# What are some of the fastest TV dinners to cook? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [January 10, 2025, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-the-fastest-tv-dinners-to-cook/1012810 "2025-01-10T17:38:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2025, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-the-fastest-tv-dinners-to-cook/1012810/1 "2025-01-10T17:38:04Z")
My job has only 15 minute break/30 minute lunch and only a single microwave for an average of 10 people per break/lunch. So I need something I can warm up in less than 5 minutes if I get there first. Anybody eat enough TV dinners to know which ones are best? Most Hungry Man or “high end” TV dinners all take on average 6 - 8 minutes which is far too long. Also looking for “full” meals and not just those microwave chicken nuggets that Banquet has. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2025, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-the-fastest-tv-dinners-to-cook/1012810/2 "2025-01-10T17:42:07Z")
My wife is a big fan of Tasty Bites Indian quick-cook foods. This one is her favorite: > **[Spinach & Paneer – 6 Pack](https://tastybite.com/products/spinach-paneer)** > > Like the silk that the region is known for, our Spinach & Paneer is smooth and luxurious in both texture and flavor. Ready in 90-seconds. Gluten-Free & Vegetarian. If you note the cooking instructions it’s one minute. And if you buy their rice packets as well, it’s absolutely a full meal. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2025, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-the-fastest-tv-dinners-to-cook/1012810/3 "2025-01-10T17:42:35Z")
Instant ramen is pretty fast. Might not be good for you but it is tasty. You can also usually nuke a 7-Eleven burrito in three minutes (give or take). These things will fill you up and are easy but really should not be a major part of your diet. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2025, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-the-fastest-tv-dinners-to-cook/1012810/4 "2025-01-10T17:42:45Z")
Make a bologna sandwich. 0 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2025, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-the-fastest-tv-dinners-to-cook/1012810/5 "2025-01-10T18:07:50Z")
[Cafe Spice Chicken Tikka Masala](https://cafespice.com/meal/indian/chicken-tikka-masala/) Takes 5 minutes or less in the wave. This one is very good. They have some other dishes that I assume someone must like because they keep selling them. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@salinqmind1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind1)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2025, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-the-fastest-tv-dinners-to-cook/1012810/6 "2025-01-10T18:11:24Z")
OMG. Indian food in an office microwave??? 😳 😲 😖 ☠ ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2025, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-the-fastest-tv-dinners-to-cook/1012810/7 "2025-01-10T18:12:38Z")
It’s all sealed up. Won’t stink up the place. Nice big chunks of chicken, tasty sauce. The rice comes out pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2025, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-the-fastest-tv-dinners-to-cook/1012810/8 "2025-01-10T18:16:25Z")
Any food cooked in the microwave is going to contribute to odors - which ones you find stinky or overwhelming are gonna be pretty culturally enforced and hard to enforce fairly. And I for one would find the aromas of most Indian food better than a lot of the aerosolized fat coming off a lot of HungryMan or Banquet meals. But again, it’s a hugely varied realm of sensitivity when it comes to smells in general. The OP’s requirements were about speed and being substantial though. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2025, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-the-fastest-tv-dinners-to-cook/1012810/9 "2025-01-10T18:26:39Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > You can also usually nuke a 7-Eleven burrito in three minutes (give or take). My grocery store carries a wide variety of different kinds of individually wrapped frozen burritos. They only take a minute or two each to nuke. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2025, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-the-fastest-tv-dinners-to-cook/1012810/10 "2025-01-10T18:34:11Z")
All the Healthy Choice steamer type meals are 5 minutes or less. Actually pretty healthy and lower calorie also. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2025, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-the-fastest-tv-dinners-to-cook/1012810/11 "2025-01-10T18:35:07Z")
Most Hot Pockets nuke in 90 seconds (and they no longer use the cardboard sleeves). Similar to **TriPolar** ’s suggestion but in yummy bread, [Chicken Tikka Masala Naanwiches](https://store.sukhis.com/products/chicken-tikka-masala-naanwich) also take just 90 seconds. Hormel Compleats are shelf-stable and take just 1 minute (I’m a fan of the Beef Pot Roast).