We’re dishing up lots of fresh, unique meal train ideas for a family today. I’m cooking dinner for a friend today who recently had surgery and needs so much help – in all the ways. Given that she is the mother of five (five!) sweet boys, I know that healthy, nourishing, and FILLING meals are a top priority for her family right now, while she’s healing and recovering. So, I’m whipping up my favorite Double Chicken Pot Pie Casserole with Puff Pastry for her, a recipe you’ll find (a version of) below and in my forthcoming cookbook, Homemade-ish. I wanted to create a list here for you, of some other meals I’ve got up my sleeve for occasions just like this.
If you’re looking for solid and satisfying recipes to lean on when you’ve signed up for a meal train – I’ve got you covered here on MKL. When it comes to this specific situation, there are a few things I look for to ensure I’m providing my friends (the recipients of said meal train) with the most deliciously helpful items I can. So here’s what I look for …
Things to keep in mind when planning meal train ideas for a family:
- Think one-pot wonders. For transporting reasons alone, this is always something important to consider when preparing meals for groups of people. Whether you’re cooking for two or twenty (okay, that would be a lot), thinking about meals that contain the full nutritional spectrum all in one easy package is always my first priority. It makes it easy and more manageable for everyone involved. I’d rather drop of a single casserole (with protein, starch, and veggies all in one dish) than say, 10 different containers of this and that for tacos. Easy, low-maintenance dishes are the name of the meal train game, always.
- When considering various meal train ideas for a family – if there is any re-heating or minimal cooking that needs to happen before the lucky recipients of your cooking can enjoy it, it’s nice to include that in writing when you deliver the goods. Or, simply send a thoughtful text message with any pertinent need-to-know’s included. For example, I’ve taken a great gnocchi soup to friends before and the gnocchi just had to be cooked right before eating. Otherwise, the little pillowy potato dumplings would have sucked up all the liquid from the dish, essentially ruining things before they ever got to begin.
- When delivering the food for your meal train ideas for a family opt for disposable (or gift-able) containers is always a nice idea as well, if you can. This prevents the recipients from having to wash or deal with any dishes after they’ve enjoyed the food. And it keeps them from feeling like they need to bring you back your stuff after all is said and done. This isn’t a huge deal – just a small-but-nice detail that can really streamline the process for everyone involved.
20 Unique and Less Expected Meal Train Ideas for a Family
Spiced Beef Stew with Sweet Potatoes and Citrus
This one was an instant reader favorite over here, and I think it’s mostly due to the fact that people love a great beef stew – it’s never not going to be a happy, helpful thing. This one is special, though. She’s got sweet potatoes and warm, earthy spices to go along with them. Plus? There’s some juicy, fresh citrus running through the whole thing, which lifts the stew to a beautiful, bright new place. An absolutely perfect thing to take others, any time the mood (or need) strikes.
A Simple Green Salad with a Fresh Buttermilk Dressing
I’ve started including simple-but-perfect crunchy green salads with my meal train contributions for a few reasons. They’re no sweat of my back to throw together, and people always appreciate the fresh, healthy counterpart to whatever (likely heavier, cozier) main course I provided. Plus, there is nothing better than a wonderful homemade salad dressing, and this simple Southern Buttermilk Dressing is as good as they come.
Korean Braised Beef with Pickles and Jammy Eggs
If you’re taking food to some foodies – this recipe is your best friend. Loaded with incredible flavor, this (very, very easy) one-pot beef recipe is really fun to share with others. Pack up some kimchi, fresh cucumbers, hard or soft-boiled eggs, and some instant rice for your meal train recipients, and let them build incredible bowls for themselves, just as they like them. It’s an awesome and unexpected option for a meal train, that people will really appreciate.
Slow Cooker Ropa Vieja
This is SUCH a fun one. It will be easy for you to prepare, and so beloved by anyone lucky enough to be on the receiving end of this fantastic Cuban classic. My tip? Pack them some instant rice to quickly heat up, some fresh cilantro for topping, and a bag of crunchy, sweet plantain chips. Your meal train recipients will absolutely love the thought you put into this less expected but massively delicious Ropa Vieja.
Chipotle Honey Gumbo with Coconut Rice
A little smoky, a little sweet, and always well-received, this slightly different take on a classic Gumbo is one of our most beloved reader dishes here on MKL. Deliver some instant rice along with your Gumbo and some fresh bread for dipping, and you’ll have some very happy people on your hands.
Coconut Curry Thai Meatball Soup
For a (ahem, more interesting) take on a noodle soup, try gifting your meal train recipients with this lovely Thai Coconut Curry Meatball Soup. Fresh shaved carrots, cut limes, and scallions can be packed up in small bags or containers for fun and customizable bowls of this truly delicious and comforting meatball soup. I’d probably pack the meatballs separately, and advise people to just build their bowls right as they’re planning to eat them, for max freshness.
Curried Turkey and Sweet Potato Soup
I actually have made this for friends before, and man was it a hit. This soup is not only beautiful and super tasty – it’s really healthy, too. The Thai-style curry paste lifts up this soup’s base into uber delicious territory and makes for an all-time keeper when it comes to great meal train ideas.
Easiest Creamy Chicken Enchilada Soup (15-minute recipe)
When you can provide people with an unforgettably delicious meal that only takes you 15 minutes to whip up – you’ve got a real winner on your hands, folks. This recipe is exactly that. Just be sure to pack some tortilla chips, fresh cut limes, avocados, and cilantro for topping and you’re all set.
The Coziest Southern Potato Soup
The name pretty much says it all, I think. This one is tried and true, and there are few more safe bets when it comes to meal train ideas than a great potato soup. And this one is always a winner.
Columbian Chicken Stew (Sudado de Pollo)
Hearty, healthy, and absolutely gorgeous, this classic South American stew is never not a great idea when cooking for others. It’s just so lovable, what with it’s savory, rich chicken flavor and stick-to-your-ribs quality. Can’t beat this one! Be sure to pack some instant rice, freshly chopped cilantro, and avocado so your meal train people can top their bowls to their hearty’s content.
Mediterranean Sun Dried Tomato Chicken with Farro
Easily one of my favorite recipes that I’ve ever shared with you here, this one is not only healthy and beautiful to look at, it’s almost guaranteed to be different than any other dish your meal train recipients are going to be getting. So, that alone makes it cool. People appreciate diversity in these situations (it can’t be all lasagnas and soups all the time). This is one of the greats to be sure.
Marry Me Chicken
An all-time favorite, I think this is the most delicious version of this trendy little chicken dish you’ll ever try. It’s just so incredibly good – so delectable in every possible way – that your meal recipients will be so grateful to get it. It’s great served with bread and rice to sop up all of that addicting sauce.
Puffy Chicken Pot Pie (Parmesan Peppercorn)
My favorite pot pie ever, this is what I took some friends last week as my contribution to a Meal Train. (I added some chicken sausage as well). My friend texted and said that ALL FIVE of her sons loved it (whoa) and that we have a hit on our hands with this one. So, the proof is in the pudding, folks. Or, pot pie, rather.
Ramen Noodle Salad with Chicken and Oranges
A bit of a 90s revival, this recipe has my heart for sure. A slightly modernized take on a truly tasty “church cookbook” type of recipe, this is a great one to take people – especially in the summertime. You can dress it right before dropping it off, or pack the dressing separately with instructions to toss it together before enjoying.
Blackened Chicken Sandwiches with Pickled Pepper Slaw
Hear me out. It may be a bit of a swerve to share sandwiches as part of a meal train, but how fun would these be?! These are truly insane – so delicious – and you can just assemble them right before delivery, wrapping the sandwiches individually (fast food style) and then cozying them up to some bags of chips to go with them. A nice and unexpected break from the casseroles and lasagnas, yes? Yes.
The Ultimate Brown Sugar Cinnamon Coffee Cake
This is the sweet treat I throw in with any meal train main dish. It’s easy, Homemade-ish, and honestly no exaggeration when I says it’s the ultimate. Trust me on this one …
One-Pan Creamy Tomato Tortellini Skillet
A really, really good pasta bake is absolutely necessary on a list like this. This meal train ideas generator simply would not be complete without at least one. And so. Here we have an especially tasty one, this skillet o’ tortellini with its creamy tomato sauce and crunchy, salty, cheesy breadcrumb topping. Anyone would be lucky to have this delivered to their door, and I highly suggest adding some soft Italian bread and a crunchy green salad (like the one above with it’s lovely buttermilk dressing).
The Greatest Sausage and Croissant Breakfast Casserole
The meal train participant to brings an incredible breakfast for dinner wins every time. It’s a rule, basically. In a list that is intended to bring you some fresh ideas and inspiration for your meal train rides, I’d be remiss to not share a personal favorite move of mine, which is to delivery a warm and cozy breakfast casserole and a lovely fruit salad. This is a change of pace – an unexpected meal train move to be sure. Sometimes surprise is a very delicious ingredient, and with this – you’ll get a dash of that for sure.
Basque Style Braised Chicken and Chorizo
Juicy, salty sausages and well-seasoned chicken pieces simmer away in a deliciously flavorful brothy sauce that is absolute perfection any night of the week, any time of year (but maybe especially during the chillier months). Definitely add some crusty bread with this meal train dish, as it is totally necessary to help sop up all of that liquid gold sauce.
Super Easy Chicken and Chorizo Enchilada Skillet
One of the most fan-favorited meals I’ve ever shared, this is actually so easy you might think you’ve missed a step. But you haven’t – it’s really that simple.
