Ready meals have had somewhat of a bad rep since their conception in the 1950s, but we say, quash those thoughts of unappetising foil-trayed TV dinners! Instant food has never looked so good, with supermarkets now catering to all of our foodie desires, be it calorie-controlled or muscle-building meals, a vegetarian or vegan lasagne or a healthy take on a curry or Chinese.
Talk to any household and they'll all give a completely different answer when it comes to taste preferences, budget and dietary requirements, so what constitutes the best ready meal? Our guide and top picks are here to reveal all. We've got recommendations for camping and fussy kids, gourmet suppers for one and everything in between, all ready for delivery from Tesco, ASDA, Waitrose and Amazon. Also, we have partnered with Nutritionist Tara Corbett for reviewing and fact-checking the article so that we can deliver the best information to our users.
For those after a quick look, here is our Top 5:
Image | 1 ![]() Tesco | 2 ![]() Weight Watchers | 3 ![]() Charlie Bigham's | 4 ![]() Ashoka | 5 ![]() ASDA | 6 ![]() Amy's Kitchen | 7 ![]() Mr Lee's Noodles | 8 ![]() ASDA | 9 ![]() Morrisons | 10 ![]() Morrisons |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Finest Chicken Madeira & Mushroom Rice | Red Thai Curry & Sticky Jasmine Rice | Lasagne for Two | Punjabi Choley | Spaghetti Bolognese | Gluten-Free Rice Mac & Cheese | Meat Lovers Box | Chinese Sweet & Sour Chicken with Egg Fried Rice | The Best Garlic & Cream Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms | The Best Green Vegetable Medley With Jersey Butter |
Features | Utterly Divine Comfort Food in Under 10 Minutes | Ideal for Takeaway Lovers Watching the Calories | A Rich, Beefy and Satisfying Lasagne That Tastes Like Homemade | A Mouthwatering Shelf-Stable Curry Meal | A Comforting Pasta Dish That Can Be Ready in under 3 Minutes | An Organic, Gluten-Free and Kid-Friendly Version of a Classic | A Healthier Cup Noodle for a Quick Lunch | Your Go-to Chinese Takeout Dish | A Vegetarian Meal Using Only the Finest Ingredients | An Assortment of Green Vegetables for 1 of Your 5 a Day |
Price | £3.75 | £2.65 | £8.25 | £1.50 | £2.75 | £2.70 | £13.50 | £1.60 | £1.99 | £2.75 |
Meal Type | Comfort food, Italian | Diet, Thai | Italian | Indian | Comfort food, Italian | Pasta, organic | Various, East Asian | Asian | Vegetarian | Vegetarian |
Diets Suitable For | Gluten-free recipe | Gluten-free recipe | - | Vegan, gluten-free, halal | - | Gluten-free, vegetarian, Kosher | Gluten-free | - | Vegetarians | Vegetarians |
Sugar/Sat. Fat/Salt Per Serving | 4.6 g, 7 g, 1.3 g | 5.3 g, 3 g, 1.3 g | 9.3 g, 17.3 g, 1.9 g | 0 g, 10 g, 1.7 g | 1.6, 1.5, 0.42 | 6 g, 10 g, 1.5 g | Various | 8.7 g, 0.7 g, 0.54 g | 3.2 g, 10 g, 1.12 g | 7 g, 2.6 g, 0.1 g |
Calories Per Serving | 571 | 350 | 650 | 240 | 440 | 400 | 218, 222, 274 | 475 | 298 | 108 |
5-a-Day | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 |
Portion Size | 450 g, serves 1 | 380 g, serves 1 | 690 g, serves 2 | 280 g, serves 1-2 | 400 g, serves 1 | 255 g, serves 1 | 6 x 1-serving pots | 400 g, serves 1 | 200 g, serves 2 | 260 g, serves 2 |
Heating Methods | Microwave | Microwave | Oven only | Hob, microwave | Microwave, oven | Microwave, oven | Add hot water | Microwave, oven | Microwave, oven | Microwave |
Storage | Fridge (6+ days), freezer | Fridge | Fridge (4+ days) | Cupboard | Frozen | Freezer | Cupboard | Freezer | Fridge | Fridge |
Link |
Tara is a nutritionist and energy coach who helps clients to lose weight, improve their eating habits, and get their energy back through better nutrition. She specialises in helping busy parents improve their diets without overwhelming them with information, and get them back on track so that the whole family can benefit.
Whether you see food as a necessary fuel or one of life's great pleasures, you're still going to want a meal you like the taste of. Try narrowing your online search to your favourite cuisines and parts of the world you like to eat from. Then, you can decide which of these are within your budget.
For maximum taste and quality, look for ready meals that are made from mostly real, whole ingredients. A great way to check is by reading the ingredient list - if the majority of the items listed are real foods you recognise and would have in your fridge and cupboard, then it's a healthier ready meal.
You could also plump for organic meals or those made with free-range or British ingredients if shopping and eating ethically are important to you. They normally result in a higher quality meal, too.
Nowadays supermarkets are stacked to the rafters with dedicated dietary-friendly items, so don't think you'll have to miss out when buying a ready meal online. Whether you're vegetarian, vegan, or avoiding dairy or gluten, chances are a brand or supermarket have an entire free from ready meal range, or at least a few variations of old favourites like curries and pasta dishes.
The demand for meals that meet our dietary needs has also meant that supermarkets are getting better at listing whether each product is halal, vegetarian and so on, as well as any common allergens. It may be worth checking what's inside the meal you like the look of anyway, as there's a chance it's suitable for you even if it's not part of a dedicated range!
For days when you don't mind putting in some work, these meal kits can give you a hearty meal in minutes!
Whether you're actively counting calories or other nutrients or you'd just like to have the guesswork taken out so you can grab and go, the key is to check the nutritional information.
While your calorie intake will vary depending on your body type and energy expenditure, there are some guidelines to follow to make sure you're not overdoing it on the other nutritionals. Although don't forget the odd treat meal or indulgence is fine, and healthy for the mind if nothing else!
Not all of us are into calorie counting or have time to scan the labels – hence the ready meal – but there are some other tricks you can employ to ensure you're getting a balanced, nutritious meal. The first is to choose one marketed as a balanced or healthier choice, as these are often lower in calories and fat.
Secondly, check how many portions of vegetables are included in the ready meal – if it has any worthy health credentials, it'll proudly display how many on the packet. This is also a good tip if you're trying to get more veg into your diet. Otherwise, look for vegetables in the first few ingredients, alongside protein and carbohydrate sources.
Ready meals are a great way to take the strain off cooking for both multiple and single mouths, so to make sure you and your diners don't finish the meal as hungry as when you started, always check the portion size.
Meals for one not sufficient? Some supermarkets now offer bundles or multipacks of meals with 3-5 different dishes to sample. This is a great way to order what you need for you or your household without hours of browsing, plus it often works out a little cheaper.
It could also be beneficial to note exactly what's included in the portion, as some ready meals are intended to only be part of your plate, and may require you to prepare extra side dishes such as vegetables or rice. On the plus side, this is a way of saving time while filling up on fresh veg (and pretending you cooked it all yourself).
If you enjoy cooking at home but don't enjoy doing the shopping, check out our favourite recipe boxes that will give you just the right amount of ingredients you need to whip up a delicious meal!
Believe it or not, some ready meals aren't actually safe for microwave cooking! Make sure to check how your meal is able to be reheated to save yourself disappointment and forego a potential safety hazard.
Don't forget to check the storage information, too, as some meals will be best kept frozen, some chilled, and some will even be fine in the cupboard. The beauty of ordering ready meals online, particularly those that are freezer-safe, is that you can stock up – which is why the storage duration is also an important factor to consider.
Browse our low-calorie ready meal suggestions here!
This ranking has been compiled by the writing team at mybest UK via careful evaluation of the points made in the buying guide and thorough research of each product and comparing multiple verified customer reviews across the EC sites used.
£3.75
Meal Type | Comfort food, Italian |
---|---|
Diets Suitable For | Gluten-free recipe |
Sugar/Sat. Fat/Salt Per Serving | 4.6 g, 7 g, 1.3 g |
Calories Per Serving | 571 |
5-a-Day | - |
Portion Size | 450 g, serves 1 |
Heating Methods | Microwave |
Storage | Fridge (6+ days), freezer |
£2.65
Meal Type | Diet, Thai |
---|---|
Diets Suitable For | Gluten-free recipe |
Sugar/Sat. Fat/Salt Per Serving | 5.3 g, 3 g, 1.3 g |
Calories Per Serving | 350 |
5-a-Day | - |
Portion Size | 380 g, serves 1 |
Heating Methods | Microwave |
Storage | Fridge |
£8.25
Meal Type | Italian |
---|---|
Diets Suitable For | - |
Sugar/Sat. Fat/Salt Per Serving | 9.3 g, 17.3 g, 1.9 g |
Calories Per Serving | 650 |
5-a-Day | - |
Portion Size | 690 g, serves 2 |
Heating Methods | Oven only |
Storage | Fridge (4+ days) |
£1.50
Meal Type | Indian |
---|---|
Diets Suitable For | Vegan, gluten-free, halal |
Sugar/Sat. Fat/Salt Per Serving | 0 g, 10 g, 1.7 g |
Calories Per Serving | 240 |
5-a-Day | 1 |
Portion Size | 280 g, serves 1-2 |
Heating Methods | Hob, microwave |
Storage | Cupboard |
£2.75
Meal Type | Comfort food, Italian |
---|---|
Diets Suitable For | - |
Sugar/Sat. Fat/Salt Per Serving | 1.6, 1.5, 0.42 |
Calories Per Serving | 440 |
5-a-Day | - |
Portion Size | 400 g, serves 1 |
Heating Methods | Microwave, oven |
Storage | Frozen |
£2.70
Meal Type | Pasta, organic |
---|---|
Diets Suitable For | Gluten-free, vegetarian, Kosher |
Sugar/Sat. Fat/Salt Per Serving | 6 g, 10 g, 1.5 g |
Calories Per Serving | 400 |
5-a-Day | - |
Portion Size | 255 g, serves 1 |
Heating Methods | Microwave, oven |
Storage | Freezer |
£13.50
Meal Type | Various, East Asian |
---|---|
Diets Suitable For | Gluten-free |
Sugar/Sat. Fat/Salt Per Serving | Various |
Calories Per Serving | 218, 222, 274 |
5-a-Day | - |
Portion Size | 6 x 1-serving pots |
Heating Methods | Add hot water |
Storage | Cupboard |
£1.60
Meal Type | Asian |
---|---|
Diets Suitable For | - |
Sugar/Sat. Fat/Salt Per Serving | 8.7 g, 0.7 g, 0.54 g |
Calories Per Serving | 475 |
5-a-Day | - |
Portion Size | 400 g, serves 1 |
Heating Methods | Microwave, oven |
Storage | Freezer |
£1.99
Meal Type | Vegetarian |
---|---|
Diets Suitable For | Vegetarians |
Sugar/Sat. Fat/Salt Per Serving | 3.2 g, 10 g, 1.12 g |
Calories Per Serving | 298 |
5-a-Day | 1 |
Portion Size | 200 g, serves 2 |
Heating Methods | Microwave, oven |
Storage | Fridge |
£2.75
Meal Type | Vegetarian |
---|---|
Diets Suitable For | Vegetarians |
Sugar/Sat. Fat/Salt Per Serving | 7 g, 2.6 g, 0.1 g |
Calories Per Serving | 108 |
5-a-Day | 1 |
Portion Size | 260 g, serves 2 |
Heating Methods | Microwave |
Storage | Fridge |
Written and Researched by Natasha Dziubajlo
Household goods
PC and cameras
Home appliances and electronics
Cosmetics and skincare
Health
Food and drinks
Kitchen supplies
Clothing
Shoes
Accessories
Kids and baby
Interior and furniture
Hobbies
Outdoor
DIY and tools
Sports and fitness
Pets
Books, CDs, DVDs
Games
Cars and motorcycles
Gifts
Housing equipment and renovation
Travel
Smartphones and mobile phones
Music
Smartphone applications