Frozen meals have become a staple in modern households, offering convenience without sacrificing taste and variety. With so many options available, finding the top brands can help streamline your grocery shopping and provide reliable meals for busy days. Brands like Amy's Kitchen and Healthy Choice offer diverse and nutritious selections, each catering to different dietary needs and preferences. To discover more about these reputable frozen meal brands and explore others worth considering, check out the detailed list below.
Illustration of frozen meals
Best brands of frozen meals in 2025
Amy's Kitchen
Amy's Kitchen is a leading producer of organic and natural frozen meals, known for its innovative and convenient products. The company has recently expanded into the frozen breakfast category with a new line of burritos, entrees, and wraps, featuring high-quality organic and non-GMO ingredients. Amy's Kitchen has over 135 varieties of frozen and packaged foods, catering to various dietary restrictions and preferences, and has seen significant growth with a commitment to using meticulously sourced organic ingredients. The company has also improved product consistency and labor productivity through collaborations with Chef Robotics, achieving a 12% increase in product consistency and a 17% increase in labor productivity. Amy's Kitchen continues to innovate, meeting consumer demands for larger portion sizes and healthier meal options.
Stouffer's
Stouffer's is a leading brand in the frozen meal industry, renowned for its high-quality products such as lasagna, Salisbury steak, and meatloaf. In the 12 weeks ending February 24, 2024, Stouffer's generated over $243.08 million in sales in the U.S., making it the top-selling single-serve frozen dinner brand, followed by Healthy Choice and Marie Callender's. The brand also dominates the multi-serve segment with $226 million in sales during the same period. Founded in 1924, Stouffer's has a rich history, starting as a restaurant and later expanding into frozen meals in 1954, before being acquired by Nestle in 1973. Stouffer's also offers a line of reduced-fat products under the Lean Cuisine brand.
Lean Cuisine
Lean Cuisine, a leading brand in the frozen meals sector, has successfully navigated changing consumer preferences by shifting its focus from diet-oriented products to wellbeing and healthy lifestyles. Following a 20% revenue drop between 2013 and 2015, Lean Cuisine revamped its brand, introducing new meals with bold flavors and clean ingredients, which led to a 4% sales increase by the end of 2015 despite the category's 0.6% decline. The brand's US retail sales in single-serve, frozen dinners/entrees jumped 10% to $199 million in the 52-week period ended July 2021. Lean Cuisine's new approach includes reducing sodium, incorporating more vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins, and organizing recipes into categories that align with consumer eating habits. This strategic overhaul has helped Lean Cuisine regain its market position and appeal to consumers seeking convenient, healthy meal options.
Trader Joe's
Trader Joe's has established itself as a leader in the frozen food market, driven by its innovative and affordable products. In 2021, the chain saw a 23% increase in frozen food sales, according to NielsenIQ, with popular items like Mandarin Orange Chicken, Mac and Cheese Bites, and international dishes such as paneer tikka masala and cha siu bao pork buns. The company's focus on private labels, which make up around 80% of its products, allows it to offer high-quality items at lower prices. Trader Joe's also benefits from its efficient supply chain and limited SKU strategy, stocking around 4,000 SKUs compared to the average grocery store's 30,000. This approach has contributed to its remarkable sales per square foot of approximately $1,750, significantly higher than competitors.
Hungry-Man
Hungry-Man, a prominent brand under Conagra Brands, is a leading producer of frozen meals, known for its wide range of convenient and nutritious products. In 2023, Conagra Brands, the parent company of Hungry-Man, generated significant net sales, contributing $12,277 million, highlighting the brand's strong market presence. Hungry-Man meals, such as the Roasted Carved White Meat Turkey Meal and the Grilled Beef Patty Meal, offer consumers a variety of options with balanced nutritional profiles. The brand's success is also driven by its distribution through online channels, enhancing consumer convenience. With Conagra Brands holding approximately 15% of the U.S. packaged food market, Hungry-Man continues to be a major player in the frozen food sector. For more details, visit their official page.
Smart Ones
Smart Ones, a brand under Kraft Heinz, stands out as a leading producer of frozen meals, offering 78 different cuisine options at an affordable price range of $1.79 to $3.99. Despite being less recognizable for its value, with only 21% of consumers having purchased Smart Ones, the brand differentiates itself through low sodium content and the absence of preservatives, addressing consumer concerns about health and taste. Smart Ones targets consumers seeking convenience and nutritional value, competing with brands like Lean Cuisine, Healthy Choice, and Amy's. The brand's focus on health and convenience aligns with the growing demand for healthier and more diverse food options, particularly among millennials and Gen Z. By highlighting its unique offerings, Smart Ones aims to improve its market share in the frozen meal sector. For more information, visit their official website.
Banquet
Banquet is a leading brand in the frozen food industry, known for its delicious and convenient meals that cater to the entire family. The brand offers a wide range of products, including hearty breakfasts, snacks, and dinners, such as their popular Turkey Meal and Chicken Bacon Alfredo. As part of the broader frozen food market, which is expected to reach USD 500.8 billion by 2033 with a CAGR of 5.3%, Banquet benefits from the increasing demand for ready-to-eat meals, a segment that accounts for 45.3% of the market revenue in 2024. Banquet's focus on quality ingredients and flavorful options aligns with consumer trends towards healthier and more convenient food choices. The brand's products are widely available in retail channels, which dominate the market share at 63.1%.
Marie Callender's
Marie Callender's, a flagship brand of Conagra Brands, is a leading producer of frozen meals, known for its high-quality and innovative products. As the largest player in the $79 billion frozen foods category, Conagra Brands, which includes Marie Callender's, generated $6.5 billion in sales in the year ended December 25, 2022. Marie Callender's is particularly strong in the single-serve meal market, competing closely with Stouffer's and Lean Cuisine. The brand continues to innovate, introducing new products such as indulgent side dishes and no-sugar-added desserts, which appeal to modern consumers. With its focus on taste, convenience, and value, Marie Callender's remains a preferred choice for many consumers. For more information about their frozen dinner options, check out their Country Fried Chicken & Gravy.
Kashi
Kashi, while primarily known for its plant-based cereals, granola bars, and toaster waffles, does not specialize in frozen meals. However, if we consider the broader context of healthy and nutritious food options, Kashi stands out for its commitment to using wholesome ingredients and creating products that positively fuel the body. Kashi's focus on nutritious ingredients aligns with consumer trends, such as the increasing demand for better-for-you products, a trend also observed in the frozen food market where consumers are seeking healthier options. Despite not being a major player in the frozen meal segment, Kashi's brand values and product quality make it a reputable name in the health food industry. Kashi's products are designed to delight the senses and provide nutritional benefits.
Evol
Evol Foods is a notable producer of frozen meals, standing out in a highly competitive market with its unique branding and healthy product offerings. The company's name, though unconventional, has been a key factor in grabbing consumer attention, particularly in a saturated grocery store environment. Evol Foods is part of the broader U.S. frozen food market, which was projected to gain momentum from 2019 to 2023 driven by increasing urbanization and rising disposable income. The market for healthy frozen snacks, including those offered by Evol, has been a significant growth driver. Despite some challenges such as lack of innovation and aisle confusion, Evol's products have managed to resonate with consumers looking for wholesome frozen food options. Visit their official website for more details about Evol Foods and their offerings.
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