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Ready meals - any favourites?

(154 Posts)
Witzend Tue 12-Oct-21 11:17:32

We rarely have them, but after a week of childcare help while dd is away for work, I picked up a couple on the (final) way home yesterday. M&S big Yorkshire puds with sliced beef, gravy and potatoes inside. I’d usually go for something SE Asian but we really enjoyed them, with cabbage and carrots which were in the fridge anyway.

In the past dh has really enjoyed a Waitrose Nasi Goreng - he got hooked on it during a year based in Jakarta.

Any absolute favourites? No sniffy comments, please, I do virtually always cook from scratch!

Katyj Tue 12-Oct-21 17:47:20

I love the M and S sweet and sour chicken, it’s the one without rice. DH doesn’t like it so it’s a bit expensive for one, but I do treat myself now and again.

lemsip Tue 12-Oct-21 18:16:41

oh, Iceland do a vegetable lasagne..it has spinach and peppers in it and is my favourite meal;; Best of all it only costs £1 so I always have several in the freezer......microwave for 13 minutes....delicious and filling at 500g

Cabbie21 Tue 12-Oct-21 18:41:33

I like Aldi’s moussaka, but it is not very often in stock.
Actually I can’t remember when I last bought a ready meal. I have usually got leftover portions of home made meals eg lasagne, fish pie etc, but we have eaten them all. Time to restock.

Patreesh Tue 12-Oct-21 18:43:56

I don't buy ready meals often but on the odd occasion that I have I've enjoyed Aldi's chilled Jalfrezi curry and rice. A decent sized single serving that can be padded out a little with one of their delicious garlic and coriander naan breads. Yummy!!

Bridie22 Tue 12-Oct-21 18:47:37

M&S chicken and brocolli pie.

Patreesh Tue 12-Oct-21 18:55:13

Apologies if I've duplicated this post!
I don't buy ready meals often, but on the odd occasion that I have I've enjoyed Aldi's chilled Jalfrezi curry and rice. A decent sized single serving that can be padded out a little with one of their delicious garlic and coriander naan breads. Yummy!

Urmstongran Tue 12-Oct-21 19:02:13

Another Charlie Bingham fan here. When I first started buying his meal 12y ago their chicken pot pies (in a real pot - I kept a few for nibbles, hairgrips etc) were delicious. Haven’t seen them for a few years? But I love the macaroni cheese topped with breadcrumbs and bacon, and the Thai Red curry with jasmine rice.

Urmstongran Tue 12-Oct-21 19:04:32

*Bigham

annodomini Tue 12-Oct-21 20:10:15

Charlie isn't much good for vegetarians. I do sometimes eat fish and find his fish pie nearly as good as I could make myself - if I could be bothered! It's what I call a necessary extravagance. grin

lemongrove Tue 12-Oct-21 20:43:55

JaneJudge

Can you not get Ocado GSM?

The M&S lasagne is nice but all their gastro range is. Charlie Bigham's meals are nice too

I haven’t tried their lasagne ( it’s something I make anyway) but the M&S spag bol is very good.
Charlie Bigham meals? Who are you Jane Rees Mogg??
They are so expensive!

gillgran Tue 12-Oct-21 20:58:47

Another Charlie Bigham here, yes they are a bit pricy, But I've just done an Ocado order & they are, (serves 2), 2 for £12, on offer.
We're lucky to have delivery here in Cambs., We did try for delivery to our NW Norfolk bolthole, but no luck there.

During the lockdown we tried the Parsley Box meals, (recommended on the GM thread,) a good stand-by, but the portions are tiny. (although they would suit an invalid or someone with a very small appetite!).
Not for us, my DH would need 2 or 3 meals at a time......!

I do cook meals, but the easier the better nowadays, in fact I've just ordered the ingredients for a lovely warming dish, also recommended on another thread, (thanks U)

3dognight Tue 12-Oct-21 21:20:50

Aldi Mac Cheese with pancetta and croutons, with rocket and cherry tomatoes. Most things from their Especially Selected range are good though. But I am a mac cheese fan.

25Avalon Tue 12-Oct-21 22:03:48

Iceland’s Cathedral City Macaroni cheese is very nice, and at only £5 for 2 very good value.

Kim19 Tue 12-Oct-21 22:55:35

Moussaka is one I really enjoy.

MissAdventure Tue 12-Oct-21 22:57:08

25Avalon

Iceland’s Cathedral City Macaroni cheese is very nice, and at only £5 for 2 very good value.

Do they do a cauliflower cheese version, do you know, please?
It's one of my favourite meals, just as it is, with crusty bread.

25Avalon Tue 12-Oct-21 23:01:07

MissAdventure Iceland do their own cauliflower cheese but idk what it’s like. Since lockdown I make my own and add bacon and tomatoes.

MissAdventure Tue 12-Oct-21 23:02:52

I usually find shop cauli cheese a bit insipid.
It was the Cathedral City that I liked the sound of.
Lovely mature cheese! smile

25Avalon Tue 12-Oct-21 23:03:32

Know what you mean.

MissAdventure Tue 12-Oct-21 23:05:14

I resent all those calories, and the risk of raging heartburn for something without much taste.

nadateturbe Wed 13-Oct-21 01:49:01

I rarely eat ready meals. If we don't want to cook its usually either pizza and salad or fish fingers, oven chips and baked beans.

Kittye Wed 13-Oct-21 03:38:14

Another one here for Charlie Bigham. Lasagne and Meatball al forno especially. DH enjoys Fish pie too. Yes expensive but in my opinion well worth it.

FannyCornforth Wed 13-Oct-21 03:48:16

annodomini you’re right about Charlie Bigham not being great for vegetarians.
It also drives me mad when meat (usually bacon) is added to something which really doesn’t warrant it, eg macaroni cheese, Brussels sprouts.
M&S used to do a butternut squash and goats cheese lasagne, which really was the food of the gods, but they stopped doing it, for some unfathomable reason sad

nanna8 Wed 13-Oct-21 06:22:28

None of the ready meals in Australia are edible, we haven't managed to do that yet. Better with home delivery takeaway Thai or Vietnamese. The diet ones work because they are so foul you wouldn't actually eat them, so you would lose weight.

kittylester Wed 13-Oct-21 07:45:47

Charlie Bigham meals are comparatively expensive but I buy the chicken curry for about £8. We can't buy a take away curry for that price and the Charlie Bigham one is delicious. I also know that it is gf.

Froglady Wed 13-Oct-21 07:52:06

JaneJudge

Can you not get Ocado GSM?

The M&S lasagne is nice but all their gastro range is. Charlie Bigham's meals are nice too

I've just started eating the Charlie Bigham's meals and the Chicken Tikka Masala and Pilau Rice was delicious and one that I shall certainly have again.