7 Frozen Ravioli Worth Buying And 7 To Leave In The Cold

Pasta has been a staple of my diet since before I can remember. As a child, there were definitely a few favorites that I'd practically beg for. The first was cavatelli, a chewy eggless pasta shaped like a half-formed tube or shell with a hollow inside.  My absolute favorite though, was always ravioli. 

When I was young my ravioli had to be filled with cheese for me to be happy, but as I've grown I've gained an appreciation of pretty much any filling. Yes, cheese is still my favorite, but I've been lucky enough to try some interesting ravioli in my time, and was excited to dive into a tasting battle between these 14 different options. I was  not surprised to find several cheese, beef, and butternut squash options, but I was especially interested in trying some of the slightly more interesting flavors I'd come across. 

So, with a pot of boiling water, a variety of delicious sauces, a fork, and an appetite, I sat down ready to tackle my task. It was time to figure out which frozen ravioli were worth it and which should stay in the frozen aisle.

Bettergoods is one of Walmart's store brands. I've had the opportunity to sample quite a few of its products, including nine Bettergoods ice cream treats, 10 of the brand's frozen pizzas, and even a few salsas. While not everything I've sampled has been amazing, my overall impression has remained positive. 

The first of the Bettergoods ravioli I decided to try was the ricotta and lemon variety, and my first thought upon pulling them out of the bag was of their bright yellow color. While not all pasta contains egg, I often find those that do to have a richer and bouncier texture than those without. Each half moon did its best to prove me right with a delicate texture that offered up just the right amount of chew without feeling tough or dense. 

The ricotta filling was silky and creamy, with just the lightest touch of lemon. Each ravioli was filled appropriately, and even a small plate felt satisfyingly filling. I'd have liked them more if the lemon flavor was  really given a chance to shine, but even as they were I'd happily pay $5.42 for another bag without regretting it.

Celentano isn't a brand I recognized. However, it seemed like a good choice to add to the list as the brand is sold across the country. With a pale white color, and surprisingly large circumference, first appearances of the beef ravioli seemed promising. 

While setting up my photo with a plate of steaming hot ravioli, I couldn't help but think about how perfect they looked, each one plump and well filled. The pasta looked smooth and inviting. That delightful impression is exactly what made biting into them such a disappointment.

The dough was so dense and heavy that chewing through it felt like a chore compared to many of the other contestants. Despite the beef having a genuinely meaty and well-seasoned flavor, the toughness of the starchy dough was enough to actively put me off of my meal. While I appreciated the fact that the ravioli were very filling and had an undeniable entree-like quality, there was no getting past the thick and gummy texture of the pasta itself.

While checking what I'd bought, my husband opened the freezer and said the words "oh, fancy ravioli." The sleek design and bold look of Ripi's packaging definitely makes an impression. Of course, the fact that I paid $8.99 for a mere nine ounces of ravioli made me hesitate. Those who've read any of my other stories will know how budget-conscious I usually am.

Even now the price tag does still put me off a little, I admit, but it's difficult to argue with the results. Cacio e pepe, or cheese and pepper in English, is one of those flavors that come across as simple, but can be impressive when done well. Ripi did it well. The cheese filling was so incredibly smooth and creamy. It melted on the tongue smoothly and acted as the perfect backdrop for the surprisingly potent flavor of black pepper. 

The black pepper, which I don't usually think of as the star of a dish, had a warm and savory flavor that complemented the delicate and silky pasta while leaving a pleasant heat at the back of the throat. Despite the cost, there was a genuine quality to each bite that made the meal feel special and worthwhile.

I rarely end up at Stop & Shop. As I searched my memories to find a time the grocery store really wowed me, I came up blank. But I was ready to change my tune, and my general opinions of the brand, should I find these little squares of cheese and spinach filled pasta to be delicious. 

At about a fourth the price of the Ripi pasta, only $4.29 for a 24-ounce bag, the quality matched the drastic difference in cost. Each parcel was made of a thick and doughy pasta. The texture wasn't unbearable, but after trying so many amazing ravioli, it's difficult to pretend that the pasta was impressive. I could have looked beyond the lackluster dough, if the filling had been better. 

The filling was plentiful, but the flavor of spinach was little more than a thought. The cheese was without flavor and dry enough to come across as grainy rather than creamy. As much as I liked the price and quantity, the ravioli was just plain below average. Even budget ravioli should have more flavor and a better texture than these did.

As excited as I was for the green pasta I saw on the bag of Bettergoods Herb Cheese Ravioli, the actual color in person didn't feel as welcoming. That's not to say it was unappetizing, but there was a slight paleness that didn't give that same excitement that other spinach-infused pastas have elicited. 

Aside from that moment of worry, these were absolutely delicious, and other customers seem to love this Bettergoods ravioli, too. The pasta was equally as firm but giving as the brand's ricotta lemon variety. There was also an incredibly bright and floral herb flavor that filled my mouth in a fresh and welcoming way. Combined with the smooth and milky cheese filling, the mouthfeel was spot on. 

The only thing about these little circles that put me off, but not enough to kick them off the buy list, was that they were a little salty. Whether I tried them with red or white sauce, I just couldn't quite ignore the salty aftertaste. I'd definitely buy these again, though next time I may go with a simpler dressing of garlic and unsalted butter instead of a fully-seasoned sauce.

I am a huge fan of anything corn, and the idea of combining sweet corn and decadently creamy burrata cheese had my mouth watering as I stared intently at this Bettergoods pasta cooking in the pot. I was quite confident the pasta itself would be good, after all it had been on the others I'd tried so far. 

When I picked up my camera, I noticed that unlike the majority of ravioli I'd tried so far these seemed to be caving in slightly. I should have noted it as a sign that they weren't quite as filled as they should be, but I did not. That particular downside didn't become clear until I confronted the mix of emotions the rest of the tasting provided.

I genuinely loved the glowing flavor of sweet corn and the lightly stringy texture of the cheese, but very little creaminess or burrata taste made it past the corn. I can't go so far as to say these were bad, but they lacked sufficient filling and the overall balance that would have elevated a good idea into a great product.

I had originally planned to list Good & Gather Three Cheese & Broccoli Ravioli as something to leave in the freezer, but after a little soul searching I just couldn't bring myself to do it. $3.99 for nine ounces of ravioli still feels like a bit much for me, but there were some genuinely good points that helped convince me that they have their time and place. 

The bright imagery and alligator immediately reminded me of several of Target's Favorite Day brand ice creams, where flavors like Pirate's Treasure and Sea Monster are marketed towards kids. In this case, the cute shapes of bears, stars, hearts, and more really do serve to create a treat more appetizing to little ones, and help justify the slightly higher price.

Despite feeling like the broccoli was more a light breath on the wind than an actually included ingredient, the filling itself was quite good. The cheese had genuine flavor to it and managed to be creamy and not dry, while the pasta had an appropriate texture and flavor. What makes these ravioli worth picking up is how much they'd appeal to children. They are objectively good, but if it weren't for that childish appeal they wouldn't be quite worth the cost.

Mama Rosie's is a brand that I'm quite familiar with. The bright red bag was a frequent staple in my freezer as a child. Going into this tasting I knew I had to be careful not to let personal bias get in the way of doing my job. So, in order to provide a more equal footing, I made sure to try a sampling of other ravioli before digging into a go-to. 

I'm glad I did. While Mama Rosie's pasta was a touch too thick, it still had a good texture that provided a solid chew without being tough. It was the kind of pasta that gets the job done, but doesn't impress beyond that. The real let down here was in the filling. 

The interior of the ravioli was stuffed with a very sweet butternut squash that actually tasted more like apple than it did the gourd I expected. Whether I tried the pasta with sauce or without, I couldn't put aside the feeling I was eating a dessert and not dinner. I won't be pulling these out of the freezer again.

These Great Value brand cheese-filled ravioli from Walmart were right at the sweet spot between value and quality. Costing only $4.27 for 25 ounces of ravioli, the brand put itself in a great position as a competitor among discount ravioli options. These were the perfect ravioli for when you want something that gets the job done without standing out as the star.

While this pasta lacked the texture I expect from a higher-quality pasta, it did have an enjoyable chew that came without the dense gumminess of some of the other options better left at the store. These ravioli aren't going to be one to spread the word about, but they're worth picking up if you need a quick option. 

The filling inside had a good texture, with a good amount of ricotta and enough salt to make them savory without overdoing it. I enjoyed the ravioli on their own, as well as with marinara and alfredo sauces. While I do think splurging another dollar or two can really elevate your options, you won't be disappointed should you pick up a bag.

After having Celentano's beef ravioli, I thought it may be prudent to take that experience into account when trying the cheese-filled version. I chose to cook these ravioli for just a few minutes longer than their predecessors, to see if it was a cook-time issue that led to the poor texture.

With little surprise, the extra cook time did almost nothing to alter the weighty texture. It may be exaggerating to say they were like eating leather, but after sampling so many ravioli, it felt true. I couldn't help but be more deeply infuriated by the dough, because the filling was actually good. 

The creamy ricotta filling was moist and had a great texture. Its largest downside was its lack of abundance. Not only were the parcels sadly underfilled, but the sheer amount of pasta compared to the meager scoop of filling made you wonder if there was even anything inside. I do my best to give every brand a chance, but Celentano has lost me when it comes to ravioli.

Of all the ravioli I tried for this piece, these were undoubtedly the most surprising. The very idea of ravioli stuffed with short rib left me with excitement, confusion, apprehension, and hunger. Red wine and beef go so well together, and in many ways a good braised short rib is the best example of that combination for me. 

Much like Ripi's cheese and pepper variety, the pasta itself was fantastic. A soft shell with a healthy chew and welcoming give encased the flavor of a beautifully made beefy dish. My first bite was shock. The flavor, while delightful, was also very incongruous with my expectation of a ravioli. It was a bit strange for these two foods to come together.

A second bite led into a third. The third then led to a fourth. I quickly found myself wanting to inhale the plate. Each bite was a reminder of just how good a well-prepared short rib can be. While this box was just as expensive as the others from this brand I found, $8.99, they are a worthy splurge if you're looking for a special treat.

If I was disappointed to find Mama's butternut squash ravioli lacking, this spinach and cheese variety was heartbreaking. This exact brand of pasta had followed me through my life. I've eaten more bags of Mama Rosie's than I could even begin to count, and this has always been my go-to. 

Much like before, the pasta was of good quality but just a touch too thick to make for a more appealing texture. It would have been comparable to the Great Value brand's ravioli if it weren't for the filling. 

I found the cheese to be dry and a bit grainy. I was happy with the amount of filling, but the texture just wasn't satisfying. The spinach, which was visible throughout, provided an almost metallic mineralized flavor without tasting of spinach at all. I think my husband's comment, "these are ravioli, but in all lower-case letters," sums it up well. 

Bettergoods has had some very enjoyable ravioli on this list so far, and while they weren't all perfect, I went into this bag ready to be impressed. I can confidently say that my expectations were met. This was one of, if not the singular best, butternut squash ravioli that I have ever had. 

We already know that the brand's pasta has a good flavor and texture, so I won't harp on that. Instead, I'm going to jump right into the filling itself. The filling was like smooth velvet. It was dense enough to hold its own, but it also had a way of melting in your mouth that left me almost moaning in pleasure. There was a buttery, rich, and savory flavor to the squash that complemented it beautifully without covering it up. 

If this had been a ranking, then I would have placed these in first place without hesitation. I generally prefer cheese fillings in my ravioli, but when something is done well you have to give it credit. If you're a fan of butternut squash, you are missing out by not giving these a try.

I haven't had many vegan pastas in the past, and considering I had already found some of the options I was looking for to be out-of-stock, this seemed the perfect time to try one. The fact that Woodstock's organic version contains ingredients imported from Italy just seemed like a bonus. 

The pasta was delightful. It reminded me of the Bettergoods brand pastas, but with just a slightly denser texture. Eating around the edge to get a reliable sample of just the dough left me with no doubt that I'd have been unable to tell you there wasn't any egg in it. The ravioli even had the yellowish color I expect from an egg-based pasta dough. 

The pasta was so good, that it was shocking to find the filling so bland and flavorless. The butternut squash was sweet, a bit too much so in fact. It wasn't so sugary as to feel saccharine, but it did fight against both the red and white sauces I tried it with. I wanted badly to like these, but unfortunately won't be going back for another bag any time soon. 

I went about the task of tasting these ravioli by cooking each according to the directions on their packaging. After boiling, all ravioli were plated and tried on their own with no sauce. After making notes on their base flavor and texture, they were tried again in both a red and white sauce. 

When judging texture I looked for an al dente pasta with a bit of a bite and chew to it, however the pasta was also expected to yield to the bite without squishing out all of its own filling. The ideal pasta could be bitten in half without losing any filling. 

The fillings, which came in different flavors, were all judged based on their flavor, seasoning, and moisture content. Fillings were expected to be solid enough to hold together while not being dry or gritty. Fillings were also judged by their amount, and how well they filled the inside of the pasta.