Easy Dinners Using Store-Bought Foods

Make quick and easy dinners using store bought foods with this guide to how to grocery shop and combine products to assemble fuss-free healthy meals!

Whether it’s a busy season, a variety of schedules, or even sickness or grief, having some on-hand store products to throw together can take the hassle out of dinner time.

Collage of store bought foods to make easy meals.

This summer, I set out NOT to cook for a month.

Yes, even as a food blogger and home cooking fanatic, I sometimes do not feel like cooking. I’m a busy working mom like many of you.

So I’ve been shopping and experimenting and taking notes. And after getting my inbox flooded with messages from all of you who wanted me to share, I put together this resource.

We’re focusing on quick and easy dinners using store bought foods - or how to make dinner without really cooking.

These types of lazy dinners, last minute assembly meals and no cook dinners are great for busy seasons, whether that’s the end of school, the start of school or the holidays.

Also, I love this for summertime so I can get a break from the kitchen. I have felt so much more relaxed and free.

I know it can also be helpful for families in the midst of sickness, disability or grief.

Or even for seasons when everyone is coming and going from sports and activities and there can’t be a standard dinnertime.

Let’s dive in.

Collage of four store-bought items for easy dinners, including a bagged salad, frozen chicken bites, prepared chicken pot pie and a frozen veggie and grain blend.

Types of Grocery Products to Buy

Here are some categories of different types of store-bought products you might want to keep on hand to make your dinners easy to throw together.

Many of these items should be available at any standard grocery store. (I wanted this to be as accessible as possible and I know not everyone has access to Trader Joe's, Costco, ALDIs, etc.)

Proteins:

Having ready-to-go proteins takes a HUGE burden off of dinnertime for me. And there are tons of ways to get creative here so be sure to explore multiple options.

Pre-cooked proteins such as rotisserie chicken, canned tuna, hard-boiled eggs, deli meats, etc.
Pre-cooked sausage or meatballs
Pre-made burgers or patties (beef, turkey, veggie, etc.)
Frozen fish fillets, frozen shrimp
Frozen chicken: Grilled or breaded, tenders or nuggets
Specialty proteins like orange chicken, pulled pork, blackened salmon, etc.

A collage of store-bought ready-made or easy prep proteins, including pulled pork, turkey meatballs, chicken sausages, frozen fish, rotisserie chicken and pre made burgers.

Carbs:

Shortcuts for carbs and side dishes can help you round out your meal without a second thought. Many of these also keep for a long-time in the pantry or the freezer, so they are great to keep stocked for when you need them.

Pre-cooked rice, quinoa or other grains
Quick cook versions of grains
Frozen tater tots and frozen French fries
Frozen ravioli, pierogis, wontons, dumplings, spring rolls, etc.
Ready made mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, fettuccine alfredo, etc.
Premade bread or rolls (such as bakery bread, frozen rolls, Texas toast or refrigerated biscuits or crescent rolls)

They require a tad more effort and prep, but boxed rice mixes and pasta side dishes are great to keep on hand too.

A collage of store-bought ready-made or easy to prepare carb side dishes, including brown rice, farro, frozen rolls, steamed lentils and premade mashed potatoes.

Vegetables:

I adore veggies and this can feel like a tricky piece of relying on store-bought foods. But it does not mean you can only eat frozen veggies. There are plenty of options available to help you get some veggies on the plate.

Ready-made bag salad kits
Pre cut fresh vegetables
Steam in the bag veggies
Ready-to-roast seasoned veggie mixes
Frozen vegetables
Frozen veggie side dishes such as broccoli with cheese sauce, veggies in butter sauce, seasoned medley mixes, etc.

A collage of store-bought ready-made or pre prepped vegetables, including frozen roasting vegetables, a bagged salad kit, steam in the bag veggies and frozen veggie blends.

Complete Meals:

Having meal components is great, but sometimes, you just need ALL the work done for you. Pre-made complete meals from the store can mean total freedom come dinner time. Add a salad or veggie if you like.

Frozen lasagna
Frozen pizzas
Frozen or pre-made pot pie
Frozen fried rice (veggie, chicken, pork, etc.)
Frozen or pre-made enchiladas
Frozen all-in-one pasta or rice skillets
Pre-made meatloaf
Meal kits: Some stores have kits with pre-portioned ingredients and instructions

I also like to keep some frozen single-serve meals (such as spaghetti or Salisbury steak or burrito bowls) on hand.

These work great if it's just me for dinner and I don't have any leftovers. Or if someone needs a back-up dinner or is eating separately (after a late soccer practice, for instance).

A collage of store-bought ready-made meals, including frozen lasagna, frozen chicken fried rice, premade lasagna and premade chicken enchiladas.

Additional:

Many of us already stock the following to use in recipes. They can also help add to or round out other meal components and are helpful to have on hand as easy flavor boosts!

Canned soups and chili
Canned beans and lentils
Pre-made sauces such as marinara, pesto, alfredo, etc.
Condiments such as salsa, hummus and salad dressings
Toppings such as shredded cheese, olives, avocado, croutons, etc.

Grocery store shelves filled with a variety of soups in cans and cartons.

Bagged salad kits in a grocery store case.

Next up, how to put some of these meals together.

Things like pot pie or lasagna or fried rice are kinda all-in-one and ready to go for you.

But buying the components and creating assembly meals from your haul of store-bought goodies can be fuss-free as well. You’re kind of cooking but not really.

Store Bought Food Combinations:

Here are a variety of ideas of how to mix and match some of your favorite store-bought staples to create full meals.

Big salad: Bag salad + canned beans + rotisserie chicken -- Add grilled or roasted sweet potatoes or veggies to kick it up a notch
Pasta bowls: Pasta + meatballs/protein + sauce + veggies -- Switch up pasta types, use ravioli, try marinara or pesto or alfredo sauce, etc.
Sandwiches: Chicken/tuna salad as a sandwich/wrap or to stuff a tomato/avocado -- Make paninis or quesadillas with rotisserie chicken or extra grilled chicken or deli meats to change it up
Frozen pizza + bagged salad
Frozen chicken + tater tots + fresh or frozen veggies
Burgers + fries + bag salad
Sliders (meatballs or precooked meats on slider rolls with cheese/toppings)
Frozen seafood + mac and cheese + steam in bag vegetable
Meatballs + mashed potatoes + frozen peas -- Bonus: Add gravy to drizzle over everything
Canned soup + frozen bread or rolls
Canned chili + premade cornbread (or just Fritos)
Nachos: Rotisserie chicken + canned beans + cheese over tortilla chips; add toppings
Snack board: Deli meats, cheese, fruit, nuts, pickled veggies, dips, etc.
Grain bowls: Precooked grain of choice + protein + fresh or roasted veggies + favorite dressing or sauce
Breakfast for dinner: Frozen quiche + precooked sausages + biscuits

Hopefully that gives you lots of ideas to get started.

Also, previously I’ve shared these easy no-recipe summer dinner ideas to kinda throw together during days better spent outdoors.

And I’ve also got this collection of 45+ easy vacation meals that are great for making simple homemade meals when you’re traveling to a cabin or beach house.

Let's tackle some final tips and strategies for making these store bought meals work for you.

Budget Tips:

Buying in bulk from Costco or finding a lower-cost retailer like Trader Joe’s or ALDI can be really helpful in keeping costs down.

Make sure you are getting freezer-friendly items so you aren’t creating excess waste or buying more than you will use. Extras can get repackaged and put in the freezer.

Overall, buying store-bought and pre-made items can be more expensive. But often times, not by much since you don’t need to buy a variety of specific ingredients to make a recipe. And of course, it’s also way less expensive than ordering takeout or going out to a restaurant.

Tips for Streamlining Meals:

If you are planning to also cook during a busy season, like I tend to do from time to time, I recommend you prioritize meals or meal components you can use again.

For instance, cook once but eat twice. Double the amount of rice or pasta you make. Grill extra chicken or proteins. Make a slow cooker batch of shredded meat to use in a variety of ways. Bake a big casserole you can have extras of for another night. Wash and prep veggies in bulk so they are otherwise ready to go for you.

Keep tabs on what you have and what you need to use. If you rely on freezer staples, make sure you know what is in the freezer and it doesn’t get buried and forgotten. I keep a list in my kitchen drawer of freezer meals so I can specifically plan to pull those out to use.

Be sure to properly store and label your foods (with dates) in the freezer as well. Freezer safe ziplock bags, aluminum foil and freezer-safe storage containers all work. Rotate them so what needs to be used soon is at the front of the freezer and staring you in the face.

I hope this is helpful and gives you some peace and freedom to enjoy healthy meals at home without all the work all the time.

If you have other tips or favorite products, please comment below and share. We can all use more ideas!

Happy NOT cooking for a change!

XO,

Kathryn