# TV dinners and frozen foods that are really good! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 29, 2012, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756 "2012-07-29T11:49:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![GythaOgg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/49beb7/32.png) [@GythaOgg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GythaOgg)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756/21 "2012-07-29T18:38:19Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > Trader Joe’s has a whole bunch of good frozen dinners. There’s a lemon flavored salmon pasta thing that’s truly delicious. I like their frozen meat lasagna - beats Stouffer’s any day of the week in my book. ---
**Author:** ![Jamicat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c67d28/32.png) [@Jamicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamicat)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756/22 "2012-07-29T18:58:53Z")
I don’t by them too often. All are pretty good. Some are too expensive but a quick fix when you don’t feel like cooking. Michelina’s Alfredo’s - just add chicken or sea creatures [http://www.michelinas.com/ProductByBrand\_GR\_10910\_Fettuccine\_Alfredo\_Grande.aspx](http://www.michelinas.com/ProductByBrand_GR_10910_Fettuccine_Alfredo_Grande.aspx) Marie Callender’s - beef tips > **[Frozen Meals the Whole Family Will Love | Marie Callender's](https://www.mariecallendersmeals.com/)** > > Marie Callender's frozen meals and desserts are made from scratch with quality ingredients. Explore all of our products and learn what sets us apart today! Banquet Pot Pies - cheap [http://www.conagrafoods.com/consumer/brands/getBrand.do?page=banquet#prevNextLinks](http://www.conagrafoods.com/consumer/brands/getBrand.do?page=banquet#prevNextLinks) Sea Pack Shrimp Scampi - I put it on linguini or fettuccine [http://www.seapak.com/products/shrimp-scampi-12-oz](http://www.seapak.com/products/shrimp-scampi-12-oz) ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756/23 "2012-07-29T19:24:26Z")
Do the trays of On-core ‘family sized’ entrees count? I liked the [Chicken (or ‘veal’) parmesean](http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&client=opera&hs=hbF&rls=en&channel=suggest&q=oncore+chicken+parmesan&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&biw=1366&bih=668&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=I40VUPzAE4G3qAHM04HICA) ones for student budget sandwiches. The apparently sugar and syrup based red sauce marries well with our cake-like grocery store hamburger buns, hot giardinera and raw onion. ---
**Author:** ![Zjestika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/8edcca/32.png) [@Zjestika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zjestika)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756/24 "2012-07-29T20:27:40Z")
Trader Joes has awesome Indian frozen dinners, and a Bibimbap bowl that is really excellent. Aldi’s Priano brand eggplant parmesan is so good that I’ve bought them 10 at a time (they only have them a couple times a year). ---
**Author:** ![oreally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7ab992/32.png) [@oreally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oreally)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756/25 "2012-07-29T20:36:14Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > Heathy choice frozen dinners are way overpriced and generally gross. (Their breakfast offerings aren’t bad though) 😕 They’re comparably priced to similar offerings and far less “gross” than the salt/lard-fests that many of the others are. My only complaint is the stupid little dessert things. Wasted space, give me more meal and I’ll find my own sugar pill. Amys is good also, like their eggplant. ---
**Author:** ![Leiko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Leiko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leiko)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756/26 "2012-07-29T20:46:38Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > Trader Joe’s has a whole bunch of good frozen dinners. There’s a lemon flavored salmon pasta thing that’s truly delicious. For the weeks I’ve actually managed to get out to TJ’s, my work lunch alternates between the fusilli with squash and pesto and the tortelloni (or are they tortellini?) which come in yellow and red boxes respectively. I don’t like the green box (some sort of spinach thing?) though. Except for the mac and cheese, they’re the cheapest frozen lunches there. ---
**Author:** ![Viridiana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Viridiana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Viridiana)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756/27 "2012-07-29T20:50:49Z")
Target’s brand has a squash lasagna I really like - I kept thinking about it for days after we’d eaten it. Really surprised me. I also love Marie Callendar’s chicken pot pies, though they’re too high in calories for me to eat, really (original chicken is better than honey chicken or roasted chicken, etc. in my eyes, though it would usually be the other way around). ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756/28 "2012-07-29T20:58:13Z")
I try to stay away from frozen dinners but I think the ones that are best are the things like Stouffer’s lasagna or Marie Callender pot pies, because they are really made to be cooked in an oven (I believe they have microwave instructions, too.) Those types of products are usually not bad, the more traditional “meal with protein and two sides covered in cellophane and microwaved for 6 minutes” have gotten a lot better than they were back when I was a poor kid but they still aren’t very good. The microwave ones that are a bit better are the ones using the “newer technology”, the ones that have the “steam cook” feature or the ones like the pre-made sandwiches that go on those strange foil-looking trays that “crisp” up the food. ---
**Author:** ![Rubixcube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Rubixcube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubixcube)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756/29 "2012-07-30T02:40:19Z")
The Margaritaville Buffalo Shrimp is pretty good, but costs a ridiculous sum. I also found a Tandoor Chef Vegan Kofka Curry meal on sale and was rather impressed, once again price is a problem as it cost more than most other individual frozen meals and wasn’t much bigger than your average Lean Cuisine. If your after a more “traditional” T.V. dinner then Boston Market frozen meals are decent, not good mind you but much better than your average Hungry Man or Banquet. In general there’s decent frozen food to be had, but usually at prices that defeat most of the purpose, for the cost of most of the “premium” frozen meals you could order out for roughly the same cost and effort. ---
**Author:** ![oreally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7ab992/32.png) [@oreally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oreally)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756/30 "2012-07-30T02:51:26Z")
PS to me these are snacks not meals and horribly unhealthy but once in awhile those “hot pockets” are pretty good. 🙂 They make one now with pretzel type crust on the outside - ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756/31 "2012-07-30T14:21:13Z")
Green Giant Steamers. Uses a new microwave bag to steam the vegetables. Broccoli and cheese sauce is one I make regularly. Cheesy Rice & broccoli is really good too. Roasted Red potato in rosemary butter sauce. yum I used to avoid frozen vegetables. But those steamers are so good and they are fairly light calories. ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756/32 "2012-07-30T14:41:56Z")
I only look at a subset of the frozen food market but EVOL is pretty good. “Gluten Free Cafe” lemon basil chicken is very good. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756/33 "2012-07-30T15:39:24Z")
President’s Choice Smokin’ Stampede pork back ribs are the best frozen food item I have ever had. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756/34 "2012-07-30T17:26:03Z")
> [@grude](#): > > Totino’s party pizzas are horrible, even if you’re only paying a buck for one you might want to know Little Caesar’s takeaway is superior!(and that is saying a lot). Sacrilege! I’ll agree that they’re not good PIZZA, but as a highly-processed pizza-like food, it’s GREAT, in much the same manner as the pizza rolls you like. I like to cook my Totino’s pizza right on the rack so that the crust gets crispy, and until the cheese gets nice and brown. The sauce could maybe be more tart, but I like it as is just fine. Now a Tony’s pizza, that’s a black hole of suck. ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756/35 "2012-07-30T17:36:46Z")
I have very fond memories of Swanson’s pot pies (chicken or turkey) as a kid. Nothing modern seems to live up to it, even the aforementioned Marie Callendar’s. Is it an oven vs. microwave deal perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756/36 "2012-07-30T17:40:39Z")
I LOVE [Cendarlane Burrito Grande with Salsa Roja](http://www.cedarlanefoods.com/grande-burrito-with-salsa-roja). If I remember correctly they’re only 220 calories. Unfortunately they’re over $5, so I don’t buy them unless they’re on super sale. But for a long time they had them for $2.50 at the discount grocery store next door to me and I bought them all the time. I haven’t seen them there though in about a year ☹ ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756/37 "2012-07-30T17:45:20Z")
On-Cor (yeah, that’s how it’s spelled) makes a pretty good frozen lasagna. And cheap, too! Only about $3.25 for a 28 ounce pan of lasagna that could serve four. ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756/38 "2012-07-30T20:44:55Z")
Vito & Nick’s frozen pizzas are almost as good as any other pizzas I know, period. Especially when cooked on a grill. They might not be available outside Chicago, though. ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756/39 "2012-07-30T21:37:43Z")
A few of the Bertolli entrees that you either bake or stir fry have tasted pretty good when they’re on sale. I find them to be at least Olive Garden quality. The lasagna roll ups and the baked chicken parm have been my faves. ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756/40 "2012-07-30T22:01:04Z")
> [@simple\_homer](#): > > Stouffers macaroni and cheese This! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756.md?page=3)