My 8 Favorite "Take Them A Meal" Meals

Is it just me or is everybody having babies lately? One of the easiest ways to help a new mama out is to feed her - and feed her something good, hearty, and easy. People tend to bring a lot of the same types of meals to people who are signed up for a meal train, and you might end up eating a month of pasta and rotisserie chicken. (To be clear, I am guilty of providing both.) Sometimes those things are fabulous meals but can easily get old. The following meals are inexpensive, freezable, provide large quantities of food, and can be dropped off earlier in the day (because sometimes dinner time is witching hour for all the people).

Here are my 8 favorite "Take Them A Meal" meals that are not pasta...or rotisserie chicken. ;)

Pulled Pork

1 Packet Memphis BBQ Pit seasoning packet

1 3 lb. pork loin

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 cup water

8 hours in the crock pot (I usually drop it off in their crock pot in the morning with crock pot liner so they don't have dishes), shred and serve on pretzel rolls with chips and salad (I usually buy a salad mix to make life easier).

BBQ Mac & Cheese

1 can cheddar cheese soup

2 cups shredded Monterey jack and cheddar cheese

8 oz. sour cream

1/2 c Milk

1 box elbow macaroni

1 tsp. Salt

1/2 tsp. Pepper

1 tsp. Garlic Powder

Cook noodles and stir in above ingredients. Pour into disposable aluminum tray and top with some cheese. Deliver with cooking instructions to bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Also, bring the above Pulled Pork recipe with instructions to use that to top the mac & cheese with BBQ sauce (I usually get a bottle of Sweet Baby Ray's). Bring a salad and/or some fruit too.

White Chicken Enchiladas

1 can diced green chilis

1 can cream of chicken

8 oz. sour cream

 3-4 Chicken Breasts

1 tsp. Cumin

Salt and pepper to taste

6 hours on low. Shred chicken, roll in tortillas, top with extra sauce and cheese. Deliver with instructions to bake for 30 minutes at 350 and bring tortilla chips, salsa, sour cream, and shredded lettuce for toppings.

Sausage Bake

1 sliced smoked sausage

2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed

2 red potatoes, cubed

1/2 bag frozen broccoli

You can add whatever other veggies you'd like to this as well. In a disposable tray, drizzle the above ingredients with EVOO and sprinkle with garlic powder, sage, salt and pepper and toss. Deliver with instructions to bake at 425 for 45 minutes.  Bring a salad too. This is a great meal for all those gluten-free folks in your life.

Sweet & Sour Meatballs

1 bag frozen meatballs

1 bottle BBQ sauce

1 bottle grape jelly

4-6 hours on low. This is one you can make at home and deliver or drop off early and put in their crock pot. My kids love these so if it's a family with kids, this can be a great options. I usually bring a salad and chips.

Italian Sausage Subs

2 lbs. cooked ground Italian sausage

1 diced green bell pepper

1 diced red bell pepper

1/2 bottle of pinot noir

1 tsp garlic

1 tsp basil

6-8 hours on low in the crock pot. Serve on hoagies or Italian rolls and sprinkle with cheese. Add a salad to this one.

Caribbean Jerk Chicken on Pub Buns

1 bottle Caribbean Jerk marinade

4-6 chicken breasts (depending on their family size)

1 bag of pub buns

Let the chicken marinade a few hours and grill. Store in a disposable tray or Ziploc and deliver with instruction to heat and serve on the buns with BBQ sauce with a side salad and fruit and chips. This is beyond easy and simple but sometimes that's all you need. This is one mine and Darren's favorite meals.

California Burritos

1 lb. beef chunks (can also use shredded beef or carne asada cuts if they have them)

1 taco seasoning packet

1 cup water

8 hours on low. Shred and serve with tortillas, taco toppings, and French fries (you can either drop off a frozen bag from them to heat up in the morning or prepare them before coming over).


These meals are not fancy or perfect but unless people have been lying to me, they will be a hit for any family needing some extra hands in the kitchen.