5 Frozen Pastas Shoppers Say Feel Like They Came From an Italian Kitchen
I love a good pasta dinner, whether it is made from scratch or at a delicious Italian restaurant. However, sometimes I don’t have the time to cook or feel like dining out. This is when frozen pasta dinners come in handy. I always have a few tucked into my freezer, which heat up in moments. Some even taste just as good, if not better than, homemade or restaurant versions. Here are 5 frozen pastas shoppers say feel like they came from an Italian kitchen.
Rao’s Homemade Frozen Pasta
Rao’s Homemade offers 11 gourmet frozen Italian meals that can be heated in the microwave in minutes and taste almost as good as dining in the restaurant. Options include chicken parmesan and meatballs, as well as pasta dishes galore, including penne alla vodka and mushroom risotto. Rao’s Made for Home Meat Lasagna is a big hit with shoppers. “What’s great about Rao’s is you can taste each ingredient and the taste is correct. You can taste the noodles, ricotta, mozzarella, meat, and marinara. The sauce is always the first test and Rao’s is red, tart, slightly sour, the way Italian is meant to be. Not sweet,” writes one fan. “Excellent lasagna. It’s not super tall multi layer Italian American style, but it does taste more like legit Italian Nonna style,” adds another. “I have tried many kinds of frozen lasagna and in my opinion this is the best,” a third added.
Michael Angelo’s
Michael Angelo’s Italian Classics are also a great option. The brand specializes in pasta, so there are so many options. Michael Angelo’s Lasagna with Meat Sauce, a classic style of lasagna, is a favorite. “I’ve tried everything lasagna available in my local stores and this one by far has the best flavor and texture,” writes one shopper. “It tastes homemade 1000× better than any other frozen lasagna,” another adds. “Absolutely almost Iike my nonna used to make.”
Stouffer’s Italian Favorites
Stouffer’s makes some of the most legendary nostalgic frozen pastas, including their lasagna and spaghetti and meatballs. The Stouffer’s Lasagna with Meat & Sauce is a go-to comfort food favorite that has been around forever. “It’s truly fantastic,” writes one shopper about the cheesy, saucy, and nostalgic pasta dish that is super beefy. “Bought this for our club Christmas party,” writes another. “It was fantastic. Very tasty, everyone loved it, and, I will be buying it again.”
Amy’s
When I am craving a plant-forward, healthier, organic frozen meal that won’t weigh me down, I rely on Amy’s. And I’m not the only one. “Surprisingly delicious,” a Target shopper writes about the Amy’s Frozen Organic Vegetable Lasagna. “This is about as good as a microwaveable lasagna can get. The tomato sauce is flavorful and doesn’t taste watered down. Can clearly taste the ricotta, and there are a couple solid layers of the zucchini and spinach. Made my kitchen smell like tasty tomato basil.” The Amy’s Frozen Pesto Tortellini Bowls are also a hit, with one shopper declaring it better than Noodles and Company. “The cheese is stuffed inside the tortellini which makes it a great pesto to pasta to cheese ratio in every single bite! And it’s definitely on the more healthy side than take out. I would say it’s a great price for both taste and quality. definitely will get again. Most frozen foods are dry with little to no sauce and this pasta had so much pesto sauce,” they wrote.
Trader Joe’s Italian Entrées
I will die on the hill that Trader Joe’s Italian meals taste better than most restaurants. I have been buying the bags of frozen pasta for decades, ranging from gnocchi to fettuccine alfredo. Heat them up according to the simple directions, sometimes doctor them by adding veggies or meat, and you have a truly gourmet meal. These are so good, your guests won’t know they came from the freezer.