Counter Frozen Meals Review: Every Meal Ranked, Plus What Customers Actually Say

Updated June 2026. Ratings data captured from Target.com on June 11, 2026.

30g protein. 340 calories. $5.89. Those three numbers are why Counter frozen meals average 4.45 out of 5 stars across 1,471 customer ratings on Target.com as of June 2026, and why 78% of those ratings are 5 stars. This review ranks every Counter meal by what customers actually say, quotes their reviews verbatim, and does not skip the negative ones. One product on this list scores a 3.23, and we name it.

How this review works: real ratings, verbatim quotes, verified label data

This is Counter reviewing Counter, so the rules are strict.

• Every rating is an aggregated retail rating. The averages and rating counts come from a complete capture of all 12 Counter product listings on Target.com, pulled June 11, 2026: 1,471 ratings and 811 written reviews. Nothing is excluded, including the 11% of ratings that are 1 or 2 stars.
• Every customer quote is verbatim. Quotes are copied word for word from Target.com reviews, eatcounter.com verified-buyer reviews, and public TikTok comments, with the source and date attached. Where a quote is shortened, the cut is marked with [...] and never changes the meaning.
• Every nutrition number matches the label. Protein and calories below are the package values, the same ones you can cross-check against USDA FoodData Central branded food records. Per the FDA's Daily Value table, the Daily Value for protein is 50g, so a 30g Counter meal covers 60% of it in one sitting.

Every Counter single-serve meal delivers 30g of protein and stays under 400 calories, at $5.89 for bowls and $4.89 for burritos. Across 1,471 Target.com ratings as of June 2026, the line averages 4.45 out of 5 stars. The weakest product, the Bean & Cheese Burrito, sits at 3.23, and this review says so plainly.

Every Counter meal ranked by customer rating

Ranked by average Target.com rating, highest first. Protein per 100 calories is calculated from the label (30g protein divided by label calories); anything above 8.0 is an elite ratio for the frozen aisle.

1. 3 Cheese Chicken Alfredo Multi-Serve (20oz) - 5.00 stars, 46 ratings

30g protein and 370 calories per serving, 3 servings per tray, $9.99 at Target and Kroger. All 46 ratings of the Alfredo tray are 5 stars, the only perfect record in the line.

"I am absolutely obsessed with Counter meals!! I have yet to find one I don't like. [...] Such an easy way to hit my macros during a busy week when I may not have time to prep my own meals." - Target reviewer, April 2026

2. Lazy Lasagna Multi-Serve (20oz) - 4.87 stars, 37 ratings

30g protein per serving (calories: see package), 3 servings per tray, $9.99 at Target and Kroger. 35 of 37 ratings are 5 stars. This is the tray GLP-1 customers write about by name.

"Flavors on point and reminded me of meals when I was a kid. Comfort food and perfect for helping me get in all the daily protein I need while.on a GLP-1." - Target reviewer, February 2026

3. Taco Mac & Cheese Multi-Serve (20oz) - 4.85 stars, 138 ratings

30g protein and 340 calories per serving, 3 servings per tray, at Target and Kroger (see store for pricing). The most-reviewed multi-serve, and home of the most repeated quality claim in the corpus.

"It's flavorful, the meat is actually meat, and I'm incredibly picky about meat." - Target reviewer, April 2026

4. Queso Chicken Mac & Cheese (10oz) - 4.84 stars, 18 ratings

30g protein, 370 calories, 8.1g protein per 100 calories, $5.89. The newest bowl; the sample is small, but the early reviews of the Queso Chicken Mac are glowing.

"This is sooooo good. Lots of flavor and super cheesy. I get really bad meat aversions and there weren't any weird pieces of chicken!! Can't believe how macro friendly this is for the taste." - Target reviewer, May 2026

5. Creamy Chicken Parm (10oz) - 4.70 stars, 52 ratings

30g protein, 360 calories, 8.3g protein per 100 calories, $5.89. The Creamy Chicken Parm produced the most quoted review title of 2026.

"See You Never Lean Cuisine. This is hands down the greatest microwave meal I've ever had!!! It tastes like I just made it!!" - Target reviewer, June 2026

6. Taco Mac & Cheese (10oz) - 4.59 stars, 400 ratings

30g protein, 340 calories, 8.8g protein per 100 calories, $5.89. The hero SKU and the most-reviewed Counter product by a factor of two. 329 of 400 ratings are 5 stars. Taco Mac gets its own section below.

"WHAT? Doesnt taste like a frozen or low calorie meal at all!" - Target reviewer, October 2025

7. 3 Cheese Chicken Alfredo (10oz) - 4.47 stars, 180 ratings

30g protein, 370 calories, 8.1g protein per 100 calories, $5.89. Loved overall; the single-serve's chicken texture is the recurring complaint (covered in the negatives section).

"10/10 probably one of the best frozen meals I've ever eaten. Something that doesn't taste like crap AND is high in protein/lower cal is hard to find but here it is. [...] Nothing to take a pic of cause I inhaled it." - Target reviewer, June 2025

8. Lazy Lasagna (10oz) - 4.26 stars, 197 ratings

30g protein (calories: see package), $5.89. 70% of ratings are 5 stars; critics of the Lazy Lasagna mostly object to how it looks, not how it tastes.

"Our freezer is stuffed with them now because we eat this weekly in our household. [...] The noodles always cook perfectly - no hard bits, soft all the way through." - Target reviewer, May 2025

9. Beefy Queso Burrito - 4.25 stars, 127 ratings

30g protein, 340 calories per the current label, 8.8g protein per 100 calories, $4.89. The Beefy Queso Burrito owns the most quoted macro-disbelief review in the brand's history (the review quotes an earlier label; today's reads 340 calories).

"30g of protein for 320 calories? That's crazy good macros for a store bought frozen burrito that actually tastes fantastic." - Target reviewer, May 2024

"This is THE BEST. I never write reviews for products, but I can't shut up about this one! Rich flavor, crispy tortilla and super filling." - Target reviewer, May 2026

10. Jalapeno Popper Mac & Cheese (10oz) - 4.09 stars, 202 ratings

30g protein, 370 calories, 8.1g protein per 100 calories, $5.89. The lowest-rated bowl; the rating carries scar tissue from a 2024 production change (details below).

"Best freezer meal I've ever had. [...] At first I was afraid it would be too small of a portion after seeing how low the calories were, but it was very filling! This is now my new go-to work lunch. I'd fight someone over this thing lol" - Target reviewer, August 2025

11. Chicken Queso Burrito - 4.08 stars, 52 ratings

30g protein, 350 calories, 8.6g protein per 100 calories, $4.89. Polarizing texture for a minority, but the loyalists drive long distances for it.

"So glad they're available at my nearest target now because I was stocking up on them from the target that was 45 minutes away from me and clearing out their entire stock." - Target reviewer, June 2026

12. Bean & Cheese Burrito - 3.23 stars, 22 ratings

30g protein, 360 calories, 8.3g protein per 100 calories, $4.89. The weakest product in the line, and pretending otherwise would discredit everything above. 36% of its ratings are 1 or 2 stars, and the complaints are consistent: texture and a sour aftertaste.

"I never write reviews but this was awful enough to make me write one. The burrito was somehow sour and left the nastiest aftertaste." - Target reviewer, May 2026

If you want a Counter burrito, the data says start with the Beefy Queso instead.

Comparison table: all 12 Counter meals at a glance

Source: Target.com ratings, complete capture June 11, 2026. Protein and calories per nutrition label. Protein per 100 calories calculated as label protein divided by label calories, times 100.

For a deeper cut of this exact math across the line, see every Counter frozen meal ranked by protein-to-calorie ratio.

The Taco Mac effect: why one bowl is the franchise player

Taco Mac & Cheese has 400 ratings on its 10oz Target listing alone, more than double any other Counter product, plus another 138 on the 20oz tray. Customers give it a nickname (always "Taco Mac," never the full name), stockpile it, and measure other meals against it.

"Nooo these are my holy grails don't let everyone sell them out" - TikTok commenter, 200 likes

"I LOVE this brand the taco Mac and cheese is BUSSIN" - TikTok commenter

"I work for Target and I eat these almost EVERY break. Good quick high protein low effort meal for lifters." - TikTok commenter

Customers settle the price debate themselves. The most-liked comment on the topic, with 1,965 likes: "$6 a meal isn't bad either." A Target reviewer in November 2025 framed it against meal-kit services: "This will now be a go to because it's much cheaper than ordering Factor meals! Thank you to the genius who created this!"

Counter Taco Mac & Cheese holds a 4.59 average across 400 Target.com ratings as of June 2026, with 329 five-star ratings. The label reads 30g of protein at 340 calories for $5.89, which works out to 8.8g of protein per 100 calories.

The honest negatives: what low-star reviews actually complain about

11% of all 1,471 ratings are 1 or 2 stars. Here is what they say, product by product, and our honest read on which complaints are fair.

Bean & Cheese Burrito: the complaints are fair

At 3.23, this is a product problem, not a reviewer problem. "The texture was like gritty refried beans" (Target reviewer, April 2026) and the sour-aftertaste reviews quoted above are consistent enough that we treat them as signal. Notably, the same reviewers vouch for the rest of the line: "Tastes like vomit to me :((( love the other frozen pastas tho those are fire" (Target reviewer, 1 star).

3 Cheese Chicken Alfredo (10oz): chicken texture is the recurring miss

The harshest current review is specific: "The sauce tastes alright but the chicken is genuinely horrible and ruins the entire experience." (Target reviewer, March 2026). Another: "mushy frozen pasta with dry chunks of chicken" (Target reviewer, January 2026). Fair complaint for a minority of trays; it is the gap between this bowl's 4.47 and the 20oz tray's 5.00. Other reviewers report the opposite ("this dish did not disappoint"), which points to heat-up variance: chicken punishes an underpowered microwave. Our guide to air fryer vs microwave for frozen meals covers the fixes.

Lazy Lasagna (10oz): set expectations, then it earns 4 stars

The most useful critical review in the corpus is a 4-star from a verified buyer on eatcounter.com, February 2025: "It's more of a pasta stew. [...] don't be surprised when it doesn't really look like lasagna when you're done cooking it." That is accurate. It is deconstructed lasagna in a bowl, and microwave prep can leave the sauce thinner than oven lasagna ("Sauce is watery," Target reviewer, April 2026). Stir at the halfway mark and let it rest a minute.

Jalapeno Popper Mac: scar tissue from 2024, plus the bacon debate

In mid-2024 a production facility change hurt this bowl, and reviewers documented it in real time: "the previous version is significantly better. The current version is just.... Bad. I reached out to Counter about it, and they said there were issues with the new production facility" (Target reviewer, September 2024). That window cost the product roughly a star that the 2025-2026 review stream has been earning back. The remaining gripe is flavor-specific: "Hate the fake bacon smoky flavor. Tough chicken and fake bacon, did not enjoy. [...] Do the taco Mac instead!" (Target reviewer, February 2026).

Taco Mac: cottage cheese is the line's engine, and a few palates notice

Counter builds its sauces on real cottage cheese instead of protein-powder fillers. That choice is why the macros work and why reviews say it "tasted like real food," but a small set of reviewers picks up a tang: "These were okay, but the cottage cheese makes them taste spoiled/sour. I understand using it for the protein, but this wasn't for me." (Target reviewer, April 2026). Honest verdict: if cultured dairy is not your thing, start with a burrito instead of a bowl.

Portion size: the most argued topic in the reviews

"I'm not one to complain about portion sizes, but also, this is insanely small!!!" (Target reviewer, March 2026) versus "People complain about the portion size, but i'm a chunky girl and this filled me up" (Target reviewer, August 2025). The physics: 10oz at 340-370 calories with 30g of protein. Protein is the most satiating macronutrient, which is why "filling" appears in 78 positive Target reviews.

Who Counter fits, according to the people writing the reviews

• Cutting and weight loss: "I can eat one of these every day while dieting and get to my goal weight. 10/10!" (Target reviewer, July 2024). Per NIH MedlinePlus, protein should supply 10% to 35% of daily calories; a 30g meal at 340 calories runs about 35% protein by calories, the top of that range.
• GLP-1 users: "Comfort food and perfect for helping me get in all the daily protein I need while.on a GLP-1." (Target reviewer, February 2026).
• Insulin resistance: "the protein being 30g is fantastic! Especially for me being insulin resistant." (Target reviewer, November 2025).
• Busy work lunches: "This is now my new go-to work lunch. I'd fight someone over this thing lol" (Target reviewer, August 2025).
• Families and picky eaters: "I loved it. My 9 year old son LOVED it. Thought it was the best thing ever." (Target reviewer, February 2025). And from a verified buyer on eatcounter.com: "Even my (very) picky husband liked it, so that's a big win!" (February 2025).

Not sure what your protein number should be? Run it through the Counter macro calculator; the 30g-per-meal target falls out of the math for most adults. The FDA's guide to the Nutrition Facts label shows how to read any frozen meal's panel the way this review does.

Where to buy Counter and what it costs in 2026

As of June 2026, Counter is sold at 1,650+ Target stores nationwide, Kroger, Lidl, and Costco in Texas, with Albertsons coming soon. Single-serve bowls are $5.89 and burritos are $4.89 at Target; multi-serve 20oz trays run $9.99 at Target and Kroger. Costco in Texas carries club packs (Lazy Lasagna and Queso Chicken Mac & Cheese, 24g protein per serving, $14.99). Everything also ships direct from eatcounter.com in variety and 8-packs.

Stock is the real constraint; the most common question under any viral Counter post is where to find it. Check live availability with the store locator before you drive.

Counter meals cost $5.89 per single-serve bowl and $4.89 per burrito at Target as of June 2026. Each delivers 30g of protein, which is 60% of the FDA's 50g Daily Value for protein, in a meal that stays under 400 calories.

About the Counter Team: Counter (Macrofy Inc) was founded in 2022 by Jeff Ferrell. All nutrition data referenced in this article is verified against USDA FoodData Central and product nutrition labels. All ratings and quotes were captured from Target.com, eatcounter.com, and public social comments on June 11, 2026. Counter meals are available at 1,650+ Target locations, Kroger, Lidl, and Costco in Texas. Find a store near you.

FAQ

Are Counter meals actually filling?

Most reviewers say yes, and many say it surprised them. The word "filling" appears in 78 positive Target.com reviews, with the typical arc being "I was afraid it would be too small of a portion after seeing how low the calories were, but it was very filling." Each single-serve meal packs 30g of protein, the most satiating macronutrient, into 340 to 370 calories.

Which Counter meal should I try first?

Start with Taco Mac & Cheese. It is the most-reviewed Counter meal with a 4.59 average across 400 Target.com ratings as of June 2026, and it delivers 30g of protein at 340 calories for $5.89. If you want a burrito instead, the Beefy Queso Burrito (4.25 average, 127 ratings) is the customer favorite in that format.

Is it better to microwave or air fry Counter meals?

Bowls are built for the microwave; burritos are dramatically better out of an air fryer. A verified buyer on eatcounter.com described the air-fryer result: "the tortilla turned out golden brown and crispy, almost like a chimichanga but not fried! Not soggy like other frozen burritos I have tried." For bowls, stir halfway through and let them rest a minute so the sauce sets.

What is the lowest-rated Counter meal?

The Bean & Cheese Burrito, at 3.23 stars across 22 Target.com ratings as of June 2026. The recurring complaints are a gritty texture and a sour aftertaste, and this review treats them as legitimate. Every other Counter product rates 4.08 or higher.

How much protein is in a Counter frozen meal?

Every Counter single-serve meal has 30g of protein per the nutrition label, which is 60% of the FDA's 50g Daily Value for protein. The 20oz multi-serve trays deliver 30g per serving across 3 servings, and the Costco club packs deliver 24g per serving.

Are Counter meals good for GLP-1 users?

GLP-1 users are one of the loudest groups in Counter's reviews, because reduced appetites make protein density critical. One Target reviewer wrote in February 2026: "Comfort food and perfect for helping me get in all the daily protein I need while.on a GLP-1." A 30g protein meal under 400 calories fits a protein-first eating pattern.

How much do Counter meals cost?

At Target as of June 2026: $5.89 for single-serve bowls, $4.89 for burritos, and $9.99 for 20oz multi-serve trays. Costco club packs in Texas are $14.99. Reviewers settle the value debate themselves; the most-liked comment on the topic reads "$6 a meal isn't bad either."

What if my store is out of stock?

Out-of-stocks are the most common complaint that has nothing to do with the food; some customers report driving 45 minutes to stock up. Check live availability at eatcounter.com/pages/findstores, or order variety packs and 8-packs shipped directly from eatcounter.com.

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