The Best Frozen Pasta Meals That Taste Like Restaurant Dishes, Ranked
Nothing beats a beautifully cooked plate of pasta from your favorite restaurant, but with dining out being so expensive these days, it can be hard to justify the cost. Frozen meals are a great option for nights when you don't want to cook or go out, but frozen pasta has notoriously been awful in the past—gloopy, mushy, packed with an insane amount of sodium, and just not very tasty at all. These days there are so many decent options available, you might even choose the frozen option over fresh. But which are the best? I analyzed comments and recommendations on social media (especially on r/frozendinners) to see which frozen pastas customers rave about the most. While individual tastes differ, there is general consensus on which items are delicious and satisfying, with good texture, ingredients, and value for money. Here are 6 of the best frozen pasta meals that give restaurant dishes a run for their money, ranked from least best to "love".
Stouffer's Tuna Noodle Casserole
The Stouffer's Tuna Noodle Casserole is (to me, anyway) a surprising addition to this list but customers genuinely love this creamy frozen casserole. "This is a dead-ringer for my mom's so it really does taste like homemade," one Redditor shared. "Definitely buying again, 9/10. Add some seasoning to your liking and it's delicious. If ur a big tuna fan I highly recommend," another fan said. "Frozen tuna casserole is a (not-so) guilty pleasure of mine it feels so wrong but tastes so right," another admitted.
Healthy Choice Simply Steamers Meatball Marinara
The Healthy Choice Simply Steamers Meatball Marinara is a hit with fans who appreciate the 18g of protein, lower sodium, and 280 calorie-count. "I really liked the marinara, not too acidic or sweet, but more fresh tasting," one shopper shared. "The meatballs were OK, the texture is a bit dense, but the flavor wasn't too bad. The pasta came out with an al dente chew to it, which was great. All too often these frozen meals have pasta that is total mush. The spinach and tomatoes added nice flavor and texture. I added a sprinkle of parmesan to the top, as it was little bit bland, and the parmesan added a lot. I will probably get this again, as it's makes for a nice lunch, along with a piece of fruit or small side salad."
Devour Chicken Cordon Bleu Mac & Cheese
Customers love the Devour Chicken Cordon Bleu Mac & Cheese for taste, texture, and quality. "This is delicious. The texture of the chicken is impressive for white meat in a frozen meal and the ham tastes so good. The cheese sauce is great as well and everything just ties together amazingly. This puts to shame every other frozen mac and cheese I've tried, which isn't many lol, but still," one Redditor said. "This is simply one of the best tasting frozen meals ever. It's kinda small, but everything just tastes so good. The chicken is ACTUAL CHICKEN," another raved.
Amy's Broccoli & Cheddar Bake
Coming in at number 3, Amy's Broccoli & Cheddar Bake is a solid favorite with shoppers who appreciate the meal (if not the price tag). "One of the better frozen mac & cheeses we've had. There are oven directions (40 min.) but it's actually better microwaved. Wouldn't even know it's gluten free if it didn't say so on the box," one Redditor shared. "This is probably the best frozen dinner i've ever gotten, but it's soooo expensive đź« ," another said. "I love how the crumbles didn't melt into the mac&cheese right away! the perks of no soupy mac is literally the best- it's so worth the money," a third raved.
Evol Portabella & Goat Cheese Ravioli
The Evol Portabella & Goat Cheese Ravioli is a big hit with fans who love the taste and overall quality of the pasta—plus the non-iffy texture, which can be hard to perfect with frozen pasta. "I've already added another to my order because this was amazing. All the textures were there, sauce was light and fresh, filling had a good goat cheese flavor, mushrooms were delicious, the toppings weren't mushy. My only complaint is that some of the raviolis could've used more filling. For under $4, it feels a lil fancy and is cheaper than something like Amy's," one very happy customer said. "I'll have to try this. I love their truffle Parmesan Mac n cheese. It's the only one I've ever had and it's so good," another added.
Zatarain's Blackened Chicken Alfredo
And we have a winner! The Zatarain's Blackened Chicken Alfredo is a "10/10" and frequently comes up in lists and recommendations for a thoroughly decent, solid frozen pasta option that tastes spicy and delicious. "This is maybe the best frozen dinner I've ever had. Throw in some frozen broccoli and you've got a well rounded meal that is delicious and filling," one fan recommended. "Really good overall! The sauce was flavorful and the chicken was tender. One of the best frozen pasta dishes I've had! I just wish the serving size was a little bigger. Next time I'll make some extra pasta since there was a lot of sauce left over," one Redditor shared. "I love these, Sam's Club occasionally carries a two-pack of the family size," another said.
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