Skip the Drive-Thru: These 5 Frozen Meals Are Cheaper and Surprisingly Good
The average drive-thru meal ranges between $8-$17 and if fast food is your go-to, the cost can really add up. A better option for a meal that’s quick is to shop the frozen food aisle at the grocery store.
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If frozen dinners make you think of rubbery, tasteless food, the following picks might change your mind. They’re cheaper than fast food, easy to prepare and packed with flavor. Plus, they might just have you opening your freezer instead of reaching for your car keys.
One thing’s for sure: You can save money by making these fast-food swaps.
P.F. Chang’s Korean-Inspired Pork Bowl
Price: $ 4.99
If you’re skipping the drive-thru and want something with bold flavor under $5, this frozen Korean-inspired pork bowl from chain restaurant P.F. Chang’s has spicy lo mein noodles, pork shoulder, shitake mushrooms and vegetables — carrots, red bell pepper, cabbage — in a gochujang sauce, which is a red chili paste.
California Pizza Kitchen BBQ Chicken Pizza
Price: $7.69 (or $3.99 for the personal size)
California Pizza Kitchen’s BBQ Chicken Pizza is an all-time favorite of Reddit users. It’s a thin-crust pizza topped with tangy barbecue sauce, red onions, mozzarella, hickory-smoked gouda and grilled chicken. Not only is this pie tasty, it’s also enough for more than one meal.
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TGI Fridays Pulled Pork with Mac & Cheese
Price: $7.49
If you’re looking for a comfort-food substitute for your favorite fast food meal, pulled pork in a tangy BBQ sauce paired with creamy pasta is what you’ll find in TGI Fridays Pulled Pork with Mac & Cheese. While some who’ve tried this one think the pulled pork is the star of the dinner because the mac and cheese lacks cheese, a quick fix is to add shredded cheese to the pasta once it’s heated and stir it in.
P.F. Chang’s Chicken Lo Mein
Price: $4.99
Avoid the drive-thru and its high prices and get your noodle fix at home with P.F. Chang’s Chicken Lo Mein. The dinner is packed with lo mein noodles, carrots, mushrooms, onions and peas in a garlic and ginger sauce. It has some big fans on Reddit but some caution that it’s not restaurant-grade lo mein by any means.
Boston Market Swedish Meatballs
Price: $4.99
Featuring a comforting mix of pasta, meatballs and a creamy, sour-cream-based herb sauce, these Swedish meatballs from Boston Market at Home have a little more depth than your average frozen dinner. Reddit users give it high praise. One recommendation given to take the dish over the top is to add a dollop of sour cream and cracked pepper.
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