The 17 Freezer Finds Our Editors Always Keep Stocked

Amy’s Spaghetti Italiano with Veggie Meatballs

It’s my list, so I’m going first! I love so many of the meals made by Amy’s (I even talked about the brand’s pizza with Elijah Wood), but the one I always keep in the freezer is a relatively new addition to its lineup. The vegetarian Spaghetti Italiano launched last fall, and it’s my perfect I-have-no-energy-left-to-cook meal. Heating it up in the toaster oven crisps the meatballs and warms the pasta, sauce and veggies thoroughly. It’s satisfying, comforting and filling. My tip to really make it taste homemade is to transfer it to your favorite bowl. Buon appetito!

Bibigo Mini Wontons

Sometimes a product is so good, it gets recommendations from two people. Culinary producer Allison Cebulla’s children eat these Bibigo mini wontons like candy. “They are such an easy addition to a meal or just a quick bite on their own,” she says. “We make 90% of everything at home from scratch,” she told me, “but this is a staple we always keep in the freezer.” You can steam them, pan fry them, or add them to soup.

And Raeann Thompson, creative director, agrees. It’s the one item she always has in stock. “They’re my go-to when I’m in a snacks-for-dinner kind of mood. They cook in just a few minutes, and crisp up really nicely in a pan or air fryer.”

Sea Cuisine Honey Chipotle Salmon

“I discovered this at Target when I was shopping for ingredients for a chipotle honey salmon bowl recipe,” says Lauren Pahmeier, digital editor. “I had originally planned to season plain salmon fillets myself with chipotles in adobo, honey and soy sauce. When I saw Sea Cuisine’s salmon had the same honey chipotle flavors that the recipe was calling for, I decided to give it a try as a shortcut. I loved the salmon so much that it’s still one of my go-to healthy, quick and easy weeknight meals. I have it probably once or twice every two weeks!”

Favorite Day Ice Cream

After she finishes her salmon bowl, Lauren loves reaching for dessert. Her favorite is Target’s Favorite Day line of ice creams. “Let me tell you,” she says, “I have tried every brand of low-calorie, reduced-fat, high-protein ice creams under the sun and Favorite Day’s pints are the some of the best out there. My favorite two flavors are s’mores and mocha cold brew coffee.”

DiGiorno Croissant Crust Pizza

The last item that Lauren keeps in stock is the DiGiorno croissant crust pizza. “The crust has distinctive layers that make it just the right thickness and give the crusty ends—the best part—just a slightly different texture than your average frozen pizza.” But Lauren has one request for the good people at DiGiorno: “Please start making a supreme version so I don’t have to keep getting plain ol’ pepperoni or cheese!”

Trader Joe’s Langostino Tails

Some great advice from trends writer Lindsay Parrill: “My small town doesn’t have a Trader Joe’s (boo), so any time we road-trip somewhere that does, I take a cooler and stock up on my favorites. These langostino tails are always the first thing on my list. They thaw quickly and are incredibly versatile. I use them mostly for pastas and soups—they make an absolutely delicious bisque.” This is a seasonal Trader Joe’s item, and it gets scooped up quickly. Reddit users have lamented how quickly any stock disappears once it drops in stores.

Jeni’s Watermelon Taffy Ice Cream

Katie Bandurski, affiliate editor, has tried over a dozen different flavors of Jeni’s ice creams, and Watermelon Taffy is her absolute favorite. “It tastes like a pink Starburst,” she says. “It’s an incredible blend of tart, creamy and sweet that is out-of-this-world refreshing.” You don’t have to tell me twice—imagine coming home after a long day and knowing that this is waiting for you in the freezer.

Trader Joe’s Margherita Pizza

Katie is a self-proclaimed “ingredient snob” when it comes to frozen pizza. The Trader Joe’s Margherita pizza, however, is made with simple ingredients even she would use at home. Her pro tip for a next-level dinner experience? “Cook it on a pizza steel and have some good olive oil and Italian herbs on hand for dipping the crust into,” she says. This sounds exactly like the kind of meal I want to eat al fresco with a glass of white wine.

Amy’s Organic Vegetable Lasagna

Looks like I’m not the only Amy’s fan on staff! Katie loves to keep this organic vegetable lasagna in stock. “I don’t eat lasagna as much as I’d like because of how much time and effort it takes to prep a massive 13×9 pan,” she says. “This Amy’s version satisfies the craving with a decent ingredient list.” Amy’s is truly knocking it out of the park with its frozen, single-serve options. They have all the flavor with none of the prep or cleanup.

Feel Good Foods Chicken Potstickers

“Snacks for dinner” is one of the most exciting nights of the week for kids and adults alike. Content director Ellie Martin Cliffe agrees. “We always have a couple appetizers from Feel Good Foods in our freezer,” she says, “and the one we’re never without is the chicken potstickers. I always sizzle them up in a skillet, and they come out crispy-chewy on the outside and tender on the inside. I like adding sliced green onion to the dipping sauce for a pop of color and freshness.” The prep is easy, and the payoff is great.

Trader Joe’s Greek Spanakopita

Trader Joe’s might be known for its easy frozen appetizers, but they can quickly be turned into a satisfying meal. That’s what Margaret Knoebel, recipe editor, does with its Greek spanakopita. “This makes a great vegetarian meal with a quick salad or cup of soup,” she says. “What’s nice about this is that you can prep everything while the spanakopita bakes, so dinner comes together really quickly.

Alexia Sweet Potato Fries

Here’s a hot food photography tip straight from the source: “Alexia brand fries are what we use for photos in the test kitchen because they’re always great quality,” says Margaret. She especially loves the Alexia sweet potato fries, and keeps them stocked at home. Sweet potato fries are a perfect side dish to pretty much anything you make—and they look gorgeous on the plate!

Kirkland Signature Broccoli Florets

Editor Lesley Balla and I both have an obsession with keeping frozen broccoli in stock for easy meal prep. “In our freezer, we always have bags of organic frozen broccoli from Costco,” she says. “Just having it there means we have a good green vegetable any time it’s needed. I usually throw the frozen broccoli on a sheet pan with extra virgin olive oil and salt, and roast it in the oven for 20 to 25 minutes. No need to thaw!”

Di Fara Pizza

Editor Melissa Gaman says she was was “totally blown away” by Di Fara frozen pizza. “It has thin, perfectly light and airy crust with just the right amount of chew,” she says. “You don’t expect a well-known restaurant to be able to translate its product into a frozen food, but this was spot on. I chose the three meat pizza, and each topping was flavorful and tender. I can’t wait to try the other varieties.”

Tastiez Garlic Cheese Curds

“My son loves mozzarella sticks, so when I saw these breaded garlic cheese curds in the freezer case, I picked up a box to try,” Melissa told me—and apparently now they’re his favorite snack! “The breading is thin, so you get plenty of melty, slightly squeaky, salty cheese curd in every bite. It crisps to a pretty golden color without being hard or overly crunchy. It’s a snack for a real cheese lover.” Melissa, if you hear someone knocking on your door … it’s me.

Masienda Quesadillas

Food writer Val Goodrich always makes sure to pick up a package of Masienda quesadillas during her weekly shop at Whole Foods. “Each box contains two quesadillas that are made with giant corn tortillas and filled with melty Oaxacan cheese,” she says. “I’ll eat one for lunch with a side salad, so I get two meals out of one package. It’s a fun, quick and healthy-ish lunch that I usually save as a reward for Friday and as a money-saving meal for Saturday.”

Real Good Foods Lightly Breaded Chicken Strips

“I bought them once when they were on sale, and I stopped buying other brands!” Senior editor Lindsay Mattison might have just won me over with that description of these Real Good Food chicken strips.

“They’re coated with chickpea flour so they’re gluten free, but they’re as crispy as flour-coated frozen chicken,” she says. “The meat is really tender, and they have a nice flavor. I also appreciate that they’re fairly consistent in size (some brands have big honkers and tiny little bits in the same bag, which makes them hard to reheat).”

Lindsay also says that these are her go-to lunch when she doesn’t have a plan. “I’ll reheat them in the air fryer and add them to Caesar salad or a rice bowl. Or wrap them in tortillas with a sauce and some crunchy veggies for a quick wrap. They also taste great tossed in Buffalo sauce for mac and cheese or Alfredo.”