Every Banquet Frozen Meal, Ranked Worst To Best

Enjoying a home-cooked meal or ordering out from a restaurant can be quite enjoyable. However, it isn't always a viable option. Sometimes we're too tight on time to cook something or grab a meal at a restaurant. Other times, we can't justify spending money to eat out when the funds in our bank account are already earmarked for bills and other expenses. And, sometimes, we simply want something that is quick and easy to prepare that will let us forget about everything else on our to-do list.

Banquet offers a wide selection of frozen meals. However, some of these meals are definitely better than others. If you haven't tried Banquet's frozen meals before, or want to see how a few new-to-you options stack up against the competition, keep reading. You can discover which frozen meals from Banquet you might want to add to your cart the next time you're at the grocery store and which ones you may want to skip over.

The Meatloaf Meal from Banquet includes a slice of meatloaf, gravy paired with mashed potatoes, sweet corn, and a dessert of cinnamon apples. While the picture on the box looks pretty appetizing, the meal inside is disappointing. The meatloaf lacks flavor, and the potatoes are more gravy-covered than creamy on their own. The cinnamon apple dessert is also rather frustrating. You only get a few small pieces of apples, hardly enough to satisfy your sweet tooth after eating the meal. Several Banquet customers agree that this meal just doesn't compare to some of the better offerings from Banquet. Reviewers have called it "sloppy mush with patty," "nasty," and "sad, sad, sad."

Banquet's Salisbury Steak Meal with Mashed Potatoes looks pretty similar to their Meatloaf Meal above. It also comes with a side of mashed potatoes, sweet corn, and a serving of cinnamon apples for dessert. Of course, instead of a slice of meatloaf, this meal has a slice of Salisbury steak (which Banquet says is made with chicken, pork, and beef) covered with gravy. Again, the picture on the box can be a bit deceiving. Rather than being in a separate compartment, the mashed potatoes are right in with the steak. This seems to affect their flavor negatively and can make it more difficult to mix in the gravy. The Salisbury steak is also bland and not all that enjoyable to eat. The cinnamon apple dessert was also pretty pitiful, only offering a few little tastes of apple. Banquet customers who have tried this meal also don't think very highly of it. Over 30% of reviewers gave it just one or two stars, saying things like "disappointed," it is "terrible," "Banquet has destroyed their frozen TV dinners," or even "it was the worst TV dinner I have ever eaten."

In addition to the Meatloaf Meal listed above, which is from Banquet's Classic Dinners line, the company also offers another meatloaf option. The Banquet Meatloaf Meal with Mashed Potatoes & Gravy from the Basic Meals line features a chicken, pork, and beef meatloaf patty served with mashed potatoes and gravy. Unlike the option from the Classic Dinners line, this meal does not come with any corn or dessert. However, much like Banquet's other meatloaf meal, it probably isn't worth trying. It also has a more bland taste, and the mashed potatoes leave a lot to be desired. Plus, without the corn or the apple dessert (as small as it may be), this meal is not very complete.

With a country-fried beef patty, mashed potatoes, corn, and country-style gravy, the Chicken Fried Beef Steak meal from Banquet sounds like a real winner, especially if you're in the mood for some comfort food. However, in reality, this frozen dinner seems to fall short of most people's expectations. For one, the breading on the steak always seems to end up soggy, making it considerably less enjoyable. If you really like gravy, you'll also be disappointed by how little is in the package. It is hardly enough for both the mashed potatoes and the steak. Several customers also complained about the taste and texture of the mashed potatoes.

Banquet's Chicken Strips Meal includes sides of corn and macaroni and cheese, along with 100% natural chicken breast strips. One of the biggest problems with this frozen meal is that there simply isn't enough mac and cheese. Banquet's macaroni and cheese, as you'll realize when you get into some of their top frozen meals, is actually quite good. However, the little taste that comes with the chicken strips is rather disappointing. While the macaroni and cheese is tasty, the chicken strips themselves aren't that amazing. They have a lot of breading and not a lot of chicken. Their texture is too chewy and just off from what you'd expect with chicken strips.

The Spaghetti & Chicken Nuggets Meal from Banquet is just okay. The pairing of chicken nuggets and spaghetti is odd, as these two foods don't go together all that well. The spaghetti is probably the star of the dish. However, if you like your spaghetti with a lot of sauce, prepare to be disappointed. The chicken nuggets can be a bit dry and don't have the best flavor. There also aren't very many of them, so you may still be hungry after eating the meal. If Banquet had added a dessert or an additional side, as some of their other meals have, it would have made this one better.

Banquet's Cheesy Rice & Chicken has a nice overall flavor. The meal's description matches its name. It features rice with chunks of chicken covered in a cheesy broccoli sauce. Customers who have left reviews had some positive things to say about this meal, including that the chicken is nice and juicy, how it fills them up nicely, and how deliciously cheesy it is. However, if you're looking for a lot of chicken and broccoli when you open the package, you might not find what you're looking for. What's there is tasty, but it could use more chunks of chicken and pieces of broccoli to make the meal even more enjoyable.

The Rigatoni & Italian Sausage with Meatballs meal is another selection from Banquet that you may or may not want to try, depending on what you're looking for in a frozen dinner. This entrée features rigatoni pasta mixed with marinara sauce, Italian sausage, and meatballs. Everything is topped with mozzarella cheese, which melts nicely when warmed up. Many customers enjoy the taste of this one, but just be warned that the sauce is described as "zesty." If you're looking for a mild, more traditional tomato sauce, it might not be the best choice for you. Other reviewers noted that it could use more meat to make it a heartier and more filling dish.

While the Banquet Pepper Steak Meal could be an okay option in a pinch, if you try it, it probably won't become your new go-to for a quick bite. One of the main reasons this frozen meal doesn't live up to expectations is that the "steak" in pepper steak is more of a beef patty. It also doesn't have an overly noticeable peppery flavor, which is sort of disappointing given that it is supposed to be a pepper steak. However, everyone's taste buds are different, and some customers really love the flavor of this meal. Depending on what you're looking for in a frozen dinner, it may be worth picking one up to try, but hold off on stocking up before forming your opinion.

The Turkey Meal from Banquet comes with three slices of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet peas, and gravy. However, none of it is all that amazing. If not cooked right, the turkey slices can have a bit of a rubbery texture, the mashed potatoes are almost decent, and the amount of dressing in the package is disappointing. You may also find that the overall quantity of food isn't enough to fill you up with this meal, which could leave you searching your pantry or fridge for something else to eat. You may be better off trying a different meal option from Banquet over this one.

If you're looking for a quick lunch or dinner, the Banquet Spaghetti & Meatballs may be worth giving a try. This entrée has spaghetti noodles topped with marinara sauce and meatballs. Overall, it has an enjoyable taste. However, if you're looking for a filling and satisfying meal, you might want to look elsewhere. There aren't too many spaghetti noodles; based on what reviewers have shared, you may not get many meatballs. A few reviewers noted that they got fewer than the five meatballs pictured on the package, and one or two even said that their spaghetti came without any meatballs whatsoever.

Chicken nuggets with fries are a classic comfort food. It is an American staple. Banquet's Chicken Nuggets & Fries may be the ideal solution if you're looking to enjoy this classic without hitting up the drive-thru line or ordering through an app. The chicken nuggets are tender and have just the right amount of seasoning. Depending on how evenly the meal bakes, however, the fries may turn out a bit soggy. The overwhelming consensus from customers who reviewed the meal on Banquet's website is that it is "tasty" and "delicious" — over 70% gave it a four- or five-star rating.

Beyond their lunch and dinner frozen meals, Banquet also offers a few frozen breakfast meals, like the Brown 'N Serve Pancake Breakfast. The meal includes two buttermilk pancakes, two pork and turkey sausage links, and a maple-flavored dipping sauce. It can be warmed up in the microwave, helping you solve the problem of making breakfast before running out the door to school or work. Overall, this is a tasty and simple-to-make breakfast option. However, if you're like many people and like a lot of syrup for your pancakes, you might want to make sure that you have some extra on hand. What comes with the frozen meal may not cut it for you.

Pizza is great, but it can be even better when paired with Banquet's macaroni and cheese. The Pizza Meal with Reduced Fat Pepperoni comes with just that and macaroni and cheese sauce to top it all off. While you don't normally see pizza and mac and cheese paired together, it can make your taste buds happy to get a small serving of each in the same meal. While many reviewers found the macaroni and cheese to be delicious, some felt that the pizza part left a lot to be desired. They said that the crust didn't have an excellent flavor. Some even compared its taste to cardboard.

If you're in the mood for a classic southern meal, you may be intrigued by the Chicken Fried Chicken Meal from Banquet. This frozen meal includes chicken fried chicken with country-style gravy, a side of mashed potatoes, and a side of corn. Although, you may want to look elsewhere for your southern meal fix since this isn't the most popular meal among Banquet customers. Many have shared that the chicken doesn't taste good at all. It also seems to wind up soggy because it cooks much faster than the mashed potatoes. The portion size is also a bit small, so don't expect it to fill you up all the way.

Banquet's Salisbury Steak Meal with Mac and Cheese ranks well above their similar frozen meal of Salisbury Steak Meal with Mashed Potatoes mentioned above. The main difference in the rankings of the two meals is the macaroni and cheese that comes on the side of this selection. As noted earlier, Banquet knows how to make frozen mac and cheese. It's creamy and delicious, offering the perfect pairing for the Salisbury steak. Compared to the watery mashed potatoes that come with the other Salisbury steak option, this is a much better option to try. Several customers agree with reviews calling the meal "very nice," "great," or "so delicious."

If you pick up Banquet's Chicken Parmesan expecting something that will taste like what you'd get at a five-star Italian restaurant, then you'll be sorely disappointed. However, if you go in with reasonable expectations about what is possible with a frozen meal, then this could be worth trying. The meal includes a breaded chicken patty with marinara sauce and a side of rigatoni. The chicken and pasta have a nice flavor and taste good when eaten separately and together. However, if the reason you really love chicken parmesan is the gooey and melted cheese over the chicken, you may want to skip this meal. The cheese flavor is integrated into the breading, and it doesn't have any loose, melted cheese over the chicken patty.

The Banquet Sweet & Sour Chicken meal is another meal you might want to try. It features a bed of white rice topped with vegetables and chicken glazed with sweet and sour sauce. One of the best things about this entrée is its taste. For a frozen meal, Banquet really did a nice job formulating the sweet and sour sauce. The chicken is also tender and flavorful; it pairs really nicely with the sauce. However, the biggest downside is that you don't get enough food to leave you feeling satisfied. Only a small portion of rice and five little pieces of chicken are included in the meal, which isn't enough for most adults.

If you're looking for something a little different, take a look at the Cheesy Patty and Mashed Potatoes meal from Banquet. This frozen meal is centered around the pork and chicken patty that is topped with a cheesy sauce and chopped bacon. Corn and mashed potatoes are served on the side. The meat patty has a nice flavor by itself, but the bacon and cheese sauce works to enhance it even more. The corn and mashed potatoes on the side also pair nicely with the meat, even though Banquet's mashed potatoes don't compare to their macaroni and cheese.

Banquet's Chicken Nuggets with Mac & Cheese is a solid option if you're looking for a worthwhile meal. This lunch or dinner entrée features 100% natural chicken breast and rib meat nuggets served with creamy macaroni and cheese. The result? Well, if you go by what Banquet customers have said, the result is a "good, quick dinner," "great for toddlers and picky eaters, delicious," and simply "amazing." You may have noticed that this version of Banquets chicken nuggets ranks higher than their chicken nugget meal with french fries. As we said before, it all comes down to the mac and cheese, which Banquet has perfected.

The Lasagna with Meat Sauce from Banquet is a hearty serving of layered lasagna noodles, mozzarella and parmesan cheeses, and meat sauce. The meat sauce has a nice flavor, and with the added meat, the meal is a bit more filling than it otherwise would be. You can pair this frozen meal with a side salad or some garlic bread, but it can also be quite enjoyable by itself. Just be prepared. Because lasagna is so dense, heating this meal up will take longer than some other entrées from Banquet. You may notice a few cold or semi-frozen spots if it isn't given enough time to warm up.

Looking for a meatless option? If so, try Banquet's Fish Sticks with Mac & Cheese and Pudding. We've already discussed that Banquet's macaroni and cheese is a customer favorite. The fish sticks paired with it in this meal are also quite tasty. They are lightly breaded and crisp up nicely when warmed up. Banquet also provides a cup of chocolate pudding with this entrée selection, another reason it ranks higher than some of their other meals. A few bites of creamy chocolate pudding can provide a nice finish to your meal. The only thing that could make this frozen meal a little better is having more fish sticks and macaroni and cheese. If you have a big appetite, you may still be hungry after eating it.

The Brown 'N Serve French Toast Breakfast is the best breakfast frozen meal offered by Banquet. This tasty breakfast option comes with a slice of French toast, two sausage links, and a dipping sauce with a scrumptious maple flavor. Heating the meal is quick and easy, making it the perfect solution for busy mornings. The French toast has a nice flavor and texture and tastes especially good with the maple dipping sauce. The two Brown 'N Serve Sausage links are delicious and help pull the whole meal together. As with the other breakfast meal from Banquet, you might want to make sure that you have some extra syrup on hand.

This Banquet frozen dinner — aptly called the Backyard BBQ Meal — will conjure up thoughts of summer cookouts with friends and family. It features a patty made of pork and chicken with a BBQ glaze that is made to taste like ribs. According to several Banquet customers, the 'ribs' are pretty scrumptious. Some happy reviewers described this meal as having "an amazing taste and tender meat," their favorite of any of the Banquet frozen meals, and their "go-to for a fast meal." The Backyard BBQ Meal also comes with a side of macaroni and cheese, which just makes it that much better.

The Chicken Nuggets with Mac & Cheese and Brownie is a customer favorite. This meal includes breaded chicken nuggets made with 100% natural chicken breasts with rib meat, macaroni and cheese, and a chocolate brownie for dessert. Based on our description of other meals, you may have already gathered that macaroni and cheese and chicken nuggets are two items that Banquet generally does a good job with. So, it should come as no surprise that this meal is a tasty option. Just be warned, some customers have noted that the brownie comes out too hard after cooking for as long as the chicken and mac take to warm up.

As with many of the company's other pasta dishes, Banquet's Fettuccini Chicken Alfredo meal is another delicious option to consider. The dinner consists of tender fettuccine pasta, chunks of chicken, and broccoli mixed with a tasty Alfredo sauce. The chicken is tender and juicy, and the Alfredo sauce is flavorful and creamy, which is a winning combination. However, there are a few downsides to this meal. If you're looking for a hearty portion of chicken, you may want to skip over this one. It only includes a few pieces, which can be disappointing. With less chicken, the entire meal also won't be as filling as you might have thought, so it could still leave you hungry for something else.

If you're craving mac and cheese but also want a little meat to make a more complete meal, then you might want to try the Cheesy Macaroni & Beef frozen meal from Banquet. As the name suggests, this meal features chunks of beef mixed with Banquet's creamy mac and cheese. The result is a tasty treat. Some customers have called this meal a "perfect combo," "satisfying," and "simply delicious." It may become your new go-to if you're looking for a quick and easy comfort food dinner. According to Banquet's website, 80% of individuals who reviewed this meal said that they would recommend it to a friend.

This Swedish Meatballs Meal from Banquet is another popular dish among many customers. It comes with egg noodles and Swedish meatballs with a sour cream gravy. Banquet did a nice job crafting a creamy and delicious gravy for a frozen meal, which can make or break a Swedish meatballs entrée. Another thing that Banquet got right with this meal is that it offers a good amount of meatballs. While some of their other frozen meals seem to skimp on the meat, this one has several meatballs to go with the tender egg noodles. It makes for a pretty gratifying meal.

If you want to try one of the best Banquet frozen meals, you might want to grab their Homestyle Patty Meal the next time you're at the grocery store. This meal centers around a gravy-covered pork and chicken patty. It sits over a bed of egg noodles, which taste great mixed with gravy and meat. According to Banquet's website, 7 out of 10 reviewers would recommend this meal to a friend. They have shared that it offers a nice-sized meat patty and plenty of gravy. Either make this quick and easy lunch or dinner for yourself or pick up a few to share with others in your home.

We've almost made our way to the best Banquet frozen meal. But first, let's take a look at the runner-up, the Mac & Cheese Meal. We've already heard a lot about how creamy and delicious Banquet's macaroni and cheese is when served on the side of one of their other entrées, but with this meal, you can enjoy it all by itself. It can be a good option if you're looking for a meatless entrée or if you just want something enjoyable and easy to make. Happy reviewers have described it as "creamy, cheesy, totally yummy," "perfectly cheese," and "amazing." Do you think you'll want to give this classic a try for yourself?

Ready to learn which Banquet meal is the best? Based on reviews, it has to be the Chicken Fingers with Mac & Cheese meal. This entrée features breaded chicken finger patties made from 100% natural chicken breasts and rib meat. The tenders are served alongside the famous creamy macaroni and cheese. Both the tenders and the mac and cheese are tasty by themselves, but by combining them together in the same meal, Banquet eliminates the need to choose just one or the other. Nearly 75% of Banquet customers who reviewed this meal gave it either a four- or five-star rating. This is one that you'll definitely want to add to your shopping cart the next time you go to the grocery store.