Stouffer’s Easy Express Cheesy Garlic Lasagna with Meat & Sauce

April 22, 2009 | Reviewer: Nicole

Stouffer's Easy Express Cheesy Garlic Lasagna with Meat & Sauce Price: FREE from Stouffer’s
Serving: 8oz.
Servings per container: 4.5
Calories: 330 per serving
Fat: 20%, 13g
Cholesterol: 13%, 40mg
Sodium: 36%, 860mg
Protein: 18g
Carbohydrates: 12%, 36g
Fiber: 12%, 3g
Sugar: 6g
Weight Watchers Points:

Stouffer’s says: Freshly made pasta layered between mozzarella cheese, seasoned beef and a rich garlic tomato sauce.

Nicole says: First thing to address with “family-sized” meals is the “serving size” used for its nutritional information. They always list the serving size for a six year old. And obviously not an American six year old, because we are all well aware of the obesity epidemic among American children.

Eight ounces a “meal” does not make. I suppose if you were making this for a family, you’d make a side dish. This box contains “4.5″ “8″ ounce servings. But that detracts from “Easy Express”, doesn’t it? My co-worker/co-eater (Bonnie) and I decided that at best, you could stretch this as a standalone meal for two adults and two small (under 6) children. Can children under six eat Stouffer’s these days? There are so many new rules to child-rearing these days. I ate 2.5 of those 4.5 servings. My co-eater had 1.5 (she’s a big snacker). 0.5 servings went to waste, because it’s hard to give away part of your frozen lunch.

Also, for dinner,”18 MINUTES” sounds awesome. But it’s a long time at lunch in a microwave shared with many others. Oh, well. I would definitely say don’t but this if you don’t have a microwave – 75 MINUTES! You could cook several meals in that time. I was shocked and delighted that it cooked all the way through, a common problem with frozen lasagnas. It also burned on some edges, but me and my co-eater love burnt lasagna edges.

The main point of this meal is that it is NOT what you’d expect from a lasagna meal. The box hints at this, but the taste screams it. “Garlic” is a serious odifier of the meal name, and serious flavor – if you don’t like it, don’t get this. If you like garlic, as I do, it’s pretty exciting. But not a good date meal, if you’re the type to “cook” your date a dinner that comes from a Stouffer’s box. The sauce is not remotely similar to the oregano-rich tomato sauces of most frozen meals. This is garlic sauce.

The “cheesy” in the name is also serious. This is cheesy, and contains mozzarella instead of lasagna’s standard ricotta. It is a nice change, but again, NOT what you expect. The ingredients are surprising, including burgundy wine and soy sauce. I say CHANGE is coming to America and it is good.

The beef is totally unexciting. I have no negative or positive comments – it was simply the ground beef that is in the flavorful cheesy garlic sauce. But I love my protein, even if it doesn’t stand out in any way.

Both Bonnie and I liked the refreshing flavors of this meal, and it’s perfect for a small family or if you have a roommate and it’s your turn to cook. My 2.5 servings were very satisfying and delicious.

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comments

4 Responses to “Stouffer’s Easy Express Cheesy Garlic Lasagna with Meat & Sauce”

Josie M on April 23rd, 2009

The title alone sounds sooo delicious! But the problem lies in the fact that I’m capable of eating the entire box by myself. So I may just have to admire this dish from afar….for now.
Erin on April 23rd, 2009

I don’t understand why it takes 18 minutes to cook and also why that’s a huge-font selling point on the box?
Admittedly, I don’t cook frozen lasagna often, but it seems like a long time.
And you could make lasagna using no-bake noodles, rotisserie chicken and jarred sauce in under the amount of time it would take to cook this frozen one in the oven!
Cherie on May 3rd, 2009

Actually erin to heat it in the oven, the package requires 75 minute!
So I think 18 min in the microwave is a small sacrifice. Additionally, you don’t lose any of the wonderful tase by going the shorter route!
This dish WINS! I love love love it!
Sarah on May 10th, 2009

I. LOVE. THIS. STUFF.

It’s so fattening but oh so good. Try the manicottis next time, they’re pretty good too, although not as dense and filling as the super meaty, cheesey garlicky lasagna. Man does that thing have meat.