The Best Frozen Appetizers That Are An Entire Dinner

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Frozen appetizers aren't just for bulking up party spreads and entertaining guests. Some of these frozen items can be quite filling, and heating them up for a quick weeknight dinner is a massive time saver. After combing social forums, reviewing customers' comments, and looking through some of Tasting Table's own rankings, we've selected five fairly calorie-dense options you might want to consider placing on your next shopping list. 

From Trader Joe's frozen section to Costco's freezer aisles, you'll find plenty of tasty options that can help put a solid meal on the table with little effort on your part. While you can gobble up some of these recommended appetizers alone, for a more complete meal, an easy pairing of a simple salad or a side of veggies can help bulk up dinner. This list can help you think outside of the box of typical dinner menus, and next week's meal planning might look a little different as a result. 

Summ! Pork Lumpia Filipino-Style Spring Rolls are fully cooked and ready to eat, with packages of 20 often sold for under $12 at Costco and smaller six-count boxes available at Walmart for under $6. Customers suggest air-frying the pieces and have compared the flavor to that of authentic lumpia recipes. The spring rolls have been described as one of the absolute best freezer-aisle appetizers at Costco by our team, and the included sweet chili sauce offers a flavorful contrast to the savory bites.

When customers are unable to find the product in stores, they are distraught, so it is worth picking up an extra package to keep in the freezer for easy midweek dinners. Serve with a simple salad or a bowl of soup for a more filling meal, and portion out as many pieces as you need to satisfy your appetite. Don't fancy meat? Try the vegetable spring roll version and add crispy pieces of air-fried tofu for a heartier spread.

Mini quiches might have made it onto our list of the best Costco frozen appetizers under $20, but these pastry bites can also make for tasty meals made with little effort. "Just had these for the first time and they are excellent," wrote one Reddit user of Cuisine Adventures' product. Plus, with a variety of options to sample — the Mini Quiche Duo offers two fillings: Cheese & Bacon and Florentine made with mozzarella and spinach in a single purchase — you can experience different flavors on one plate. The egg-and-cheese filling offers the kind of protein that can hold you over until the next meal, and while the pieces aren't heavy on vegetables, you can add a serving of greens or sliced tomatoes to round out your meal. 

The bite-sized quiches can be baked until golden and crispy to achieve that flaky exterior and spongy, creamy center, and servings can be dressed up with your favorite sauces and dips. Hummus can make the spread more filling, or a quick drizzle of hot sauce will add heat to your plate. Cuisine Adventures Mini Quiches are often found at Trader Joe's and Costco.

Gyoza and potstickers are commonly housed in appetizer sections, but these flavor-filled parcels can be easily presented as dinner. Trader Joe's Pork Gyoza Potstickers have been listed by Tasting Table as a favorite among Trader Joe's frozen dumplings, as the juicy, savory filling offers an umami-forward bite tucked inside paper-thin wrappers. For easy meal prep, pan frying the dumplings can result in a crispy, browned bottom, but some chefs bake the pieces with a mixture of coconut milk, spinach, red curry, and scallions. You could simply pour over some store-bought red Thai curry sauce, described by a user on Instagram as "The lazy dinner hack." Others have credited the potstickers as a budget-friendly purchase that can lift spirits high when life starts hitting hard. 

A bowl of steamed edamame or a cucumber salad will add bulk to the meal, and warm dumplings will be extra tasty served with chili crisp, peanut dipping sauce, or soy sauce. The simple presentation is satisfying in both texture and taste and won't leave you feeling like you've skimped on dinner. 

Taquitos bring the crunch to a fast dinner, and El Monterey Extra Crunchy Southwest Chicken Taquitos have fans saying they taste better than takeout. Seasoned chicken, black beans, and cheese are packed into a crispy seasoned tortilla shell that can be microwaved in two minutes. Customers have also explored deep frying the pieces for an even more satisfying bite. "I love them I order three boxes at a time, so I actually order about maybe 12 boxes a month," wrote on shopper on Walmart, while another compared the taste to Chili's Southwest Egg Rolls. 

Cooked pieces can be plated with shredded lettuce, guacamole, salsa, and sour cream for an easy dinner that provides plenty of texture. Beans and eggs can muscle up the meal for those with heartier appetites. Fans of the brand have also raved about the its beef taquitos option. Just be warned: Shoppers have confessed that the purchase can become an addictive habit, and you may find yourself adding taquitos to your weekly meal rotation.

Chicken wings offer an ideal appetizer that can make for a satisfying dinner, and Foster Farms' Take Out Crispy Wings turn the decision into an easy one. The fully cooked and ready-to-heat-and-eat pieces have shoppers swearing the wings are better than takeout, offering bites of lean chicken and a crispy exterior. "These are the best frozen wings I've come across," wrote a shopper on Reddit. 

Fans of the wings often credit the air fryer for delivering a perfectly crispy result. While some toss the wings with the sauce that is included in the package, Costco shoppers have noted that the wings are "so good you don't even need the sauce." You'll find a range of flavor options like classic buffalo, honey BBQ, and sweet chipotle BBQ to keep easy weekday menus lively and palates intrigued. Serve with rice or potatoes for a dinner-like meal, and if chicken wings aren't your thing, look for buffalo-style cauliflower or vegetarian-friendly substitutes that can be served with carrots and broccoli for a meal that has you licking your fingers.