Four years ago, I reviewed one of the most unusual pumpkin spice products I’ve had: Pumpkin Spice Cup Noodles! It’s back under a new name, Pumpkin Pie instead of Pumpkin Spice. As far as I can tell, after tasting it again, it’s the same.
But that’s not all! It is now joined by the other iconic Thanksgiving food: Turkey Dinner Cup Noodles. Besides the turkey, this variety of Cup Noodles includes the side dishes of corn, green beans, and cranberries.
When I open the cup, it totally smells like stuffing. Sage, I think? I can’t know for sure, because the ingredients list only says “spice.”
Unlike an actual turkey dinner, this is easy to prepare: Just add water to the fill line, put it in the microwave for four minutes, and let it stand for one minute. Once it’s done, it has a cozy scent that reminds me of Thanksgiving morning at my grandparents’ house, even though that was decades ago.
I’m no food scientist, but I think the “turkey” is the “textured soy protein” listed in the ingredients. And to be honest. I’m fine with that representing turkey, because that sounds better than a freeze-dried bird. It has a vague Thanksgiving/poultry flavor and a slightly chewy texture that is almost like tough meat. The ingredients also include powdered chicken, turkey broth, and turkey fat, so there is actual poultry in the cup, even if it’s a negligible amount.
The corn, green beans, and cranberries make up less than two percent of the ingredients, and it is easy to miss them. Many Cup Noodles varieties include corn, and it’s no different here. It’s not my favorite way to consume corn, but it’s fine. The green beans are a little more noticeable, but it would be easy to overlook them if you weren’t paying attention. The cranberries are barely there. The pieces are so tiny that you maybe get a very slight tart, sweet flavor if you’re really looking for it. If cranberry sauce is your favorite part of a turkey dinner, you’ll want to bring your own here. (I expected Craisins, but they appear to be whole cranberries chopped into small pieces.)
The most obvious use for this variety is for a poor college student to buy if they can’t make it home for the holiday. It’s obviously not going to replace your family feast, but what did you expect for something that costs a little over a dollar?
Overall, Turkey Dinner Cup Noodles is a fun option for November. I can’t say it’s better than most Cup Noodles, but it’s not worse either, and it’s nice to have another seasonal variant.
Purchased Price: $1.18
Size: 2.89 oz cup
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 package) 370 calories, 15 grams of fat, 7 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, less than 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 1170 milligrams of sodium, 51 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of dietary fiber, 4 grams of sugar (including 1 gram of added sugar), and 10 grams of protein.
I had looked for this at my local Walmart earlier this month, but could not find it. Perhaps I could try the Walmart in the next county next time I’m there?
Both of these were on an endcap at my local WalMart superstore (the ones with a full grocery store inside) last week. Maybe you just missed them? I doubt that they will be in stock much longer.