I love pasta, it's one of my favorite foods.  And I love convenient hot lunches on days when a cold sandwich just won't do.  Thus I'm a pretty big fan of Hormel Compleats Spaghetti with Meat Sauce.

Hormel Compleats is one of the most convenient line of quick lunches-on-the-go.  First of all, they don't require refrigeration.  So it's a simple matter to toss one into your purse or briefcase.  I keep a couple in my desk drawer at work, for those days when I don't have more than a few minutes to eat. 

While the directions allow for boiling this product, I've never tried that.  I make mine in the microwave.  90 seconds is all it takes.  Peel back the film (which, granted, is sometimes a bit of a challenge), and enjoy a hot meal.

All of the varieties are 10 oz. of food.  For me, it's not enough for a lunch on its own, and certainly not enough for a dinner.  But for a quick snack, or a lunch (as long as I add some fruit or a salad) it's fine. 

Most of the varieties are fairly low in calories.  This one is 290 calories, with 9g of fat.  Not the worst meal one could have.  Of course, like many pre-packaged meals, the sodium is rather high - 800 mg, or about a third of the recommended daily intake.  On the good side, there's 3g of fiber.

But how does it taste?  In my opinion, this variety is pretty good.  Not their best, but certainly not their worst, either.  The spaghetti has a nice texture, and the strands are fairly short.  This is convenient since I'm mostly eating these at work, and don't want to have to battle long strands in a potentially messy meal.

There are plenty of bite-sized meat pieces, enough to have meat in nearly every bit.  And they, too, have a nice texture, and a nice taste.   The right amount of sauce is in there, and it has a slightly sweet taste, not overly spicy.  Overall, I like this flavor quite a lot.

The first three ingredients are tomatoes, spaghetti, and cooked beef. 

I certainly don't eat these every day, but for those days when I'm forced to eat in just a few minutes, or when a cold meal simply won't satisfy, this is a decent choice.  I love the convenience of this line, the cost (approximately $2), and the taste.  The fact that most of them are under 300 calories make this line a winner in my house.  As for this specific flavor, it's one of my favorites.  A definite "keeper".




Hormel Compleats - Cheese Manicotti with Meat Sauce
Hormel Compleats - Chicken Alfredo
Hormel Compleats - Chicken & Dumplings
Hormel Compleats - Chicken & Gravy & Masted Potatoes
Hormel Compleats - Chicken & Rice
Hormel Compleats - Meatloaf with Potatoes & Gravy


Recommended: Yes