Erin Elizabeth
Frozen dinners have fed America since the early 1900s and blew up in the 1950s – for good reasons.
They are tasty, quick, and super convenient, giving families less time in the kitchen and more time to spend with each other.
Some have a bad reputation for being unhealthy or filled with lots of sugar, preservatives, fat, etc. But these days, frozen dinners are typically healthier than ever, meeting the market demand for well-balanced meals.
And with so many great options out there now, it can be hard to decide which is best for you!
Best Frozen Dinners
So, to help you out, here’s my list of the best frozen dinners below.
Amy’s Cheese Enchilada
I love Amy’s brand for frozen dinners, and their Cheese Enchilada is a delicious Mexican-inspired option smothered in a mild yet tasty sauce.
It’s the perfect combination of savory and spicy that satisfies my craving for Mexican cuisine every time.
These enchiladas are complete with a blend of cheeses, vegetables like olives and peppers, and a traditional enchilada sauce to die for!
Trader Joe’s Chicken Tikka Masala
Trader Joe’s Chicken Tikka Masala is a fan-favorite frozen dinner from this popular grocery store brand.
It includes chunks of chicken doused in a creamy, tomato-based, and curry-flavored sauce that any fan of Indian food will love.
There’s also a vegan version that comes at the same low price!
Banquet Chicken Strips Meal
I love Banquet Chicken because they make eating fried or grilled chicken easy, and the Banquet Chicken Strips Meal is a family favorite.
I appreciate that it’s not just the chicken but comes with a side of corn and creamy mac and cheese.
Don’t be afraid to bring your ketchup and hot sauces for this dinner!
Amy’s Pesto Tortellini
If you’re a pesto fan like I am, you can’t go wrong with Amy’s Pesto Tortellini dinner.
They use organic wheat flour to make it, coupled with ricotta cheese for a decadent, savory meal; you’ll be surprised that it came out of a box.
Plus, it’s free of soy and tree nuts, which is helpful for those with those sensitivities.
Birds Eye Beef Lo Mein
Birds Eye Beef Lo Mein is the perfect frozen dinner for those nights when you want something that’s delicious, convenient, and filling all at the same time.
The lo mein has a great balance of tender beef, crunchy bok choy and onions, and high-quality noodles that fulfill your senses without the use of artificial flavors or preservatives.
Trader Joe’s: Trader Giotto’s Mushroom Ravioli
Trader Giotto’s Mushroom Ravioli is another one of the best frozen dinners from Trader Joe’s due to its perfect blend of flavors and textures.
The mushrooms are sautéed in a creamy garlic sauce that pairs perfectly with the cheese-filled ravioli.
I love eating this on nights when I want to feel full and satisfied without breaking the bank.
Michelina’s Chicken Fried Rice
Chicken fried rice is one of my favorite menu items from any Chinese takeout, but sometimes the price is too high for my liking.
So I was ecstatic to find Michelina’s Chicken Fried Rice, which doesn’t necessarily taste “authentic” but comes at a fraction of the cost.
It’s easy enough to add some flavors like ginger and soy sauce after cooking.
Banquet Spaghetti & Meatballs
Banquet’s Spaghetti & Meatballs is a fantastic classic dinner that’s satisfying, affordable, and easy to heat up in a microwave, in the oven, or on the stove.
What I appreciate about it is that it includes made-from-scratch marinara sauce, which is honestly not what I’d expect from a frozen dinner meal. That said, it tastes as good as it sounds!
Devour: Buffalo Mac & Cheese
Devour’s Buffalo Mac & Cheese is a modern take on the classic mac and cheese meal but with an added kick of buffalo flavor.
It’s the ultimate comfort food, with a creamy cheese sauce mixed with pasta and succulent pieces of breaded white meat chicken coated in buffalo sauce.
I like that the buffalo sauce has a spicy kick, but there’s no harm in adding a few more peppers afterward!
Stouffer’s Fish Filet
Some may argue to stay away from seafood frozen dinners, but those people probably haven’t tried Stouffer’s Fish Filet – a surprisingly good fish dinner that provides an easy way to enjoy seafood without the mess.
They bread the Alaskan Pollock filets and guarantee that each box is freshly made without preservatives.
The mac and cheese side dish is also made with fresh pasta and real cheddar cheese.
Bertolli: Chicken Parmigiana & Penne
Bertolli’s Chicken Parmigiana & Penne meal is the perfect combination of two Italian favorites – chicken parm and penne pasta – mixed up into one complete dish.
The chicken parmigiana is made with 100% all-natural white meat chicken that’s breaded and topped with a rich tomato sauce and sharp Mozzarella for a truly authentic Italian taste in a box.
Banquet Classic Salisbury Steak
Something about the creamy, rich gravy smothered on top and the sides of mashed potatoes and sweet corn make this Banquet Classic Salisbury Steak a truly decadent meal – for such a great price!
I also appreciate that it comes with a cinnamon apple dessert, as most frozen dinners don’t come with any dessert.
Hungry-Man Smokin Backyard Barbeque
If you can’t decide between pork and chicken for dinner tonight, Hungry-Man has you covered with their Smokin Backyard Barbeque dinner that comes with both!
This meal has a great mix of tender, slow-smoked pork and smooth, glazed chicken with flavorful barbeque-style mashed potatoes and sweet corn. The brownie included isn’t half-bad, either!
Zatarain’s Blackened Chicken Alfredo
Zatarain’s is a McCormick brand, so I expected the best when I picked up their Blackened Chicken Alfredo – and my expectations were met!
This single-serve meal includes a mix of cream cheese, dehydrated Romano cheese, and other cheese flavors for a creamy, irresistible taste.
Plus, it only takes six minutes of microwave time to enjoy it.
Marie Callender’s Meat Loaf & Gravy
Nothing compares to my mom’s homemade meatloaf, but Marie Callender’s Meat Loaf & Gravy dinner comes close!
It comes with a delectable tomato glaze as well as creamy chive mashed potatoes and golden corn for a high-quality meal.
You won’t get artificial colors or flavors, but you will get tons of protein.
Bird’s Eye Voila! Supreme Pizza Skillet
The Bird’s Eye Voila! Supreme Pizza Skillet is the perfect option for families who can never decide between pasta and pizza.
You’ll get the ease of making and sharing skillet pasta while enjoying pizza-like flavors such as tomato sauce, Parmesan cheese, and pepperoni.
Hungry Man Mexican Fiesta
Hungry Man’s Mexican Fiesta has all the Mexican-inspired flavors I love, including refried beans, chili sauce, and Mexican rice.
Plus, it comes with a coconut-flavored pudding that’s delightful.
I also appreciate how big the portions are of this and all Hungry Man frozen meals.
Their motto is to “eat like a man,” so I ensure I’m extra hungry before warming up their meals!
Lean Cuisine Fettuccine Alfredo
Lean Cuisine’s Fettuccine Alfredo is a light but flavorful meal that you can feel great about enjoying.
It’s also low-carb, so you won’t have to worry about overdoing it with carbohydrates.
And somehow, without any meat, this meal delivers an astounding 12 grams of protein!
Michelina’s Taco Bites
If you love simple tacos and you love pizza rolls, then there’s no way you wouldn’t enjoy Michelina’s Taco Bites, which taste like the former but come in the same convenient, bite-sized shape as the latter.
It has a simple meat and cheese filling and a gorgeous golden crust that’s perfect, especially if you choose to prepare it with a conventional oven.
Atkins Meat Lasagna
Atkins Meat Lasagna is a great option for an Italian-inspired meal that feels simultaneously familiar and exciting – without the high number of calories, you’d get in most lasagna dinners.
Ricotta, Mozzarella, and a traditional tomato and meat sauce all make an appearance in this delicious three-layer lasagna.
Bertolli: Italian Sausage Rigatoni
You can never go wrong with an Italian meal for dinner, and Bertolli’s Italian Sausage Rigatoni is no exception.
The tomato in this pasta dish has a unique, spicy kick that goes swimmingly with the Italian sausage. Your family might not even realize that it’s a frozen dinner!
Healthy Choice Chicken & Vegetable Stir Fry
Healthy Choice’s Chicken & Vegetable Stir Fry provides a well-balanced option that any parent can agree to.
It’s simple and classic but incredibly tasty and colorful, making it a frozen dinner option that I like to rely on time and time again.
Hungry Man Salisbury Steak
Hungry Man Salisbury Steak dinner is one of the most surprising frozen dinners to me.
It was the first frozen steak dinner I tried, and I never thought I’d appreciate a steak from a box. But the mushroom gravy is what did it for me.
Unsurprisingly for Hungry Man, this dinner comes with two steaks instead of just one, providing a perfect sharing option for some or a big, hearty single meal for others.
Lean Cuisine Butternut Squash Ravioli
Lean Cuisine is a popular option for frozen dinners because they’re known for its lower-calorie meals, and its Butternut Squash Ravioli is no different.
You won’t feel like you’re missing out on this meatless dish because of the creamy sauce and crunchy peas and carrots that smothers it.
Smart Ones Santa Fe Rice & Beans
If you love flavor-packed dishes without many calories, then Smart Ones Santa Fe Rice & Beans is a perfect choice.
It perfectly balances spices, black beans, and Mexican-style rice. Plus, it has just the right amount of cheese to satisfy your salty cravings.
Marie Callender’s Fried Chicken Mac & Cheese Bowl
I love a good mac and cheese bowl, and Marie Callender’s Fried Chicken Mac & Cheese Bowl hits the spot every time.
I was pleasantly surprised by the consistency of the breaded, fried chicken that stays good even when microwaved.
Trader Joe’s: Mandarin Orange Chicken
Trader Joe’s Mandarin Orange Chicken is hard to resist any day of the week.
It’s spicy without being too spicy, perfectly textured after baking it in the oven, and goes great with a side of steamed jasmine rice.
Healthy Choice Café Steamers General Tso’s Spicy Chicken
Another choice from the Healthy Choice brand is General Tso’s Spicy Chicken, a mix of an authentic spicy brown sauce, white meat chicken, and tasty veggies.
This meal is a go-to for me on the weekdays and never fails to impress me!
Best Frozen Dinners
- Amy’s Cheese Enchilada
- Trader Joe’s Chicken Tikka Masala
- Banquet Chicken Strips Meal
- Amy’s Pesto Tortellini
- Birds Eye Beef Lo Mein
- Trader Joe’s: Trader Giotto’s Mushroom Ravioli
- Michelina’s Chicken Fried Rice
- Banquet Spaghetti & Meatballs
- Devour: Buffalo Mac & Cheese
- Stouffer’s Fish Filet
- Bertolli: Chicken Parmigiana & Penne
- Banquet Classic Salisbury Steak
- Hungry-Man Smokin Backyard Barbeque
- Zatarain’s Blackened Chicken Alfredo
- Marie Callender’s Meat Loaf & Gravy
- Bird’s Eye Voila! Supreme Pizza Skillet
- Hungry Man Mexican Fiesta
- Lean Cuisine Fettuccine Alfredo
- Michelina’s Taco Bites
- Atkins Meat Lasagna
- Bertolli: Italian Sausage Rigatoni
- Healthy Choice Chicken & Vegetable Stir Fry
- Hungry Man Salisbury Steak
- Lean Cuisine Butternut Squash Ravioli
- Smart Ones Santa Fe Rice & Beans
- Marie Callender’s Fried Chicken Mac & Cheese Bowl
- Trader Joe’s: Mandarin Orange Chicken
- Healthy Choice Café Steamers General Tso’s Spicy Chicken
What’s Your Favorite Frozen Dinner?
Sometimes, an easy frozen dinner hits the spot! What’s your favorite thing to grab from the freezer aisle?
