One of the dishes was so delicious I couldn’t help but go back for seconds, but some were not worth it.
Ready meals, also known as microwave meals, are pre-cooked dishes that are packaged for convenience. They only require a quick reheat before eating, either in the microwave, oven or sometimes an air-fryer.
While they may not always be the healthiest option, they are time savers, which is ideal for hectic schedules or when you simply don’t fancy cooking.
I’m not a regular consumer of ready meals; in fact, I generally steer clear of them. However, after recently enjoying a tasty supermarket one, I decided to investigate if there was a significant difference between the cheapest and the priciest ready meals, with my supermarket of choice being Sainsbury’s.
I hadn’t fully appreciated how costly ready meals can be, and there’s a considerable disparity between the brands on the supermarket shelves.
I opted to pick up three ready meals from Charlie Bigham’s, a manufacturer of high-quality, ready-to-cook meals. The meals, available in various supermarkets, come in a variety of different cuisines, reports the Express.
This includes lasagnes, macaroni cheese, curries, fish pies and more. The packaging appears premium and luxurious, but they were the priciest in the supermarket.
I selected a butter chicken meal for two, which came with pilau rice, as well as a macaroni cheese for one, and a spaghetti bolognese for one.
When it came to finding the cheapest, I settled on Sainsbury’s own brand, where I also picked up three of the same meals. The butter chicken came without rice, so I chose a packet of pilau rice instead.
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Charlie Bigham’s macaroni cheese with crispy bacon (£6.50 for one main)
This macaroni cheese is whipped up in a traditional creamy cheese sauce, crowned with crispy bacon and ciabatta croutons. It was ready to eat in 30 minutes, and I paired it with a side of garlic bread.
For the price tag, I was expecting a scrumptious ready meal that tasted like it was made from scratch, and I must say, it hit the mark.
The texture of the meal was delightful, the portion size was generous for one person, and the crispy bacon and ciabatta croutons added an extra layer of flavour. I was slightly let down by the taste, as I found it a bit bland, but overall, it was delicious.
I wouldn’t personally fork out £6.50 for this again, but if it were ever on sale, I’d definitely grab one.
Sainsbury’s macaroni cheese (£3.50 for one)
The supermarket claims this ready meal is crafted in a creamy cheese sauce, topped with mature Cheddar cheese.
I baked this in the oven for around 30 minutes, stirring halfway through. This macaroni cheese was a letdown as it was utterly tasteless and slightly curdled.
I sprinkled my own freshly ground black pepper and parmesan, which improved it significantly, but I didn’t relish eating this.
Charlie Bigham’s butter chicken curry and pilau rice (£9.95 for two)
I had high hopes for this meal as I’ve never shelled out nearly £10 for a ready meal before, although it did serve two people. The portion size was again generous, and there was more than enough to satisfy two people.
Charlie Bigham’s boasts that this dish is made up of tender marinated chicken in a mild and creamy butter sauce, delicately spiced and served with pilau rice.
The meal came with foil to cover the rice, and it was oven-cooked for half an hour. It was a truly scrumptious meal, and I was pleasantly taken aback by its flavour.
I thought the sauce could have been a bit more flavoursome, but it did give off a home-cooked vibe. Despite being nearly a tenner, it’s less expensive than getting a takeaway, and I genuinely believe it was worth the cost, particularly for a romantic dinner or as a special treat.
Sainsbury’s butter chicken ready meal (£4.35 for two)
This dish didn’t come with any rice, so I bought a packet of rice for just £1, bringing the total for this meal for two to £5.35, which is still £4.60 cheaper than its pricier counterpart.
Sainsbury’s describes this meal as tender marinated chicken breast in a creamy tomato, butter and coriander sauce, warmly spiced.
Baked in the oven for 25 minutes and then microwaved for one minute, this dish was absolutely delightful. The chicken was beautifully tender and spiced, with a slightly more flavourful taste than the Charlie Bigham’s version.
I was a bit let down that it didn’t come with rice, as I loved Charlie Bigham’s pilau rice, but overall, it was delicious and definitely worth £5.35 for two.
Charlie Bigham’s spaghetti bolognese (£6.50 for one)
This spaghetti bolognese is made with slow-cooked beef ragu, red wine, and oregano, served with spaghetti and topped with parmesan cheese.
I cooked it in the oven, just as I have with all the other ready meals, and served it with a little more Parmesan and garlic bread.
This was by far my favourite of the Charlie Bigham’s prepared meals, and it honestly didn’t taste any different from a home-cooked bolognese. The meat was tender, the portion size was perfect, and the flavour was sublime.
I’ve honestly been thinking about this ready meal since I tried it, but I do think £6.50 for one meal is a lot of money, so I haven’t repurchased.
Sainsbury’s spaghetti bolognese (£3.50 for one)
This ready meal consists of spaghetti pasta with a beef, tomato and red wine sauce. After cooking for around 30 minutes, I topped the ready meal with cheese and served it with garlic bread.
After consuming Charlie Bigham’s one the day before, I was really disappointed with this meal. I didn’t think it had much flavour, mine didn’t have much meat at all, and I didn’t like the consistency.
Verdict:
Overall, I much preferred the taste and flavour of Charlie Bigham’s meals, as they tasted homemade. However, it’s hard to say whether I would repurchase them, because I think £6.50 is very pricey for a single meal.
I will, however, definitely purchase them again if they’re on offer or as a treat.
The butter chicken curry from Sainsbury’s was delicious, but the other meals really were a let-down.
When it comes to the ingredients, Charlie Bigham’s also takes the lead in terms of nutrition, without any additives, which is why I usually steer clear of ready meals.
Although I won’t be making a habit of eating ready meals, it was a clear victory for the pricier supermarket options.