what is your go-to frozen food/meal?

frozen food is getting better and better.

I love Daiya gluten-free, dairy-free pizza.

Trader Joe's Paneer Tikka Masala. Or Chicken Tikka Masala.

R2 so pizza with no crust or cheese? Oh wait, fake crust and fake cheese. Got it.

Don't shoot me. I like quality frozen fish entrees, as well as good old fish sticks. Look for real fillet, not reconstituted, a fish you know, Pacific wild caught. Probably has a terrible carbon footprint but the good stuff tastes fresh and is well priced. Better than fresh fish in the middle of Europe and much cheaper than fish restaurants.

[quote]so pizza with no crust or cheese? Oh wait, fake crust and fake cheese. Got it.

Sure, kween.

R4, YTF.

Most anything frozen from Trader Joe’s

Chicken Melts (Oh the shame!)

Puddle water. Bark.

Stouffer's lasagna or french bread pizza.

The more interesting frozen entrees I’ve had: Cod Provençal from Trader Joe’s, Yaya’s Garden Greek Pastitsio, Amy’s Veggie Lasagna, and those meatless chicken tenders in the small bag.

Safeway's own brand of frozen pizza with rising crust, the 4 (or 5?) cheese variety, is quite good. I bake it & then add canned anchovies on top -- a single pizza makes 4 servings for me & extra slices freeze well for reheating later. Not a gourmet meal but tasty & filling.

Ok, besides the TJ Tikka Masala listed above, I also love DiGiornio (Cheese) Stuffed Crust Pizza and add marinated artichoke hearts, sweet peppers and any other vegetables I feel like adding. I eat one or two slices, then wrap the remaining pizzas individually to freeze and break out at later dates when I feel a pizza craving coming on.

I love cheese-stuffed pizza. Sweet nectar of the Gods.

I'm dubious of you folks refreezing frozen entrees that have been thawed and cooked.

Rao's pizza.

Trader Joe’s frozen spanakopita. I love it.

American Flatbread Pizza, I like the Revolution variety. Needs to thaw before baking but worth the extra time.

The entire Michael Angelo line is very good and short ingredients lists. Bake don't microwave.

Evol Truffle Parmesan Mac n Cheese

Devour Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese and White Cheddar Bacon Mac & Cheese

Bibigo Korean Steamed Pork & Vegetable Dumplings

Where’s Greg to post about his favorite frozen meal?

Ice.

Marie Callender turkey pot pies - a classic.

I don't eat them anymore. I make my own food and freeze it, BUT when I was fat and eating them often, I loved Deep Indian food Chicken Masala and their Spinach paneer.

Michael Angelo Eggplant Parmesan is great baked as noted above, but I haven't seen it anywhere for a couple months. Supply chain issues?

Stoufer lasagna

Banquet chicken pot pie - less than dollar - love the crust, plus the gravy and the two peas and one piece of chicken floating in the gravy. Carb lover's heaven.

Totino's Pizza Supreme - thin crust and perfect size for one (4 slices)

The Rao's people make pizza?

R5 I love the battered/frozen raw cod and halibut fish fillets. The ones I remember from childhood were just ok but the ones you can get now are surprisingly good.

acai smoothie op

R27 I know about Rao's sauce and soup but haven't seen the pizza.

Two that I've discovered within the last four or five months are:

Realgood's Grande Chicken Enchiladas, and

Tattooed Chef's Enchilada Bowl.

Thank you but I want nothing to do with tattoosl

Large bags of vegetable, shrimp and chicken dumplings from Asian markets or Trader Joe’s. They microwave or steam well. Dipping sauce: soy sauce, vinegar and splash of sesame oil with sliced scallions.

Chicken tikka masala, palak paneer and veg or chicken samosas

ice creams

I like to freeze Watermellon or Cantaloupe chunks during the warm hot months, tastes just like a popsicle, only better for you. Otherwise, anything Italian, I first thaw it half way or so, and cook on the stove top. :-)

I can’t stand stink. Especially when it comes from dirty pussy and rotten ass

I really would like the chance to viciously face slap everyone here who recommended Stouffer's frozen lasagne! It's DISGUSTING. It tastes like salt and something metallic. Truly awful. Can't imagine the deficit of good taste and intelligence required to recommend such flaming garbage to other people.

I was going to post the same thing, r31. I don’t know how they make this with only 240 calories and 38 grams of protein. I have been dieting, and eat one for lunch almost every day. I put spicy green salsa on top.

I'll take that meat in Aldi and Walmart's frozen aisle, pictured above. Seems to be fat free and I don't mind a bit of gristle.

This is gong to sound gross, but here it is. A couple frozen El Monterey beef and bean burritos microwaved so they are half cooked. Then I'll finish them in a non-stick skillet until the outsides are crispy and golden and the insides heated all the way through.

Move them to a plate, then in the skillet, I'll mix about 1/2 cup of jarred salsa verde with about 1/4 cup heavy cream and add a teaspoon of chicken bouillon powder. Let that cook together until it's thick and bubbly then pour over top of the burritos. Add some fresh cilantro and avocado.

Trader Joe’s palak paneer. I always have steamed rice around to add, plus some shakes of cayenne to spice it up. Also TJ’s Italian meatballs. Add some Rao’s marinara and some grated Parmesan or pecorino, with steamed vegetables on the side. Add a glass of wine, and I’m a happy camper.

Trader Joe’s spicy chicken curry is really good. They are really stingy with the chicken these days though.

the fake chick-fil-a nuggets from sam's club

and tater tots

[quote] "I don't eat them anymore. I make my own food and freeze it"

Same, R22. So that by the time I reach for something commercially frozen, it's a rare junky treat...like Totino's Combination Pizza Rolls.

My “goddamnit my afternoon was consumed by meetings and I can’t wait for delivery” go-to are the chicken tikka / paneer meals from Deep Kitchen and more recently an assortment of frozen borek off of Fresh Direct (though those can’t be microwaved).

Other than Bell & Evans chicken tenders and nuggets, and cod, I freeze my own cooking in single serving portions to enjoy as "microwave meals".

Curries, stews, bolognese, chili, and soups all freeze well. I'll freeze small portions of roasts whenever there is a gravy involved, especially brisket and chuck roasts. On a somewhat regular occasion, I do buy frozen hash browns, Tater-Tots, and Fries.

I forgot to admit we like frozen egg rolls!

Frozen vegetables and rice.

Marie Callender's Chicken Pot Pies

DiGiorno’s Supreme Rising Crust pizza

Gorton’s Beer Battered Whole Fish Fillets

El Monterey’s 8-Pack Bean and Cheese Chimichangas

I try to always have one or several of each of these in my freezer for that moment when I’m “in the mood” to go through the ritual of preparing and consuming them. Usually as some kind of reward for having a bad day or something. Sometimes they’ll sit in my freezer for months or even a year before I get around to them. Each of these I have specific ways of cooking and preparing, and many of them I add many additional ingredients to (especially the pizza). And I also have specific ways of eating them (like the pot pies). I will admit that each time I do it’s always a little disappointing (but I always eventually return). I’m convinced this is part of their psychological appeal.

Pina coladas

Banquet Salisbury steaks and Onion Rings.

Head cheese.

Except for some frozen vegetables and fruit, I don't buy any frozen food. It's so processed that it must have like zero nutrients.

Stouffer's. Just about any of them. Stuffed bell peppers, cheese and broccoli casserole, turkey and dressing.

In warm weather months I peel and freeze bananas in Tupperware, along with bags of frozen blueberries (the ones from the dollar store do just fine). I combine them in a blender with semi-sweetened soy or almond milk (vanilla) for delicious, simple smoothies. I’m addicted to them!

R58- That sounds so refreshing and healthy.

Yes, Rao's makes pizza and it's excellent. If you go to their website and enter your zip code, it will list the closest stores.

R56 Well yes, frozen vegetables are nutritious.

"A two-year study in the Journal of Food Composition and Analysis determined that the assumption that fresh produce has more nutritional value than frozen food is incorrect. In comparing nutrients of fresh, frozen and “fresh-stored” produce, the findings suggested no significant differences in assessed vitamin contents. In fact, in some situations, frozen produce proved more nutritious than “fresh-stored” produce after five days of refrigeration."

However, don't discount quality frozen entrees as well.

I love frozen vegetables. I buy mixed vegetables in a 5 pound bag because it's much cheaper per ounce and I know I will eat them. I mix in frozen broccoli. Steam it in the microwave for 6 minutes, add diced chicken, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with parmesan. Delicious, healthy, quick. Then for dessert, some frozen fruit (usually cherries, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries).

I couple of recent discoveries that are really good and I've already repurchased and will continue to repurchase:

Wow Bao Chinese BBQ Pork Bao (Walmart). 50 seconds in the microwave covered with a damp paper towel and they are delicious. I was surprised how good they turned out in the microwave. I like the BBQ Pork the best but they also have Chicken Teriyaki and Mongolian Beef. Use a small plate to microwave, not a huge dinner plate.

John Soules Southern Style Chicken Breast Sandwich and Bun (Walmart). Very good. Two sandwiches in a box with brioche bun. I air fry the chicken and microwave the bun, perfect. The chicken breast is a filet and not pressed chicken and the bun is good. They also have a spicy version but I haven't tried that one.

Jimmy Dean Sausage, Egg and Cheese Croissant. This is a breakfast sandwich but I often have it for lunch. So very good.

Frozen fish fillets.

Stay far, far away from the "Chef" frozen meals at Walmart. Gordon Ramsay, Andrew Zimmern, Kardea Brown. All vomitous garbage. Someone should scream in Gordon Ramsay's face about how bad his frozen slop is.

fish sticks

frozen North Pacific wild caught white fish filet with butter sauce, and pommes duchesse

I could never bother to make pommes duchesse and the frozen wild fish tastes good and comes in the right portion size. no waste, no mess.

Bibigo Wontons are good.

Patton Oswalt on 'lack of effort' (from 'Tragedy Plus Comedy Equals Time' 2013):

I second Stouffer's Stuffed Peppers. They taste just like my Mom made them.

SuperPretzel frozen pretzels

Motor City Detroit Style Pizza at Walmart.

bump

Canned tuna over bagged salad with a roma tomato andd DD whatever dressing is on hand.

When it’s time to splurge, I add crushed saltines.

I am tires of cheese and beef being base materials in my fast food diet.

Stouffers fish filet with mac n cheese, adding hot sauce on the fish after cooking. Pricey on its own, but I stock up on sale.

Korean mandu 🥟

Amy’s bean and cheese burrito.

Rao's is now owned by Campbells' Soup so enjoy it now before the quality inevitably tanks.

I tried a lot of Stouffer's frozen meals recently. Most of them are horrible, particularly any that have pasta. The only ones I've liked enough to buy again were the meatloaf and the turkey and stuffing, both with mashed potatoes.

I like their spaghetti and meatballs (not meat sauce). Their lasagna doesn't heat up evenly.

I don’t eat frozen food much but I do like those di giorno frozen pizzas when I want to have a really thick pizza. They’re actually quite ok for frozen food.

The cheapest frozen pizza, then I add stuff to it.

I used to love the Trader Joe's spinach lasagna in the red and white cardboard packaging. I haven't had it in years.

Jenny Craig Orange Chicken, Jenny Craig Chicken and Wild Rice Soup, Jenny Craig Chicken Carbonara

Frozen ravioli. Boil, drain, stir in olive oil, Parmesan and Italian seasoning on top.

Frozen tortellini, bring to boil in chicken stock, add some stuff…voila tortellini soup.

Saffron Road chicken tikka masala

Tree Tavern frozen pizza. I add a drizzle of olive oil and pepperoni. Sometimes anchovies.