Dollar Tree Has a $1.25 Meal Fans Are ‘Definitely Buying’ Again

This year, I’ve increasingly turned to frozen food to save on groceries. You may have noticed that when shopping for lasagna ingredients, for example, the cost easily exceeds $20. Whereas you can easily snag a premade version of the dish for half the price. And rather than paying separately for ground beef, cheese, and pasta sauce to make spaghetti, you can snag a box from the freezer at Trader Joe’s for less than five bucks.

Recently, one Redditor discussed one of their new favorite pasta dinners, and at less than $2 per package, it’s a satisfying option that will help you stretch your budget. 

Michelina’s Penne with White Chicken

Michelina’s Italian-inspired entrées have been in stores since the ’80s. The Bellisio Foods-owned company continues to offer shoppers low-cost, microwaveable dinner options such as Macaroni & Cheese, Fettuccine Alfredo, and Cheeseburger Mac. Many of the brand’s single-serve options cost less than $3—and you can find several varieties at Dollar Tree for just $1.25—making it a fantastic product to stock your freezer with.

In a recent Reddit thread, one user praised Michelina’s Penne with White Chicken, writing, “all four of us liked this one, definitely buying it again! Cream sauce was nice with both Parmesan and Neufchâtel cheese.” The reviewer continued to say that they snagged the box for just $1.18 and felt the price was worth the portion. 

Michelina’s Penne with White Chicken is made with a creamy Romano and Parmesan-based sauce and juicy chicken chunks. And while there doesn’t appear to be much meat, you can easily pair this with canned chicken for a heartier meal. To prepare, all you need to do is microwave it for three minutes, stir, and cook for an additional two minutes until it’s heated through and creamy.

While some Redditors say they are skeptical of the frozen meal, others shared their success with the brand. “I found their beef stroganoff in a store while traveling. It was very good,” said one person.

A few shared how these meals were once fixtures in their rotation. “I used to eat this when I worked at Walmart because it was such a cheap lunch,” wrote one Redditor. “These were a dorm room staple of mine back in 2011. I used to always season them up, though,” chimed in another. 

If you like to add your own flair, meals like this can always benefit from a sprinkle of seasoning. Ground black pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, or a handful of leftover vegetables can quickly perk up the entire dish.  

You can find Michelina’s frozen meals at major retailers, including Walmart, Kroger, Dollar Tree, and Dollar General. And if you use Instacart, it’s worth noting that the grocery service currently has a special promotion that brings the price down to around $1 per box.

So, what are you waiting for? See you in the freezer aisles.