Food and Recipes Dinner 32 Meal Train Recipes To Comfort Friends And Family In Need After all, a home-cooked meal is the ultimate expression of love. By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on November 28, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox There's no better way for Southerners to show our love than through a home-cooked meal. Just as the kitchen can be a space for us to relax and recharge (did you know that baking for others has real psychological benefits?), delivering a meal to someone in need can have an immeasurable impact on their day. When a loved one is going through a challenging or busy time, the last thing they should have to worry about is getting a meal on the table—that's where a meal train comes in.What exactly is a meal train, you ask? "When someone is going through a major life event, like the birth of a child, a death in the family, or recovery from an illness, injury, or medical procedure, a meal train is a smart and caring way to make sure that person is well-fed," our Editors write. Setting up a meal train for a friend or family member in need ensures that, even in times of great stress or worry, they'll have the comfort of a hot, home-cooked meal. These crowd-pleasing recipes are designed to be simple, satisfying, and sustaining—not only will they keep in the fridge for a few days, but they'll likely leave the recipient with another meal's worth of leftovers.Pay it forward with these simple, wholesome, and utterly satisfying meal-train recipes. After all, a home-cooked meal is the ultimate expression of love. 01 of 32 Zucchini Lasagna Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Tina Stamos Meal train food doesn't have to be heavy! This low-carb Zucchini Lasagna is a great healthy dinner option. To cut the thinnest zucchini strips, use a mandoline slicer. 02 of 32 Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole Southern Living This Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole screams "cozy." Plus, we almost always have an extra package of ground beef in our fridge. You can prepare this dish in under half an hour, which is our kind of casserole. 03 of 32 Kentucky Hot Brown Casserole Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke This simple Kentucky Hot Brown Casserole recipe transforms the South's favorite sandwich into a family-friendly meal. Start by cooking turkey in a slow cooker to help enrich its flavors. The combination of toasted bread, bacon, Parmesan cheese, and fresh tomatoes is irresistible. 04 of 32 Chicken-and-Prosciutto Tortelloni Soup Photo: Alison Miksch With hearty pockets of pasta and leafy greens, this Chicken-and-Prosciutto Tortelloni Soup is here to ward off any sickness. Substitute your favorite tortelloni flavor if chicken-and-prosciutto is not available. This recipe comes together in 20 minutes. 05 of 32 Pasta-Chicken-Broccoli Bake Iain Bagwell This casserole, stuffed with tortellini, vegetables, chicken, and pecans, is a complete meal all on its own. It's a meal anyone would be happy to have on their dinner table. This meal might take a little longer to prepare, but it's still only 30 minutes of active, hands-on time. 06 of 32 Meatloaf Casserole Micah A. Leal We've taken your grandma's tried-and-true meatloaf and, in true Southern fashion, turned it into a casserole. It's a Southern twist on classic Shepherd's Pie. Meatloaf is best when paired with creamy mashed potatoes. 07 of 32 French Onion Soup Casserole Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox Soup is an ultra-comforting meal. If you're worried about transporting that pot of sloshing hot liquid across town, a mess-free French Onion Soup Casserole is your best bet. Bread, onions, and cheese blend together for a delicious twist on this classic soup. 08 of 32 Shrimp and Grits Casserole Antonis Achilleo; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos The best part about this Shrimp and Grits Casserole? You can have it for dinner, then reheat it for breakfast the following day. Prepare this family-sized dish in about an hour. 09 of 32 Italian Casserole Hector Manuel Sanchez This casserole delivers an entire Italian feast in one dish, filled with spaghetti, spinach, Italian sausage, and ricotta. A green salad completes this meal. Sprinkle with tomatoes and parsley for flavoring and to make a beautiful presentation. 10 of 32 Slow-Cooker Bolognese Sauce over Pappardelle Pasta Photo: Greg Dupree If you want to set a friend up for a few meals, delivering a big container of homemade Bolognese sauce is ideal. This slow-cooker sauce makes it easy to prepare without worrying about being near your stove all day. Substitute fettuccine for the pappardelle if that's all you have. 11 of 32 Roasted Tomato Soup with Cheddar Cheese Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos Take our Roasted Tomato Soup with a nice dose of shredded Cheddar cheese. It's a perfect meal for busy weekdays or weeknights when you want comfort food. Use an immersion blender to get that rich and creamy texture if you can. 12 of 32 Gnocchi Gratin with Ham and Peas Photo: Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox This sophisticated, French-inspired pasta bake brings elegance to the meal train routine. You can prepare this dish two days in advance by storing the unbaked gratin in the refrigerator. Gruyère is the ideal cheese, but you can use substitutes if needed. 13 of 32 Chicken-Mushroom-Sage Casserole Iain Bagwell This pretty casserole may look impressive, but it's relatively easy to assemble, making it an ideal meal train recipe. The flavors of chicken, garlic, sage, rich, parsley, and Parmesan blend seamlessly. Allow enough time to cool so the liquid is absorbed, making this an irresistibly creamy dish. 14 of 32 Chicken Sausage with Fennel and Apples Hector Manuel Sanchez Pick up a pack of chicken sausage at the grocery store, and this sheet pan recipe comes together in a snap. This dish is perfect when you are short on time. Honeycrisp apples work best in this meal. 15 of 32 Ham and Noodle Casserole Jen Causey Sometimes you need a little dose of home-style comfort. This Ham and Noodle Casserole ticks all the boxes. The rich and creamy sauce covers egg noodles, chopped ham, and your choice of vegetables. Try carrots, broccoli, and asparagus. 16 of 32 Sloppy Joe Casserole Southern Living Sloppy joes can be messy, but this casserole packs all that delicious flavor with a no-fuss clean-up. This casserole is family-friendly, full of ground beef, cheese, and the perfect blend of seasonings. Grab a fork and dig in. 17 of 32 Breakfast Enchiladas Hector M Sanchez Shake up any weekend brunch routine with these tasty breakfast enchiladas (they double as breakfast for dinner). This casserole is a crowd-pleaser and ideal when you are hosting overnight guests. You can roll the ingredients in the tortillas the night before and bake them in the morning. 18 of 32 Old-Fashioned Chicken and Dumplings Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox This recipe will remind you of every sick day of your childhood. We're paying it forward by making a big batch for the meal train. Chicken and dumplings are the ultimate comfort food. 19 of 32 Cheesy Chili Hash Brown Bake Jennifer Davick It doesn't get much easier or more convenient than these pre-portioned Cheesy Chili Hash Brown Bakes. You can assemble this dish in under 15 minutes with only five ingredients. Use pre-packaged frozen country-style shredded hash browns to make this straightforward dish. 20 of 32 Creamy Chicken Alfredo Casserole Greg DuPree When we imagine comfort in a dish, this creamy, cheesy pasta bake comes to mind. Plus, rotisserie chicken helps this meal come together in a flash. This recipe will be a family favorite. 21 of 32 Reunion Pea Casserole Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox Looking for a catch-all casserole filled with plenty of meat, beans, cheese, and veggies? This recipe is for you. It's an over-the-top casserole designed to feed a crowd. 22 of 32 Baked Ziti with Summer Vegetables Alison Miksch Baked ziti is known for being heavy, but this lightened-up version features plenty of fresh summer produce. Use the freshest ingredients for the best results. Ingredients include cheese, sausage, and vegetables. 23 of 32 Beer-Braised Beef Tips with Root Vegetables and Horseradish Victor Protasio Ramp up your old-school pot roast with a stout splash and spicy horseradish kick. This dish offers comfort and savoriness in one pot roast. It's the ideal slow cooker meal for a busy night. 24 of 32 Southern Wedding Soup Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall There's no wedding quite like a Southern wedding. With pork-and-beef meatballs, this soup is as filling as it is soul-warming. Make and freeze the meatballs in advance to help speed up this recipe's cook time. 25 of 32 Chicken, Sweet Potato, and Corn Slow-Cooker Chowder Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Not only is this slow-cooker chowder packed full of protein and nutrients, but it serves ten, which means there will be plenty of leftovers. This chowder is ideal for those cold winter evenings. Bone-in chicken breasts tend to yield more tender and juicy results. 26 of 32 Soulful Chicken Soup Iain Bagwell The meal train is only complete with a weekly delivery of Soulful Chicken Soup. Adults and kids alike can't resist this family favorite. Add a few root vegetables, fresh herbs, and spices for a perfect soup. 27 of 32 Chicken Bog Greg DuPree The best part of this simple chicken dinner? It only takes one pot and comes together in 30 minutes. It shares the best qualities of chicken and rice. 28 of 32 Southern Pimiento Mac and Cheese Hector Sanchez Mac-and-cheese is one of those irresistible dishes. Adding Pimiento cheese helps make this comfort meal even more Southern. Try slightly undercooking the pasta because it continues to cook under the broiler. 29 of 32 Garlicky Roasted Spatchcock Chicken Alison Miksch We never fail to keep our fridges stocked with rotisserie chicken, but this homemade version is irresistible. While you're at it, save the bones to make chicken stock. This recipe will deliver crispy, flavorful chicken. 30 of 32 Beef Stew with Buttery Garlic Bread Photo: Stephen DeVries, Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox Making garlic bread adds extra love to this hearty, stick-to-your-bones meal. Include plenty of vegetables, including mushrooms, carrots, and onions. It only requires 40 minutes of hands-on time and will serve six people. 31 of 32 Glazed Buttermilk Donut Cake Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling: Margaret Dickey, Prop Styling: Kay E Clarke Want to deliver a really decadent treat? Bake up this Glazed Buttermilk Donut Cake—it'll be the talk of the town. It tastes like a glazed donut but in a sliceable form. 32 of 32 Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies Jennifer Causey This recipe proves that a plate of chocolate chip cookies can cure all ailments. This sweet treat perfectly accompanies any warming soup or casserole. Plus, this recipe is unlike any chocolate chip cookie you've tasted before. Looking for more freezer-friendly meals? Check out 53 Easy Freezer Recipes That Reheat Beautifully. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit