5 Frozen Dinners Better (And Cheaper) Than Takeout, According To Customers

Some days, you're hungry and short on time. You want to order some takeout and relax, but it's expensive. Making food from scratch is always an option, but you need to have the ingredients on hand and the time to do it. The alternative is a frozen entree. Luckily, the world of frozen dinners is constantly improving. You can find meals that are even better than takeout for considerably less.

Tasting Table searched online reviews and social media commentary to find a handful of frozen dinners that customers felt were as good as, or better than, similar restaurant meals and cost less. The list includes Italian, Chinese, and Mexican-inspired choices, so you have plenty of options. They offer taste, value, and convenience that put them above takeout when you consider all the factors.

As convenient as takeout is, you still have to deal with wait times, extra fees for delivery and tips, food that may not be as hot as you want, and the possibility of a messed-up order. A high-quality frozen dinner sidesteps all of that. If it tastes better, that's a win across the board.

Prices are as of the date of publication and may vary based on region.

There are dozens of frozen pizzas on the market, and the quality between one brand and another can vary dramatically. Fortunately, there are some high-quality frozen pizzas available, and Walmart's Bettergoods brand is one of the standouts. The Bettergoods Italian Wood-Fired Margherita Pizza has received a lot of praise online, including over 2,600 five-star ratings on Walmart's website.

When Tasting Table's taste tester ranked 10 Bettergoods pizzas, they placed the Italian Wood-Fired Margherita Pizza in eighth, not because it was bad, but because they enjoyed the toppings on others even more. A Margherita pizza is a simple combination of sauce, cheese, and basil, so if that's all you're looking for, customers highly recommend it. A single pizza takes about 14 to 16 minutes to cook in a 400 degrees Fahrenheit oven. 

"I won't buy another frozen pizza again. These are restaurant quality," said one Walmart reviewer. "This might be the most delicious frozen pizza I've ever had!" said one Redditor. "Absolutely the best store-bought/frozen pizza ... it hands down beats most delivery chains," added another commenter. With a price far below most pizza chains, it's hard to beat.

Purchase Bettergoods Wood-Fired Margherita Pizza at Walmart for about $7.

Many Trader Joe's frozen meals are better than takeout — and the Mandarin Orange Chicken is at the top of the list. Featuring crispy breaded chicken in a sweet, tangy orange sauce, it pairs perfectly with rice, noodles, or veggies. It's simple, and that's part of the reason it has garnered so many fans. Trader Joe's nailed both the key elements, and the reviews speak for themselves.

"Can someone explain why the Trader Joe's orange chicken is better than ⅔ of the Chinese takeout near me?" asked one Redditor. "I prefer this over Panda Express's vinegary orange chicken ANY DAY!" said another. That's higher praise than it may seem at first, especially considering Panda Express is the real origin of Orange Chicken.

"Try Trader Joe's Mandarin Orange Chicken. It's better than anything I've ever had in a restaurant," another Redditor said in a thread about the high cost of takeout food. "It really is that good," someone else replied. With a small order of Orange Chicken costing over $5 at Panda Express, the multi-serving bag from Trader Joe's gives you a lot more food for your money.

Purchase Trader Joe's Mandarin Orange Chicken for about $5.50.

If there's one item that steals some of the Orange Chicken's thunder, it's Trader Joe's Kung Pao Chicken. One Reddit user said, "Orange chicken has been dethroned," and used a meme to indicate Kung Pao chicken was their new favorite. It's one of the Trader Joe's fast food dupes that taste as good as the original. In fact, our taste tester liked the Trader Joe's version better than Panda Express's thanks to the inclusion of water chestnuts and a better-tasting spice balance.

"Better than take out," said one Redditor at the start of their review. The comments were full of others sharing the sentiment. "It's one of my favorites and it's super affordable compared to getting takeout for two people," said one commenter. Praise from elsewhere online is just as positive. One reviewer from Trader Joe's Reviews wrote, "I live and breathe for this stuff." Another said, "Better than any Chinese restaurant in our area."

A small serving of Kung Pao Chicken from Panda Express costs about $6. For about $1 more, Trader Joe's Kung Pao Chicken comes in a 23-ounce bag. The value leans heavily towards Trader Joe's in this case.

Purchase Trader Joe's Kung Pao Chicken for about $6.50.

Kevin's Chicken Burrito Bowl is one of the frozen Mexican food items that fans say taste better than takeout. Not only is the bowl tasty and packed with chicken, brown rice, bell peppers, and a chipotle sauce, but it's also gluten-free and made without added sugar. "This is probably the best frozen meal I've ever eaten! It tastes just like my Chipotle order," wrote one reviewer on Target's website. "I decided to give this burrito bowl a try. It was an absolute win. It tasted like real food that I would make at home," said another reviewer on the Kevin's Natural Foods website.

A chicken burrito bowl from Chipotle will cost you about $10, though prices vary by location. There's a good chance it will be larger than Kevin's Chicken Burrito Bowl, but there is a long history of Chipotle skimping on ingredients. In one experiment, a Wells Fargo restaurant analyst ordered 75 bowls, and they ranged from 14 to 27 ounces. You could gamble on getting more for your money from takeout, but at least you know the Kevin's Chicken Burrito Bowl will always be consistent. For the price, convenience, and consistency, it comes out far ahead.

Purchase Kevin's Chicken Burrito Bowl at Target for about $6.

Lasagna has been a staple of grocery store freezer aisles since Stouffer's introduced its frozen lasagna in the 1960s. Making lasagna from scratch is time-consuming, but frozen lasagna is a convenient option that cuts out most of the prep time. There are many brands and varieties to choose from, but according to customers online, Stouffer's Meat Lovers Lasagna is the standout choice.

Stouffer's Meat Lovers Lasagna is a store-bought Italian food that may be better than takeout. Over 2,000 customers on Walmart's website gave it a five-star rating. "So good that I no longer make lasagna from scratch ... This lasagna rivals my mom's in taste and quality," wrote one reviewer.  "I always keep a half dozen in the freezer ... They are simply amazing," wrote one Redditor. 

Stouffer's Meat Lovers Lasagna comes in several sizes, from single portions to family meals, making it convenient whether you're eating alone or feeding a group. It's also one of the most affordable frozen meals you can buy, at under $4 for a single serving.

Purchase Stouffer's Meat Lovers Lasagna at Walmart for about $3.