Don’t look now but prepared appetizers and side dishes are stealing more of the main meal spotlight. In its 39^th annual “Eating Patterns in America” report last August, data and consumer insights tracker Circana noted that 86% of eating occasions are sourced from home and a top trend is “Daypart Disruption.”

“While breakfast, lunch, and dinner remain the primary meal occasions, their composition, timing, and sources are evolving to fit consumers’ daily routines,” it noted. “Breakfast now starts earlier, with mid-morning snacks away from home rising in popularity. Lunch has shifted significantly due to changes in workplace mobility, with lunchtime traffic falling to about half of pre-pandemic levels. Snack consumption is growing, with consumers increasingly preferring quick bites or meal replacements over larger meals. As snacking becomes more common throughout the day, the boundaries between traditional mealtimes will continue to blur.”

In its own “Future of Frozen Food 2025 Report,” grocery giant Conagra Brands identified “bites and minis” as one of its five top trends.

“Small but mighty, bites and mini portions continue to soar in popularity, appealing to families and younger consumers,” it said. “With sales increasing to $2.4 billion and a 31% increase in consumption year-over-year, these products are not only convenient but offer a diverse array of options for any occasion. They're no longer thought of as just appetizers—84% are now being enjoyed as meals.”

Side Show

For its part, Conagra featured side dishes among more than 50 new items last summer. It extended its Birds Eye line (Steamfresh microwave prep) with four new sauced vegetables: Maple Glazed Carrots, Teriyaki Glazed Green Beans, Garlic Butter Broccoli and Garlic Butter Green Beans. Also new were three 20oz-24oz potato dishes: Garlic Herb Baby Potatoes, Cheesy Potato Casserole and Loaded Mashed Potatoes. Birds Eye Voila! also added two family-size side dishes: Chicken Bacon Ranch Mac & Cheese, and a Beef Lo Mein. Joining the Alexia line were two new oven roasters and two new skillet vegetables. They include Parmesan Truffle Broccoli and Balsamic Brussels Sprouts & Carrots. Ready for skillet prep are new Brown Butter Green Beans and Hot Honey Carrots.

Equally active was B&G Foods Inc., Parsippany, N.J., which bolstered Green Giant with 12 veggie-forward frozen offerings. Capitalizing on the viral trend of smashed veggies, Green Giant introduced two frozen varieties of Crispy Smashed Potatoes: Original (Sea Salt & Black Pepper) and Garlic Parmesan. Also new are Corn Cob Bites in two varieties: Butter, Salt & Pepper and Mexican Style Street Corn. Each frozen bag has approximately 1" cuts of corn on the cob “that are perfect as a side dish, an appetizer or for snacking,” the company says. Green Giant also added a new category with Veggie Ramen. Available in Chicken Flavored, Beef Flavored, Garlic Soy and Spicy Chicken Flavored, Veggie Ramen delivers a blend of vegetables, ramen noodles and broth.

Green Giant also extended its Restaurant Style Roasting Veggies and Veggies & Rice lines with new Broccoli & Roasted Red Potatoes with Cheddar Seasoning; Tri-Colored Potatoes with Steakhouse Butter Seasoning; Broccoli Pilaf with Garlic Parmesan Seasoning and Asparagus; and Pea & Mushroom Risotto with Truffle Parmesan Sauce.

Another freezercase leader, Bellisio Foods, Minneapolis, introduced a comfort-inspired line of Boston Market Sides (15oz-16oz) including Mac and Cheese, Roasted Potatoes, and Homestyle Mashed Potatoes. Speaking of potatoes, it was a busy year at Idahoan Foods LLC, Idaho Falls, Idaho. Last August, it introduced Idahoan Bacon Cheddar Potato Shreds (two-cup pack) and collaborated with Tapatío Foods’ hot sauce for new Idahoan Tapatío Triple Cheese Mashed Potatoes (four-cup pack). Last July, it added Buttery Homestyle Mashed Potatoes in three new varieties: a 12oz Value Size, a Dairy-Free offering and a Reduced Sodium (30% less) offering.

Targeting fresh opportunities was Bolthouse Fresh Foods (BFF), Bakersfield, Calif. Among its 2024 introductions was new Side Dish Sizzlers. BFF said the premium, “artisan-sliced” Side Dish Sizzler carrots come with a paired sauce, ready for quick stovetop, air fryer, or oven roasting. Consumers simply add the sauce right before cooking. Varieties include Garlic Herb, Sweet Honey Heat, and Herb Vinaigrette.

A national refrigerated side dish leader, Reser’s Fine Foods, Beaverton, Ore., brought a range of convenient meal solutions, premium salads, and bulk offerings to last summer’s International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association (IDDBA) annual expo. New premium grab-and-go Stonemill Kitchens offerings included Chili Crisp Pasta, Tuscan-Style Pasta, Lemon Capellini, Basil Pesto Pasta, and Korean-Style Noodle. Joining the Reser’s American Classics Sides line were Creamed Corn, followed last fall by Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots.

Speaking of pasta, yellow pea pasta maker ZENB US Inc., Chicago, extended its traditional line to include ZENB Pasta Sides—four shelf-stable pouched sides designed for skillet preparation in fewer than five minutes. Varieties included Cashew e Pepe, Broccoli & Almonds, Roasted Garlic Soy and Chili Fiesta.

Rice is Nice

A global staple, rice took on all foreign flavors and convenient formats last year.

Mars Food & Nutrition, Chicago, introduced Ben’s Original Street Food, with offerings straddling the line between entrées and side dishes. Four varieties (9oz) include Jamaican Jerk Style Red Beans & Rice with Chicken; Gumbo with Chicken Andouille Sausage; Fried Rice with Vegetables; and a Bean & Rice Burrito Bowl.

For its part, Unilever, Englewood Cliffs, N.J., extended its Knorr brand in two different directions. It targeted lunch with its six-item Knorr Rice and Pasta Cups line (all 2.6oz). Rice Cups flavors include Three Cheese Mushroom Risotto, Chicken Flavored Fried Rice, Garden Tomato Risotto and Fajita Rice. Pasta Cups (8-9g protein/serving) flavors include Teriyaki Noodles, Spicy Korean-Style BBQ and Pad Thai. Knorr then came back in August with three authentic 5.47oz Mexican Rice Mixes: Rice Mexicana, Mexican Rice Tomate, and Mexican Rice Blanco.

Last August also saw Mexico’s Verde Valle Food, Jalisco, extend its Isadora brand with two ready-to-eat rice pouches that are ready in just 90 seconds from the microwave: Mexican Rice with Tomato, and Mexican Rice with Corn. Already known for its ramen, Maruchan Inc., Irvine, Calif., expanded into rice with Maruchan Rice Bowls in two flavors: Mexican, and Chicken.

Another category leader, Houston’s Riviana Foods Inc., expanded its Minute Rice Cups line with three varieties: Hot Honey Chicken Seasoned Rice; Long Grain & Wild Seasoned Rice with Herbs; and Sticky Rice (a nod to “hassle-free sushi and poke preparation in a cinch"). Also introducing a new Asian offering—bibigo Korean BBQ Flavor Fried Rice—was Schwan’s Consumer Brands, Bloomington, Minn. Last but not least, Mooney Farms, Chico, Calif., extended its Bella Sun Luci Italian products line with a Tuscan Rice variety at Los Angeles-area Costco stores. Officials say each box contains six microwavable pouches featuring a blend of whole grain rice, tomatoes, and Italian herbs including basil.

Appetizer Adventure

While some processors targeted traditional appetizer forms and flavors, most new activity had a foreign flair. Those with more traditional appetizers included poultry giants Tyson Foods, JBS USA, and Hooters of America; as well as Rich Products and Lakeside Foods Inc.

Tyson introduced a 24oz bag of Honey Chicken Bites and three varieties of Restaurant Style Crispy Wings: Rotisserie (Original), Garlic Parmesan and Caribbean Style. Speaking of wings, Hooters partnered with Golden West Food Group to offer four frozen appetizers: BBQ Smoked Wings, Dry Rub Smoked Wings, Buffalo Style Boneless Wingz and Buffalo Style Popcorn Chicken. Also targeting full flavor in a bite-size form was JBS, which launched three new lines: Pilgrim’s Loaded Nuggets (Chicken Pot Pie, Cheesy Jalapeño), Pilgrim’s Ultimate Nuggets, and Pilgrim’s Mini Nuggets (Zesty Ranch, Buttery, and Original).

Last October saw Rich Products, Buffalo, N.Y., extend its Farm Rich brand with four offerings: Stuffed Buffalo Crunchers with Frank's RedHot Sauce, Spinach Artichoke Dip Bites, Grilled Cheese Bites and Pepperoni Pizza Roll-Ups (returning). In December, Lakeside Foods, Manitowoc, Wis., introduced three frozen appetizers breaded especially for crisping in an air fryer or conventional oven: breaded green beans, pickles, and Wisconsin white cheddar cheese curds. All three were designed for private label sales.

Asian appetizers drove even more new product activity. Last summer saw Chicago’s fast-casual restaurant chain Wow Bao expand its retail frozen grocery distribution through new partnerships. Officials said Meijer was the first retailer to carry Szechwan-Style Spicy Pork Bao, made with roasted pork, cabbage, ginger, garlic, and chili crisp-gochujang sauce inside a soft, fluffy bao. Other new summer offerings included Ginger Chicken Potstickers and Chicken and Pork Soup Dumplings.

Also launching new items were MìLà (officially The XCJ Corp.), Bellevue, Wash.; K Food America (Hitrons Solutions Inc.), Westwood, N.J.; Laoban Dumplings, Washington, D.C.; Schwan’s Consumer Brands; and Samyang Foods USA, Los Angeles. MìLà, K Food America and Samyang Foods all launched new dumpling products. Schwan’s extended its bibigo line with two new Korean potsticker varieties; and Laoban Dumplings added three bao bun varieties: Chinese Style BBQ Pork, Spicy Beef, and Sesame Chicken.

Still more processors followed suit with offerings billed more directly as soup dumplings. Last September saw NAMU, Atlanta, debut with online sales of eastern European frozen Khinkali Soup Dumplings representing the country of Georgia. Last October, Feel Good Foods, New York, N.Y., said it introduced the first frozen Gluten-Free Chicken Soup Dumplings.