Bringing dinner to someone who just had a baby is such a considerate act. To most people this sounds like nothing special, but to the recipient, this is a rather heroic act. We are trying to find something that is easy to reheat, requires no full place setting, and will not leave them cleaning a lasagna dish at 1am. I also steer clear of precision food (i.e. towering burgers and fancy tacos) because baby time basically implies “one hand is occupied forever.” So, here are 30 dinners that are uncomplicated, comfy, and easy to transport.
Contents
- 1) Baked Pasta
- 2) Chicken Enchilada Casserole
- 3) Roast Chicken and Potatoes
- 4) Chili
- 5) White Chicken Chili
- 6) Lasagna
- 7) Stuffed Shells
- 8) Sausage and Peppers
- 9) Meatballs in Marinara
- 10) BBQ Pulled Pork
- 11) Chicken Pot Pie
- 12) Mac and Cheese
- 13) Chicken and Rice Soup
- 14) Stew
- 15) Sheet Pan Sausage
- 16) Teriyaki Chicken Bowls
- 17) Lentil Soup
- 18) Chicken Orzo
- 19) Baked Salmon Dinner
- 20) Shrimp and Grits
- 21) Chicken Tikka Masala
- 22) Sesame Ginger Meatballs
- 23) Veggie Lasagna
- 24) Egg Casserole
- 25) Chicken Caesar Salad
- 26) Beef and Broccoli
- 27) Meatloaf Dinner
- 28) Burrito Bake
- 29) Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese
- 30) Chicken Noodle Casserole
1) Baked Pasta
I love baked ziti because it’s forgiving: if it sits in traffic for 20 minutes, nobody dies.
You can heat it up again and still eat it. It’s easy to mix with something like warm and cheesy. Or a salad (dressing bagged) for the healthy option. I gave some to my neighbour and their little kid called it pizza noodles, so I’m taking that as a five star review.
2) Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Rolling enchiladas is meditative until it’s suddenly not, so I go layered like lasagna.
Corn tortillas don’t fall apart, and they heat evenly. They may get a little testy, so unless you know they absolutely love the heat, maybe keep the spice level down; sleepy people can be unexpectedly sensitive! An additional nice touch is a small tub of sour cream or plain yogurt. This gives people the option to customize their bite.
3) Roast Chicken and Potatoes
And what you want for leftovers is for them to stay juicy.
Roast them right on top of potatoes so the drippings do their magical thing.
When I realize the family has survived on granola bars and sheer will, I take out the left over chicken out of the fridge. And yes, the chicken does get better with a very generous amount of lemon.
4) Chili
Chili is basically edible stability: it sits well, freezes well, and forgives you for being a little heavy-handed with the cumin.
If you don’t want to deal with bean issues (people can be very particular about those), then it will be safest to go with half bean, half beef. I pack cornbread muffins because it is easy to grab them while I am changing the burp cloths. And sure, go ahead and put the label freezer-friendly because new parents just do not have the brain space to figure that out.
5) White Chicken Chili
This one feels cozy without being heavy in a “why did I do this to myself” way.
Bad weather has a special coziness factor for new parents and makes everything feel a bit more surreal. When it comes to toppings, please keep them separate so your meal doesn’t get soggy. I saw a tired parent eating this at the counter, eyes half closed like it was some kind of spa treatment.
6) Lasagna
There’s a reason lasagna is a classic. It’s easy to share, store, take home for leftovers, and transport to places like potlucks. If you’re going to have some veggies, you should do roasted zucchini, mushrooms, and spinach instead of raw ones that are watery. I usually bake it in a disposable dish because I don’t want to be that person who’s like, “Heeeyy can I get my dish back?” two weeks later. Everyone deserves dignity, and disposable dishes let us do that.
7) Stuffed Shells
Stuffed shells look nice but are not that hard to make or require a ton of cooking knowledge. Since one of the eaters will be eating at 6pm and the other at 9:30pm while baby wearing it will be especially important to portion these out. Also, many people will have a garlic sensitivity after giving birth, and it’s not fun to have heartburn. Please don’t put the parmesan in with the garlic. Thank you in advance!
8) Sausage and Peppers
This is a bring-it-and-eat-it type of deal, which we know you love! They actually get better with time, and are super simple for hungry grown-ups to whip up sandwiches.
I usually choose mild Italian sausage unless I know they’re a hot-sausage household.
To add a little something extra, you might want to consider including a small cup of mustard or some giardiniera. The pickled vegetables can help wake up a dull palate.
9) Meatballs in Marinara
Meatballs are one of the great new-parent foods because they can be dinner, lunch, or a midnight “I’m up anyway” snack.
They can be beef, turkey or a mix as long as they are tender. If you are bringing pasta, add a bit of sauce to it to keep it from turning into a big pasta brick in the fridge. One time I brought meatballs, and someone sent a message saying, “We ate them cold over the sink.” That’s the goal. Living without regrets!
10) BBQ Pulled Pork
Pulled pork is great for feeding everyone, even for grandparents who say they aren’t hungry. It can stay in the freezer and be used later for sandwiches, baked potatoes, or instant rice bowls. Unless you know they really like it, I would use less of the really sweet sauce. I would use a different BBQ sauce that is more balanced because that is probably going to be more appealing to the group. Always bring pickles.
11) Chicken Pot Pie
This is the edible equivalent of a warm blanket, and new parents deserve that.
It’s okay if you’re starting from scratch, just don’t martyr yourself. It’s completely justifiable to use rotisserie chicken as an option to save time.
In fact, it can taste better than the poached chicken breast you overcooked while stressing.
I like the ones with biscuits because they are easier to reheat than the ones with pastry crusts.
12) Mac and Cheese
Mac and cheese is a toddler magnet, which can be helpful if the family already has older kids orbiting the new baby.
Make sure it’s baked and strong enough so it won’t fall apart into grainy despair when you reheat it. If you want to add a bit of green, you can fold in some peas or finely chopped broccoli. Most people will accept this, and some may even appreciate it
I’ll admit I’m picky about mac and cheese, but for a new-parent drop-off, comforting beats perfection.
13) Chicken and Rice Soup
Chicken and rice is soothing if someone’s run down, and it’s easy on a stomach that’s a bit off.
Seal it in a container and maybe include a small loaf of bread or some crackers. I recall a friend saying that this was the first thing that tasted “normal” after a crazy week.
14) Stew
Stews take a lot of time to prepare and new parents most likely don’t have the time. It’s almost like the day after is doing the emotional labour for you. If you’re making it vegetarian, use mushrooms and lentils for that same cozy depth. I like to put a note saying, ‘Add a splash of water when reheating,’ because stew seems to thicken as if it’s plotting something in the fridge.
15) Sheet Pan Sausage
One-pan meals are a gift because they don’t feel like a project.
Feel free to change this however you would like: swap in any veggies that are in season or that you already have in your fridge. The perfect zone is where the edges are just slightly charred and the air has a subtle scent of sausage and fennel. It is the type of dish that makes your kitchen smell like love.
16) Teriyaki Chicken Bowls
Bowls are practical: they can be eaten on a couch, over a burp cloth, during a surprising one-person shift change.
Don’t let rice become teriyaki pudding by storing the sauce separately. I enjoy making a simple cucumber salad and even though I don’t do it a lot, it always brightens my day. If you are going to bring chopsticks, please make sure they are plain and unbranded; we don’t need souvenir advertising during the baby phase.
17) Lentil Soup
Lentil soup is my quiet workhorse: inexpensive, filling, and it somehow tastes like you planned your life.
It keeps the whole pot from feeling boring. I try to be understanding and don’t preach because people can react differently to very fibrous foods early postpartum weeks so I try to be reasonable with portion sizes. If you add bread, you have another full meal.
18) Chicken Orzo
Orzo is cozy in a way that’s hard to explain, it’s pasta, but it behaves like a warm blanket.
You can already tell it’s a good leftover dish. Also, added spinach at the end so it wouldn’t turn weird and mushy. I made this for my friends and one of them sent a message that you can only get if you’re sleep deprived: “I ate this with a spoon.” Bless them.
19) Baked Salmon Dinner
When cooked correctly, salmon can be more mobile than most people think. Don’t overthink the seasoning. A bit of lemon, dill, and butter will do. Broccoli and rice are good together and taste good even after reheating. It is important to double check that the fish is cooked, we don’t want anything undercooked.
20) Shrimp and Grits
This is a bit more special than the others which is nice, if the family is in the mood for something that isn’t beige.
Bring the grits and shrimp separately so the texture stays right: gutsy, creamy grits can thicken a lot as they cool.
Just give them a little reheat to keep them from getting rubbery. I wouldn’t say it’s my top recommendation for a long drive, but it’s a nice little spot to break up a journey to the next county over.
21) Chicken Tikka Masala
This is bold-flavored comfort that still feels gentle if you keep the heat low.
The chicken will stay moist thanks to the sauce, which makes it great for leftovers. If you are bringing naan, make sure to wrap it, or else it will turn stiff and plank-like by the time you open the bag. Some foods give off a magical feeling and can wrap the entire kitchen in a warm and cozy ambiance as they are being made.
22) Sesame Ginger Meatballs
These people can eat three with one hand! You can eat them with rice, leave them in the container, and eat them as a surprise treat, or wrap them in lettuce. If you think the mixture will be too sweet, use less honey or brown sugar. You can always add more sweetener if you want. I added steamed broccoli because it adds more of a wholesome feel to the whole dish.
23) Veggie Lasagna
Roasted veggies make the veggie lasagna so delicious and filling that no one will even care that there’s no meat in it! The richness of the dish is perfectly balanced by the spinach, while the roasted squash adds sweetness and thickness to the dish. If you want to bring meals often and want to make sure you don’t get “meat fatigued” this dish is a great option. I’ve even had this experience with dads who say they ‘don’t do veggie dinners’ (until they do).
24) Egg Casserole
Having breakfast foods at 7 pm is like a rebellious thing to do and I stand by it. It is so cool to be able to use it for breakfast the next morning. It’s not that hard to reheat an egg casserole. If you want to customize it, be careful with the spices. Also, don’t use too many watery vegetables unless you really like your eggs to be soggy. If you put some berries or orange slices in there, it’s going to look like you have your life completely together, even if you don’t!
25) Chicken Caesar Salad
I know, salad sounds suspiciously healthy, but hear me out: sometimes new parents crave something crisp.
The trick to preventing a swamp salad is to package the salad materials (dry greens, dry dressing, dry croutons) separately. To make this a dinner salad, add cooked chicken (or chickpeas). I have seen the reaction of someone after that first crunchy bite… It was just like a houseplant when it gets watered.
26) Beef and Broccoli
This fixes the problem of “I want takeaway but don’t want to bother ordering it”. With the beef, slice it thin so the meat stays tender when it is reheated. Additionally, if you don’t want the dish to turn into soup, try to avoid adding a lot of sauce. For the rice, please bring it separated so the grains are distinct. This is a small detail that conveys: “I thought about the texture,” and that is an affection that often goes unappreciated.
27) Meatloaf Dinner
Meatloaf is retro comfort, and retro is comforting.
It can be split into meal sizes and reheated. Customers are not going to do any plating because there are no pictures to be taken of the meal. They’re just going to keep putting it off. If you are worried about it drying, you could add grated onion or a milk soaking bread crumb mixture. I like to put in a little cup of gravy. It makes people feel special.
28) Burrito Bake
This is simple to prepare, cheap, and it makes you feel full. It is an awesome option for no meat tonight because it won’t leave you hungry. Please tone down the spice a little. Guests can put hot sauce on as much as they want. Most people already have several different hot sauces at home. If you are bringing toppings, please put salsa and sour cream into small containers so the casserole doesn’t get ruined.
29) Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese
Tomato soup is comfort that doesn’t ask questions.
If you want to help, please bring the soup so that they can reheat it, and the grilled cheese as unmade sandwiches so that they can be toasted in a skillet or an oven. I have shed tears for the fate of reheated grilled cheese. This meal really hits the spot on rainy nights when we are all snuggled up in the warm cozy chaos of laundry and baby sounds.
30) Chicken Noodle Casserole
You can still enjoy the feeling of nostalgia this brings even if you didn’t grow up with it. It’s a bonus when you’re holding a baby that won’t let you put them down. Use good pasta so it won’t fall apart and get mushy the second day. If you are taking this to someone you don’t know so well, it works it’s a shared taste, no surprises, just a a warm, fresh, and reliving goodness.
