user. Another commenter came to the chef's defense, replying, "Roasted red peppers, shallots, garlic, white wine & harissa are all flavorful ingredients. You don't need to double down with dried versions of them." If there's one thing to learn from this, apparently it's that TikTok is super passionate about seasoning chicken with more than just salt.