10 Unhealthiest Pot Pies On Grocery Store Shelves That Deserve A Second Look

Few frozen meals are as comforting as a hot pot pie. With its flaky golden crust, creamy filling, tender chicken or beef, and savory gravy, it’s an easy dinner when you don’t have the time or energy to cook from scratch.

And grocery stores offer plenty of options. From inexpensive Banquet pies to premium-looking Marie Callender’s varieties, there’s something for almost every budget.

But shoppers might overlook one thing: the nutrition label.

Some frozen pot pies contain surprisingly high amounts of sodium and saturated fat, while offering relatively little fiber. Others have serving sizes that can make the nutritional numbers look better than they actually are if you eat the entire pie.

They advised paying close attention to sodium, saturated fat, protein, fiber, and serving sizes.

Here are 10 grocery store pot pies that deserve a closer look before your next freezer-aisle purchase.

Banquet Beef Pot Pie

Banquet is popular with shoppers looking for inexpensive frozen meals, and its beef pot pie is one of its budget-friendly options.

However, its low price comes with some nutritional compromises.

According to The Takeout’s comparison, one pie contains:

Saturated fat: 12 grams
Sodium: 710 milligrams
Saturated fat daily value: 60%

That’s a considerable amount of saturated fat for one small frozen meal.

The ingredient list also includes additives such as sodium phosphate and propylene glycol.

Nutrition manager Joeleen Stocker warns that frozen pot pies can contain substantial amounts of sodium and saturated fat while providing less protein than consumers might expect.

Banquet Beef Pot Pie may be convenient when money is tight, but shoppers looking for a more balanced meal may want to compare alternatives.

Marie Callender’s Chicken Pot Pie

Marie Callender’s has a reputation for hearty comfort food, and its chicken pot pie looks particularly appealing.

The golden crust and creamy chicken filling make it an easy choice for someone craving a homemade-style dinner.

However, its nutrition numbers are worth examining.

One single-serving pie contains:

Total fat: 36 grams
Saturated fat: 15 grams
Sodium: 950 milligrams
Protein: 17 grams
Fiber: 2 grams

The 15 grams of saturated fat represent 75% of the daily value listed in the investigation.

Sodium also accounts for 41% of the daily value.

Although the pie provides a reasonable amount of protein, its saturated fat and sodium levels make it a product to eat thoughtfully rather than treat as an everyday meal.

Marie Callender’s Cheesy Chicken and Bacon Pot Pie

Adding bacon and cheese to chicken pot pie sounds like an excellent way to make an already comforting meal even richer.

But those additions also change its nutritional profile.

Marie Callender’s Cheesy Chicken and Bacon Pot Pie is marketed as a product intended to provide two servings.

According to The Takeout, each half contains:

Saturated fat: 13 grams
Sodium: 790 milligrams
Fiber: 1 gram

The saturated fat alone represents 65% of the daily value per stated serving.

The problem becomes more noticeable when someone eats the entire pie instead of dividing it into two portions.

That would double the listed amounts.

Registered dietitian Isabel Smith recommends watching saturated fat, especially in creamy frozen meals made with refined flour and relatively little fiber.

If you enjoy this variety, sharing it and adding a vegetable side could make the meal more balanced.

Banquet Sausage and Gravy Deep Dish Pot Pie

Who says pot pie has to be a dinner food? Banquet offers a sausage-and-gravy version that looks more like a convenient breakfast.

Unfortunately, it isn’t particularly impressive nutritionally.

One pie contains:

Saturated fat: 11 grams
Sodium: 750 milligrams
Protein: 8 grams
Fiber: Less than 1 gram

The combination of creamy gravy, sausage, and pastry makes this a filling option, but it provides little fiber.

Smith recommends looking for pot pies with at least 15 to 20 grams of protein and three or more grams of fiber when they’re intended to serve as a complete meal.

This Banquet option falls short of both targets.

Its low price might be attractive, but shoppers looking for a more nutritious breakfast or lunch may want to consider other choices.

Marie Callender’s Creamy Parmesan Chicken Pot Pie

Parmesan and Romano cheese give this Marie Callender’s variety a richer flavor than traditional chicken pot pie.

It also includes broccoli, carrots, and red bell peppers instead of relying on the usual combination of peas, carrots, and celery.

Those vegetables offer some nutritional benefits, but the overall numbers still deserve attention.

For one of its two intended servings, the pie provides:

Saturated fat: 11 grams
Sodium: 660 milligrams
Fiber: 3 grams
Protein: 13 grams

The saturated fat represents 55% of the daily value.

Although the fiber content is better than some competing products, the meal still delivers a substantial amount of saturated fat in a relatively small portion.

It’s a reminder that adding vegetables to a frozen meal doesn’t automatically make the entire product a healthy choice.

Blake’s Gluten-Free Chicken Pot Pie

Gluten-free products sometimes create the impression that they’re automatically healthier.

But that’s not necessarily true.

Blake’s Gluten-Free Chicken Pot Pie is marketed with white-meat chicken and garden vegetables, which sounds appealing to shoppers looking for a wholesome frozen meal.

However, its sodium content is surprisingly high.

One pie contains:

Sodium: 930 milligrams
Total sugar: 7 grams
Added sugar: 4 grams

The sodium alone represents approximately 40% of the commonly used 2,300-milligram daily limit.

Nutritionist Isabel Smith told The Takeout that frozen pot pies containing 800 to 1,000 milligrams of sodium per serving can contribute significantly to someone’s daily intake.

For people trying to monitor their sodium consumption, this is an important detail to consider.

Being gluten-free may be necessary for people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, but it doesn’t automatically mean a product has a better nutritional profile.

WillowTree Premium White Meat Chicken Pie

WillowTree might not be as recognizable as Banquet or Marie Callender’s, but its chicken pies are available in some Northeastern grocery stores.

The brand emphasizes its white-meat chicken and ingredient quality.

Its packaging may appeal to shoppers looking for a more premium frozen meal.

However, the nutrition information tells a different story.

One 10-ounce pie contains:

Sodium: 1,040 milligrams
Saturated fat: 12 grams
Fiber: 0 grams

Without vegetables, the filling has little dietary fiber.

The sodium content is also close to half the recommended daily limit.

Despite its premium positioning and higher price, this pie doesn’t necessarily offer the nutritional advantages shoppers might expect.

It’s worth remembering that a more expensive product isn’t automatically a healthier one.

Boston Market Home Style Meals Chicken Pot Pie

Boston Market built its reputation around familiar comfort foods, including chicken, mashed potatoes, and other homestyle meals.

Its frozen chicken pot pie aims to bring some of that restaurant-style experience home.

The filling includes vegetables such as peas, carrots, and corn.

However, its nutritional profile is less impressive.

Each stated one-cup serving contains:

Saturated fat: 14 grams
Total fat: 34 grams
Sodium: 680 milligrams
Protein: 9 grams
Fiber: 2 grams

The saturated fat represents 70% of the daily value.

It also provides less protein and fiber than Smith would ideally like in a complete frozen meal.

The vegetables are a positive feature, but they don’t completely offset the high saturated fat content.

By Chef Ramsay Chicken Pot Pie

Celebrity chef branding can make a frozen meal look particularly appealing.

But the name on the package doesn’t guarantee a healthier dinner.

By Chef Ramsay Chicken Pot Pie is a single-serving frozen meal that costs more than several competing products.

Unfortunately, its nutrition label contains some eye-opening numbers.

One pie provides:

Total fat: 43 grams
Saturated fat: 19 grams
Sodium: 1,060 milligrams
Fiber: 1 gram

The saturated fat represents approximately 95% of the daily value.

The sodium also accounts for 46% of the daily value.

The pie provides 20% of the daily value for iron, which is a nutritional benefit worth noting.

Still, its high saturated fat content and limited fiber make it a product shoppers may want to reserve for occasional enjoyment.

Trader Joe’s Handheld Chicken Pot Pies

Trader Joe’s has built a loyal following for its frozen convenience foods, but its handheld chicken pot pies are another product worth a closer look.

Unlike traditional round pot pies, these come in smaller pastry portions designed to be eaten by hand.

The catch is that the nutrition figures are based on eating both pies in the package.

Together, they contain:

Calories: 1,140
Saturated fat: 22 grams
Sodium: 1,200 milligrams
Fiber: 7 grams
Protein: 28 grams

The saturated fat represents 110% of the daily value.

The sodium also accounts for 52% of the daily value.

On the positive side, the product provides considerably more protein and fiber than several other pot pies on this list.

However, calories and saturated fat can add up quickly, especially if you treat the package as a quick snack rather than a full meal.

Checking the serving size is especially important for products with multiple individually packaged pieces.

What Makes Frozen Pot Pies Less Healthy?

According to the nutrition professionals interviewed by The Takeout, shoppers should watch several things when comparing frozen pot pies.

Saturated fat: Many pot pies use buttery pastry, creamy sauces, cheese, and other ingredients that increase saturated fat. The American Heart Association recommends limiting saturated fat to less than 6% of daily calories for people aiming to lower cholesterol.

Sodium: Frozen meals can contain considerable amounts of sodium. The FDA recommends consuming less than 2,300 milligrams daily for most adults.

Low fiber: Some pot pies contain very little fiber because their crusts and fillings rely heavily on refined ingredients.

Serving sizes: A pie marketed as two servings can easily become one person’s dinner. Always check whether the nutrition information applies to the entire package or only part of it.

How to Make Frozen Pot Pies a More Balanced Meal

You don’t necessarily have to eliminate frozen pot pies from your shopping list.

Instead, consider how you serve them.

Registered dietitian Joeleen Stocker recommends pairing frozen pot pies with additional lean protein and salad to create a more nutritionally complete meal.

Here are a few practical ideas: