Pancakes. Breakfast burritos. Egg bites. Smoothie bowls. Biscuits. The freezer aisle has become an unexpected stage for breakfast. Over the past two months, I sampled roughly 50 frozen breakfast items — nearly a new breakfast every single day.
I learned a lot of things, like that there have been some huge advancements in waffle science. More importantly, opting for a frozen breakfast item has become easier than toasting a slice of bread — and, in many cases, better. Out of the dozens of frozen meals I tried, these are the three that I will keep stocked in my freezer.
1. Mason Dixie Sweet Maple Liège Belgian Waffles
I’m going to be honest: I had no idea frozen breakfast waffles could pop out of the microwave this good. The moment that these emerged from the microwave, a surge of maple-scented air washed over my kitchen and made me feel borderline Canadian.
This isn’t my first microwavable Liège waffle; I’m well-acquainted with the sweet delicacy that is a Belgian-style waffle. In my experience, they can get far too soggy at the drop of a hat.
Not Mason Dixie, though! The brand has outdone itself with this sweet, but not-too-sweet, waffle that’s already maple-glossed so you can just heat and eat it. The best part? It takes only 30 seconds to heat and roughly 15 more to disappear. My primary (and really only) qualm is that the package comes with just four waffles.
Buy: Mason Dixie Sweet Maple Liège Belgian Waffles, $6.69 for 4 waffles at Amazon
2. Applegate Naturals Turkey Sausage Egg Cheese Breakfast Sandwich
The major fault of a frozen breakfast sandwich is that it often struggles to retain its structural integrity after reheating. Applegate Naturals Turkey Sausage Egg Cheese Breakfast Sandwich is NOT one of them. It tastes so shockingly fresh straight from the microwave, that you’d never know it was frozen.
The English muffin stayed puffy and even surprisingly held onto a little crunch along the edge. It was savory until the last bite, and remarkably consistent in cheesy, eggy flavor — but it isn’t without a bit of finagling. I heated the sandwich on 30% power for 90 seconds, then flipped it and heated it on high for another minute. I don’t know what the R&D team conjured up with these directions, but the results are magical.
Applegate sells these breakfast sandwiches in a pack of two. On a hungry morning that 14 grams per sandwich (22% of the daily value) meant a good start to my protein goals.
Buy: Applegate Naturals Turkey Sausage Egg Cheese Breakfast Sandwich, $10.59 for 2 breakfast sandwiches at Doordash
3. Kodiak Chocolate Chip Power Waffles
I know, two waffles out of the dozens of breakfast items that I tried. Really, it is a testament to the sheer number of waffles out there. Plus, both are that good.
I tried every last one of the Kodiak waffles (and the roster goes at least 10 deep). Each one is enriched with some kind of protein, and the one with the best flavor and texture is the thick and fluffy chocolate chip waffles. With 10 grams of protein (per waffle!) and a minimal amount of saturated fat (1.5 grams), it checked all of my high-protein breakfast boxes.
Another bonus: The ingredient list is short and easy to read, and the waffles are plenty flavorful enough to eat without maple syrup. The only drawback is the time you will have to wait while your oven preheats or your toaster sits on its lowest toasting setting. Don’t let the anticipation deter you.
Buy: Kodiak Chocolate Chip Power Waffles, $5.48 for 8 waffles at Walmart
What’s your favorite frozen breakfast? Tell us about it in the comments below.
