Sainsbury's own-brand pasta bake ready meals have been put to the test, with only one variety scoring close to a perfect 10. The chicken and bacon pasta bake emerged as the clear winner with a 9/10 rating, while the tuna pasta bake was the most disappointing, scoring just 3/10.
Sausage and Three Cheese Varieties
The sausage pasta bake, priced at £3.75, was anticipated to be a top pick but turned out fairly unremarkable. While there was a generous quantity of sauce and the pasta wasn't overcooked, the sausage pieces were rather tasteless with an unpleasant texture. The dish also lacked sufficient grated cheddar cheese to justify being called a pasta bake, earning a rating of 5/10.
The three cheese pasta bake, at £4.25, is the priciest option and serves two people, unlike the others which are single portions. Packed with mozzarella, cheddar and red Leicester cheese, it managed to mask the bland tomato sauce underneath. It was considerably superior to the sausage version but not quite the finest on offer, scoring 7/10.
Tuna and Chicken and Bacon Bakes
The tuna pasta bake, also £3.75, featured both a creamy white sauce and classic tomato sauce, with pasta shells instead of rigatoni or penne. Despite being a tuna enthusiast, the reviewer found this the most disappointing of the bunch. The tuna was the highlight, but the sauces, particularly the béchamel, were overly watery with a notable lack of tomato sauce throughout. It scored 3/10.
The chicken and bacon pasta bake, at £3.75, was a genuine revelation, emerging as the tastiest of the lot. The cheese sauce surpassed that of the tuna version, needing only a touch more seasoning. The generous portions of chicken and bacon were commendable, and the reviewer stated it would be their first choice for a future purchase from Sainsbury's.
