Frozen meals can sometimes have a reputation for being bland, boring, or worse, riddled with freezer burn. But over the years, a slew of brands have been releasing frozen products that give the concept a totally new look and taste.
Beloved restaurant chains like P.F. Chang’s and Arby’s have brought fan-favorite menu items to the freezer aisle. And, from the copycat sliders sold at Sam’s Club to Walmart’s cozy turkey pot pie, there are plenty of options that offer convenience, ease, and delicious flavor.
Now, there’s a new frozen meal brand in stores that takes things up a notch, and I’m already clearing out my freezer to make room for it.
Introducing Ripi Stuffed Pasta
My sisters and I grew up on the spinach and mozzarella ravioli from Costco, so I’m no stranger to frozen pastas. The newest player in the world of frozen pasta is Ripi, brought to you by two-time Top Chef contestant Joe Sasto and foodie Ian Tecklin. The brand brings restaurant-quality stuffed pasta to the freezer aisle, sourced from local suppliers in California and Wisconsin.
Allrecipes / Ripi
Currently, Ripi sells four flavors of ravioli, which are flash-frozen to help preserve flavor and texture. The Beef Short Rib Ravioli is filled with super tender, wine-braised short rib, along with Swiss chard and Parmesan. The Chicken Parmesan Ravioli is a play on a classic dish, with juicy chicken, vine-ripened tomatoes, and a blend of creamy mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.
For those who are looking for a meat-free option, the Sweet Potato Ravioli will do the trick. Each ravioli is stuffed with roasted sweet potatoes that are lightly sweetened with maple syrup and nutty brown butter. The sweet potatoes are paired with whole-milk ricotta for a soft, tangy touch.
And the latest addition to the lineup is the Cacio e Pepe Ravioli. This flavor is sold exclusively at Whole Foods and is inspired by the savory, elegant Roman pasta, featuring freshly cracked black pepper and a rich, creamy blend of aged Romano and Parmesan cheeses.
Our senior editor, Courtney Kassel, has low expectations for frozen cooked pasta. When she tried Ripi’s ravioli last summer at the Fancy Food Show, she was “blown away.”
“I expected mushy, overly salty pasta, but what I tried was genuinely restaurant-quality,” she shared. “My favorite of the three was the Sweet Potato Ravioli. The pasta still had a nice bite, and the filling was smooth and perfectly balanced with sweet-and-savory notes. Tossed in some sage-brown butter, and I was in heaven. Sweet potato- or squash-filled pasta is my go-to order at Italian restaurants in the fall, so I’ll be stocking Ripi in my freezer to treat myself year-round.”
Kassel isn’t the only one who fell in love with the convenient meal. In a recent Instagram post announcing the brand’s Whole Foods launch, fans raved about the delicious frozen pasta.
“OMG YES!!! I need that short rib rav[ioli]! It’s so good!!!” wrote one commenter.
“Can’t wait to finally have it at home!!” shared another long-time fan.
I don’t know about you, but it certainly sounds like Ripi’s ravioli is in a league of its own. If you’re interested in trying it for yourself, you can purchase the pasta directly on Ripi’s website or find it in the freezer section at over 300 retail locations nationwide, including Whole Foods, DeCicco & Sons, Market District, Shaw’s, and more. I’ve already got an order on the way and can’t wait to dig in.
