This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Michael Angelo’s®. In return for my time and creative effort, I'm being compensated financially for this post. Thank you for allowing me to keep creating great content by supporting partnerships with brands I collaborate with on The Rising Spoon. As always, the opinions expressed here are 100% my own.
Do you have a specific season where big chores or "issues" seem to pop up one after another, dogpiling until you have a to-do list so overwhelming that you feel like saying "screw it!", cracking open a bottle of wine, and hiding your face in a huge plate of comfort food?
For me that's spring. A time of warmer temps, thunderstorms + rain (love), blooming plants...and car inspections (tags), taxes + dental checkups. Add to those normal yearly responsibilities the tendency for said things to break or change around the same time & you have a bundle of
Also, we're moving soon-ish and our new area is currently experiencing (what I hope is temporary) issues with too much chlorine in the water. It's so bad someone contacted Erin Brockovich. Eek.
While I'm busy researching shower & sink water filters, packing my stuff, and prepping for taxes, I still have to keep us fed.
My real life solution to meals during seasons of busyness is a combo of:
- quick-prep recipes (like chicken hummus naan wraps & creamy tomato basil soup)
- meal delivery services (so I don't have to worry about wasting ingredients or shopping)
- eating out (yep, we all do it)
- and keeping my freezer stocked with wholesome frozen convenience food (tip #6 in my meal planning with real food post)
One of my favorite meals to keep in my freezer for busy nights, especially when I'm craving comfort food, are Michael Angelo's Frozen Italian Entrees. You can find them in the freezer aisle under the family meals/entrees section of most grocery stores. Just look for the green boxes - they're easy to spot.
I first wrote about Michael Angelo's back in 2016, when I shared how I use their frozen lasagna with meat sauce (oh my gosh, it's so good) as an easy family dinner idea during the busy holiday season.
Their entrees are also excellent for last-minute dinner parties, or when you're traveling to a relative or friend's home and don't have access to a well-stocked fridge & pantry. Pop one of the meals into the oven, throw together a quick leafy side salad with homemade dressing + toasty garlic bread and you're done.
My favorites are the Three Cheese Baked Ziti and Vegetable Lasagna (both of which I photographed for today's post), along with the Lasagna with Meat Sauce. They also have Eggplant Parmigiana, Chicken Parmigiana, and more. I usually get the family size entrees so I have enough for two meals (when I'm only feeding my beau & me), but they also have single serving and party sizes, as well.
If you're curious which of your local grocery stores sell Michael Angelo's, click here to visit their website, and use their "where to buy" feature to search using your zip code.
What Makes Michael Angelo's Different From Other Frozen Meals?
I rarely buy frozen entrees these days (pizza is the exception) because they're typically loaded with additives and preservatives; however, Michael Angelo's is different.Their slogan is "it tastes good to say no", which means their meals contain no preservatives, no additives, no fillers, and no long unrecognizable words you can't pronounce. (Yay for real food!) The brand of frozen lasagna I grew up eating can't even come close to this. (I just checked the ingredients list on the side of the box yesterday while I was at the store. Out of curiosity, you know. Ahem.)
The other thing that makes Michael Angelo's stand head & shoulders above the rest? Their food tastes homemade. Like, made-from-scratch with love. Every bite is layered with flavor and made with high-quality ingredients like heirloom garlic, imported cheeses, and vine-ripened tomatoes from Northern California.
Frankly, their entrees have way more flavor than the four Italian restaurants nearest my home. Seriously! It baffles me that those places are still open when they hardly season their foods...but I digress.
I know how important it is these days to vote with your dollars, so when you support food companies like Michael Angelo's that use real ingredients sans the preservatives & additives, it sends a big message: we care about what's in our food and so should you.
What to Pair with a Frozen Italian Entree For a Well Rounded Meal (And Still Keep It Easy)
My go-to sides to serve with frozen lasagna or pasta are a big leafy salad with homemade balsamic vinaigrette, red wine vinaigrette, apple cider vinaigrette, or blue cheese dressing. If I want the meal extra cozy, I'll fix buttery garlic bread with a crusty loaf of sourdough.But I like to switch things up sometimes and even more so when I'm fixing food for other folks. It gives me a chance to try something new and wow them.
So, I've rounded up a list of 30+ side dishes that pair well an Italian main course, most of which can be made in 15-45 minutes start to finish, while the lasagna is baking in the oven. :)
Even if you're making an Italian dish from scratch, keep this list handy for easy side dish ideas you can pair Italian-inspired foods all year long.
30+ Simple Side Dishes To Serve with Easy Weeknight Italian Dinners
- Roasted Artichokes with Aioli via Preppy Kitchen
- Sauteed Asparagus with Garlic, Butter & Parmesan via The Rising Spoon
- Parmesan Oven Roasted Tomatoes via Spend With Pennies
- Sauteed Mediterranean Vegetables via What A Girl Eats
- White Bean Mash with Rosemary & Lemon via Inside The Rustic Kitchen
- Hearts of Palm Salad with Simple Lemon Vinaigrette via Veggie Inspired
- Nanou’s Garlic Green Beans via The Life Jolie
- Roasted Tomatoes with Fresh Herbs & Garlic via The Rising Spoon
- Eggplant Caponata via Savory Tooth
- Oven-Roasted Asparagus with Charred Lemon via Champagne Tastes
- Garlic Parmesan Zucchini via Joy Filled Eats
- Tomato Bell Pepper Green Olive Salad via Veggies Save The Day
- Italian-Style Sauteed Onion & Zucchini Rounds via She Loves Biscotti
- Oven Roasted Eggplant Cubes with Balsamic Vinaigrette via One Clever Chef
- Festive Tomato & Spinach Cauliflower Rice via My Life Cookbook
- Roasted Asparagus with Gorgonzola via Inside The Rustic Kitchen
- Lemon Garlic Green Beans via Mom's Dinner
- Boiled Artichokes with Lemon Butter Dipping Sauce via The Rising Spoon
- Asiago Bruschetta Roasted Asparagus via Flavor Mosaic
- Sauteed Kale with Balsamic Glazed Shallots via Taste Abounds
- Crunchy Cucumber Salad With Mozzarella and Walnuts via Killing Thyme
- Balsamic Roasted Green Beans via The Rising Spoon
- Spinach and White Beans via The Live-In Kitchen
- Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus via My Suburban Kitchen
- Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad with Almonds & Pancetta via Foodie Girl Chicago
- Sautéed Spinach & Leeks via Family Food On The Table
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Broccoli via The Rising Spoon
- Shaved Fennel & Celery Salad via Platings and Pairings
- Rustic Gluten-Free Breadsticks via Raia's Recipes
- Homemade Focaccia via Longbourn Farm
- Puff Pastry Straws via Beyond The Chicken Coop
- Gram's Calzone with Sausage and Cheese via An Italian in my Kitchen
Sponsored by Michael Angelo’s
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Michael Angelo's. The opinions and text are all mine.
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