In 2025, frozen dinners were a major highlight for our grocery team. Their increasingly attractive value is thanks to improvements in flash-freezing technology and a wave of innovative brands adding restaurant-quality options on shelves nationwide. As a result, the freezer aisle has quickly become one of our favorite places to shop.
Between our editorial staff and contributors, we’ve tasted well over 100 frozen meals (and shortcuts) this year alone. These five stood out above the rest, and are ones we’ll continue to add to our carts well into 2026.
Credit: Sara Haas
1. Just Bare Lightly Breaded Chicken Breast Bites
The Kitchn Contributor Sara Hass just adores Just Bare Lightly Breaded Chicken Bites (they also ranked high in our chicken nugget taste test). She thoroughly appreciates the “flavorful, crispy exterior and juicy, meaty interior.” They don’t get soggy and are perfect for her “chicken nugget meatballs.” Occasionally, she’ll wrap them up in a tortilla with lettuce and hot sauce, with carrots and a variety of dipping sauces.
Buy: Just Bare Lightly Breaded Chicken Breast Bites, $5.99 for 24 ounces at Instacart
Credit: Ali Domrongchai
2. Mìlà Caramelized Scallion Noodles
Mìlà has reshaped the world of convenience with its restaurant-quality frozen dumplings and noodles that are best served steamed or boiled. These Caramelized Scallion Noodles come together with a quick trip on the stovetop, then get coated in a sweet, savory caramelized sauce that tastes better than takeout — and is less than half the price. Plus, they’re now readily available at retailers nationwide, including Target, Whole Foods, and more, in addition to Mìlà’s website.
Buy: Mìlà Caramelized Scallion Noodles, $5.99 for 9 ounces at Target
Credit: Angelina Tharitimanont
3. Trader Joe’s Chicken Tikka Masala
It should come as no surprise that a Trader Joe’s frozen meal is on this list (after all, the beloved retailer is the G.O.A.T. when it comes to frozen food). This year we couldn’t get enough of Trader Joe’s Chicken Tikka Masala. At under $5 for a hefty serving, this frozen dinner tastes anything but with tender chicken, a fragrant, spiced sauce, and perfectly fluffy basmati rice. Plus, it heats up in minutes.
Find it in stores: Trader Joe’s Chicken Tikka Masala, $4.49 for 8.5 ounces at Trader Joe’s
I raved about Amy’s Bean and Cheese Frozen Burrito in The Kitchn’s Grocery Essentials awards earlier this fall. They’re comforting and reliably filling, and the bean-and-cheese is just a classic combo. I’ve, no joke, eaten hundreds of them in my lifetime, and don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.
Buy: Amy’s Bean and Cheese Frozen Burrito, $5.29 for 6 ounces at Instacart
Credit: Vicky Wasik
5. Rao’s Five Cheese Brick Oven Pizza
Rao’s took the top spot in our frozen pizza taste test for good reason. Its crispy-yet-doughy crust is topped with the brand’s iconic tomato sauce and a generous mix of five (!) cheeses. It’s rich and balanced, and satisfies that pizza-night need better than any other option in the freezer aisle.
Buy: Rao’s Five Cheese Brick Oven Pizza, $9.83 for 19 ounces at Walmart
What frozen dinner do you always have in your freezer? Tell us about it in the comments below.
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This post originally appeared on The Kitchn. See it there: We Tried More Than 100 Frozen Dinners This Year — These Are the 5 We’ll Stock in Our Freezers Forever
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Dining and Cooking