We’ve taste tested a ton of frozen meals over the years, and while it seems like trends are moving toward the almighty slop bowl, we’re still suckers for a classic TV dinner.
Back in 1953, Swanson launched a turkey dinner (turkey, dressing, potatoes, and peas), in a compartmented aluminum tray you could just pop in the oven and then eat in front of the TV, as god intended. To say they changed everything would be an undertstatment—just look at the frozen aisle! Frozen dinners for days. And a lot of them still follow the classic format: a main, a starch, a veggie, and (when we’re lucky) a little something sweet for dessert.
We scoured our rankings of the best frozen meals and plucked out the ones that still celebrate that classic TV dinner format. Not in the mood for yet another sloppy rice bowl? Pick a good show to watch and try one of these.
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Best Stouffer’s
- Stouffer’s Roast Turkey
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Swanson doesn’t sell TV dinners in the U.S. anymore, but if you’re craving a classic turkey dinner in that vein, go with Stouffer’s. You don’t get a vegetable, but you do get tasty, gravy-soaked stuffing and turkey breast medallions in one compartment and buttery mashed potatoes in another. If you have your heart set on a little bit of dessert, get the Lean Cuisine turkey dinner instead (we’ll get to that in a sec).
Read the full ranking of the best turkey dinners
Credit: Merc / Target
Best Michelina’s
- Michelina’s Salisbury Steak
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This is just a main and a side—boo—but Michelina’s frozen meals are VERY cheap and this one is our favorite. The beef patty is soft instead of tough and gristly, and it’s doused in a mushroom gravy that’s savory like French onion soup. The mashed potatoes are creamy and smooth, like good instant mashed potatoes. This isn’t quite a “dinner” but it’s a nice TV dinner-style snack.
Read the full ranking of the best Michelina’s frozen meals
Credit: Merc / Walmart
Best Hungry Man
- Hungry Man Country Fried Chicken
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Confession: Our Hungry Man taste test was one of my favorites. See, I’d never have bought these of my own volition, BUT country fried chicken is one of my favorite foods and now I know that Hungry Man makes a pretty solid, very cheap version. And this is a true TV dinner—you get two hunks of fried chicken drenched in white gravy, plus mashed potatoes, green beans, and cinnamon apples. The meal itself is pretty salty, so the apples are a perfect antidote. Yum.
Read the full ranking of the best Hungry Man meals
Credit: Merc / Instacart
Best Country Fried Steak
- Dolly Parton’s Country Fried Steak
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Last year, we sat down and taste tested every single frozen country fried steak we could find, and we loved Dolly’s take. You get a big, fat, breaded and fried chop steak slathered in country gravy with skin-on mashers and green beans. I usually prefer a CFS that’s pounded pretty thin, but we liked how filling and flavorful the fat patty was, especially with the gravy on top. Weirdly, the green beans might be the best part. They’re really nicely seasoned and taste like they were made with pork of some sort. This is the best TV dinner if you’re craving real Southern fare and aren’t anywhere near the South.
Read the full ranking of the best frozen country fried steak
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
Best for Kids
- Kidfresh White Meat Chicken Nuggets & Buttered Pasta
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This microwave meal for kids only comes with nugs and a side of pasta, but we’re including it on this list because TECHNICALLY, there’s a vegetable in the mix, too—there’s pureed veggies in the pasta. This is the best TV dinner for cartoon-viewers and picky eaters.
Read the full ranking of the best frozen meals for kids
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
Best Lean Cuisine
- Lean Cuisine Roasted Turkey Breast
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Our favorite Lean Cuisine is a pasta dish, but our second fave fits this list. Their roasted turkey dinner comes with turkey medallions, stuffing, and gravy, and, in a separate compartment, a side of cinnamon apples. For a diet TV dinner, this is downright decadent.
Read the full ranking of the best Lean Cuisine frozen meals
Credit: Liv Averett / Target
Best Marie Callender’s
- Marie Callender’s Country Fried Chicken & Gravy
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Marie Callender’s is best known for pot pies, but they make some good meat-starch-veg options, too. Our favorite is (you guessed it) their country fried chicken and gravy. We’d certainly take more gravy, but the chicken has a nice, peppery breading we liked. Plus mashed potatoes AND corn! Grab the remote and settle in.
Read the full ranking of the best Marie Callender’s frozen meals
Credit: Merc / Walmart
Gwynedd Stuart
Ariana Losch
Sporked Staff
Justine Sterling
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