I Tried 5 Frozen Turkey Dinners & One Brand Tastes Like Thanksgiving
I love Thanksgiving food, and I don’t care how beige or boring it is. This festive feast is very similar to what Brits enjoy on Christmas Day, from the stuffing and sides to a beautifully cooked turkey with all the trimmings. Cooking a whole turkey from scratch every week would be time-intensive and slightly bonkers but there are plenty of frozen options in the freezer aisle that will scratch the turkey itch with minimal fuss and cleanup. But which ones are best? I picked five different brands and ranked them from least to best, based on factors like taste, texture, quality, and that important Thanksgiving vibe. Here’s how they stacked up, including one brand that ticked every box.
Marie Callender’s Honey Roasted Turkey Breast
Marie Callender’s Honey Roasted Turkey Breast was a little disappointing: The turkey meat was dry and bland and the texture wasn’t great. The turkey itself was lost in a sea of mashed potatoes and gravy, which had a runny consistency to it akin to potato soup. The steamed vegetables on the side (broccoli and carrots) were ok but way too small of a portion.
Stouffer’s Frozen Turkey Tetrazzini Casserole
Stouffer’s Frozen Turkey Tetrazzini Casserole had big flavor but there were barely any noodles in the dish, and the turkey pieces were far too big. I actually liked the creamy sauce which had a hint of sherry, and the mushrooms and celery were fantastic (I could eat a bowl of those mushrooms alone). Not terrible, but not great either, and definitely needed more breadcrumbs.
Smart Ones Slow Roasted Turkey Breast
I mostly liked the Smart Ones Slow Roasted Turkey Breast: The turkey itself was very flavourful and juicy with a perfect moist texture, which is tricky with white meat turkey. What I didn’t like were the mashed potatoes, which tasted like Sour Cream & Onion Pringles (and not in a good way). Even when covered with the gravy the mashed potatoes tasted odd which made this option a no-no for me.
Lean Cuisine Signature Roasted Turkey Breast
Lean Cuisine Signature Roasted Turkey Breast was an interesting frozen meal: On the one side you have very sweet sugary cinnamon apples in sauce, a sort of dessert, and on the other is the turkey and stuffing. The turkey was a little bland but had a nice tender texture. And the stuffing and gravy mix had those lovely herby authentic Thanksgiving flavors. Very nice and not bad for just 300 calories.
Stouffer’s Roast Turkey Dinner
Stouffer’s Roast Turkey Dinner was excellent: The white meat turkey was juicy and flavorful, even after being microwaved. The mashed potatoes were a little bland but worked perfectly as a vehicle for the gravy and stuffing, which were both very tasty. The stuffing was a nice surprise, with real cubes of bread and a rich herby flavor. A very nice frozen meal.