Ready meals, or microwave meals, offer quick and convenient dining options for busy days or when cooking feels like a chore. Pre-cooked and packaged, they simply require reheating—whether in the microwave, oven, or air fryer. While not always the healthiest choice, they save precious time, making them popular among many.
Personally, I rarely buy ready meals, often avoiding them in favor of fresh cooking. However, after finding a surprisingly tasty option from a supermarket recently, I decided to put Sainsbury’s ready meals to the test—comparing their priciest offerings with the cheapest ones. The price gap alone was eye-opening.
I chose three meals from Charlie Bigham’s, known for high-quality, ready-to-cook dishes that come in premium packaging and include options like lasagne, macaroni cheese, curries, and fish pies. These were the most expensive meals on the shelf.
READ MORE: Liam Sercombe Joins Weston-super-Mare on Loan from Forest Green Rovers
READ MORE: New Family Soft Play Centre Set to Open in Cheltenham’s Brewery Quarter Following The Play Farm Closure
From the budget side, I picked comparable meals from Sainsbury’s own-brand range. In one case, Sainsbury’s butter chicken meal lacked rice, so I added a separate packet of pilau rice to complete the dish.
Charlie Bigham’s Macaroni Cheese with Crispy Bacon (£6.50 for one)
This dish featured creamy cheese sauce, crispy bacon, and ciabatta croutons, ready in 30 minutes. Paired with garlic bread, it tasted quite homemade, even if the flavor was slightly muted. The portion was generous, and the textures worked well. While I wouldn’t regularly pay £6.50, it’s worth snapping up on sale.
Sainsbury’s Macaroni Cheese (£3.50 for one)
Baked for 30 minutes, this version was disappointing—bland and slightly curdled. Adding black pepper and parmesan improved it but didn’t fully save the experience. Lack of flavor left me unimpressed.
Charlie Bigham’s Butter Chicken Curry and Pilau Rice (£9.95 for two)
With generous portions and tender chicken marinated in a mild, creamy spiced sauce, this meal was a delight. Despite costing nearly £10, it beat many takeaway options and delivered a genuine home-cooked feel. The pilau rice was a nice touch, and overall, it felt like a worthwhile special treat.
Sainsbury’s Butter Chicken Ready Meal with Added Rice (£5.35 for two)
Though it didn’t include rice, this meal was competitively priced when paired with a £1 packet of pilau rice. The chicken was tender and well-spiced, arguably more flavorful than the Charlie Bigham’s version. Missing rice in the package was disappointing, but the taste made up for it.
Charlie Bigham’s Spaghetti Bolognese (£6.50 for one)
Slow-cooked beef ragu with red wine and oregano, served atop spaghetti and topped with parmesan cheese, this meal stood out as the best I tried. It genuinely tasted like homemade bolognese—succulent meat, balanced flavors, and just the right portion size. A bit pricey but memorable.
Sainsbury’s Spaghetti Bolognese (£3.50 for one)
This dish was overshadowed by Charlie Bigham’s version. It lacked flavor, had sparse meat, and the texture was off. A clear letdown in comparison.
Verdict
Charlie Bigham’s ready meals excel in flavor, texture, and a homemade feel. They also score better nutritionally, with no additives—a key reason I usually avoid ready meals. However, their higher price tag means I’d only buy them occasionally, preferably on sale or for special occasions.
Sainsbury’s own-brand butter chicken was surprisingly good and offered better value, though other meals didn’t impress. Overall, while ready meals won’t become a regular part of my diet, the premium options certainly delivered a satisfying experience worth considering.