Lean Cuisine Butternut Squash Ravioli

March 30, 2007 | Reviewer: Guest Reviewers

Price: $2.99
Serving: 1 Package, 280 g
Calories: 350
Fat: 14%, 9g
Cholesterol: 12%, 35mg
Sodium: 28%, 660mg
Protein: 13g
Carbs: 19%, 56g
Fiber: 24%, 6g
WW Points: 7 Points

Lean Cuisine says: Butternut squash ravioli in a creamy sauce with walnuts,snap peas and carrots

Amanda says: I’ve just started writing this review like, oh, four times now and each time have backspaced my way to the beginning because, well, OH. MY. GOD. I’m just so shocked to say it: this meal is good. Like, gooood. (That’s four O’s if you’re counting; two more than required for the average “Oh, it’s good!”)

I have to be honest about my intentions when I purchased this particular LC meal from my grocer’s freezer. I bought it because I thought it would suck. And I thought it’s level of suckiness would be perfect fodder for a funny HER review. And to be really, REALLY honest, I ate this meal tonight under the pretense that it was going to be terrible, so that my boyfriend would take me out for a cheeseburger and beer at our favorite brew house. See, we made a pact not to eat out again until all of our groceries were finished off but I was fairly convinced that if I didn’t have a burger tonight, I would die. So I thought if I started to eat this meal and it was JUST SO TERRIBLE THAT I COULDN’T POSSIBLY STAND IT that Judd would take pity on me and buy me a 1/2 pound of 100% Grade A Angus Beef. Cooked medium with grilled mushrooms and onions. And thick sliced bacon. And cheddar. Oh, and spicy fries. Washed down with the cool Irish Stout of the season (aptly named The Bomb). BUT! This fantasy did not take place because I ate every single bite of the butternut squash ravioli and loved it.

This is an appropriate place to use the term chock full. This sucker was chock full of veggies. Look at the picture. They were slightly more tender than Iâ€™d have cooked them myself but they were flavorful and sweet. The squash ravioli were awesome. Really. They were soft but not mushy, and had a pleasant earthy, garlicky sweetness. The creamy sauce was just that with a mellow herb-y flavor. And walnuts! Nearly every bite had a crunch of walnuts. This was a truly suprising, truly tasty meal from Lean Cuisine that’s definitely a refreshing change from the typical chicken/rice/pasta combos. Do it. You’ll like it.

comments

54 Responses to “Lean Cuisine Butternut Squash Ravioli”

Amy on March 30th, 2007

It’s pretty much perfect. I think it should have been awarded Five Stars!
Abi Jones on March 30th, 2007
I didn’t like it. I thought that the filling was blandly sweet and the pasta was far too thick. Part of the problem is that I recently tried some fantastic butternut squash ravioli at a little French restaurant in Connecticut. That experience informed the following personal truths:
1. Most pastas are far too thick and gummy.
2. Pancetta improves just about any food dish. Even desserts.
If I hadn’t tried that delicately wrapped, pork belly enhanced ravioli, I probably would have liked this one a lot more.
MaryAnne on March 30th, 2007

I have been waiting ALL WEEK for this review. On one hand I’m excited that it was good and that it has walnuts. Walnuts! On the other hand, it doesn’t look to good and there is a sauce. What is with the sauce? It’s not appetizing to look at and is it really neccessary? I’ve never had sauce on butternut squash ravioli. Ok, so maybe there was a slight drizzle of sauce, but not the abundance that is pictured. 9 grams of fat? Not that 9 grams is a lot of fat for a meal, especially a good one, but there isn’t any protein. I’m trying figure out where the fat comes from. Not the butternut squash… not the pasta unless it’s like 1 gram… not the veggies… Are there really 9 grams of fat worth of walnuts? No, it’s that stupid sauce.
Abi Jones on March 30th, 2007

It is really saucy.

I would have preferred a sage-infused butter. But butter wouldn’t be a very ‘Lean Cuisine’ ingredient.
Andrew on March 30th, 2007

I was privileged enough to try this too, and I can’t say I was blown away by it. My ravioli were kind of gummy and my particular dish didn’t have more than about five bits of walnut, it seemed. I guess I’d try it again, but I’m not adding it to the rotation.
Jennie on March 30th, 2007

Definitely not five-star perfect, but certainly far more delicious than average. Not the biggest fan of the sauce, but I enjoyed the flavor and bite of the ravioli itself. A keeper, for sure.
emily on March 30th, 2007

if only there was more ravioli…
Amanda on April 2nd, 2007

Man you guys are a tough crowd! I’m holding to my love of this meal, but I will give you that there should definitely be more ravioli. Seeing as though this is a constant complaint with Lean Cuisine meals- always needing a little bit more- I chocked that negative up to being “just the way it is” with LC. I’m trying to think back now to how much sauce there was. I just didn’t get the over-sauced feeling. Maybe because I’m not a conniseur of butternut squash ravioli, I just assumed the sauce was par for the course. I have to say though, with all the bland, boring, sticky-sauce slathered chicken bits out there- this meal is a welcome change of pace for my tastebuds. You know who I’d like to see do butternut squash meals? AMY’S KITCHEN. HELLO? Amy’s people? You’d make dreams come true. DREAMS PEOPLE, DREAMS.
Leslie Roberts on April 3rd, 2007

I bought this meal on your recommendation and I liked it. I thought there was an abundance of very fresh tasting yummy veggies. Microwave frozen pasta is always sub par to fresh, but over all I enjoyed it and would definitely buy it again.
ali on April 5th, 2007

I’ve eaten this and I liked it. But I also ate a salad with it because it wasn’t quite filling. I’m a newish vegetarian and the cheap vegetarian frozen dinners are hard to come by so I was happy to find this (and buy it on sale). It’s diffently something I’d eat again, although I do remember wishing I had a piece of bread to mop up the last bit of sauce.
Jess on April 6th, 2007

Oh man. I tried this too. I was going to review it but I’m totally back logged on reviews right now and I’m really glad that now I don’t have too. I have to rely on the Temptations now:
“So if you fell like giving me
A lifetime of Butternut squash ravioli
I second that emotion”

I really really liked it and felt like i was eating gourmet for gratis. Crap! I have a meeting! Thanks for the genius review.
Ashley on April 9th, 2007

It’s different. It wins.
Renee on April 13th, 2007

This one is possibly my favorite lean cuisine spa meal out there today.
Colleen on April 26th, 2007

Now I am no big fan of tv dinners. But my teenage (vegetarian) daughter and I absolutely LOVE this microwave meal. I adore ravioli di zucca from Il Fornaio restaurant….this isn’t quite as good, but a yummy cheap and low calorie alternative! This product offers savory ravioli (wish there were more than 5 pieces) and an amzing quanity of colorful and yummy crunchy veggies. Great sauce, love the nuts, just love the whole product! I eat this for lunch at least once a week, and my daughter has been known to eat two packages when she comes home from school. Needless to say, our freezer is stocked with this meal! FIVE STARS!
Tracy on May 7th, 2007

My opinion about it (and most Lean Cuisines/Smart Ones) is they taste much better once you take them out of the plastic bowl/plate thingy and put them on a regular plate. Then you feel like you are eating a real meal!

That said, I rarely eat 7 point lunches, but when I want to splurge, I do on this one. It’s soooo tasty and something different than I would make for myself.
Lauren on May 16th, 2007

Omgoodness, I also love this meal. I had seen it in the grocery store freezer and had thought it sounded interesting (I’m a sucker for any time of ravioli) but I obviously thought butternut squash sounded crazy. Plus, I’m not a big vegetable fan. But for some reason I decided to try it, and I was so pleasantly surprised. I think what really makes the meal is the sauce. I also am not a big fan of creamy sauces (ugghh) but this one is really tasty, plus it’s not too thick or anything. And all the vegetables taste good, and I don’t even mind that fact that there are only maybe 4 or 5 raviolis. It’s a pretty filling meal too (for what it is) Love this one!
Donia on June 7th, 2007

I’m a fat girl who is on a journey to get healthy (and lose lots of weight in the process) and this is like a dream come true for me. I LOVE food and I’m on a constant search for healthy, but tastes great. These raviolis did it for me. I could eat it every single day. Seriously…I’m in love.
Shannon on June 22nd, 2007

Not worth the fat. I’ve made my own squash ravioli with a terragon butter sauce before, this was a very very distant cousin. the cousin that you wish you weren’t related to. The only thing that I think might help would be to add a few fresh spices - but that’s not exactly convenient.
Janet on June 27th, 2007

I found your site after doing a Google search for Lean Cuisine’s Butternut Squash Ravioli. I tried it once and loved it, too. When I went back to buy more during my local Shop Rite’s sale, I couldn’t find any. I thought it was just a fluke. THREE Shop Rite’s later I’m starting to panic. Could it be really popular or just discontinued, already?!:(
Deanna on July 2nd, 2007

I love this meal! I too am having difficulties finding it but when I do I stock up. It is part of my rotation, I find it filling and the veggies are yummy. It’s a great change from the chicken dishes.
Glory on July 2nd, 2007

I bought two of these bad boys after discovering this site, and… I must say I am disappointed. Granted, I’m not on a diet, so I eat more than the average lean cuisine meal provides, but still! there were so few ravioli! I’m picky with vegetables and really can’t eat frozen dinner veggies, so that was half the meal gone (I did take a few bites more than usual).

However, now that I look back at the cover of the box, there clearly are ~6 pieces of ravioli, and a crapload of veggies.. So I should have expected that.

I expected more of the sauce than I should have. I was hoping for a creamy garlic-parmesan sauce, and instead got something like country gravy without the pepper.

4 stars is def. appropriate for this meal… and now I have a squash ravioli obsession!
marie on July 23rd, 2007

I actually liked it…didn’t LOVE it, but it was probably the best frozen “low cal/fat” entree I’ve tried. Most of the chicken dishes are always mushy chicken, so I pass. For dinner, try a little saute’ of chicken with it and toss in a few extra walnuts and a sprinkle of nutmeg…extra tasty and adds a little protein to the mix.
Tara on October 9th, 2007

I can not get over how fresh the veggies tasted. I didnt want the meal to end. By far one of the best lean cuisines I’ve come across. I eat lots of low-cal frozen meals for lunch and usually I’m sad when I finish. Today was cause for celebration!
Tara on November 2nd, 2007

Hi - this is a different Tara. I believe that this meal is an excellent choice as far as frozen meals go. The use of butternut squash is a welcome addition to the very limited range of ingredients that low-calorie meals provide.

While reading the comments above I noticed that one person blamed the 9 grams of fat almost entirely on the sauce. I’ve gone to an online calorie counter because nuts are generally high in fat. As I suspected ONE tablespoon of walnuts contains 48 calories and 4.6 grams of fat. I do admit that I wish there were more ravioli in this dish, but even so, this is by far my favorite LC meal.
Laruen on December 3rd, 2007

I’ve probably eaten 50 of these LC Squash Ravioli meals since they hit the shelves. They’re AMAZING. The peas are wonderful, and I actually leave mine in the microwave so the pasta gets chewy. It’s not how I’d do it on a stove, but I like my nuked rav chewy.

Whoever thinks 9 grams of fat is too much is insane– eat less in a meal and you’ll be starving in an hour! The nuts are an excellent addition.
Mary Anne on December 5th, 2007

I just tried this meal for the first time and I am sold!!! It was delicious and just enough. I would definately buy it again.
Katy on December 7th, 2007

Hi there — first visit to your site and LOVE it! Just started back to work about a month ago and as a result have just started sorting through the mess of healthy frozen lunch items. This meal is, by far my FAVORITE frozen offering — and vegetarian too! I eat this about once a week.
Becky on December 11th, 2007

This ranks pretty high in my preferences of Lean Cuisine offerings. Normally, I’m not a huge fan of butternut squash, but mix it with walnuts and veggies and pasta and yummy sauce, and life is soooo good. I don’t get it very often due to the high point count, but I wish I could eat it more often!!!
Lindsay on February 27th, 2008

This is one of the best meals I have had in a while. I love the butternut squash stuffing. If lean cuisine could refine the recipe to make a few more raviolis in each package, but lessen up on the sauce and keep the same fat and calories I’d be all for it. As for how it is now- it’s fantastic!
danakscully64 on March 22nd, 2008

I LOVE this meal. I keep them stocked in my freezer for when I have no time to cook.
Betsey on March 24th, 2008

I had never tried butternut squash ravioli before trying this meal, and absolutely LOVED it. Enough, in fact, to actually call LC to offer my compliments to the chef (a first for me). I’m not officially a vegetarian, but definitely try to incorporate more fruits, veggies and nuts into my diet than meat. After eating this meal I tried another brand of butternut squash ravioli (sorry can’t remember the brand) and HATED it. Like other folks who have commented on the dish, I like the veggies and the sauce, but really wanted more ravioli because that’s what I really loved about the entree. I ended up going to my grocery store and buying all they had in stock just to make sure I could get my fix! Thanks for the site…we’re on vacation in San Francisco, and I saw an article in the SF Chronical that mentioned the website…I’ll be back to check out other items!
Julia on March 26th, 2008

This is one of my favorite LC meals. Lots of veggies and the pasta is not gummy. The sauce is light and yes, maybe there is too much of it. I met a stranger at the frozen LC food case and I suggested she try this one. About 2 weeks later, I saw this same lady in thesame place and she recognized me and thanked me for the suggestion. As I was reachin ginto the case to get some, there were only 2 left. I did let her have one!
Lucy on April 9th, 2008

I am new to the Lean Cuisine Spa dinners and must say that this one really impressed me. I agree I wish it had more ravioli, but then it wouldn’t be “lean cuisine” would it The sauce seemed to be appropriate for the pasta and was nice on the veggies as well. Ahh, the veggies - they really make the dish too! The walnuts are a bit minimal, but don’t think they add as much to the dish.

Of course, there are restaurants where you can get better butternut squash ravioli (I like mine with a butter sage and amaretto cookie topping!) but for something I can zap in the microwave in less than 5 minutes, this has my vote for 5 stars!!
Nichole on May 22nd, 2008

This is my favorite Lean Cuisine meal. I wish they’d make more vegetarian dishes. I’m not a vegetarian, but frozen-food meat makes me shudder.
Heatehr on June 10th, 2008

Thanks for the review - it tried this, and it’s indeed as good as you said! Not as filling as I would have liked, but YUM.
Zoe on July 12th, 2008

This is my fave lean cusine ever! For those of us who like creamy pasta dishes, this one is great. The ravioli is filled with an almost pumpkin-pie like filling and it’s in a creamy white sauce with slightly crunchy walnuts and light tasting veggies. This is an intersting dish because it’s both rich tasting yet light at the same time. It’s a unique contrast that just works. Lean Cusine does a great ravioli, thier other similar dishes are really good too. It really hits the spot if I am having a pasta craving…if they did a creamy pesto one I would really be in heaven!
Renee on July 22nd, 2008

Mmm…this one is so good, at least in relative, diet-frozen-meal terms. I like it with one of those sweet apple chicken sausages diced up and thrown it - it adds some protein and makes the meal more filling. Granted, I would also rather eat my butternut squash ravioli in a brown butter sauce and in a larger quantity than five, but this does just fine.
Denise on July 24th, 2008

I really like this meal, for many of the reasons mentioned already.

I do agree that the sauce is a little off though. I would have preferred something a little more herby, and less like a peppery biscuit gravy.

If they could tweek this, then I would be ever so happy.. they’ll probably discontinue it instead.

it has inspired me to attempt my own butternut squash raviolis though!
Amya on September 17th, 2008

I love love love this meal! I give it 5 stars! I heated up one of these for my co-worker and she ooohhhed and aaahhhed over it… and when I told her it was a Lean Cuisine, she loved it even more. I will buy it again… and again and again.
jen on September 30th, 2008

Thanks for this review!! I completely agree with you and as a vegetarian I’ve been having a hard time in general finding filling, tasty, healthy stuff to take to work for lunch, so this was a pleasant surprise. This hits the spot and the veggies taste unbelievably fresh, especially the snap peas! (Although, you can kind of taste the “school cafeteria frozen veggies” in the carrots, but whatever.) All in all, this was way above any LC i’ve ever had before. I wish they’d take the hint and make many more delicious non-meat dishes like this!
Roberta Ann, CT on September 30th, 2008

This is my favorite LC meal!! I think the veggies are wonderful and fresh and I love the butternut squash ravioli. Kudos to LC for such a great dish!! Oh and I have lost, so far, almost my 30 pound goal. I was 167 pounds in May 2008 and it is Sept 2008 I am 142! I feel so much better. When I first starting eating LC, I was shocked at how small the portions were but I wasnt hungry after and I know now I was OVEREATING alot!! Portion Control ladies is why we are losing weight! We are eating way more than we need.
Craig on November 7th, 2008

Hmm, in checking the review and all the comments, I’m not sure if a review from a male is allowed–if not, I suppose we’ll let Abi delete this

I’m normally not a LC fan but this one is simply great. Others have already gone into great detail on specifics, so I’ll just say that these ravioli will be part of my Thanksgiving meal and will replace my usual home-made “traditional green bean mushroom soup onion” casserole. The raviloli, peas and walnuts are amazing for a prepared frozen food item.
Abi Jones on November 7th, 2008

Hey Craig! We do have male reviewers! Okay, so just a couple of them - but still, they do exist.

-Abi
MaryAnne on November 11th, 2008

OMG! I’m eating this right now and I have fallen in love. I’m wondering if I can make this, dump it in a serving bowl, and claim it as my own for the new guy I’m dating. This is unbelievable!
Melanie on December 10th, 2008

I agree with most of you that say this is great!!! I think there are not enough Ravs and im not crazy about snow peas, but there is something about this meal that keeps me coming back. I am looking to make my own Butternut squash rav meal but all I can find is butter sauces that are a crazy amount of calories. Does anyone know a good sauce???
Amy on January 3rd, 2009

This is my favorite, favorite, favorite frozen meal EVER. Seriously! It is unreal! Like many others, though, I do wish there were more ravioli. 5 is not enough. I wish they made a supersized version for my craving days. LOL!
Top Ten Lean Cuisine of All Time : Heat Eat Review : We Review TV Dinners, Frozen Meals, and Microwavable Foods on January 8th, 2009

[...] Lean Cuisine Butternut Squash Ravioli is a must-have on this list. I didn’t like it, but there are so many rabid fans out there that if I left it off people would probably hunt me down and force-feed me. [...]
Jenn on January 8th, 2009

I love this one! I get excited every time I have it.
Melissa on January 14th, 2009

I bought this meal purely because of all the good reviews on this site, and I’m eating it right now! There are so many vegetables and I’ve never had butternut squash ravioli but it is pretty good! I like the amount of sauce, too - rather have too much than too little. Definitely buy again
Kath on January 27th, 2009

I love this meal — I eat it for dinner all the time when I don’t feel like doing any real cooking. I put in some additions to make it tastier & more filling, though: Midway through heating, I add a little bit of olive oil, some garlic powder & pepper, some french-cut frozen green beans and sprinkle on a couple tablespoons of parmesean cheese. With the extra veggies and cheesier sauce, I find that the small number of raviolis doesn’t matter as much.
brista on February 15th, 2009

I wish LC would make more vegetarian meals like this! I mean, tomato-based noodle dishes are fine and all, but seriously, I’m tired of it! That was the only reason I bought this…and then it took about 6 months to actually eat it because I was convinced I’d hate it. Pretty good!
ingrid on April 29th, 2009

lean cuisine butternut squash ravioli is very delicious. I didn’t know it was a whole meal. perfect for a quick lunch or dinner.
Michelle on June 18th, 2009

This is a delicious meal!!!!! I recently started Weight Watchers, so I am new to the whole frozen meal thing, but it is just so easy to pop it in the microwave and eat 4 minutes later.

I love to cook, and often think that I can cook a meal similar to these frozen meals for the same fat/calories, leaving out the sodium and preservatives. However, this meal is just so good, I will not even attempt to make my own version. I found it filling as well, which usually does not happen with Lean Cuisine meals.

YAY Lean Cuisine!!!!! Please keep this meal on the shelves
Eat them up yum on June 22nd, 2009

Liked the ravioli a lot, but the rest tasted like EVERY LEAN CUISINE—that broccoli/veggie same taste across the board taste.