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. 

 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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:

Tips for Streamlining Meals:

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