12 Frozen Chicken Entrees (Ranked From Worst To Best)
Frozen chicken entrees are lifesavers when time is short but hunger is real. These convenient meals promise delicious chicken without the prep work, but not all deliver on that promise.
I’ve sampled dozens of these freezer-aisle options to separate the truly tasty from the downright disappointing, saving you from wasting money on duds that should stay frozen forever.
1. Lean Cuisine Glazed Chicken
Ever microwaved disappointment? That’s essentially what you’re getting with Lean Cuisine’s Glazed Chicken. The meat resembles tiny rubber erasers more than actual poultry.
The sauce, which promises to be glazed and flavorful, delivers a watery sweetness that barely clings to the chicken. My college roommate once described it as “food that forgot to be food.”
Despite the convenient packaging and low calorie count, nothing can save this entree from its fundamental blandness.
2. P.F. Chang’s Chicken Teriyaki Bowl
Sickeningly sweet sauce drowns what little chicken exists in this bowl. The meat chunks appear to have been measured with tweezers – tiny islands in a sea of pineapple chunks and teriyaki syrup.
The texture screams processed, with chicken that bounces rather than tears when forked. Even the vegetables seem to have given up, wilting sadly into the sugary mixture.
For a brand that delivers decent restaurant experiences, this frozen attempt falls embarrassingly short of anything resembling authentic Asian cuisine.
3. Real Good Foods Stuffed Chicken Cordon Bleu
What’s supposed to be ham and cheese inside this chicken breast more closely resembles a dense processed filling. The pale interior oozes unappealingly when cut, bearing only a vague resemblance to the traditional French dish.
I once served these at a game night, and my friends still bring it up as the “mystery meat incident.” The chicken exterior turns dry and firm, often requiring a generous drink just to get through.
Even the most forgiving microwave can’t completely save this oddly textured, stuffed disappointment.
4. Boston Market Chicken-based Frozen Entrees
Boston Market’s frozen offerings can be hit or miss. The box promises restaurant-quality comfort food but often delivers a more muted, cafeteria-style experience. The chicken quality varies – sometimes tender, occasionally a bit stringy.
Their signature sauces struggle with balance – leaning too sweet while still feeling underseasoned. While not inedible, these meals often leave you craving the fresh version from the restaurant more than feeling satisfied with what’s on your plate.
5. El Monterey Chicken Enchiladas
Where’s the chicken? That’s the million-dollar question with these enchiladas. Grab your magnifying glass to spot the microscopic chicken bits hiding among beans and sauce.
The tortillas transform from frozen to soggy without ever hitting that perfect texture in between. I grew up in a household where these were a staple, and even as a hungry teenager, I found myself hunting for protein.
While the sauce has decent flavor, these enchiladas ultimately feel like a carb-heavy delivery system for minimal meat.
6. Hungry-Man Boneless Fried Chicken
Hungry-Man’s promise of a man-sized meal delivers on quantity, not quality. The chicken pieces are enormous, yet somehow contain less actual meat than a child’s portion elsewhere.
The breading-to-chicken ratio rivals the federal debt – seemingly infinite and constantly expanding. Each bite offers a mouthful of crispy coating followed by a fleeting whisper of chicken.
The sodium content is astronomical – I once ate this before a date and spent the evening feeling like I’d been preserved for the winter. Filling? Yes. Satisfying? Hardly.
7. Stouffer’s Chicken Alfredo
Stouffer’s Chicken Alfredo sits firmly in the “could be worse” category of frozen entrees. The pasta usually maintains decent texture, avoiding the mushiness that plagues many frozen pastas.
The chicken, while not abundant, at least resembles actual poultry cuts rather than mystery meat. The alfredo sauce lacks the richness of homemade but delivers a basic creaminess that satisfies a comfort food craving.
This is the frozen meal equivalent of a C+ student – not failing, not excelling, just reliably average.
8. Applegate Organic Chicken Strips
Applegate gets points for keeping things clean – no mysterious ingredients lurking in these chicken strips. The meat tastes like actual chicken breast, a surprisingly rare quality in the frozen food aisle. What they gain in ingredient quality, they lose in excitement.
The breading lacks that satisfying crunch, even when prepared in an oven rather than microwave. Last summer, I served these at a backyard gathering with various dipping sauces, which helped elevate their bland profile.
They’re the sensible sedan of chicken strips – reliable but uninspiring.
9. Blake’s Chicken Pot Pie
Blake’s understands what makes a chicken pot pie comforting – the balance of flaky crust and hearty filling. Their chicken chunks are substantial and clearly identifiable as white meat.
The gravy strikes that perfect consistency between soupy and gluey, coating each vegetable and chicken piece adequately. The vegetables retain some textural integrity rather than dissolving into mush.
While not quite grandma-level delicious, these pot pies deliver a homestyle experience that actually feels homemade.
They’re perfect for those nights when cooking feels impossible but your soul needs comfort.
10. Trader Joe’s Mandarin Orange Chicken
The cult following behind this orange chicken is fully justified. Crispy nuggets transform in your oven to crunchy bites that actually stay crispy, even after the sauce application.
The sauce packet allows customization – use half for subtle sweetness or the full packet for that takeout-style glaze. I’ve fooled dinner guests into thinking I ordered from our local Chinese restaurant by transferring this to proper serving dishes.
While not identical to fresh restaurant versions, it comes impressively close for something pulled from your freezer.
11. Kevin’s Natural Foods Thai-Style Coconut Chicken
Restaurant-style Thai food from your microwave sounds unlikely, yet Kevin’s comes surprisingly close. The chicken stays tender and juicy, not rubbery like many other frozen proteins.
The coconut-lemongrass sauce offers layers of flavor with hints of galangal, lime, and gentle spice. During my Whole30 experiment last year, this became my weekly reward meal – compliant with the diet but tasting indulgent.
The 24g of protein per serving makes this a strong option for a health-conscious dinner that doesn’t skimp on taste.
12. ALDI Kirkwood Frozen Chicken Breast Nuggets
ALDI’s chicken nuggets have achieved the impossible – affordable, delicious, and made with identifiable chicken breast. The crisp exterior shatters perfectly with each bite, revealing juicy white meat inside.
These nuggets have converted even the most dedicated fast-food nugget enthusiasts. My nephew, a chicken nugget connoisseur at age 8, declared these “better than the ones with the clown” – high praise indeed from the target demographic.
The balance of price, quality, and taste makes these nuggets the undisputed champion of frozen chicken options.