# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![medstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@medstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medstar)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756/41 "2012-07-30T23:04:57Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > I absolutely love Swanson’s fried chicken. I wish they just sold boxes of the chicken (or do they?). My mom always said that she wanted to be buried with a box of Banquet fried chicken in her coffin. I think one of us kids told her he would put the empty box in the coffin as she’d be in no condition to protest. Mom told him she would haunt him forever if he did that.😃 ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756/42 "2012-07-30T23:20:51Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > Heathy choice frozen dinners are way overpriced and generally gross. (Their breakfast offerings aren’t bad though) ??? They run about $2 at the Target–the same as Lean Cuisines and Weight Watchers. I usually just stock up on Lean Cuisines or Weight Watchers. Target usually sells several varieties of one or the other for $1.89 or less each. With sales and coupons, I’ve gotten them down to $1.09 each. (Combing a $3 off when you buy 10 coupon, with a Target promotion of buy 10, get a $5 gift card.) Not bad for a frozen dinner that I enjoy. ---
**Author:** ![Rhaegar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/51bf81/32.png) [@Rhaegar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhaegar)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756/43 "2012-07-30T23:28:10Z")
Don’t even bring up Tortino’s with me. When I was a kid, my parents would heat up a Tortino’s pizza for us whenever they went out to a party and we would have to scarf down that horrible cardboard tasting concoction. It took me years to get over it and be able to eat pizza again. ---
**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 31, 2012, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756/44 "2012-07-31T00:13:10Z")
Red Barons - I like their 4 cheese pizza. Good value for about $3. Best crust I found for a frozen pizza. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2012, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756/45 "2012-07-31T00:34:26Z")
I recently discovered Amy’s vegetable pot pie and broccoli pot pie. The former is the healthier of the two, but the latter is more delicious. However, they are both good. Her shepherd’s pie, however, is yuck. ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2012, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756/46 "2012-07-31T00:47:09Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I loved Mexican TV dinners when I was a kid. There was no other way to get something remotely resembling Mexican food. They were and still are pretty awful, but nostalgia tempers that somewhat. > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > El Charrito Grande Saltillo Enchilada Dinner I LOVE El Charrito Enchilada Dinners! Very affordable at $2.16 each. ---
**Author:** ![Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swords_to_Plowshares)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2012, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756/47 "2012-07-31T00:54:15Z")
Marie Calendar’s pot pies are quite tasty (you have to bake them for full effect though). Uncle Ben’s used to make these great rice bowls - there was a spicy teriyaki chicken one (or was it Thai?) that was my favorite frozen food, but they discontinued them. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2012, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756/48 "2012-07-31T01:02:06Z")
VIA ROMA As a divorced bachelor who doesn’t cook, I constantly search for good frozen dinners. One day at the freezer section at Pathmark, I noticed some boxes with pictures of not-so-attractive people on them. I wondered why a company would put such photos on food that it’s trying to sell. So I picked up the Cavatelli with Broccoli Rabe. Tremendous! The next time I grabbed the Cheese Ravioli. Spectacular! Only slightly distinguishable from a quality Italian restaurant. Besides the taste being outstanding, all of their dishes heat up in exactly 5 minutes and cost $4. ---
**Author:** ![oreally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7ab992/32.png) [@oreally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oreally)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2012, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756/49 "2012-07-31T02:01:28Z")
For pizza, there’s DiGiorgnios (sp) then the rest. Love the spicy chicken and the spinach/mushroom one, though they’re hard to find now because they’re pushing these stupid “free breadsticks/cookes” bit. gag. And they’re almost all pepperoni with whatever. I think I had California’s once and it was OK. Most of the rest is pretty nasty IMO. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2012, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756/50 "2012-07-31T02:28:22Z")
The frozen pizzas I like are Home Run Inn and Palermo’s ultra thin crust. CPK’s offerings aren’t that bad, either. I’ve never been a big fan of DiGiorno’s, but it seems like a lot of people like it. The types I’ve had (rising crust, I think) have been too doughy for my tastes. Maybe there’s less doughy versions that I’d like. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2012, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756/51 "2012-07-31T02:47:04Z")
I’m a mystery meat and gravy fan. Therefore, I find Banquet Salisbury Steak or Meatloaf dinners (the ones that cost about a dollar at Walmart) quite delicious. Can’t eat 'em any more as I’m now on a low-salt diet. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2012, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756/52 "2012-07-31T15:01:26Z")
The Lean Cuisine raviolis are really good. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2012, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756/53 "2012-07-31T18:10:56Z")
I like the Hungry Man frozen dinners. The fried chicken one. I could eat that every day. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756/54 "2012-08-01T17:13:54Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > I just love Lean Cuisine. … My new favorite is the Thai-style chicken spring roles, very spicy and tasty… > [@aceplace57](#): > > Green Giant Steamers. … 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. Both of these are in our freezer and will probably be tried out before the end of the week. I’ll try to remember to post back - thanks for the recommendations! (And yeah, frozen veggies - and frozen foods in general - are waaaa-hhhhaaaaaay better than they used to be.) ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756/55 "2012-08-01T17:17:02Z")
Trader Joe’s frozen italian pizzas are pretty good…but boy, they are getting expensive. They used to be $3.45, now pushing $4.75. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756/56 "2012-08-01T22:28:55Z")
So far, the little Lean Cuisine spring rolls get a thumbs-up. I paid $2.50 (marked down from three bucks) and I think that’s OK for 6 small but tasty rolls. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2012, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756/57 "2012-08-02T02:33:47Z")
As a young bachelor, I used to really like the Hungry Man series. My roommate and I always referred to them as Hungry Fuckers. ---
**Author:** ![PeriDoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b487fb/32.png) [@PeriDoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PeriDoe)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756/58 "2012-08-04T03:13:32Z")
Another vote for Amy’s. I like everything I’ve tried from them. ---
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756/59 "2012-08-04T03:58:05Z")
Seconding MichaelAngelos, all pretty good, and Amys for the most part. Stouffers mac & cheese is awesome. Side note, when my husband had cancer, and I despaired keeping his weight up, the hosp. recommended Marie Callendars. They said there was no way I could ever get as much fat, sugar and salt into homemade as they have. And true, the labels scared me. He ate them happily. I still shudder to see them. And odd one, that I’ve only seen at WalMart is Crystal Farm’s Chef Choice 3 cheese omelets. Really not bad, nuke and eat. Great for a pre-work brekkies in a hurry. ---
**Author:** ![Leiko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Leiko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leiko)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756/60 "2012-08-04T04:34:12Z")
College me (my drunkeness and a stress dream last night about forgetting to go to class has brought college thoughts back up) would like to tell you that any of the vegan Amy’s frozen burritos taste AMAZING if you coat them with cream cheese. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-dinners-and-frozen-foods-that-are-really-good/629756.md?page=4)