Angela Patrone, Senior Lifestyle Reporter for What's On, tasted six own-brand lasagne ready meals from Tesco, ranging from the cheapest at £2 to the most expensive at £4.50. The tastiest was the Tesco Vegetable Lasagne at £3.50, scoring 9/10.
The Taste Test
Patrone collected every own-brand lasagne available at her nearest Tesco, selecting both chilled and frozen varieties, including the most affordable and premium options. She compared them directly, noting that while she is not typically a fan of ready meals, one selection genuinely surprised her.
Tesco Finest Lasagne Al Forno – £4.50
The most expensive entry promised 'flavours of Italy' but proved the most underwhelming. While Parmesan was a pleasant addition, excessive herbs and an overpowering smoky taste compromised the flavour. The bolognese sauce lacked salt, similar to many other options. Rating: 3/10.
Tesco Beef Lasagne (frozen) – £2
The most budget-friendly choice ranked second-weakest overall. The parsley crumb and red cheddar cheese topping, alongside the béchamel, didn't deliver. However, it achieved a proper balance of cheese sauce to ragù. Rating: 4/10.
Hearty Food Co. Lasagne – £2.20
This chilled lasagne was the second-cheapest overall and the most economical among fresh varieties. Despite low expectations, it proved surprisingly satisfactory, surpassing both Finest-range alternatives for taste. However, the pasta was overcooked and the sauce had a distinctive flavour of inadequately softened onions. Rating: 7/10.
Tesco Beef Lasagne (chilled) – £3.50
The standard-range beef lasagne shared second position overall. It featured a substantial amount of herbs, and the pasta sheets possessed a markedly superior texture. The only complaint was that slightly more cheese could have improved it. Rating: 8/10.
Tesco Finest Beef Lasagne (frozen) – £3.50
At £1 cheaper than the chilled Finest lasagne, this frozen version delivered significantly more flavour. The sauces achieved much better equilibrium and weren't as overwhelming. The inclusion of mozzarella balls on top was a nice addition. Rating: 8/10.
Tesco Vegetable Lasagne – £3.50
Remarkably, this meat-free lasagne stood out as the winner among all those tasted and is the only one Patrone would contemplate buying again. Brimming with beautifully roasted vegetables, a flavoursome sauce, and a substantial amount of cheese, the only drawback was requiring a bit more seasoning. All ready meals sampled would have been improved with slightly more salt. Rating: 9/10.
