5 Easy Meals to Take to Someone
I think sometimes we make loving people way too complicated.
Someone has a baby. Someone loses someone they love. There's a diagnosis, surgery, move or just a season where life feels like a lot.
And we think, What do I say? What do they need? What can I actually do that would help?
Sometimes the answer is really simple.
Just bring dinner.
It doesn't have to be homemade from scratch. It doesn't have to be beautifully packaged. And it definitely doesn't have to look like something you found on Pinterest.
Feed them.
Take one decision off their plate.
Give them one night where they don't have to stand in the kitchen at 5:00 and figure out what everybody is going to eat.
That's loving people well, too.
And that's exactly why I made this list.
Download My Free Meals to Love On a Family Guide
I put all five dinners, the complete recipes, sides, dessert ideas AND my breakfast basket idea into one printable guide so you can save it for the next time somebody needs a little extra love.
Save it to your phone for later or print it out and keep it somewhere you'll actually use it.
DOWNLOAD + PRINT THE FREE MEALS TO LOVE ON A FAMILY GUIDE →
5 Easy Meals to Take to Someone
These are the meals I come back to because they're comforting, easy to transport and actually feed a family.
1. Lasagna
Lasagna is a classic for a reason.
It's easy to make ahead, travels well and feeds a bunch of people. I serve mine with a Caesar salad kit and garlic bread so they have the entire dinner.
And yes, buy the salad kit.
We're loving people, not auditioning for Food Network. 😂
2. Chicken & Rice Bake
This is such an easy family-friendly casserole.
It's chicken, Rice-A-Roni, broccoli and cheese all baked together, and I send Sister Schubert's rolls and a garden salad with dressing on the side.
Simple, filling and nothing else for them to figure out.
3. Crockpot Roast, Mashed Potatoes & Green Beans
There is something about dropping off roast and mashed potatoes that just feels like bringing somebody a hug.
I make the roast in the crockpot with carrots, then send mashed potatoes, seasoned green beans and Mary B's biscuits with it.
And here's one of my favorite shortcuts: I use Bob Evans mashed potatoes and transfer them to a disposable pan.
They look homemade.
You're welcome. 😂
4. Poppyseed Chicken
If you've never had poppyseed chicken, it's one of those creamy, comforting casseroles that is PERFECT for taking to another family.
Mine uses shredded chicken, cream of chicken soup and sour cream with that buttery Ritz cracker topping.
Serve it over rice with a salad and rolls and you're done.
5. Crockpot Chicken Tacos
Not every meal you take someone needs to be a casserole.
Chicken tacos are especially great for families because everyone can make their own.
I send the crockpot chicken with rice, black beans, shredded lettuce, pico, guacamole, sour cream, queso and chips.
It's basically dinner and a little taco bar all in one.
Bonus: Make a Grazing Basket
Sometimes a family doesn't need another casserole.
They need food they can grab whenever they're hungry.
Make a basket with deli meats, cheeses, breads, condiments, veggies, fruit and chips.
No cooking.
No reheating.
No figuring anything out.
This can be especially helpful when people are coming and going or everyone's schedule is completely different.
Want to Add Dessert?
You absolutely don't have to.
Dinner is already a gift.
But if you have a little extra time, dessert is one of those things that makes the whole meal feel extra special.
My printable includes three easy options:
Ice Cream Sandwich Casserole — probably the easiest because you can make it ahead and keep it in the freezer.
Grammy's Chocolate Sheet Cake — the most requested.
Simple Brownies — for when life is already full and you've got about 15 minutes.
And yes, a boxed brownie mix is completely acceptable.
No judgment here. 😂
The Extra Thing I Love to Do: Bring Breakfast Too
If you really want to love on a family, add a little breakfast basket for the next morning.
This is one of my favorite things because everybody thinks about dinner.
But then morning comes.
Add muffins, cut fruit, granola bars, yogurt or other easy grab-and-go breakfast foods.
Throw in a jug of lemonade or sweet tea.
And don't forget disposable plates, napkins and forks.
Now you've taken care of tonight AND given them one less thing to think about tomorrow morning.
It's a small thing.
But it says, I thought about you past just tonight.
It Doesn't Have to Be Homemade
Please hear me on this one.
You can bring Costco lasagna.
You can pick up Chick-fil-A.
You can bring a rotisserie chicken, bagged salad and rolls.
You can DoorDash dinner to their porch.
The point isn't proving that you're a good cook.
The point is showing someone that you thought about them.
Homemade is wonderful.
Showing up is better.
Don't Wait for a Crisis
We tend to bring meals when there's a new baby, surgery, illness or loss.
Absolutely keep doing that.
But you don't need a tragedy to feed somebody.
Bring dinner to the mom whose husband is traveling all week.
Bring it to the friend who's having a terrible month.
Bring it to the family who just moved into the neighborhood.
Bring it to the teacher who's exhausted.
Bring it because someone you love has a lot going on and Tuesday is hard.
You don't even have to ask, "What can I do?"
Sometimes people don't know what they need.
Just text:
"I'm bringing dinner. What night is best?"
That's it.
Download + Save the Full Recipe Guide
I've put everything in one place for you—the five complete dinner recipes, sides, grazing basket, three desserts and breakfast basket.
Save it to your phone.
Print it.
Send it to your small group or your group chat.
And then the next time someone you love is walking through something, you don't have to wonder what to do.
Sometimes you don't need the perfect words.
Just bring dinner. 🤍
A full belly is one less thing to carry.
Go love on someone today.
Come Hang Out With Me 🤍
If you're into making a big deal out of the little things too, come hang out with me. I'm sharing motherhood, easy meals, college + senior life, game days, home projects and everyday ways we can love our people well.
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You can find me everywhere at @raisinguprays.
