The Best & Worst Frozen Waffles on Shelves—Ranked!
For most of us, cooking breakfast from scratch every morning just doesn't fit into our schedules. While there are some healthy breakfasts you can prepare in advance (hello, meal prep!), some days there's nothing to do except reach for the most convenient option. That's where frozen waffles come in handy.
Preparing them is as simple as taking them out of the freezer, popping them in the toaster, and adding any toppings you may want—throwing on some fresh fruit and nutrient-packed chia or flax seeds is always a good choice, though sometimes it's just a butter and maple syrup kind of morning.
"Since most homemade waffles take time, frozen waffles are a perfect alternative for those with busy schedules and hearty appetites," Lisa Moskovitz, founding RD and CEO of The New York Nutrition Group, says to Eat This, Not That! "While waffles can certainly be a part of a healthy diet, some options in the frozen food section in your grocery store may offer more health benefits than others."
There are several varieties on the market that actually have the potential to help you start your day off on the right foot. In fact, the box that you choose can be the difference between getting hungry and having a sugar crash by 10 AM or feeling energized and staying satisfied until lunch.
Here are all the frozen waffles at your local supermarket, ranked from the worst choices to the very best based on their nutritional information. We gave extra points to waffle varieties that had more protein and docked points for those that contained more sugar. if you're in the mood to go out for breakfast find out The Best Waffles in Every State.
Kellogg's Eggo Thick & Fluffy Cinnamon Brown Sugar Waffles
These waffles are high in sugar, low in fiber, and low in protein.
"Waffles with minimal added sugar are ideal, especially if you plan to add a little sweetener in the form of drizzled pure maple syrup," suggests Moskovitz. "Check the nutrition facts label and find a product that has less than 5 grams of added sugars."
Kellogg's Eggo Thick & Fluffy Double Chocolatey Waffles
A little higher in protein, but still not great. Any waffle this high in sugar and low in satiety-promoting fiber and protein isn't going to leave you feeling great.
Be sure to read 5 Major Side Effects Of Not Getting Enough Fiber, Says Science.
Kellogg's Eggo Chocolatey Chip Waffles
No surprises here that the chocolatey chip waffles aren't going to be the smartest choice for breakfast.
Kellogg's Eggo Thick & Fluffy Salted Caramel Waffles
This is yet another high-sugar option that will likely leave you hungry and tired.
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Kellogg's Eggo Apple Cinnamon Waffles
The Apple Cinnamon flavor is a little lower in sugar, but only by one gram.
Kellogg's Eggo Thick & Fluffy Blueberry Waffles
Slightly less packed with empty carbs than its apple cinnamon counterpart, these blueberry waffles are a step in the right direction—but still not even close to the healthiest option.
Nature's Path Gluten-Free Dark Chocolate Chip Waffles
No fiber, yet plenty of sugar, and saturated fat? Thank you next!
Check out 5 Major Mistakes You're Making on a Gluten-Free Diet.
Kellogg's Eggo Thick & Fluffy Original Waffles
These waffles may look enticing, but they're void of nutrition.
Kroger Cinnamon Waffles
The four grams of protein is a plus, albeit the only plus.
Kellogg's Eggo Blueberry Waffles
If you've got a hankering for blueberry, this is a slightly better pick than the Thick & Fluffy version.
Kellogg's Eggo Strawberry Waffles
No difference here, nutritionally speaking. The strawberry version is fully identical to the blueberry flavor.
Nature's Path Gluten-Free Pumpkin Spice Waffles
Still fairly high sugar, but we're starting to see some fiber with these Nature's Path waffles.
Great Value Blueberry Waffles
The three grams of protein in these waffles keep them from falling to the lowest rankings.
Kellogg's Eggo Homestyle Waffles
Are you surprised that opting for varieties that aren't stuffed with chocolate chips can significantly lower the sugar count.
Good & Gather Frozen Blueberry Waffles
With a little more protein, these waffles indicate that it's slightly better to buy Target's own brand of blueberry waffles as opposed to Walmart's.
Nature's Path Gluten-Free Buckwheat Wildberry Waffles
A little sugary, but not a bad choice compared to some of the others on this list.
Nature's Path Gluten-Free Homestyle Waffles
Not too high in sugar, but not too high in nutrient-rich foods, either.
Great Value Chocolate Chip Waffles
As far as chocolate chips go, this could be way worse—3 grams of protein isn't too shabby, and 5 grams of sugar isn't the worst we've seen.
Nature's Path Gluten-Free Chia Plus Waffles
Chia seeds are always a solid pick when choosing between different varieties, but still, there should be more fiber and protein in these little frozen saucers!
Good & Gather Original Belgium Style Frozen Vanilla Waffles
Not a lot of fiber, and a fair amount of sugar, but the 5 grams of protein in these vanilla waffles help make this a somewhat more substantial option.
Nature's Path Chocolate Chip Grain Free Waffles
Nutritionally, these are fairly similar to the last ones. A little too much sugar, but a fair amount of protein.
Kroger Blueberry Waffles
The marginally lower sugar count makes these waffles a slightly smarter pick than the previous couple.
Nature's Path Blueberry Grain Free Waffles
Again, the slightly lower sugar levels make these a better option than their chocolate chip counterparts.
Kellogg's Eggo Thick & Fluffy Whole Grain Apple Cinnamon Waffles
With 3 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein, you could do a lot worse when it comes to Eggo. You can't go wrong opting for whole grain.
Check out One Major Effect of Eating Whole Grains, New Study Says.
Kellogg's Eggo Thick & Fluffy Whole Grain Original Waffles
More or less interchangeable with the apple cinnamon flavor—take your pick there.
Kellogg's Eggo Buttermilk Waffles
Surprisingly low sugar for an Eggo product.
Kashi Gluten-Free Waffles, Original
A little fiber, a little protein—all in all, not a bad choice.
Van's Gluten-Free Blueberry Waffles
There's not much in here that will keep you super satisfied, but the low-sugar level helps these waffles eke their way into 27th place.
Van's Gluten Free Apple Cinnamon Waffles
These ones are almost identical to the blueberry. The choice between these two is mostly a matter of flavor.
Van's Gluten Free Original Waffles
Slightly less sugar than the other two flavors, you're a little better off going with the original flavor.
Kashi Gluten Free Waffles, Cinnamon
With some protein and some fiber, these Kashi waffles are a good option if you like cinnamon.
Kellogg's Eggo Thick & Fluffy Whole Grain Blueberry Waffles
With the fiber and the protein, Eggo really pulled through on this one.
Van's Gluten-Free Ancient Grain Waffles
Boosting your frozen waffle with some ancient grains is a great way to make them a more nutritious option.
Great Value Homestyle Waffles
Low sugar and a decent protein count—Walmart's Great Value brand may just beat out Eggo.
Great Value Buttermilk Waffles
Basically identical to the homestyle variety, though the buttermilk ones have a little less sodium.
Van's Multigrain Waffles
With plenty of fiber and some protein, these multigrain waffles are a pretty solid choice.
Check out The #1 Best Protein Shake for Weight Loss, According to a Dietitian.
Kashi Waffles, Blueberry
"Waffles that have extra fiber are hard to find, but definitely a plus," Moskovitz explained. "If the waffle has at least 5 grams of fiber or more, this is considered a high-fiber food that supports stable blood sugar levels and is healthier for your heart."
Kashi Waffles, 7 Grain
Whole grain, brown rice, flax seeds, and more combine to make this a significantly more substantial waffle than the average pick.
Don't miss One Major Effect of Eating Flax Seeds, Says Science.
Kroger Homestyle Waffles
Six grams of protein is pretty good for a single waffle. This will keep you feeling more satisfied than a lot of the other Homestyle waffles on the market.
Good & Gather Frozen Homestyle Waffles
It's strange that Target's brand of waffles shares the exact same nutrition as Kroger's…maybe they use the same supplier!
Good & Gather Frozen Buttermilk Waffles
Target's Homestyle and Buttermilk waffles are basically interchangeable!
Nature's Path Flax Plus Waffles
With lots of fiber and some protein, these flax-filled waffles are going to keep you more satisfied than a lot of the other choices around.
Van's Protein Blueberry Waffles
The 10 grams of protein in these waffles make them a much more substantial option than the majority of frozen waffles. They're a great choice to stay full throughout the morning.
"Waffles that have added protein can add staying power," said Moskovitz. "Any waffle brand that offers around 10 grams of protein can make it a lot easier to reach your protein needs for the day."
Van's Protein Original Waffles
Similar, but the blueberry-free version has a little less sugar.
Van's Protein Chocolate Chip Waffles
More sugar? Sure, but also more protein and a little bit of fiber make these Kodiak Cakes pancakes a slightly smarter breakfast choice.
Kodiak Cakes Chocolate Chip Power Waffles
Offering just a little more fiber, Kodiak Cakes' chocolate chip option pulls ahead of Van's.
Kodiak Cakes Dark Chocolate Power Waffles
From a nutrition standpoint, there's really no meaningful difference between the dark chocolate and the chocolate chip Kodiak Cakes varieties.
Kodiak Cakes Blueberry Power Waffles
Again, go based on your favorite flavor, since nutritionally these are all fairly similar.
Kodiak Cakes Buttermilk & Vanilla Power Waffles
Again, it's really a matter of flavor here.
Good & Gather Buttermilk with Vanilla Frozen Protein Waffles
Target's high-protein vanilla waffles are a little less sugary than Kodiak Cakes' offerings.
Check out How Much Protein You Should Actually Eat in One Meal, According to Experts.
Kodiak Cakes Homestead Style Power Waffles
Another high-protein option with a bit of fiber, these waffles are also a good choice to keep you satisfied.
Kashi GO Protein Waffles, Vanilla Buttermilk
With 13 grams of protein, the Kashi Go Protein Waffles are the clear winners for anyone looking for an actually nutritious frozen waffle.
Kashi GO Protein Waffles, Cinnamon Brown Sugar
Less sugar than the vanilla buttermilk flavor, but otherwise fairly similar.
Kashi GO Protein Waffles, Wild Blueberry
The least sugar of all the Kashi Go Protein waffles, the blueberry choice is the clear winner, making these the best frozen waffles of them all.
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