9 Frozen Dinner Brands That Use High Quality Ingredients

After a long day at the office and an evening of running carpool for the kiddos, assembling a filling and nutritious dinner can feel like climbing Mount Everest. Enter frozen dinners. Oftentimes, they might not be the healthiest or tastiest option, but they sure are quick and convenient. But, what if you could enjoy the ease of a frozen dinner without sacrificing flavor and healthful ingredients? Lucky for you, we've rounded up a list of 9 frozen dinner brands that use high quality ingredients.

There's something to be said about a frozen meal that leaves you satisfied without feeling emotionally disappointed and physically sluggish. These high quality brands run the gamut in terms of cuisine, ensuring there's something for everyone. Whether you're looking for a warm, comforting pot pie or the bold flavor of Chicken Tikka Masala, there's going to be a brand for you on this list. As for folks with allergies, intolerances, dietary preferences, or restrictions, you're sure to find a suitable product on this list as well, since many of these brands carry plant-based, gluten-free, nut-free, and dairy-free options. So, read on. You might just be inspired to snag one of these frozen dinners from the freezer aisle during your next trip to the grocery store. And, who knows? One of these brands might even make it into your weekly or monthly dinner rotation.

Take a stroll through the grocery store and you're sure to see the friendly looking packaging of a Kevin's Natural Foods product. It's everywhere. Kevin's Natural Foods seems like one of those brands that just appeared overnight. One day you'd never heard of it, the next it was in practically every grocery store's freezer aisle. Founded in 2019, the reason why Kevin's Natural Foods has become such a heavy hitter in the frozen dinner department is because it delivers on its promises of healthfulness: No refined sugar. No meat treated with hormones or antibiotics. No soy. No gluten (with many of the products being certified by the Gluten Intolerance Group).

On top of all that, many of the brand's meals also carry certifications for specific diets, like keto or paleo (and the company also adopted the standards established by the Paleo Foundation to ensure its products align seamlessly with this regimen). As for folks with lactose sensitivities, the majority of Kevin's Natural Foods products are dairy-free.

Those looking to find Kevin's Natural Foods during their next grocery shop will have little trouble doing so — the company's products are found in over 20,000 stores across the country, including retailers like Aldi and Costco. And, while you're in the wholesaler's freezer aisle, you might want to check out these frozen Costco items under $15 we never pass on. They might not have the same health promises as Kevin's Natural Foods, but life is all about balance, right?

If Kevin's Natural Foods seems to have appeared out of thin air, Amy's Kitchen is the exact opposite. The brand seems as old as time immemorial. Okay, so while that's not exactly accurate, Amy's Kitchen products are indeed a grocery store classic. The company dates back to 1987, and was founded as a way to provide tasty, healthy and organic vegetarian meals for folks short on time or just needing that little bit of convenience. And, while shelf-stable products, like its mac and cheese, might be go-tos, the brand also carries some truly delicious and quality frozen meals.

As for its healthfulness, you can count on Amy's Kitchen products being completely non-GMO, with the company claiming to have taken this stance even before the USDA National Organic Program banned these bioengineered foods in 2001. Additionally, the majority of its ingredients are organic. When it comes to the ingredients that are conventionally grown, the Amy's Kitchen website explains that this is "either because they are not readily available in the quantities we need or because the cost is much too high. But we continue to work hard to have those last few conventionally-grown items sourced organically for us."

As far as convenience meals go, those are some pretty high standards. And. those promises of healthfulness don't just stop in the freezer aisle. They extend to the brands canned products, too. Amy's Kitchen has even landed itself on the list of canned soup brands that use the highest quality ingredients.

Forget boring freezer aisle lasagna or sad tasting TV dinners. Saffron Road brings flavorful world cuisine to your very own kitchen. Think Chicken Biryani. Spinach Palak Paneer. Vegetable Pad Thai. Chicken Enchiladas Poblano. These aren't your typical frozen dinners. And they aren't just tasty – they're made from high-quality stuff, too.

Saffron Road is truly top-of-the-line when it comes to ensuring your frozen dinner is healthy. Take a gander at the brand's website and you'll see that many of its products boast being non-GMO, seed oil-free, low or no-added sugar, and contain no hormones or antibiotics. Standards like that aren't typical among processed foods in grocery store freezer cases. As for customers with dietary preferences and restrictions, Saffron Road has options aplenty. Its product line includes Halal, Kosher, vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free meals, ensuring that there's something for everyone in every household.

Moreover, Saffron Road is a Certified B Corporation, meaning that its products are socially and environmentally responsible. To top things off, the brand also highlights USDA organic ingredients. And, if you're prioritizing that marker during your weekly trips to the grocery store, you should probably be aware of what everyone gets wrong about organic food. Being well-versed in the guidelines behind the "organic" label will help you be an informed shopper, whether you're browsing the greens in the produce department or snagging a meal like those from Saffron Road in the freezer aisle.

If a name like "Blue Zones Kitchen" seems a little odd to you, it might be because you're unfamiliar with the concept. People in Blue Zones live the longest and they eat a particular kind of food practically every day. So, Blue Zones Kitchen frozen dinners were inspired by these regions of the world where residents live well into their elderly years — often to age 100 or older — thanks to healthful dietary and lifestyle practices.

Blue Zones Kitchen offers quality frozen dinners that purposefully exclude fillers, sugars, and artificial ingredients. Moreover, the brand is completely vegan and also highlights whole foods ingredients in its products, like leafy greens and blueberries for antioxidants, quinoa for a complete plant-based protein, and red lentils for a boost of B vitamins. As for Blue Zones Kitchen's stance on organic ingredients, the company website notes that the "beans in our meals are all organic. We prioritize local and direct sourcing where possible to ensure optimal quality, freshness, and taste."

On top of that trustworthy sourcing, Blue Zones Kitchen meals are always non-GMO and even carry the Non-GMO Project's certification. The brand also caters to food sensitivities and dietary restrictions too, with almost all of its products being gluten-free and nut-free. However, it should be noted that the facility where the frozen dinners are made is not allergen-free, so those with severe allergies should be aware of the potential for cross contamination.

There's something so comforting about a pot pie. A creamy, flavorful interior encased in a flaky crust always makes for a cozy, hearty meal. Unfortunately, that combination doesn't always translate into a high-quality, healthful product. Luckily, there's a brand that strikes the right balance between being warmly satisfying and including top-notch ingredients — Blake's All Natural Foods.

This brand carries a small but mighty line of products with its meals containing simple ingredients, many of which are organic. To top it off, the meat used by Blake's All Natural Foods is raised without antibiotics – that makes for a meal you can feel good about. The brand has some happy customers too, with one Facebook user explaining that while they love chicken pot pie, "some of the different brands lack in ingredients and every ingredient in it taste the same. Not Blake's Chicken Pot Pie. I tried it for dinner tonight. It was absolutely delicious! The ingredients had their own individual fresh taste and of being homemade."

So, if you're looking for a frozen dinner that's warm and comforting while still being nutritious, Blake's All Natural Foods might be the thing you're looking for. You can find the pot pies at grocery stores like Albertsons, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Kroger, and even through Amazon Fresh.

Let's be honest, kids can be picky eaters. Trying to get them to enjoy their vegetables can often feel like a chore. And, when you get to be an adult, getting your veggies in can still be difficult. Unless you're a gastronomic aficionado, munching on carrots and broccoli can feel rather mundane. Fortunately, there's a frozen dinner brand that's designed specifically to help kids get their nutrients in (but it's enjoyed by people of all ages, too) — Kidfresh.

Established in New York City in 2007 with the goal of making tasty, healthy food for the founders' own children, this company really packs a punch when it comes to ingredients. Kidfresh prides itself on keeping its products free of artificial ingredients, bioengineered ingredients, synthetic colors, hormones, antibiotics, and preservatives. All of its meals contain hidden veggies for that all-important health boost. And, as if that weren't enough, the brand also uses BPA-free packaging, so heating and eating can be accomplished worry-free.

To really top things off, Kidfresh also uses wild-caught fish, which seems to be a rarity among convenience foods (especially convenience foods with children as its target customers). If you're unsure of the difference between conventionally raised fish and those sourced straight from the deep blue ocean, you should consider brushing up on the difference between farm-raised vs. wild fish. You might be surprised to learn that there's more to it than just waters they come from.

Oftentimes, it feels like frozen dinners force you to choose between flavor and healthfulness. When it comes to Evol Foods, there's no sacrifice that needs to be made. The company has an extensive line of frozen meals that you can trust have quality ingredients all while packing a punch in the flavor department. When it comes to the brand's ingredient standards, the meat, dairy, and eggs all come from vegetarian-fed animals and are raised without hormones and antibiotics. Moreover, Evol Foods' products are free from artificial colors and flavors, additives, preservatives, and fillers. To round things out, the company only uses non-GMO grains, vegetables, and oils.

Beyond being good for the consumer, Evol Foods also makes sure its products are good for the planet, too. The company boasts carbon neutral products, as well as sustainable packaging. On its website, Evol Foods notes that it has "made the switch from 100% plastic bowls to paper-based bowls. Plus, several Evol products – including all of our carbon neutral products – are produced in a TRUE Zero Waste Certified Facility. This means our facilities have diverted an average of 90% or greater waste from landfills or other waste reductions in the last 12 months."

If you're curious about these good-for-you frozen dinners, Evol Foods products are pretty easy to find in stores and online. Pop into major grocers, like Target and Kroger, and meander down the freezer aisle. You're all but guaranteed to find a few of Evol Foods' products.

Watch a video on the internet or scroll through social media any time over the course of the last few years and you're sure to have stumbled across an advertisement or two for Daily Harvest. While the company's line of smoothies often took center stage, Daily Harvest actually carries a robust collection of frozen meals called Harvest Bowls. And, much like the brand's other products, these frozen dinners are also made with top-of-the-line ingredients.

Harvest Bowls are gluten- and dairy-free and contain no added sugar. The ingredients lists for each of these frozen dinners are super simple with no questionable components. Take, for instance, the Sweet Potato + Wild Rice Hash frozen dinner, for example. It includes organic ingredients, like sweet potato, tomato puree, avocado, great northern beans, and lemon juice. Even the spices are organic. Similarly, the Herbed Squash + Asparagus Risotto also boasts a healthy and simple ingredients list, with organic additions, like brown rice, kabocha squash puree, green peas, and extra virgin olive oil. That simplicity is hard to beat when it comes to heat-and-eat meals in the freezer aisle.

When it comes to the company's organic ingredient policy, Daily Harvest explains that "any item labeled as 'certified organic' means that 95%+ of the ingredients are organic. If an item is labeled 'made with organic,' it means that 70%+ of the ingredients are organic." With standards like that, Daily Harvest certainly earns its spot on this list.

When you're zipping through the freezer aisle, it's all too easy to chuck a few frozen burritos in your cart for days when you simply can't be bothered to cook dinner. But, oftentimes, those convenience foods fall short in the nutrition department. Rather than forego the item altogether, it might be time to check out a company that takes its ingredient list seriously: Red's All Natural.

The company was founded in 2009 with inspiration stemming from the homemade burrito recipe of the founder's wife. Today, Red's All Natural continues to pride itself on high standards, like being completely non-GMO (they even participate in the Non-GMO Project) and using organic ingredients wherever it can. Additionally, the company uses antibiotic- and nitrate-free meat and cage-free eggs.

Folks with nut allergies are in luck, because Red's All Natural products are made without nuts and in a completely nut-free facility. Moreover, none of its products contain artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. And, to round things out, the company also makes its tortillas fresh every day in its South Dakota manufacturing facility. To the uninitiated this may seem like no big deal, but tortilla quality has the ability to make or break a dish. Just go ahead and read through the reasons why it's a mistake not to use fresh tortillas when making tacos or burritos. Once you learn why fresh tortillas are better, you'll surely appreciate Red's All Natural's efforts even more.

Between work, school, and play, life can get awfully busy. And, when schedules are packed, convenience tends to be the name of the game in order to get dinner on the table quickly. Nonetheless, frozen meals often get a bad rep when it comes to health. So, to help you out during your next trip to the grocery store, we've rounded up nine frozen dinner brands with ingredient lists and brand standards that pass muster.

By comparing nutrition labels and company ethos, we were able to identify brands that prioritize simple, recognizable, thoughtfully-sourced ingredients that are non-GMO across the board. And, while what goes in the food is extremely important, what stays off the ingredient lists was also a major consideration. Many of these brands also forgo artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, and fillers, making sure that the food on your plate looks more like the plants you'd find in a backyard garden rather than the substances you'd read about in a chemistry textbook. A number of these brands also use hormone- and antibiotic-free meat, as well as organic ingredients, where possible. Several of these frozen dinner brands are suitable for consumers with dietary preferences and restrictions too, with gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, Kosher, Halal, nut-free, paleo, and keto options abounding. Positive reviews from customers were also considered when rounding up this list to ensure that these brands are both healthy and tasty.