# What's your favorite frozen dinner? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 4, 2002, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-frozen-dinner/126907 "2002-09-04T02:25:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2002, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-frozen-dinner/126907/1 "2002-09-04T02:25:07Z")
Yes, they are expensive, and have enough sodium to give a moose high blood pressure, but when you’re a college student who keeps weird hours, they are indispensable. I’m talking about TV dinners. What’s your faves? I’ll nominate: Stouffer’s. Orange box goodness. Turkey and stuffing, and chicken alfredo is good. I also love their lasagna and the BBQ chicken with the cheese and bacon potatoes. Swanson. Boneless fried chicken is a massive improvement. I hated how the bones used to get in the way of the chicken. The Hungry-Man version with two pieces is even better. They also have two new ones, buffalo chicken strips and “mexican fiesta” that are pretty tasty. I found the Boston Market frozen stuff very lacking. I guess nothing can compare to the real thing, but their frozen stuff is very expensive and not all that tasty. Plus they are marketed as parts of a meal for several rather than individual servings, so they aren’t very good for one. So what are your favorites? A store or regional brand you can only find in certain places? A national dish your late or busy nights aren’t complete without? ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2002, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-frozen-dinner/126907/2 "2002-09-04T03:05:18Z")
I second the Stouffer’s lasagna. Especially the “larger” size. I do like the Boston Market half (or quarter?) chicken and mashed potatoes and gravy, but they really should add a vegetable. It is expensive though, something like $4.50 a box. And what single person is going to buy just a side-dish? Also, I really like the Marie Callender’s country fried chicken. Breaded chicken breast, gravy, mashed potatoes and actual corn-on-the-cob. Yum. The separate gravy packet almost makes it too much work though. ---
**Author:** ![kevja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@kevja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevja)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2002, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-frozen-dinner/126907/3 "2002-09-04T03:09:24Z")
Maria Callandars Country Fried Steak, Chicken Cordonblue,T he pork chop dinner, and the Chicken Parmasian are all good. They are a little bit expensive, but Cala Market puts them on sale 2 for $5.00, regular $4.69 each. I imagine most stores in other areas have them on sale all the time too. But as stated before in the this thread, you can’t compare these products to a dinner at a nice restaurant. But for what they are, and if you’re not too particular, they ain’t half bad. ---
**Author:** ![jane\_says](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@jane\_says](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jane_says)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2002, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-frozen-dinner/126907/4 "2002-09-04T03:35:53Z")
Another vote for the Marie Callender’s country fried chicken. I used to take those with me all the time to work if I was going to be late. Also Stouffer’s stuffed green peppers aren’t bad, although I usually just eat the guts and throw away the pepper shell. ---
**Author:** ![Flymaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c4cdca/32.png) [@Flymaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flymaster)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2002, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-frozen-dinner/126907/5 "2002-09-04T03:38:12Z")
I like the fried chicken Hungry Man, but the best is just 6 White Castle burgers. Not sure if that actually counts as a dinner. ---
**Author:** ![Turbo\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@Turbo\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turbo_Dog)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2002, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-frozen-dinner/126907/6 "2002-09-04T11:55:31Z")
Marie Callenders chicken is pretty good, but nothing compared to the Pot Pies. I love those things. I also love Banquet fried chicken. No meal thing, just a box of crisp chicken. And Tina’s burritos. Those are the only cheap burritos that I can eat. I especially love it when they go on sale for 4 for a buck. I did the frozen White Castles the other day for lunch. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2002, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-frozen-dinner/126907/7 "2002-09-04T12:53:00Z")
Budget Gourmet Pepper Steak. Budget Gourmet Swedish Meatballs. Major YUM. I also love the Hungry Man Fried Chicken dinners. Oh - and President’s Choice (this is the in house Jewel Brand) frozen Macaroni and Cheese - man, it’s the absolute best mac and cheese I’ve ever had. I used to be able to get Chicken Ala King (can’t remember the brand - Swanson, maybe? It was Blue and White anyway) from Cub Foods too, but that’s been a long time ago and I can’t find it anywhere anymore. Sigh. I miss Chicken Ala King… ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2002, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-frozen-dinner/126907/8 "2002-09-04T16:06:14Z")
stouffer’s three bean chili ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2002, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-frozen-dinner/126907/9 "2002-09-04T16:25:43Z")
Anything made by Amy’s. I usually find them in the health food section. I’m not a health food nut. I eat them because they taste great. My only “beef” with them is that they are all vegetarian. But don’t let that stop you carnivores from trying them out. They’re quite tasty. ---
**Author:** ![Rug\_Burn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a87d85/32.png) [@Rug\_Burn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rug_Burn)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2002, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-frozen-dinner/126907/10 "2002-09-04T17:22:11Z")
I’ve gotta 2nd the Marie Callender’s pot pies- golden flaky goodness those are. But, damn they take a long time to cook. ---
**Author:** ![lauramarlane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a5b964/32.png) [@lauramarlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lauramarlane)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2002, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-frozen-dinner/126907/11 "2002-09-04T17:52:08Z")
Bird’s Eye (I’m pretty sure it’s them) does these vegie dishes that are cheap (about $1.50 per) and pretty good. I usually grab one of them for lunch at work–the golden corn blend with carrots and broccoli is low cal, too. Stouffer’s vegie lasagna is really good, but I can never find the individual serving size, just the honking big family one. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2002, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-frozen-dinner/126907/12 "2002-09-04T22:01:40Z")
I like Michelina’s—Chicken Fettucine and Beef stroganoff are good. On sale for 98 cents each. It takes two to be full though… Budget Gourmet’s Sirloin something or other is pretty good - sliced beef with peas and noodles. ---
**Author:** ![scott\_evil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@scott\_evil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scott_evil)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2002, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-frozen-dinner/126907/13 "2002-09-05T00:15:01Z")
Stouffer’s Pastaria spaghetti bolognese and rigatoni pomodoro. Up here we have a grocery chain called Loblaw’s that has its own line, President’s Choice. In most cases, PC stuff is better than brand name, and that applies to their frozen dinners as well. I eat them (and Stouffer’s) for lunch just about every day. Their meat lasagna with three cheeses, three-cheese canneloni, “Too Good To Be True” (low fat) spaghetti bolognese… All excellent. I find, though, I have to let the PC dinners defrost overnight in my insulated lunch bag, otherwise they take forever to heat up the next day, and unevenly at that. ---
**Author:** ![Lyra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Lyra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lyra)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2002, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-frozen-dinner/126907/14 "2002-09-05T03:30:17Z")
I love Lean Cuisine, chicken lasagna, shrimp marinara, and macaroni and cheese. Also, Healthy Choice, supreme french bread pizza and chicken alfredo. I eat frozen dinners alot, because I have chosen to boycott our work cafeteria. ---
**Author:** ![im2evil4u](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5ac83/32.png) [@im2evil4u](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/im2evil4u)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2002, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-frozen-dinner/126907/15 "2002-09-05T04:03:19Z")
Stouffer’s Delux French Bread Pizza or Stouffer’s Creamed Chipped Beef (or as dad calls it, S\*\*t ON A SHINGLE) ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2002, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-frozen-dinner/126907/16 "2002-09-05T04:42:01Z")
Yep, **scott evil** , President’s Choice rules. I like their steak pot pie- it has a nice red wine sauce and pearl onions. The chicken one’s pretty good, too. T heir desserts constitute a fine dinner as well- Mud Pie or chocolate eclairs, anyone? ---
**Author:** ![barking\_frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@barking\_frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barking_frog)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2002, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-frozen-dinner/126907/17 "2002-09-05T04:58:09Z")
Damn, you guys are making me hungry. I just moved into my dorm last saturday and I’m already in want of a microwave – it’s almost one in the morning and there’s nothing fast/take out within at least a twenty minute walk. There’s a kitchenette here (with a stove/oven and fridge) but I haven’t learned to cook yet. Yeah, it’s pathetic, I know. Anyways, my favourite TV dinners back home were the Stouffer’s (I think that’s the brand) Chicken Alfredo that came in a bag and the Swanson turkey and deep fried chicken. Excuse me while I go back to eating my kid-sized fruit snacks. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2002, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-frozen-dinner/126907/18 "2002-09-05T14:24:50Z")
for Gods sake, Marie Callendars has almost 2,000 miligrams of sodium in some of the dinners. I’d say for easy to find ones, it’d be Stouffers. My favorite is Linda McCartney’s dinners, which are hard to find here. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2002, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-frozen-dinner/126907/19 "2002-09-05T17:07:32Z")
Stouffer’s only. I eat frozen dinners to remain on a food plan with restricted portions, and as long as it is between 10 and 12 ounces, great. Lunch: Corn souffle, spinach souffle, cheddar potato with bacon, potatoes au gratin Dinner: lasagna (meat or veggie), chicken and stuffing bake, chicken parm with noodles, chicken and broccoli alfredo, swedish meatballs I’ve always had nice low blood pressure and it hasn’t been adversely affected by the megasalt Stouffer’s. ---
**Author:** ![scott\_evil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@scott\_evil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scott_evil)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2002, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-frozen-dinner/126907/20 "2002-09-05T19:52:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ian Fan \* > \*\*Anyways, my favourite TV dinners back home were the Stouffer’s (I think that’s the brand) Chicken Alfredo that came in a bag \ \*\* Stouffer’s Skillet & Oven Sensations! Fantastic! When I make the chicken teriyaki, I often add extra cooked rice and dump in some teriyaki sauce. I also like the chicken alfredo, some broccoli-cheese-rice bake, and the pot roast. Damn, y’all are making me hungry, and all we have here are chips and chocolate bars… I’m not big on either. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-frozen-dinner/126907.md?page=2)