Need an Easy Lunch? Pack One of Dolly Parton’s New Frozen Meals for Your 9 to 5

The freezer aisle just got a boost of good, old-fashioned Southern charm. Today, country music legend Dolly Parton and Conagra Brands expanded their already-lauded frozen food line with four new savory, single-serve entrees and one family-sized dessert.

In addition to Parton’s Homestyle Macaroni and Cheese, Original Whipped Cheesecake, and Decadent Chocolate Pie, these five new products are designed to be as delicious as a home-cooked meal — a praise that few frozen meals are able to achieve. “I just thought it would be great to have good, hearty foods that are real tasty and that have a lot of flavor in the frozen food aisle,” Parton told Food & Wine.

The new entrees include Louisiana-style Shrimp & Grits with cherry tomatoes and scallions; Beef Pot Roast braised with carrots and red potatoes; Chicken and Dumplings with vegetables in a creamy sauce; and Country-fried Steak served with mashed potatoes, green beans, and bacon — one of Parton’s favorite meals from the road. “I mean, who doesn’t love country-fried steak?” Parton is also introducing a bake-and-serve peach cobbler with a buttery biscuit crust that serves up to eight people. 

While Parton rarely has time to cook these Southern staples at home, they are still the kind of dishes that she’s the most nostalgic for. “I grew up eating all kinds of good Southern country food,” she says. “After I started traveling on my tour bus, I would always cook because I craved things like pot roast, chicken and dumplings, and country-fried steak.” But even then, Parton dreamed about creating a shortcut for busy people like herself.

Parton has collaborated with Conagra Brands from the very beginning, making sure that every dish tastes just like the real deal. As they developed the recipes, Parton provided direct feedback on what needed tweaking — more salt, more seasoning, and most importantly, more flavor. “We would go back [and forth] until we all felt like it was great, especially me, because I’m the one who has to sell it,” she says. “So I really put my stamp of approval on all these things.”

Parton assures that, unlike Lean Cuisine or Amy’s, these frozen meals are not meant to be healthy alternatives. “But for people that really crave good, hearty meals — good food that is tasty and satisfying — you could not beat this.”

The five new Dolly Parton products are now available at grocery stores across the country, including Target and Walmart. Now, anyone can enjoy comfort food in minutes, whether you’re an 11-time Grammy Award-winning musician or working a 9 to 5.