3 Last-Minute Meal Ideas When You're Short on Time

At Take Them A Meal, we understand how challenging it can be to juggle the demands of daily life. Whether your responsibilities include work, caring for children, or caregiving, providing dinner for your family at the end of a long day can feel overwhelming. The next time you find yourself in this situation, consider these three delicious and easy dinner ideas when you need a last-minute meal!

Pizza

Pizza is a wonderful idea anytime you're short on time. Children, teens, and adults love this meal idea, and it's completely customizable! Make a "pizza kit" for a friend in need by sending along cheese, sauce, and any toppings you think they would appreciate! To make this meal, you'll need:

Tacos

Tacos are always a big hit in our household. Prepare the simple ingredients listed below and everyone will leave the table happy and full!!

All you need for this last-minute meal is:

Rotisserie Chicken and Mac and Cheese

Another delicious meal idea when you might be short on time simply includes a rotisserie chicken, a side of veggies or veggie platter, and boxed mac and cheese! To make this meal, you'll need:

My mom "cheated" with traditional homemade mac and cheese when she was short on time by cooking our favorite boxed mac and cheese, placing it in a casserole, and baking it with shredded cheese on top. You'd never know it wasn't homemade.

Being short on time doesn't mean you have to scrimp on healthy ingredients or a tasty meal! Do you have any favorite last-minute meals you make when short on time? Enter your suggestion in the form below, and we'll share the results in a future newsletter or on our Social Media pages!

Enter Your Favorite Last-Minute Meal Idea Here

1. This honey BBQ chicken salad is colorful, delicious, and easy to make! It’s the perfect dish to include with a meal!

Don’t have Instagram? Click here for the recipe!

2. Sometimes, when you’re taking a meal to a couple or a family of two, you don’t want to leave them with a fridge full of leftovers that might go to waste. So many of you have asked for smaller portion ideas, so we’ve found some great recipes that are just right for two people.

Don’t have Instagram? Click here for the recipe!

3. This breakfast bake combines flaky croissants with a sweet custard and is loaded with fresh berries.  What’s not to love about all that?! Prepare it the day before, and all your recipient needs to do is pop it into the oven!

Don’t have Instagram? Click here for the recipe link!

4. Taking a meal to someone? Snag a picture of your meal and tag us on social media, and we’ll send you a TTAM You Are Loved Spoon!

5. The last thing you want to do when taking someone a meal is to give them food that they can't eat. If the recipient of your meal schedule has food allergies, here are some great recipes and resources for you as you consider what to make.

Take Them A Meal is an easy (and free!) online tool for coordinating the delivery of meals to loved ones. If a friend is ill, elderly, or welcoming a child, you can rally their community to take them meals. We also offer delicious, fully-prepared meals that can be shipped directly to their door!

Surprise your loved ones with a delicious, chef-made meal delivered straight to their door. Explore Shipped Meals

Our culinary team has tested each of these recipes to make sure we can heartily recommend them. Explore Our Recipes

Check out these thoughtful and practical gifts including engraved spoons, meal carriers and more!

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