15 Store-Bought Foods That Make Weeknight Dinners Quicker

October 08, 2015
Photo: Randy Mayor
Prepared foods can pack so much sodium and saturated fat that they're not worth the time they save, but our nutrition editor has given these staff favorites a healthy thumbs-up.
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Birds Eye Recipe Ready Tri Color Pepper & Onion Blend

Photo: Courtesy of Birds Eye

Frozen stir-fry veggie bags spare you lots of chopping time, and the Birds Eye Recipe Ready Tri Color Pepper & Onion Blend doesn't come sauced, so you can control the sodium level.

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Cedar's Mediterranean Lentil Salad

Photo: Courtesy of Cedar's

Add cooked chicken or shrimp to refrigerated Cedar's Mediterranean Lentil Salad or Aegean Edamame Salad, and a high-fiber dinner is on the table in less than 10 minutes.

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Alexia Sweet Potato Fries with Sea Salt

Photo: Courtesy of Alexia Foods

These golden fries deliver full-on sweet potato flavor. With a crisp snap reminiscent of something that's been deep-fried, each baton is a perfectly balanced bite of crunchy exterior and creamy interior.

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Amy's Burritos

Photo: Courtesy of Amy's Kitchen, Inc.

We love Amy's brand microwavable 6-ounce non-dairy bean and rice burrito or black bean vegetable burrito for a light meal when there's a time crunch.

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RiceSelect Royal Blend Light Brown Rice with Quinoa

Photo: Courtesy of RiceSelect

RiceSelect Royal Blend Light Brown Rice with Quinoa will be on the table in no time, offering a nutritious mix of whole grains like red quinoa and freekeh. What's not to love? Pair with a quick-cooking protein to round out a fast but healthy meal.

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Archer Farms Vindaloo Indian Simmer Sauce

Photo: Randy Mayor

Lemony and full of heat with a backbone of cumin, coriander, and cardamom, Archer Farms Vindaloo Simmer Sauce makes a quick meal when paired with pork, beef, or chicken. Coconut milk and butter provide creaminess (and 4g sat fat).

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Gia Russa Whole Wheat Gnocchi with Sweet Potato

Photo: Courtesy of Gia Russa

Cooking quick? Whole wheat pastas by Gia Russa, including the sweet potato gnocchi, will be ready in just a few minutes.

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InnovAsian Cuisine Chicken Potstickers

Photo: Courtesy of InnovAsian Cuisine

Keep boxes of Innovasian Cuisine Chicken Potstickers in your freezer. Build a fast dinner around them with steamed broccoli and rice noodles. They come with a sauce, but you can make your own lower-sodium dipping sauce.

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Swanson Natural Goodness Chicken Broth

Photo: Courtesy of Swanson

Praised for its pleasant roast chicken flavor and aroma, Swanson Natural Goodness Chicken Broth is fat free and contains 1/3 less sodium compared to its alternatives. This broth will perform well for quick chicken noodle soups, simple pan sauces, as cooking liquid for couscous or rice, or gravy for roasted meats. Full disclosure: This is our Test Kitchen’s go-to option for recipe testing.

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Cooking Light Ready-Made Products

No time to cook healthy? No problem! From our kitchen to yours: delicious, easy dishes, ready when you are—with all the goodness you'd expect from Cooking Light recipes. Available at Super Target locations nationwide, visit Target.com for store locations. 

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Sunshine Burgers Organic Black Bean South West Burgers

Photo: Courtesy of Sunshine Burgers

Using Sunshine Organic Black Bean South West Burgers, you can put a meatless meal together in a hurry. What's more, they're low enough in sodium to leave room for whole-grain buns and a little cheese on top.

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CedarLane Beans, Rice, and Cheese Style Burrito

Photo: Courtesy of CedarLane Natural Foods, Inc.

Combine just the right blend of zesty spices with perfectly cooked organic beans, then wrap it in a soft, chewy flour tortilla, and you get the CedarLane Beans, Rice, and Cheese Style Burrito. Believe it—this low-fat frozen burrito rivals any fast-food competitor (with about half the sodium).

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Michael Angelo's Vegetable Lasagna

Photo: Courtesy of Michael Angelo's Gourmet Foods, Inc.

A ton of great veggie flavor without screaming "I am meatless!" The noodles maintain their firmness, the sauce is nicely seasoned, and the veggies (carrots, mushrooms, broccoli) are substantial. Michael Angelo's Vegetable Lasagna is a fantastic weeknight dinner for those with busy schedules.

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Rao’s Homemade Tomato Basil Marinara Sauce

Photo: Courtesy of Rao’s Specialty Foods, Inc.

You're probably thinking, "$9 for a jar of tomato sauce?" Consider, though: Half a jar can feed four people for a dollar-and-change per diner. Rao’s Homemade Tomato Basil Marinara Sauce is very fresh-tasting a balanced mix of fruity olive oil, tomato, and basil. This will work in a recipe―like lasagna―in which you want homemade flavor without the time investment.

See More: Start with a Jar of Pasta Sauce

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Archer Farms Steam-in-the-Bag Extra Fine Green Beans

Photo: Randy Mayor

Your standard steam-in-the-bag bean goes upscale with these haricots verts—like beauties. Archer Farms Steam-in-the-Bag Extra Fine Green Beans maintained their flavor and texture, despite being frozen. Grassy, crunchy, and crisp, they're the perfect go-to for the time-strapped cook.

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