Chicken croquettes are a tasty and comforting food that can be a great addition to many meals. But where can you find the best chicken croquettes? I did some research to find the top places to buy high-quality, delicious chicken croquettes
What Are Chicken Croquettes?
Chicken croquettes are small, fried chicken patties that are breaded and shaped into cylinders or flat ovals. The interior is made of shredded or minced chicken meat that is held together with a thick béchamel or cream sauce. Seasonings like garlic, onions, herbs, and spices give them lots of flavor.
Chicken croquettes make a great appetizer or snack. You can also serve them as a side dish or main course, often with potato wedges or on top of rice or pasta. They are a popular comfort food around the world, showing up in cuisines like French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and more.
Buying Frozen Chicken Croquettes
One of the easiest ways to get chicken croquettes is to buy them frozen. Many major supermarkets and grocery stores have frozen prepared chicken croquettes in the frozen food section.
Some popular frozen chicken croquette brands include Inno Foods Banquet Foster Farms, and Kirkwood. The most common sizes are 16-20 count bags, usually costing $4-8.
The main advantage of frozen chicken croquettes is convenience They are pre-made so you can just heat and eat whenever you want a quick meal or snack They also have a long freezer shelf life of 4-6 months from the manufacture date,
One downside is that frozen croquettes can lose a bit of their crunchiness and flavor compared to freshly made ones. But overall, frozen chicken croquettes are an easy, budget-friendly option worth considering.
Where to Buy Frozen Chicken Croquettes
Here are some top stores for finding frozen chicken croquettes:
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Walmart – Great low prices, with brands like Banquet and Inno Foods chicken croquettes available in bags of around 20 croquettes for just a few dollars.
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Target – Carries Foster Farms and Kirkwood frozen chicken croquettes, often sold in 16-20 count bags. Prices are affordable too.
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Aldi – Aldi has their store brand “Mama Cozzi’s” chicken croquettes available seasonally, typically in 16 oz bags. Very well priced.
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Costco – Shop here for bulk bags of 40-50 count Kirkland or Foster Farms chicken croquettes for the best value. Great for big families or parties.
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Kroger – Good selection of national brands plus affordable Kroger store brand chicken croquettes in smaller frozen food bags.
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Instacart – Order chicken croquettes for same day grocery delivery from stores near you through Instacart. Look for Banquet, Inno Foods, Kirkwood and more.
Buying Refrigerated Chicken Croquettes
For fresher tasting chicken croquettes, look for refrigerated versions rather than frozen. These are usually in the deli or prepared foods sections of grocery stores.
Brands like Appetizers USA, Kitchens of India, and Fresh Gourmet have ready-to-cook refrigerated croquettes in flavors like Italian herb, chipotle, and more. These stay fresh for around a week.
You’ll typically pay around $6-10 for smaller 6-8 count containers. But the flavor and texture is noticeably better than frozen. Give them a quick fry or bake before serving.
Top Stores for Refrigerated Chicken Croquettes
Here are some good places to buy refrigerated chicken croquettes:
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Whole Foods Market – Broad selection from brands like 365 Everyday Value, Fresh Gourmet, and Appetizers USA. Find them in the prepared foods section.
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Publix – Nice variety of Publix Deli and Fresh Gourmet chicken croquettes available in the deli and refrigerated foods sections.
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Trader Joe’s – Trader Joe’s often carries their own Indian-style chicken croquettes, pre-cooked and sold cold in 4 count packs.
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Wegmans – Wegmans offers fresh chicken croquettes under brands like Appetizers USA and Wegmans Mealtime Express in the refrigerated prepared foods.
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Grocery Delivery – Use Instacart, FreshDirect or local grocery services to order fresh refrigerated chicken croquettes.
Buying from Restaurants or Food Trucks
For the best tasting chicken croquettes, nothing beats ordering them hot and crispy direct from restaurants or food trucks.
Some cuisines like Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin American often have chicken croquettes on their appetizer menus. Or look for food trucks specializing in croquettes.
The biggest advantage is you get them freshly fried and piping hot. The downside is they are only available on location, not for takeout. Prices are usually $5-8 for 4-6 croquettes.
Top Places to Buy Fresh Chicken Croquettes
Here are some top spots to try excellent fresh chicken croquettes:
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Spanish Tapas Restaurants – Tapas bars like Boqueria often fry up crisp garlicky chicken croquettes, a classic Spanish tapa.
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Latin American Restaurants – Empanadas and croquettes are popular appetizers at Latin spots like Cuban and Argentinian restaurants.
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Food Trucks & Stands – Gourmet food trucks like The Croqueteria offer fun fusion chicken croquettes with global flavors.
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Portuguese Bakeries – Pastelarias and Portuguese bakeries frequently sell crispy bolinhos de frango chicken croquettes.
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Gourmet Fast Casual – Chains like The Little Beet serve healthier baked chicken croquettes on their light menus.
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Cafeterias – University, corporate and hospital cafeterias sometimes have chicken croquettes in their daily hot prepared foods.
Making Homemade Chicken Croquettes
For the freshest taste and best ingredients, you can’t beat homemade chicken croquettes. It takes a bit more effort but yields delicious results.
Most recipes call for shredding or mincing chicken thighs or breasts, then mixing with a velvety béchamel or cream sauce. Add eggs, parsley, garlic, spices, and breadcrumbs before forming into croquette shapes. Then dip in egg wash and breadcrumbs before frying or baking.
Homemade allows you to control the quality of ingredients. You can also customize flavors, trying herb combos like sage and thyme. Make big batches and freeze extras to enjoy later.
Tips for Making Excellent Homemade Chicken Croquettes
Follow these tips for next-level homemade chicken croquettes:
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Use chicken thighs for more moist, flavorful meat. Remove skin first.
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Make crispy breadcrumb coating with Panko or coarse breadcrumbs. Let chill before frying.
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Refrigerate coated croquettes for 1 hour before frying so coating sticks better.
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Fry in batches at 350°F for 2-3 minutes until deep golden brown. Drain on paper towels.
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Flavor sauce with sherry, mustard, hot sauce, or grated cheese for variety.
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Experiment with shapes like rounds, triangles, cylinders, or crocodiles.
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Freeze uncooked, breaded croquettes in a single layer then store in bags for later.
Top Places to Buy Chicken Croquettes
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Frozen – Walmart, Target, Aldi, Costco, Kroger, Instacart
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Refrigerated – Whole Foods, Publix, Trader Joe’s, Wegmans, Grocery Delivery
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Restaurants – Spanish Tapas, Latin, Food Trucks, Portuguese Bakeries
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Make Them – Use high quality ingredients and customize flavors
With so many options from frozen to fresh homemade, there are lots of great ways to enjoy tasty chicken croquettes! They make a crispy, comforting addition to meals any night of the week.
PA Dutch Chicken Croquettes
What are Pennsylvania Dutch chicken croquettes? Croquettes are usually thought of as being a small rounded mass of minced meat that has been dipped in egg and bread crumbs, and then deep-fat fried. That is exactly what a PA Dutch chicken croquette is.
These Amish chicken croquettes are made with cooked and chopped chicken that is mixed with a thick creamy sauce, shaped into balls, then dipped in eggs and coated in bread crumbs.
To finish them off with the best and the most unhealthy part of all, they are deep-fried. We all know that anything deep-fried tastes amazing. Right?
- Cooked Chicken is the main protein source for the croquettes. It provides flavor, texture, and substance. (Grind/chop the chicken after cooking. Do not buy raw ground chicken for this.)
- Butter adds richness and flavor to the white sauce used in the croquettes.
- Flour is used to create a roux with the butter, forming the base of the sauce. It thickens the sauce and helps to hold the croquettes together.
- Half and Half (or Whole Milk) adds creaminess and moisture, contributing to the croquettes texture and helping to keep them tender.
- Salt enhances the flavor and balances the other seasonings.
- Black Pepper adds a subtle heat and depth of flavor.
- Garlic Powder adds a savory, garlic flavor. (If preferred, use minced fresh garlic.)
- Minced Onion Flakes provide a mild onion flavor. (Freshly chopped onion works as well.)
- Eggs are used for dipping the croquettes, helping breadcrumbs to adhere and create a crispy exterior during frying.
- Panko or Regular Bread Crumbs are used as a coating, providing a crispy and golden exterior when fried. They also add texture and help to seal in moisture.
- Oil is used to fry the croquettes until they are crispy and golden brown on the outside while remaining moist and flavorful on the inside. (Canola or peanut oil are great choices.)
Comfort Food = Pennsylvania Dutch Chicken Croquettes
Some people would classify chicken croquettes as comfort food. So the question is, what puts certain foods into the classification of comfort food?
I believe that for many people comfort food is associated with their childhood or home-cooking. Often it is food with a higher carb content, and eating it provides a feeling of well-being.
For some of us, certain tastes and smells bring back memories of home. They provide a feeling of nostalgia and give us a longing for the past, typically a happy or carefree time in our lives.
Since starting my blog, I have been cooking and baking a lot more Amish and PA Dutch food.
Its food that I grew up with. So when Im cooking, some of the smells and tastes make me miss my home, especially my mom. My Amish mom did a lot of cooking and baking and was a good cook. She was also the most selfless person Ive ever known. I have fond memories of working with her.
The BEST Chicken Croquette Recipe EVER
FAQ
Does Walmart sell chicken croquettes?
Smaller pack of Chicken Croquettes for quick snacks and meals. Each bite is packed with seasoned meat and smooth filling.
Can you still buy Howard Johnson chicken croquettes?
What is a chicken croquette made of?
Combine chicken, 1/3 cup of condensed soup, bread crumbs, celery, onion, and 1/4 teaspoon poultry seasoning in large bowl; mix well and shape into 6 croquettes (or patties). Chill in the refrigerator for about 1 hour. Roll croquettes in additional bread crumbs.
Does Market Basket sell chicken croquettes?
Weaver Chicken Croquettes 12.5 oz | Meals & Entrees | Market Basket.