When takeout sounds tempting but I’d rather stay in, I check Dollar General for dinner first. These seven frozen picks cover familiar restaurant-style cravings and give me satisfying reasons to skip the order.
1. Michael Angelo’s Three Cheese Baked Ziti Frozen, 11 Oz Box – $4.50
For an Italian restaurant baked ziti or Olive Garden-style pasta replacement, this $4.50 box is my pick for a quiet solo dinner. Ziti, three cheeses, and a cream sauce with garlic and white wine make it feel more considered than the average frozen pasta.
Taste: The sauce is creamy and garlicky, with parmesan, mozzarella, and romano bringing plenty of savory richness. The pasta stays tender, though anyone wanting a bright, tomato-heavy sauce should choose something else.
Make It Better: A little fresh basil, pesto, or chili crisp gives the creamy sauce a welcome lift.
Parting Thoughts: Creamy-pasta loyalists should find this well worth its spot in the freezer.
2. Banquet Chicken Pot Pie, Frozen Meal, 7 oz. – $1.00
A $1.00 stand-in for takeout chicken pot pie or Marie Callender’s, this little pie makes sense when comfort matters more than a large portion. I like it for a simple lunch or a low-effort evening when ordering out feels excessive.
Taste: Creamy, savory gravy surrounds tender chicken and vegetables beneath a flaky crust. It delivers familiar pot-pie comfort, but the 7-ounce size may leave a bigger appetite wanting more.
Make It Better: Put a crisp green salad alongside it to turn the modest pie into a more complete dinner.
Parting Thoughts: At this price, it is an easy comfort-food backup as long as you expect a small serving.
3. Tombstone Four Meat Frozen Pizza, 21.1 oz – $6.25
Pizza night gets a $6.25 alternative to a meat-lover’s delivery pizza with this 21.1-ounce oven dinner. Beef, Canadian bacon, sausage, pepperoni, and a quarter pound of real cheese make it the hearty option for sharing.
Taste: The tomato sauce is bold and zesty, while the four meats give every slice a deeply savory profile. Its buttery crust turns crisp, balancing the substantial cheese and toppings.
Make It Better: Serve it with a simple salad or raw vegetables to cut through all that meat and cheese.
Parting Thoughts: Households that order meat-heavy delivery pies will get the most mileage from this one.
4. DEVOUR Buffalo Style Chicken Mac & Cheese with Buffalo Cheddar Cheese Sauce & Blue Cheese Frozen Meal, 12 oz Box – $4.00
When buffalo chicken mac from a restaurant or wings place sounds good, this $4.00 microwave meal handles the craving at home. The 12-ounce portion combines pasta shells, breaded chicken, buffalo-style cheddar sauce, and blue cheese for a substantial solo dinner.
Taste: Creamy buffalo cheddar brings heat and tang, while the blue cheese adds a richer, sharper finish. The sauce stays gooey around shells that hold their shape, with breaded chicken adding contrast.
Make It Better: Pair it with celery sticks for crunch and a fresh counterpoint to the rich sauce.
Parting Thoughts: Buffalo-sauce devotees get a bold meal here, but blue-cheese skeptics may want to pass.
5. El Monterey Signature Entrée Beef Enchiladas, 10.25 oz (Frozen) – $4.00-$5.00
My substitute for a Mexican restaurant enchilada plate is this $4.00-$5.00 microwave entrée with beef enchiladas and Spanish-style rice. It covers the whole plate in one package, which is especially handy for a work lunch or no-fuss dinner.
Taste: Savory beef, melted cheese, and zesty chipotle sauce create a bold, slightly smoky combination. The tortillas stay tender beneath the sauce, while the rice gives the meal more substance.
Make It Better: Add salsa or a spoonful of sour cream if you already have either on hand.
Parting Thoughts: Anyone wanting an entrée-and-rice combination instead of a snacky frozen option should start here.
6. Banquet Family Size Salisbury Steaks and Brown Gravy, Frozen Meal, 27 oz.
Feeding several diners is easier with this family-size replacement for a diner Salisbury steak plate. The 27-ounce frozen meal supplies savory Salisbury steak slices and brown gravy, leaving you free to choose the sides.
Taste: The flavor is classic and straightforward: savory steak with plenty of brown gravy. Expect soft, gravy-covered slices rather than the seared texture of a freshly cooked steak.
Make It Better: Mashed potatoes are the natural partner because they catch the extra gravy and round out the meal.
Parting Thoughts: For old-school diner comfort shared at home, this is a practical freezer pick.
7. Hungry-Man Selects Classic Fried Chicken, Frozen Meal, 16 oz – $5.50
Big appetites can trade a KFC or diner fried chicken dinner for this $5.50 complete meal. The 16-ounce package includes white and dark chicken portions, mashed potatoes, sweet corn, and a chocolate brownie, plus 39 grams of protein.
Taste: The chicken brings familiar fried-chicken seasoning with a battered exterior and tender meat. Creamy potatoes and sweet corn keep the savory plate traditional, while the brownie adds a rich chocolate finish.
Make It Better: Keep hot sauce nearby if you like extra zip; the included sides and dessert already make this a full plate.
Parting Thoughts: Choose this when portion size wins the argument, and skip it when you want something light.
