Vicky Parry
10th Feb 2026
Reading Time: 4 minutes
I’ll be honest — I’m a real foody and passionate cook, so I’m not usually a regular on the ready meal circuit. But for this round‑up, I went in completely blind, tasting and judging these meals almost as if I were comparing them to home cooking itself.
Yes — it’s still far cheaper and often healthier to cook from scratch with fresh ingredients at home if you have the time. A simple homemade meal works out less per portion than even the cheapest ready meals. But given the convenience, the quality of some supermarket options, and the tight budgets many families are on, many of these dishes were genuinely surprising — much better than I expected as someone who cooks every day.
I’ve tasted and ranked the best budget ready meals across the UK — including favourites from Aldi, Lidl, Morrisons, M&S, Tesco, ASDA, Iceland and Sainsbury’s — and evaluated them on taste, value, ingredient sourcing, animal welfare commitments and overall balance.
🥇 Best Cheap Ready Meals (Supermarkets & Discount Stores)
These are the meals that give you the most taste, value and satisfaction for generally under ~£4 — and get repeatedly well‑reviewed on forums, social media and consumer comparisons.
1. Aldi Everyday Essentials Chicken Tikka Masala — Best Budget Curry
Approx Price: ~£1.49–£1.79
Aldi’s Everyday Essentials curry is often mentioned on UK shopping boards as one of the standout cheap options, with decent spice and sauce for the price. ([turn0search4])
Vicky says: “For a sub‑£2 meal, the sauce is punchy and the rice cooks through nicely enough— surprising.”
2. Lidl High‑Protein Ready Meals (various) — Best Nutrition on a Budget
Approx Price: ~£2.95
Lidl’s ready meals with added protein are getting attention from health‑minded shoppers as a good balance of macros at a low price.
Vicky says: “Balances protein, carbs and veg better than many cheap meals.”
3. Aldi Everyday Essentials Spaghetti Bolognese — Reliable Classic
Approx Price: ~£0.99
Super‑cheap and often rated well for a microwave meal — thick sauce with a decent seasoning for a quick lunch or dinner.
Vicky says: “Pasta texture never like fresh but this is ok.”
4. Lidl Deluxe Chicken Tikka Masala — Best Middle Range
Approx Price: ~£3.49
A step up in portion size and flavour compared with basic budget curries, though still slightly behind Aldi’s better‑value variant.
Vicky says: “Good option if you want something hearty without paying for a restaurant meal.”
5. Iceland Spaghetti Bolognese — Ultra Budget Favourite
Approx Price: ~£1–£2
A perennial “cheap, filling and tasty” favourite in UK Reddit threads recommending supermarket ready meals.
Vicky says: “filled a hole.”
6. Tesco Ready Meals (Just Essentials & own brand) — Steady Everyday Picks
Approx Price: ~£1.50–£3.50
Tesco’s own‑brand meals, especially in the Just Essentials range, are commonly mentioned by shoppers as reliable and easy.
Vicky says: “Nothing fancy — but dependable when you don’t have time to cook.”
7. ASDA Just Essentials & Gym Kitchen Range — Best for Deals
Approx Price: ~£2.50–£3.50
Shoppers often cite ASDA’s chicken tikka and simple classics as good quality with frequent multi‑buy deals.
Vicky says: “Good choice when they’re on offer.”
8. Morrisons Own‑Brand Meals — Good Everyday Comfort
Approx Price: ~£2–£3.50
Morrisons freezer range — including cottage pie and mac & cheese — is regularly recommended as tasty and affordable.
Vicky says: “Classic flavours and filling, especially with extra veg.”
9. M&S Classic Ready Meals — Best Quality Budget‑Premium
Approx Price: ~£4–£6
A little pricier, but larger portions and higher quality ingredients — especially noticeable in meat texture and veg quality.
Vicky says: “Feels a little closer to a homemade dish than most budget meals.”
10. Kitchen Joy Thai Ready Meals — Best Authentic-Flavoured “Fakeaway”
Approx Price: ~£2.75 per meal (Tesco & Morrisons)
Kitchen Joy brings genuinely authentic Thai flavours to the freezer aisle. Made in Thailand using traditional herbs and spices, these meals (Panang Curry, Thai Red Curry, Green Curry, Spicy Sesame Chicken) taste more like restaurant dishes than typical budget meals.
Vicky says: “Kitchen Joy genuinely surprised me — the herbs, spice balance and depth of flavour feel so much closer to an authentically prepared dish than your average ready meal. It’s like a brilliant fakeaway that tastes like the real thing, I have no idea how frozen Pad Thai maintained that texture.”
🍴 Top 10 Ready Meals to Buy This Week (UK)
| Meal & Retailer | Approx Price | Quick Why to Buy |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen Joy Thai Curries & Noodles | ~£2.75 | Authentic Thai “fakeaway” flavour |
| Aldi Everyday Essentials Chicken Tikka Masala | ~£1.49–£1.79 | Budget curry favourite |
| Aldi Everyday Essentials Spaghetti Bolognese | ~£0.99 | Best value classic |
| Lidl High‑Protein Ready Meals | ~£2.95 | Balanced & filling |
| Iceland Spaghetti Bolognese | ~£1–£2 | Ultra cheap comfort |
| Tesco Just Essentials / Own Brand Meals | ~£1.50–£3.50 | Steady everyday choice |
| ASDA Gym Kitchen & Just Essentials Range | ~£2.50–£3.50 | Good protein + deals |
| Morrisons Own-Brand Cottage Pie / Mac & Cheese | ~£2–£3.50 | Classic comfort |
| M&S Classic Ready Meals | ~£4–£6 | Higher quality & portions |
| Lidl Deluxe Chicken Tikka Masala | ~£3.49 | Hearty option |
📌 Vicky’s Balanced Verdict
Cooking from scratch is still cheaper and often tastier than buying ready meals — but many supermarket options are surprisingly good.
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Best Value: Aldi and Lidl dominate ultra-budget picks.
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Best Everyday Picks: Tesco and ASDA offer reliable mains at low prices.
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Best Comfort Classics: Iceland and Morrisons deliver familiar meals that hit the spot.
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Best Quality Boost: M&S brings larger portions and better ingredient feel.
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Best Flavour Surprise: Kitchen Joy delivers authentic Thai flavours you actually notice.
Ready meals won’t replace your favourite homemade dish — but when time is tight or convenience matters, these picks deliver taste, value, and in some cases, real authenticity.