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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?