Did your friend just have a baby, or surgery, or is grieving? A hot dinner they didn’t have to think about is such a meaningful gift. Take them one of my favorite comforting recipes. I’ll tell you my whole process to make it super easy for you. This is a list of my EXACT menu favorites, down to how I package every item; check out the sister post How to Bring a Meal to a Friend for tons more tips and ideas sourced from hundreds of home cooks.
It can feel overwhelming to think about making a meal, packing it up still-warm, putting it in your car, trying not to slop it all over the seat, and hustling it up to your friend’s door.
It’s a big job, but you can do this! Here are twelve simple menu plans, (SIMPLE, much is store bought), that will help guide you toward giving the gift of food to your loved ones, without overwhelming you so much that you never sign up again.
You will see me call for a bagged salad from the store on nearly every menu, and a few other repetitive sides. Because that’s what I almost always do! No apologies. This is just the reality of my life. I’m usually on a time crunch and I’m sure you are too!
These twelve easy meals to take to someone are just the tip of the iceberg. For tons more suggestions and recipes from many other sources, see my How to Bring a Meal to a Friend post!
1.Tacos
Chicken Tacos or Beef Tacos using my Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe. This is incredibly easy to prep, and a meal that is almost universally liked by all. If you are feeding someone who is low carb, skip the tortillas; see my Taco Salad recipe.
- Make the chicken or beef start to finish. Place cooked meat in one half of a dispoable 9×13 aluminum pan. (See the bottom of the post for links to all of my favorite products to package food in.)
- Fill the other half with a warmed up can or two of refried beans.
- Chop up (or buy) a ziplock bag full of romaine lettuce ready to go, lined with paper towels.
- Buy them a new sour cream, or give them one that you have half used.
- Tortillas
- Store bought shredded Cheese
- Bag of chips (Juanitas, plz)
- jar of salsa, I prefer the fresh salsa from the refrigerated section.
- Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies, if you’re feelin extra. If you are delivering dough balls, deliver in a ziplock with instructions for how to bake. If you are delivering cookies, put them on a paper plate covered in foil.
- Bring paper plates, plastic silverware, and cups.
2.Old Fashioned Potato Soup
Potato Soup is dreamy creamy, kids and adults love it, and it’s SO easy to make. It’s a great option for picky kids or people who have just had surgery (or anyone dealing with a queasy stomach.)
- Make the soup start to finish. Transport in ziplocks, OR if it’s a good friend, march into their house and pour your pot into one of their own pots.
- Buy a bag of shredded cheddar cheese
- Chop green onions and bring in a ziplock
- Buy a bag of salad at the store that includes dressing
- Buy garlic bread at the store (or make Homemade Garlic Bread or French Bread). Transport wrapped in heavy duty foil. Make sure it is sliced and ready to eat.
- Make this with Peach Cobbler, if you really love your friend. Use canned or frozen peaches to simplify. Bake in an aluminum pan. If you are short on time make Chocolate Chip Cookies, either baked and set on a paper plate, or dough balls in a ziplock with instructions. Or skip dessert altogether!
- Bring paper bowls, plates, plastic silverware, and cups
3.The best Baked Ziti ever, for real
The original title of this recipe was “Postpartum Ziti” because it’s such a great meal to take to someone after they have a baby. It feeds an army and is great for nursing mamas! It’s honestly the best baked ziti I’ve ever had. It’s different than most: cubed mozzarella, cream, etc.
- Bake the casserole start to finish in a 9×13 aluminum pan, OR divide between two aluminum 8×8 pans. Cover with foil or lid. Carry it into their house on a half sheet pan, so your disposable pan doesn’t wobble (don’t forget to bring the sheet pan home right away.)
- (Alternatively: bring the casserole before baking and include instructions for how to bake it.)
- Make a big salad to balance all the pasta. A bag from the store is just fine, or this Apple Gorgonzola Salad. Bring the dressing in a mason jar, salad and all toppings in a ziplock. Squeeze the apples with lemon juice if they won’t be eating for a while.
- Bread is nice but not even necessary in my opinion. Buy garlic bread at the store (or make Homemade Garlic Bread or French Bread) Transport wrapped in heavy duty foil. Make sure it is sliced and ready to eat.
- Dessert: No Bake Cookies on a paper plate with foil.
- Bring paper plates, plastic silverware, and cups.
Reader Carolyn says, “Oh my goodness! Yum! I just took this over to a young family, thinking it would be easy, kid-friendly and leftovers could be frozen for later. I’m so glad I put a small amount in another pan for me and my husband. I just got a call from the mommy asking for the recipe! Now that’s a win!”
4.Easy Slow-Cooker Chicken Stroganoff
Slow Cooker Chicken Stroganoff is one of my favorite meals to bring to new moms. It’s super easy to put together, easy to double if you want to feed your own family the same meal, and to top it off it’s very kid friendly. So if you are bringing a meal to a family with toddlers and young kids, you are giving mama the gift of not having to fight with her kids about eating dinner. Butter the noodles well and leave them separate from the sauce.
- Make the recipe start to finish.
- Spoon the chicken into one half of a disposable aluminum pan, trying to keep it to one side. Butter the noodles well and spoon them into the other half of the pan. Cover with foil or a lid.
- Steam a bag of frozen broccoli in the microwave or blanch for 3 minutes in boiling water. Season with plenty of salt and dot with butter. Store in a medium tupperware, or you could even pile onto a paper plate and cover with foil.
- Optional second side dish: Raspberry Avocado Salad. Bring it in a ziplock with dressing in a jam jar. Or a bag of salad from the store.
- Optional dessert: Rice Krispie Treats on a paper plate covered in foil.
- Bring paper plates, plastic silverware, and cups.
Reader Michelle said “OH. MY. GOSH!! This was delicious. So easy to put together, and the chicken was fall-apart tender. I did use the white wine like suggested and followed everything as instructed. It was really, really good.”
5.White Chicken Chili
Honestly White Chicken Chili is probably one of my top recipes for bringing to someone, because I almost ALWAYS have everything on hand to make it, and it pleases almost everyone, kids included. It’s so good and perfect for doubling. If you’re not into white chili, try Easy 45 Minute Chili, The Best Chili, or the crock pot version, Cream Cheese Chicken Chili.
- Make the chili start to finish. Spoon into ziplocks, or transport in mason jars, or use these handy soup containers.
- Make cornbread, baked in a disposable aluminum pan. Use a cornbread mix if that makes your life easier.
- Bring toppings in separate containers:
- shredded cheese (store bought if it makes life easier)
- chopped cilantro
- tub of sour cream
- tortilla chips
- avocado
- If they have a really large family, include a salad kit as well.
- Dessert: Raspberry Crumble Bars, baked and cooled and stacked on a paper plate with foil.
- Bring paper bowls and plates, plastic silverware, and cups.
6.BLT’s
BLT’s are fast, simple, and everybody loves them. Make this for someone who can handle a little prep on their own, you will be delivering ingredients so they can make the sandwich themselves.
- Buy a jar of mayonnaise, or give them one from your fridge that’s already open (assuming you don’t have disgusting children who leave crumbs in it…)
- Tomatoes sliced and salted, laid out on paper towels in layers in an aluminum pan
- Avocados sliced and salted in a tupperware, squeeze with lemon juice if they won’t be eating immediately.
- Lettuce leaves washed and dried, in a ziplock with paper towels
- Plenty of cooked bacon, drained and cooled and stored in ziplock.
- Deliver with a loaf of white bread and a stick of butter. Instruct them to lightly toast and butter the bread before assembling sandwiches.
- Side dishes: bag of salad or make them a Macaroni Salad.
- Dessert option: Snickerdoodles, either baked and set on a paper plate, or dough balls in a ziplock with instructions.
- Bring paper plates, plastic silverware, and cups.
7.Raspberry Balsamic Meatballs
These Raspberry Balsamic Meatballs are a grown up version of the grape jelly meatballs you may have tried. The balsamic and green onions give them that special flare. This is easy to double, so you can knock out your dinner and theirs.
- Make the meatballs start to finish in the slow cooker.
- Make rice. (One cup of dry rice serves about 2 adults generously.) (This would also work well with pasta or mashed potatoes.)
- Spoon the meatballs into one half of a 9×13 disposable pan. Fill the other half with cooked rice. Cover with foil.
- Make Oven Roasted Broccoli, or microwave some frozen broccoli or snow peas, or buy a bag of salad with dressing. Something green!
- Deliver with small containers or baggies: one full of chopped green onions and the other with sesame seeds.
- Dessert: Nana’s Famous Fudge Brownies, baked in a 9×13 aluminum pan. Or there’s always Chocolate Chip Cookies, either baked and set on a paper plate, OR dough balls in a ziplock with instructions. Or skip dessert!
- Bring paper plates, plastic silverware, and cups.
Reader Gina said “I made these meatballs and my husband and I absolutely LOVE the sauce. I will never make the chili sauce and grape jelly ones again. Thank you for sharing!!”
8.Crock Pot Beef Barley Soup
Beef Barley Soup is the homiest, most comforting soup of your life. It’s deceptively simple and makes a ton, so you can either give them the whole pot to feed them for days, or split it and feed your family too. You could also deliver half of it hot, and half of it in a ziplock for freezing.
- Make the soup start to finish.
- (I often leave the barley OUT of the soup, because it tends to get soggy, just like pasta gets over-done when soaked too long. So unless they are eating it immediately, I will hand them a little baggie with 1 cup barley and tell them to add it when they heat it up, cooking the soup on the stove for 30-45 minutes until tender.)
- Bring the soup in ziplocks, OR if it’s a good friend, march into their house and pour your pot into one of their own pots.
- Buy garlic bread at the store (or make Homemade Garlic Bread or French Bread).
- Buy a Caesar salad kit from the store, or make this Green Salad with Feta and Beets.
- Dessert: Absolutely the Best Brownies baked in a disposable pan (or transferred to a paper plate and covered).
- Bring paper bowls, plates, plastic silverware, and cups.
9.Easy Cheesy Ravioli Lasagna
There’s easy, and then there’s “you put the ravioli in the pan while it’s still frozen” easy. This Ravioli Lasagna recipe is great for kids and adults love it too. An oldie from my dear mother-in-law Kris.
- Make the casserole start to finish in a disposable pan.
- Bake it if they are eating right away; or find out if it would be better to deliver unbaked. Cover with foil or lid.
- Buy a bag of salad. Or, make this Pineapple Spinach Salad.
- Buy garlic bread at the store (or make Homemade Garlic Bread or French Bread). Transport wrapped in heavy duty foil. Make sure it is sliced and ready to eat.
- Dessert option: Texas Cowboy Cookies.
- Bring paper plates, plastic silverware, and cups.
10.Easy Baked Pesto Chicken
This Baked Pesto Chicken is done lickety-split and has a super short ingredient list. If there’s leftover chicken, the recipients can repurpose it for sandwiches.
- Make the chicken start to finish. Slice against the grain (if they have kids, do them this favor!) Transfer to one side of a disposable pan.
- Make rice (One cup of dry rice serves about 2 adults generously) or pasta or Mashed Potatoes. Transfer to the other side of the pan with the chicken, or a new pan if necessary.
- Make Broccoli Bacon Salad, or pick up a similar veggie side dish at the deli counter. Transport in a ziplock bag.
- Dessert option: buy a tub of ice cream and bring them Homemade Chocolate Sauce in a mason jar (or buy store bought).
- Bring paper plates, plastic silverware, and cups.
11.Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
This Slow Cooker Pulled Pork is a dream come true. Incredibly flavorful, stupid easy to make, and feeds a crowd. You friends can use the leftovers in sandwiches for days.
- Make the pulled pork start to finish.
- Make Literally the Best Mac and Cheese I’ve Ever Had as a side dish. Bake in a disposable aluminum pan.
- AND/OR, buy hamburger buns so they can make sandwiches.
- Buy a bottle of BBQ Sauce or make Homemade BBQ Sauce.
- Make Coleslaw, or pick some up at the deli. Store in a ziplock, or give-away-able tupperware if you’re doing homemade.
- Dessert: Banana Cream Pie if you’re feelin extra, (bake in a disposable pie tin) or Puppy Chow to snack on! Bring in a ziplock.
- Bring paper plates, plastic silverware, and cups.
12.Brown Sugar Balsamic Pork Tenderloin
This Brown Sugar Balsamic Pork Tenderloin has been a go-to of mine for years. It is extremely easy to prep (read: no searing), it cooks in the slow cooker all day, and then you just have to pull together a few sides and you’re done. This would be easy to double too.
- Make the pork tenderloin start to finish, including the broiling step. Transfer to a disposable aluminum pan. Drizzle with any extra glaze.
- Make rice (One cup of dry rice serves about 2 adults generously) or pasta or Mashed Potatoes. Transfer to the other side of the pan with the pork, or a new pan if necessary.
- Buy a bagged Caesar salad, or a Kale salad would go nice with this meal.
- If they have a large family, make Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potatoes. Transfer to another disposable pan.
- Homemade Dinner Rolls would go so well with this meal, or get store bought rolls.
- Dessert: Sugar Cookie Bars, baked in a disposable pan, or baked in a regular pan and transferred to a paper plate covered in foil.
- Bring paper plates, plastic silverware, and cups.
That’s it! I almost always choose something from this list when I’m making food for friends! See the sister post How to Bring a Meal to a Friend for a lot more details, tips, tricks, and ideas, including LOTS of links. Have fun feeding and helping the people you love!
Here are the exact things I use to deliver food:
You can usually find these items at the grocery store.
- Aluminum pans: Don’t limit yourself to only baking casseroles in disposable aluminum foil pans. They are a handy size container that you can deliver lots of food items in: chopped salad, taco meat on half and refried beans on the other half, meatballs and rice, pulled pork, a pile of baked potatoes, etc. Unless it’s soup, this is pretty much what I use every time. I buy them in bulk.
- Ziplocks are your best friend. I always deliver soup in ziplocks. I love to keep 1-gallon and 2-gallon size ziplocks on hand. You can fit two loaves of bread in the larger one, or an entire casserole dish. They are great for freezing.
- Soup storage containers. These are handy for smaller families!
- Heavy duty foil is thicker and stronger than regular foil, it’s great for using as a lid if your pans don’t come with lids.
- Metal sheet pans. I often carry a disposable pan into the house on a metal sheet pan. Those aluminum casserole pans are NOT sturdy, especially when full of hot lasagna. Slide the disposable pan onto their table, and take the sheet pan home with you so they don’t have to return it.
These two posts are such a blessing- we all need a reminder that kindness begins at home, and then love and generosity can just pour right on out to our friends and neighbors. I just made your creamy turkey soup- so delicious and easy to share!
Thank you so very much for this outstanding post (and the accompanying post).
I’m so glad it was helpful Mary! Thank you for chiming in!
Omg. I love you so much for doing this post (and the companion one). Your content and recipes are always amazing, but this one is really needed and timely.
Thank you Shabee, it’s been on my bucket list for a long time and I’m so happy it’s finally up! I’m glad you are finding it useful!
i, too, am OBSESSED with meals to bring in. these are awesome options. never would have thought of BLTs! love all the variety too!
It does start to become an obsession right Karen?? My sister Laura told me that recently she offered to a newish friend to bring her a meal, and the friend was a little weirded out by it, didn’t understand. BUT WE GET IT 😂😂 she did end up bringing the meal and hopefully the new friend gets it now too. It’s the best 🤩 thanks for chiming in Karen!
Haha. Some people are weird about food! Hope she is a firm believer now!😂🥳🥳
I love everything about this post. I’m not the best at getting this done for people, admittedly, but I’ve certainly been the recipient of this kindness. There’s truly nothing better than someone pouring their time, effort, and love into a dish to help you feed the ones you love.
Thank you so much for your comment Elizabeth! Yours was the first comment I read after publishing and it made me so happy to hear that someone else feels this urge, and understands about the kindness of the time, effort, and love. Giving and taking, it’s so important 💕
Years ago, I had very serious surgery and my recovery took MONTHS. We had a toddler and a 2nd grader. Along with treats and snacks,we had dinner delivered to us every single night for a month. Food is medicine and the love that came with those meals saved us.
I love stories like this Marian, they feed my soul! Bless your kind friends for looking out for your sweet family when you were having a hard time. That’s life, right? Sometimes everyone needs a little help, and it’s so nice to return the favor, or pay it forward. Thanks for commenting 💕