USDA food category

Meals, Entrees, and Side Dishes

According to USDA FoodData Central (data refreshed July 2026), meals, entrees, and side dishes entries carry the FDA-required nutrition facts panel, ingredient list, and allergen disclosure verbatim from the source label.

50
Foods shown
211
Avg kcal / 100gmoderate density
8.0g
Avg proteingood source · 16% DV

Showing 1–50 foods

The verdict

Meals, Entrees, and Side Dishes averages 211 calories per 100g, the 16th most calorie-dense of the 25 USDA food groups, with 8g of protein.

81
foods in this group
211
avg calories / 100g
8g
avg protein / 100g
#16 / 25
by calorie density

Most calorie-dense meals, entrees, and side dishes

Calories per 100 g across the foods on this page

  1. 1 Macaroni or noodles with cheese, microwave 388 kcal
  2. 2 Macaroni and cheese dinner with dry sauce 379 kcal
  3. 3 Pasta mix, Italian lasagna 356 kcal
  4. 4 Pasta mix, Italian four cheese lasagna 355 kcal
  5. 5 Pasta mix, classic beef 354 kcal
  6. 6 Pasta mix, classic cheeseburger macaroni 349 kcal
  7. 7 Chicken, thighs 334 kcal
  8. 8 Macaroni and cheese, box mix with cheese s 334 kcal
  9. 9 JIMMY DEAN, Sausage 328 kcal
  10. 10 Pizza rolls, frozen 328 kcal
  11. 11 Burrito, beef and bean 298 kcal
  12. 12 Macaroni or noodles with cheese, made from 297 kcal
kcal / 100g Source: USDA FoodData Central (page 1)

Where meals, entrees, and side dishes sit on protein

This group averages 8g of protein per 100g, placed against every USDA reference (whole) food.

Protein per 100g - Meals, Entrees, and Side Dishes average vs every USDA reference food

USDA reference (whole) foods with a protein value

8 45th percentile higher than 45% of 7,880 USDA reference foods

0–5: 2,829 USDA reference foods (36%). Below this entry. 5–10: 1,170 USDA reference foods (15%). This entry sits in this band. 10–15: 863 USDA reference foods (11%). Above this entry. 15–20: 783 USDA reference foods (10%). Above this entry. 20–25: 1,085 USDA reference foods (14%). Above this entry. 25–30: 826 USDA reference foods (10%). Above this entry. 30–35: 230 USDA reference foods (3%). Above this entry. 35–40: 32 USDA reference foods (0%). Above this entry. 40–45: 9 USDA reference foods (0%). Above this entry. 45–50: 11 USDA reference foods (0%). Above this entry. 50–55: 9 USDA reference foods (0%). Above this entry. 55–60: 33 USDA reference foods (0%). Above this entry. This group's avg 0 60 every USDA reference food, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more USDA reference foods. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy & Foundation · 2026

Where Meals, Entrees, and Side Dishes sits among the 25 USDA food groups

Plotted by average calories and average protein per 100g, group-level averages across every USDA food category (not individual foods).

Meals, Entrees, and Side Dishes: 8g avg protein, 211 avg kcal per 100g, among 25 USDA food groups

06.412.819.225.635.7185.8336.0486.1636.3Avg protein / 100gAvg calories / 100gPoint 1: Avg protein / 100g 13.9, Avg calories / 100g 218Point 2: Avg protein / 100g 10.6, Avg calories / 100g 254Point 3: Avg protein / 100g 4.2, Avg calories / 100g 154Point 4: Avg protein / 100g 0.8, Avg calories / 100g 609Point 5: Avg protein / 100g 23.3, Avg calories / 100g 197Point 6: Avg protein / 100g 3.4, Avg calories / 100g 104Point 7: Avg protein / 100g 15.3, Avg calories / 100g 256Point 8: Avg protein / 100g 8.2, Avg calories / 100g 328Point 9: Avg protein / 100g 0.9, Avg calories / 100g 87Point 10: Avg protein / 100g 22.2, Avg calories / 100g 211Point 11: Avg protein / 100g 2.8, Avg calories / 100g 63Point 12: Avg protein / 100g 15.3, Avg calories / 100g 498Point 13: Avg protein / 100g 24.4, Avg calories / 100g 211Point 14: Avg protein / 100g 3.5, Avg calories / 100g 111Point 15: Avg protein / 100g 20.3, Avg calories / 100g 134Point 16: Avg protein / 100g 14.1, Avg calories / 100g 205Point 17: Avg protein / 100g 23.1, Avg calories / 100g 216Point 18: Avg protein / 100g 7, Avg calories / 100g 360Point 19: Avg protein / 100g 5, Avg calories / 100g 330Point 20: Avg protein / 100g 8.9, Avg calories / 100g 288Point 21: Avg protein / 100g 12.4, Avg calories / 100g 253Point 22: Avg protein / 100g 9.8, Avg calories / 100g 444Point 23: Avg protein / 100g 16.5, Avg calories / 100g 209Point 24: Avg protein / 100g 10.1, Avg calories / 100g 221Meals, Entrees, and Side Dishes: Avg protein / 100g 8, Avg calories / 100g 211High-cal, low-proteinHigh-cal, high-proteinLow-cal, low-proteinLow-cal, high-protein
Meals, Entrees, and Side Dishes: 8g avg protein, 211 avg kcal per 100g, among 25 USDA food groups
Read the chart as text
  • Point 1: Avg protein / 100g 13.9, Avg calories / 100g 218
  • Point 2: Avg protein / 100g 10.6, Avg calories / 100g 254
  • Point 3: Avg protein / 100g 4.2, Avg calories / 100g 154
  • Point 4: Avg protein / 100g 0.8, Avg calories / 100g 609
  • Point 5: Avg protein / 100g 23.3, Avg calories / 100g 197
  • Point 6: Avg protein / 100g 3.4, Avg calories / 100g 104
  • Point 7: Avg protein / 100g 15.3, Avg calories / 100g 256
  • Point 8: Avg protein / 100g 8.2, Avg calories / 100g 328
  • Point 9: Avg protein / 100g 0.9, Avg calories / 100g 87
  • Point 10: Avg protein / 100g 22.2, Avg calories / 100g 211
  • Point 11: Avg protein / 100g 2.8, Avg calories / 100g 63
  • Point 12: Avg protein / 100g 15.3, Avg calories / 100g 498
  • Point 13: Avg protein / 100g 24.4, Avg calories / 100g 211
  • Point 14: Avg protein / 100g 3.5, Avg calories / 100g 111
  • Point 15: Avg protein / 100g 20.3, Avg calories / 100g 134
  • Point 16: Avg protein / 100g 14.1, Avg calories / 100g 205
  • Point 17: Avg protein / 100g 23.1, Avg calories / 100g 216
  • Point 18: Avg protein / 100g 7, Avg calories / 100g 360
  • Point 19: Avg protein / 100g 5, Avg calories / 100g 330
  • Point 20: Avg protein / 100g 8.9, Avg calories / 100g 288
  • Point 21: Avg protein / 100g 12.4, Avg calories / 100g 253
  • Point 22: Avg protein / 100g 9.8, Avg calories / 100g 444
  • Point 23: Avg protein / 100g 16.5, Avg calories / 100g 209
  • Point 24: Avg protein / 100g 10.1, Avg calories / 100g 221
  • Meals, Entrees, and Side Dishes: Avg protein / 100g 8, Avg calories / 100g 211

How the Meals, Entrees, and Side Dishes Category Compares

Meals, Entrees, and Side Dishes is one of the food groups catalogued in the USDA FoodData Central database, and this page surfaces 50 foods from that group on the current view. Among just the 50 foods on this page, the average calorie count lands at 214 kcal per 100g, with average protein of 8.5g per 100g (the full Meals, Entrees, and Side Dishes group of 81 foods averages 211 kcal, shown above). These per-page averages help you benchmark any single food against its immediate neighbors on this listing, a food 30% above this page's calorie average, for example, is a useful signal for portion planning.

Within this page, the most energy-dense item is "Macaroni or noodles with cheese, microwaveable, unprepared" at 388 calories per 100g, while the lightest is "Pasta with tomato sauce, no meat, canned" at 71 calories. That kind of spread is typical for USDA food groups: branded and processed entries often sit high on calories and sodium, while raw or minimally prepared entries anchor the low end. Sorting the grid by calories, protein, fat, or carbs exposes the full distribution so you can pick foods that match specific dietary goals rather than relying on category intuition alone.

Every food in the Meals, Entrees, and Side Dishes group links to a full FDA-format nutrition label with vitamins, minerals, and daily value percentages sourced from USDA Standard Reference, Foundation, Branded, or Survey data depending on the item. Use the sort controls to surface the highest-protein or lowest-sodium choices, or drill into any food card to see macro bars, similar foods, and brand breakdowns. For framework and interpretation help, the nutrition guides explain daily values, how to compare foods fairly, and where hidden sugars hide inside everyday categories.

Name Calories Protein Fat Carbs

→ Compare the first three meals, entrees, and side dishes foods side-by-side

BANQUET, Salisbury Steak With Gravy, family size, frozen, unprepared

Whole Food
155 cal
P: 6.9gF: 11.1gC: 7.0g

Beef Pot Pie, frozen entree, prepared

Whole Food
220 cal
P: 7.3gF: 11.4gC: 22.1g

Beef macaroni with tomato sauce, frozen entree, reduced fat

Whole Food
113 cal
P: 5.9gF: 2.0gC: 18.0g

Beef stew, canned entree

Whole Food
99 cal
P: 4.4gF: 5.5gC: 7.8g

Beef, corned beef hash, with potato, canned

Whole Food
164 cal
P: 8.7gF: 10.2gC: 9.3g

Burrito, bean and cheese, frozen

Whole Food
221 cal
P: 7.1gF: 6.3gC: 34.0g

Burrito, beef and bean, frozen

Whole Food
239 cal
P: 7.3gF: 9.6gC: 30.8g

Burrito, beef and bean, microwaved

Whole Food
298 cal
P: 8.7gF: 11.9gC: 39.0g

Chicken pot pie, frozen entree, prepared

Whole Food
204 cal
P: 5.1gF: 11.8gC: 19.2g

Chicken tenders, breaded, frozen, prepared

Whole Food
240 cal
P: 14.6gF: 13.6gC: 14.9g

Chicken, nuggets, dark and white meat, precooked, frozen, not reheated

Whole Food
268 cal
P: 12.0gF: 17.3gC: 16.1g

Chicken, nuggets, white meat, precooked, frozen, not reheated

Whole Food
261 cal
P: 14.4gF: 15.4gC: 16.2g

Chicken, thighs, frozen, breaded, reheated

Whole Food
334 cal
P: 18.7gF: 22.4gC: 14.2g

Chili con carne with beans, canned entree

Whole Food
107 cal
P: 5.8gF: 3.5gC: 13.1g

Chili with beans, microwavable bowls

Whole Food
100 cal
P: 5.8gF: 3.7gC: 10.9g

Chili, no beans, canned entree

Whole Food
118 cal
P: 7.5gF: 7.1gC: 6.1g

Corn dogs, frozen, prepared

Whole Food
250 cal
P: 8.6gF: 12.0gC: 27.0g

Dumpling, potato- or cheese-filled, frozen

Whole Food
195 cal
P: 5.3gF: 6.1gC: 29.6g

Egg rolls, chicken, refrigerated, heated

Whole Food
197 cal
P: 10.4gF: 4.5gC: 28.5g

Egg rolls, pork, refrigerated, heated

Whole Food
227 cal
P: 9.9gF: 8.2gC: 28.5g

Egg rolls, vegetable, frozen, prepared

Whole Food
214 cal
P: 6.0gF: 7.0gC: 31.8g

HOT POCKETS Ham 'N Cheese Stuffed Sandwich, frozen

Whole Food
270 cal
P: 9.2gF: 15.0gC: 24.7g

HOT POCKETS, CROISSANT POCKETS Chicken, Broccoli, and Cheddar Stuffed Sandwich, frozen

Whole Food
235 cal
P: 8.9gF: 8.6gC: 30.4g

HOT POCKETS, meatballs & mozzarella stuffed sandwich, frozen

Whole Food
252 cal
P: 9.3gF: 10.2gC: 30.7g

HUNGRY MAN, Salisbury Steak With Gravy, frozen, unprepared

Whole Food
136 cal
P: 8.0gF: 8.5gC: 7.0g

JIMMY DEAN, Sausage, Egg, and Cheese Breakfast Biscuit, frozen, unprepared

Whole Food
328 cal
P: 9.3gF: 22.9gC: 21.1g

LEAN POCKETS, Ham N Cheddar

Whole Food
230 cal
P: 10.3gF: 6.5gC: 32.5g

Lasagna with meat & sauce, frozen entree

Whole Food
124 cal
P: 6.6gF: 4.4gC: 14.4g

Lasagna with meat & sauce, low-fat, frozen entree

Whole Food
101 cal
P: 6.8gF: 2.2gC: 13.5g

Lasagna with meat sauce, frozen, prepared

Whole Food
135 cal
P: 7.3gF: 4.9gC: 15.4g

Lasagna, Vegetable, frozen, baked

Whole Food
139 cal
P: 6.9gF: 6.0gC: 14.2g

Lasagna, cheese, frozen, prepared

Whole Food
130 cal
P: 6.5gF: 5.3gC: 13.8g

Lasagna, cheese, frozen, unprepared

Whole Food
145 cal
P: 5.1gF: 4.2gC: 21.6g

Lean Pockets, Meatballs & Mozzarella

Whole Food
240 cal
P: 10.5gF: 7.7gC: 32.3g

Macaroni and Cheese, canned entree

Whole Food
82 cal
P: 3.4gF: 2.5gC: 11.5g

Macaroni and Cheese, canned, microwavable

Whole Food
134 cal
P: 6.0gF: 6.0gC: 14.0g

Macaroni and cheese dinner with dry sauce mix, boxed, uncooked

Whole Food
379 cal
P: 13.9gF: 4.8gC: 70.1g

Macaroni and cheese, box mix with cheese sauce, prepared

Whole Food
164 cal
P: 6.7gF: 5.0gC: 23.1g

Macaroni and cheese, box mix with cheese sauce, unprepared

Whole Food
334 cal
P: 12.7gF: 10.7gC: 46.7g

Macaroni and cheese, dry mix, prepared with 2% milk and 80% stick margarine from dry mix

Whole Food
190 cal
P: 4.9gF: 8.3gC: 23.9g

Macaroni and cheese, frozen entree

Whole Food
149 cal
P: 5.6gF: 6.4gC: 17.3g

Macaroni or noodles with cheese, made from reduced fat packaged mix, unprepared

Whole Food
297 cal
P: 13.1gF: 4.0gC: 52.1g

Macaroni or noodles with cheese, microwaveable, unprepared

Whole Food
388 cal
P: 11.5gF: 6.6gC: 70.8g

Pasta mix, Italian four cheese lasagna, unprepared

Whole Food
355 cal
P: 12.5gF: 2.7gC: 70.3g

Pasta mix, Italian lasagna, unprepared

Whole Food
356 cal
P: 10.9gF: 2.0gC: 73.8g

Pasta mix, classic beef, unprepared

Whole Food
354 cal
P: 12.3gF: 1.8gC: 72.2g

Pasta mix, classic cheeseburger macaroni, unprepared

Whole Food
349 cal
P: 11.6gF: 1.9gC: 71.5g

Pasta with Sliced Franks in Tomato Sauce, canned entree

Whole Food
90 cal
P: 4.4gF: 2.4gC: 12.7g

Pasta with tomato sauce, no meat, canned

Whole Food
71 cal
P: 2.2gF: 0.7gC: 13.9g

Pizza rolls, frozen, unprepared

Whole Food
328 cal
P: 8.7gF: 10.0gC: 50.7g
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Primary source data

USDA FoodData Central → FDA Food Labeling & Nutrition → Dietary Guidelines for Americans →

Source: USDA FoodData Central — food_categories taxonomy.
Source: Per-food nutrient values from USDA laboratory analysis and manufacturer-submitted label data.

Read our methodology for how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Key takeaways

  • Within Meals, Entrees, and Side Dishes, Macaroni or noodles with cheese is the most calorie-dense item on this page at 388 cal per 100g, while Pasta with tomato sauce is the lightest at 71 cal -- a reminder that "category" alone doesn't tell you much about any single food.
  • By average calorie density, meals, entrees, and side dishes ranks 16th of 25 USDA food groups -- see how it compares to every other group. Browse all categories
  • Sort the table above by protein, fat, or carbs to find the specific foods in this category that best match your own targets.

Every figure on GetFoodFacts is rendered directly from official USDA FoodData Central records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.