The best high protein frozen meals aren’t as disappointing as you may imagine them to be. We’ve tasted a lot of diet-specific frozen meals lately, so we can tell you that some gluten-free frozen meals are pret-ty rough when it comes to texture and overall flavor. And the same goes for super low calorie frozen meals. But high protein meals are a different story. We’re talking chicken pasta, meatloaf and mashed potatoes—even a Cuban pork dish that we wouldn’t have thought would be good in a million years but actually is. (Note: In general, these are not good for you! Don’t come to the comments and yell at me about some of these being high in fat and calories! Yell at the companies!)
Now, we couldn’t possibly try every high protein meal the average grocery store stocks. We narrowed it down to meals that specifically advertise being high protein on their boxes and then narrowed it down further to meals with 20 grams of protein or more. We tried a variety of brands and styles and cuisines. This obviously isn’t an exhaustive list of the best high protein frozen meals at the grocery store, but if you’re on the hunt for frozen dinners that pack a punch of protein and actually taste good, this list is a good place to start.
- Lean Cuisine Protein Kick Four Cheese Pizza (20 grams of protein)
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I’m not sure how much protein the average personal pizza has, but 20 grams sounds pretty good for bread, sauce, and cheese, right? Anyway, if you’re in the mood for pizza and don’t want it to be super fatty, this is the best high protein frozen meal we came across. A couple of things: a.) You should cook it in the oven, and b.) You should eat it immediately or it will turn into a frisbee. The sauce is a little sweet and super zesty, and although we thought it could use a little more cheese, this is a nice size and it’s plenty filling. And, like I said, it’s low fat! Only 8 grams, which is kind of great for a little frozen pizza. This would be even better if you personalized it with some veggies (I always go for canned mushrooms and sliced onions).
Credit: Merc / Target
- Banquet Buffalo-Style Chicken Mac ‘N Cheese (26 grams of protein)
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This high protein frozen meal is total junk food. But, hey, if you’re in the mood for junk food that just happens to be high in protein (26 grams!), it’s pretty tasty. The best part is that it tastes like Buffalo sauce but it doesn’t taste too much like Buffalo sauce. The macaroni is a little mushy, but overall it’s pretty tasty goop and the chicken is good.
Credit: Merc / Target
- Lean Cuisine Protein Kick Meatloaf & Mashed Potatoes (21 grams of protein)
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When we tasted and ranked Lean Cuisine meals, this one didn’t make the cut, but I really think they must have changed the recipe. The mashed potatoes are well seasoned and chive-y, kind of like the filling inside a twice-baked potato. The meatloaf is thick, substantial, and glazed in ketchup, plus it comes in a generous puddle of brown gravy. This is not home cooking. I’m not going to tell you it tastes like home cooking. But it tastes good for a high protein frozen dinner—especially a low cal one.
Credit: Merc / Target
- Healthy Choice Cuban Style Pork (20 grams of protein)
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There aren’t a lot of pork-based meals in the frozen aisle. And I guess I assumed that pork is bad in the microwave. Suffice it to say, I didn’t have a lot of faith that this Healthy Choice meal would be remotely good, but it really is. It consists of bits of grilled pork atop a bed of grains, beans, greens, and other veggies. “It tastes like something you’d get from the Whole Foods buffet, but this way you aren’t paying $20 for it,” Sporked editor-in-chief Justine Sterling said. “It’s very wholesome.” Weirdly, the pork is the best part (okay, it’s a little dry, but isn’t pork loin always a little dry). The greens are surprisingly flavorful, too. It’s the best high protein frozen meal if you want to try something totally different than you’d usually pick up.
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- Zatarain’s Blackened Chicken Alfredo (21 grams of protein)
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One look at this meal and you know it isn’t low calorie—but we’re rounding up high protein frozen meals here, so just go with it. Zatarain’s Blackened Chicken Alfredo is the best high protein frozen meal we tasted by a longshot. It’s super creamy, like a good microwavable mac and cheese, and you really taste the components in the sauce—nutty, salty cheese and yummy cream. The chicken is good, too. It isn’t weird and spongy like some microwavable meals and it’s got a touch of blackening spice coating it, which adds a little kick. Our only critique was that it could use a little more heat. C’mon Zatarains—jazz it up! Just keep a bottle from our best hot sauce ranking close by.
Credit: Merc / Walmart
Best Treat
Best Junk Food
Best Classic
Best Pork
Best of the Best
Other meals we tried: Healthy Choice Max Herb Lemon Chicken, Healthy Choice Tex Mex Chicken Bowl, Lean Cuisine Protein Kick Salisbury Steak, Lean Cuisine Chicken Parmesan, Lean Cuisine Chicken Enchilada Bowl, Banquet Chicken Fajita Mega Bowl, Marie Callender Red Chili Chicken Bowl
Don’t sleep on the Healthy Choice Korean Style Beef. I think it’s probably their best higher protein option. It’s filling, tasty, and the spice level is just right for me.