After a long day, sometimes making food hot is the best you can do. Stock your freezer full of these heat-and-eat options, from our Trader Joe’s faves to a frozen pizza you probably haven’t tried yet.
Trader Joe’s Chicken Tikka Masala
We could make this whole list out of Trader Joe’s frozen foods, but since not everyone is blessed with a TJ’s nearby, we won’t. If we were forced to choose a favorite from the frozen foods aisle, it would have to be this traditional Indian dish, composed of real roasted chicken breast, a spicy, creamy tomato-based, curry sauce, and cumin-flavored basmati rice. The only reason this frozen curry won over TJ’s four cheese mac n’ cheese is because some (obviously ignorant) people wouldn’t consider a steaming tray of elbow noodles covered in cheddar, Swiss, Havarti, and Gouda a meal.
Amy’s Mexican Casserole Bowl
Amy’s is probably one of the most legit frozen food purveyors, even though it’s all vegetarian. Their breakfast burrito, cheese enchiladas, cheese tamale verde, pad Thai, and cheese pizza are all solid choices. Amy’s Mexican Casserole Bowl is basically a burrito bowl, but since it contains masa, it’s more of a tamale bowl. In addition to the masa, black beans, sweet golden corn, olives, tomatoes, and chilies are topped with enchilada sauce and cheese for a gluten-free bowl of goodness that’s ready in five minutes. Freshen it up with a little avocado, sour cream, or cilantro. All of Amy’s frozen foods are GMO-free, organic, and vegetarian, but they have many vegan and gluten-free options as well.
Bertolli® Chicken Florentine & Farfalle
One-step prep pasta? Yes, please. Bertolli’s Chicken Florentine & Farfalle skillet meal serves two and is ready in just 12 minutes. Grilled chicken, spinach, and bow tie pasta are tossed in a creamy white wine sauce that’s made with Parmesan and Romano cheeses, onions, and garlic. Delizioso!
Stouffer’s Cheesy Garlic Lasagna with Meat Sauce
Stouffer’s frozen lasagna—revolutionary, we know. But this isn’t the classic Stouffer’s Lasagna With Meat & Sauce that moms have been shoving in the oven for decades. The cheesy garlic version comes with an extra layer of mozzarella sandwiched in between all the layers, and the beef tomato sauce has a noticeable but not overpowering garlic flavor.
Green Giant Simply Steam Rice Pilaf
Making rice pilaf is a PIA, but not with the jolly Green Giant! Pop the pouch in the microwave for lightly sauced rice, carrots, sweet peas, and mushrooms in minutes.
Blake’s Chicken Pot Pie
No offense to Marie Callender, but there’s a new chicken pot pie in town, and it’s got a flakier crust. Blake’s Chicken Pot Pie resembles homemade because its made from scratch in small batches. While the microwave will have your chicken, veggie, and gravy comfort food ready in five minutes, oven-baked is best for a flavorful golden brown crust. It takes longer, but it’s still easy as (chicken pot) pie.
Tai Pei Chicken Fried Rice
I know it sounds crazy in the era of UberEats, but I live out in the country where no one delivers. When I’m craving Chinese takeout, I just nuke up some Tai Pei Chicken Fried Rice paired with Tai Pei Pork Potstickers and rounded out with Mini Vegetable Spring Rolls. Healthy? No. Yummy? Yep!
Daily Harvest Chocolate and Blueberry Smoothie
Daily Harvest delivers all-organic smoothies, harvest bowls, flatbreads, soups, bites, oat bowls, chia bowls, and even lattes which can be prepared in fewer than five minutes. This smoothie tastes like dark chocolate covered blueberries. To prepare, simply add your preferred liquid and blend. Plans start at just $5.99 per item.
Portabella & Goat Cheese Ravioli
Pasta is a pretty safe bet when it comes to frozen foods, as is Evol, a fairly new face on the frozen food block. This brand (love spelled backwards) has a groundbreaking belief that their single serve meals, nutrition bowls, burritos, breakfast, and multi-serve meals should be made out of actual food. Their Portabella & Goat Cheese Ravioli is combined with crimini mushrooms, spinach, and a tasty creamy basil sauce.
California Pizza Kitchen BBQ Chicken Pizza
Any pizza is good, but frozen pizza really pushes the boundaries on the definition of good. CPK’s BBQ Chicken Pizza has a thin, crispy crust that you won’t find anywhere else on the freezer aisle. This pie replaces marinara with sweet and tangy BBQ sauce. I’m even a fan and I otherwise believe chicken and pizza should be two separate foods.
Schwan’s Four Cheese Penne with Prosciutto
Yes, Schwan’s is still a thing. They have just about every frozen food you can think of, including Doggie Sundaes. Schwan’s Four-Cheese Penne with Prosciutto has a creamy, cheesy sauce made up of aged Parmesan, fontina, Asiago, and Romano. It’s also where you can find a pretty good pepperoni pizza, available in both classic crust and rising.
Kellogg’s® Eggo® Nutri-Grain® Made With Whole Grain Waffles
Leggo my whole grain Eggo! Be careful because the Kellogg’s® Eggo® Nutri-Grain® Made With Whole Grain Waffle can easily be confused with the inferior low fat whole wheat version. Spread on some peanut butter and top with blueberries and you’ve got yourself a bomb ass breakfast. They’ve also just come out with a more Belgium-style Thick & Fluffy Original Waffle that you can make without getting out the waffle iron.
