Which Frozen Dinner would you recommend?

[Madelaine Amee]

Once a week I serve a frozen dinner at night instead of cooking. At the moment the only really good frozen meals I have found are Michael Angelo's, and particularly the Eggplant Parm.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a really good frozen dinner other than Angelo's.

No frozen pizza please.

Thanks

[villagetinker]

We like several of the Stauffers frozen lasagna, we buy the family size and cut in half, cooks in 30 minutes in the microwave. Several of the other stauffer meals are also good for a quick meal.

[tomwed]

Margarita?

[Madelaine Amee]

We like several of the Stauffers frozen lasagna, we buy the family size and cut in half, cooks in 30 minutes in the microwave. Several of the other stauffer meals are also good for a quick meal.

If you cut them through the middle when they are frozen, do you keep the original cooking tray and use it again or do you transfer it to a dish and just cover.

I buy the family size Michael Angelo's and cook it in the oven, serve it the first night and then microwave the other half another night. I find that oven cooking really does give you the best results. Do you find a difference?

[tomwed]

There is brand of chicken pot pie that I like. It comes in a yellow and white square box and not frozen in the store.
Someone will remember the name.

It's usually in the area where they sell chicken. The crust is just right and it's good comfort food.

[Madelaine Amee]

Margarita?

Tom, what is Margarita, I have not seen that one? Oh, duh, too early in the morning for me to catch on - not nice!!!!!!

[manaboutown]

Trader Joe's chicken pot pie. I keep a few in the freezer. The mix is just right for me. They contain a lot of good quality chicken, peas, carrots and chunks of potato. Nice crust and not too much of it. Creamy sauce, some spices. $3.95.
trader joe's chicken pot pie - Google Search (https://www.google.com/search?q=trader+joe%27s+chicken+pot+pie&client=safari&rls=en&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=Nmawl2ewAQ_hTM%253A%252C_aSxJa_YkWFzOM%252C_&usg=__pH8VJy4hQNf765P-3gxE06SdorM%3D&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwijx9uAjb_bAhVK1IMKHV9SBTsQ9QEILDAA#imgr c=Nmawl2ewAQ_hTM:)

Lose weight & improve your health with a real food diet | Fooducate (https://www.fooducate.com/app#!page=product&id=C091A3BC-3CC5-11E0-A55F-1231380C180E)

[graciegirl]

We like Stouffer's Grandma's Chicken Rice bake, Vegetarian Lasagna and love the side, "Harvest Apples". I always bake in conventional oven.


Here's a link to many of their casseroles;

Grandma's Chicken & Vegetable Rice Bake | Classics Frozen Meals | Stouffer's (https://www.stouffers.com/our-dishes/classics/family/grandmas-chicken-vegetable-rice-bake)

[CFrance]

Tom, what is Margarita, I have not seen that one? Oh, duh, too early in the morning for me to catch on - not nice!!!!!!
But only the frozen ones, Madeleine!


My husband likes many of the Marie Callender (sp?) individual dinners. They have too many calories for me, but they smell good. I think he particularly likes the Swedish meatballs.

[villagetinker]

If you cut them through the middle when they are frozen, do you keep the original cooking tray and use it again or do you transfer it to a dish and just cover.

I buy the family size Michael Angelo's and cook it in the oven, serve it the first night and then microwave the other half another night. I find that oven cooking really does give you the best results. Do you find a difference?

We cook the entire lasagna and cut after cooking. I tried cutting once when frozen, did not work well.

[Nucky]

Encore Salisbury Steak. The search for the perfect meal is over. Here it is.

[tomwed]

Encore Salisbury Steak. The search for the perfect meal is over. Here it is.That does sound good. Does it come with 2 sides or is it just meat and gravy?

[tomwed]

I found the chicken pot pie I could not remember.

Mrs. Budd's all white meat chicken pot pie. It's been awhile but I bought it at Winn Dixie.

[i can't find it locally anywhere.]

[photo1902]

We cook the entire lasagna and cut after cooking. I tried cutting once when frozen, did not work well.

I've got a table saw you could borrow :)

[John_W]

Hormel Beef Roast Au Jus we've been buying for at least 10 years. We'll have it on Sunday about once a month. It's not frozen but in the refrigerated section. No knife is needed, it is so tender you just use your fork and the gravy is perfect with a side of Bob Evans Mashed Potatoes. $5.95 at Walmart, $7.95 at Publix. Serves two people easily, we actually have a second smaller meal.

http://www.hormel.com/getattachment/e137fb92-4655-4161-b8e7-eb617a408c38/HORMEL-Slow-Simmered-Beef-Roast-Au-Jus.aspx

[My Daily Run]

Willow Tree Chicken Pie is awesome...no veggies in it just chicken...I serve it with potato and a side of veggies...the crust is delicious.

[Madelaine Amee]

Willow Tree Chicken Pie is awesome...no veggies in it just chicken...I serve it with potato and a side of veggies...the crust is delicious.

I absolutely love Chicken Pot Pie and used to make my own before I got lazy ............ I looked up Willow Tree and found it is a Massachusetts company - yeah I'm from Mass, so all is good, then I found it is sold at Publix - even more good.

Thanks for the info. Gosh I am so hungry now ..............

Another rainy day, but some great helpful information on frozen foods .......... thanks guys!

[EPutnam1863]

:agree:We like several of the Stauffers frozen lasagna, we buy the family size and cut in half, cooks in 30 minutes in the microwave. Several of the other stauffer meals are also good for a quick meal.:agree::agree::agree:

[EPutnam1863]

I found the chicken pot pie I could not remember.

Mrs. Budd's all white meat chicken pot pie. It's been awhile but I bought it at Winn Dixie.

[i can't find it locally anywhere.]

Iread somewhere that frozen chicken pot pies are loaded with calories.

I love almost all of Stouffer's Lean Cuisines.

If you serve frozen dinners to company, buy three or four and let them help themselves to small portions of each.

[villagetinker]

I've got a table saw you could borrow :)

:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl: Too funny, never thought to use the band saw.....Thanks I needed a good laugh.

[tomwed]

Iread somewhere that frozen chicken pot pies are loaded with calories.

I love almost all of Stouffer's Lean Cuisines.

If you serve frozen dinners to company, buy three or four and let them help themselves to small portions of each.
It's too bad you can't buy Mrs Budd's. Her's were never frozen at the store. It's comfort food so you know it's loaded with calories. The chicken tastes like chicken. They have a broccoli chicken pot pie too.

When I don't feel like cooking I boil up meat ravioli and add tomato sauce---what ever is on hand. [portabella mushrooms too]

[Tom C]

Ben and Jerry's - washed down with that Margarita! Don't forget the umbrella garnish! lol

[jnieman]

We don't eat many frozen meals as I like to cook. Sometimes I just don't feel like it and we have Marie Callendar's chicken pot pie. Do not cook in the microwave as all of the gravy absorbs and it isn't nearly as good. Takes about an hour in the regular oven. It's quite goood. We used to buy the Stouffer's lasagna but have become hooked on Olive Garden carryout dinners. They give you a huge salad with each dinner. It quite wonderful. They do a lot of carry out food and you can order it on line.

Another good one is Bob Evan's carry out turkey dinner. I also sometimes make a main dish and buy Bob Evan's Original mashed potatoes. They are as good as homemade. I open a bag of frozen Freshlike veggies and dinner is served.

[Madelaine Amee]

We don't eat many frozen meals as I like to cook. Sometimes I just don't feel like it and we have Marie Callendar's chicken pot pie. Do not cook in the microwave as all of the gravy absorbs and it isn't nearly as good. Takes about an hour in the regular oven. It's quite goood. We used to buy the Stouffer's lasagna but have become hooked on Olive Garden carryout dinners. They give you a huge salad with each dinner. It quite wonderful. They do a lot of carry out food and you can order it on line.

Another good one is Bob Evan's carry out turkey dinner. I also sometimes make a main dish and buy Bob Evan's Original mashed potatoes. They are as good as homemade. I open a bag of frozen Freshlike veggies and dinner is served.

Great idea on the carry out meals, thanks. I do Koyame meals and their hot and sour soup sometimes for lunch if I am that way, but I did not think of take out for supper.

[Madelaine Amee]

I found the chicken pot pie I could not remember.

Mrs. Budd's all white meat chicken pot pie. It's been awhile but I bought it at Winn Dixie.

[i can't find it locally anywhere.]

Tom, this link Where to Buy — Mrs. Budd's Chicken Pies (http://www.mrsbudds.com/where-to-buy) says their products are in WalMart stores!

[Shimpy]

Lean Cuisine Sesame Stir Fry with Chicken

[ColdNoMore]

I found the chicken pot pie I could not remember.

Mrs. Budd's all white meat chicken pot pie. It's been awhile but I bought it at Winn Dixie.

[i can't find it locally anywhere.]

I absolutely love Chicken Pot Pie and used to make my own before I got lazy ............ I looked up Willow Tree and found it is a Massachusetts company - yeah I'm from Mass, so all is good, then I found it is sold at Publix - even more good.

Thanks for the info. Gosh I am so hungry now ..............

Another rainy day, but some great helpful information on frozen foods .......... thanks guys!

Try Marie Callender's pot pies (chicken & turkey)...they're delicious! :icon_hungry:

Publix carries them (10 & 16 OZ) and they even get a nice crispy crust...when nuked per instructions. :thumbup:

[John_W]

In my earlier post I mentioned the Hormel Roast, which is not frozen but refrigerated. In the frozen section I discovered these when the new Walmart neighborhood store opened. I love stir-fry with rice and beef and for only $2.50 at Walmart, $3.25 at Publix, these can't be beat. Heat 4 minutes in the microwave, peel back and stir, heat 2 minutes. It's delicious and I've eaten about 25 of these. I probably shouldn't tell anyone since a couple of times Walmart was out. I have two in the frig right now, I think I going to eat one.

https://www.mariecallendersmeals.com/sites/g/files/qyyrlu306/files/images/products/mongolian-style-beef-98623.png

[jnieman]

Try Marie Callender's pot pies (chicken & turkey)...they're delicious! :icon_hungry:

Publix carries them (10 & 16 OZ) and they even get a nice crispy crust...when nuked per instructions. :thumbup:

They taste way better when you bake them in the oven. Have tried both ways and the gravy gets dried up when you nuke it.

[Rapscallion St Croix]

https://s3.amazonaws.com/foodservicedirect.com/productimages/OTF365659S.jpg...

[ColdNoMore]

They taste way better when you bake them in the oven. Have tried both ways and the gravy gets dried up when you nuke it.

I saw your post on that, but when I'm going frozen I'm usually in a hurry (I'm one of those that get 'hangry' when I wait too long to eat) and the fact that I think they still taste pretty darned good even nuked...I like only waiting for 10 minutes for even the 16oz size.

BUT, I'll give the oven a shot one of these days...to see if maybe I need to 'plan' my time a little better. :thumbup:

[vinricci]

Check out the ingredients labels . Some of the Marie Callender’s frozen meal have very high sodium levels.

[jnieman]

I saw your post on that, but when I'm going frozen I'm usually in a hurry (I'm one of those that get 'hangry' when I wait too long to eat) and the fact that I think they still taste pretty darned good even nuked...I like only waiting for 10 minutes for even the 16oz size.

BUT, I'll give the oven a shot one of these days...to see if maybe I need to 'plan' my time a little better. :thumbup:

Yes I agree you have to plan a little ahead of time but for me well worth it.

[CFrance]

We like Stouffer's Grandma's Chicken Rice bake, Vegetarian Lasagna and love the side, "Harvest Apples". I always bake in conventional oven.


Here's a link to many of their casseroles;

Grandma's Chicken & Vegetable Rice Bake | Classics Frozen Meals | Stouffer's (https://www.stouffers.com/our-dishes/classics/family/grandmas-chicken-vegetable-rice-bake)
That's a nice site, and I learned something new--they are pretty good from a calorie to fat to sugar ratio. I ran them through the WW calculator (SmartPoints, not Freestyle), and they are 8, 10, & 11 points. Curiously, the selections with pasta were the lowest. Not bad for a main course.

[Carla B]

We love Amy's frozen cheese enchiladas. They come with just the enchiladas in a box or with rice and beans. We usually have homemade guacamole on hand to supplement.

[2BNTV]

Another option would be to buy a ready cooked oven roasted chicken at Sam's for $5 and buy a couple of sides.

Just warm the sides in the microwave.

[Madelaine Amee]

Another option would be to buy a ready cooked oven roasted chicken at Sam's for $5 and buy a couple of sides.

Just warm the sides in the microwave.

You are so right, their cooked chicken for $4.99 is the best value, we get two meals and two sandwiches out of one chicken.