30 Clever Meal Train Ideas with Recipes

The only list of meal train ideas you'll need to take them a meal they'll deeply appreciate. There's an art to bringing meals for new moms. Great list of healthy meals that travel well and our favorite meal train website.

When Little Pea was born I was blessed with the World's Greatest Playgroup who stepped forward to bring meals for new moms in our group for SIX WHOLE WEEKS. Yes, 6 entire weeks of post-baby bliss where I could focus solely on Little Pea and some health stresses that came with her delivery and not have to give a passing thought about what would be hitting the dinner table at night.

Little Pea turns 4 this May and still those 6 weeks' worth of ladies stepping forward to show their love through casseroles and a friendly visit remains one of the most generous things I've ever experienced in my life.

I was more than pleased to participate in our group meal train and provide dinners for new moms home with their sweet babies but being on the receiving end of the dinner deliveries was humbling and heartwarming in a way I'm unable to adequately describe.

While every single crumb of food was appreciated beyond words, I also learned a thing or two on how to make sure the meals I delivered to others were the best they could be. Today I'm sharing those lessons in this "The Ultimate Meal Train Ideas List" in hopes that it makes that task easier for you and tastier for the recipient.

Does your playgroup or church have a mommy meals or meal train program? What do you call it? Seems everyone has their own special name!

Do you have a favorite meal you like to bring to new moms? Leave a note in the comments and add to the resource!

P.S. This post is dedicated to each of my dear friends in playgroup. You know who you all are. And to the ladies of my Book Club who extended those 6 weeks with another week and half with the meals you brought.And lastly to my friend Kristina, who knows way more about mommy meals than I ever wish she did. Thanks so much for your advice and help on this post.

Jump to:

• The Ultimate List of Meal Train Ideas
• How To Organize A Meal Train
• The Meal Train Menu: Think outside the casserole pan!
• 30 Meal Train Recipes
• Meal Train Side Dishes: Alternatives to a bag of salad mix
• Meal Train Desserts: Beyond chocolate chip cookies & brownies
• Awesome Meal Train Extras: Going the extra step
• Meal Train Transportation: Getting the food to the table
• 💬 Comments

The Ultimate List of Meal Train Ideas

How To Organize A Meal Train

1. Which meal train web site to use

Step 1 in setting up a meal train schedule for your playgroup or ladies club is to figure out how to organize the deliveries. We used Care Calendar but there are lots of free meal train web site options out there:

• Sign Up Genius
• Take Them a Meal
• Meal Train

2. Decide the frequency of your meal train deliveries

We used a Monday, Wednesday, Friday delivery system because most meals are plentiful enough to allow for a night of leftovers. This helped reduce waste and extended the duration of help. We also assumed that weekends would be spent with visiting family or just giving the family some space and privacy.

3. Ask about meal train food preferences and aversions

Before you and your friends cook the first meal, have the meal train organizer interview the family about dietary restrictions and food preferences once and then label the meal calendar clearly so that everyone knows how to respect their wishes.

Requests like, "Not too spicy, no seafood, please avoid ranch flavoring" were common among the new moms receiving our meal train dinners. Be sure the recipient is honest and open about what doesn't go over well with her family. This saves everyone from guessing what to make for their contributions and ensures that every meal gets used!

4. Set the standard for what makes a meal for your meal train

Our playgroup established right off the bat that our Mommy Meals required 3 main parts. This allowed for the recipient to be completely covered and always knowing what to expect from her meal delivery.

The 3 elements of a meal train dinner:

• main dish
• side dish: salad, veggie, or fruit
• dessert

5. Announce the meal you'll contribute to the meal train

Be sure everyone that signs up on the meal train website labels their day with the name of the meal they will be bringing. This helps to avoid repeition of the dinner deliveries. You wouldn't want 2 lasagnas arriving in a row. It also allows you to be a little more creative if you see they've had too much of a certain meat or cuisine.

Be considerate of the big picture when selecting your meal train contribution. Notice they've had a lot of Mexican food? Maybe fajitas aren't your best bet. Notice a week worth of pasta before your date? Maybe try a rice-based dish.

The Meal Train Menu: Think outside the casserole pan!

This is the area I had the most to learn about the whole concept of mommy meals. I used to be more concerned about food that would travel well and that would be easy on the recipient to get to the table. To me, the thing that fit that criteria best was ALWAYS a casserole.

Then my friends arrived bearing truly creative meal train ideas. I realized how wonderful a wide variety of dinners can be after a few too many nights of pasta-themed dishes. The list below does feature some pasta and some casseroles, because that's just tasty stuff! But look closely at the list of meal train dinner ideas and you'll find some great unique recipes for mixing in if you find your recipient's calendar has too many noodles.

Nothing on this meal train list requires more than a simple reheating, popping in the oven to bake, or a simple boiling of water for noodles. Just be sure to wash and prep/chop everything you possibly can. You want to deliver a meal that mostly just needs final assembly on a plate.

These are some of our all time favorite meal train recipes, you'll spot a few casseroles but lots of creative dishes to bring to new moms. 

30 Meal Train Recipes

The best meal train ideas for families in need. You will find a wide mix of dinner kits to bring that cover traditional casseroles, freezer-friendly meals they can save for later, warm soups and breads to bring them comfort, and healthy dinners to mix into rotations that are too heavy on pasta.

1. Stuffed Potatoes with Chicken Taco Chili

PREP TIPS:

You can cook and prep the chicken taco chili and deliver in a disposable container.

Bring along the rest of these items to round out the meal kit:

• Baked Potatoes (already baked)
• A bag of frozen corn
• A bag of shredded cheese
• A container of sour cream
• Already chopped fresh green onions

2. Lighter Chicken Pot Pie

PREP TIPS:

Deliver the "crustless chicken pot pie" as filling in a container for them to reheat.

Also bring along:

1. A canister of biscuit dough or baked biscuits
2. Some fresh fruit, already washed or cut

3. Baked Meatball Subs

PREP TIPS:

Deliver the meatballs and sauce separately from the buns. Leave them instructions on how to toast the buns and heat up the meatballs before serving.

Also bring along:

• A green salad with dressing
• A bag of shredded mozzarella cheese
• A bag of chips
• A container of chip dip or seasoned sour cream

4. Roasted Sausages with Potatoes and Apples

PREP TIPS:

This is a perfect meal train dinner to bring in the fall. Chop up the potatoes, onions, and peppers, season them and toss with olive oil, and bundle them in a plastic bag.

Deliver the sausages cut veggies with instructions on how to bake them.

Also bring along:

• A jar of spicy mustard or a container of homemade raspberry mustard dip
• A batch of homemade pretzels or a bag of store bought crunchy ones
• A jug of apple cider

5. Chinese Noodles with Pork and Spicy Peanut Sauce

PREP TIPS:

Prepare the ground pork sauce but leave the boiling of the pasta to the dinner recipient. This allows them to freeze the meal and enjoy it fresh when they are ready. They simply have to boil the pasta and toss with reheated sauce.

Also bring along:

• A bag of prewashed broccoli florets
• A bag of clementine oranges
• A container of chopped fresh green onions

6. Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs

PREP TIPS:

You can bake these chicken thighs before delivering, or simply prepare the marinade and deliver the raw chicken with instructions on how to bake. This lets them freeze the meal if necessary.

Also bring along:

• A container of cooked white rice
• A container of fresh chopped green onions
• A steam-in-bag green veggie like asparagus, broccoli, or pea pods

7. Lemony Orzo and Tomato Salad

PREP TIPS:

This is a great dish to bring during a warm weather month. Cook a batch of frozen shrimp to add as a protein to this lemony pasta salad. The whole thing can be delivered chilled.

Also bring along:

• A simple green salad with dressing OR prepared asparagus for roasting
• Fresh strawberries or cantaloupe, already washed and cut

8. Chicken Gyro Wraps Kit

PREP TIPS:

This is an excellent meal kit for families with picky kids who can build their own dinner. Deliver all the elements for the dish in separate containers.

Bring along:

• The cooked chicken, already cut into slices
• Washed and cut tomatoes
• A sliced red onion
• A package of tzatziki sauce
• A couple of packages of wraps (Be generous and give more than they need, young kids LOVE them.)
• A package of washed lettuce greens, enough to build a salad for mom or dad
• A bag of frozen french fries or potato wedges

9. Italian Beef Sandwiches

PREP TIPS:

You can cook the shredded beef at home and deliver it in a container they can reheat it in. Keep the sandwich rolls separate.

Also bring along:

• A bag of frozen french fries or tater tots
• A jar of pickled jalapenos
• A package of sliced provolone or American cheese
• A large bunch of fresh washed grapes

10. Asian Chicken Pasta Salad

PREP TIPS:

Another perfect warm weather meal, this cold chicken salad has lots of fresh veggies to bulk it up.

Deliver the pasta mix and chicken separately in case the family prefers the chicken to be warm and wants to heat it up.

Also bring along:

• Prepared and cut fresh pineapple

11. Chicken Alfredo Rice Casserole

PREP TIPS:

This creamy rice casserole is perfect for an all-in-one dinner. Assemble it but let them bake it. They'll love the freshly browned bread crumbs on top.

Also bring along:

• A package of dinner rolls or frozen garlic bread
• A Caesar salad kit

12. Tuscan Chicken Soup

PREP TIPS:

Soup is a little trickier to deliver, but if you have the right container it is such a blessing for the family to receive.

Also bring along:

• Fresh bread from the grocery or a loaf of something homemade like this Italian bread or fluffy focaccia
• You could also make these ham and cheese sliders for them to reheat if you know they need to bulk up the meal for a larger family.

13. Oven Baked Salmon

PREP TIPS:

After a long meal train filled with pasta, it is very possible your friend is craving something extra-healthy. Buy the salmon fresh the day you plan to deliver it, but prepare it in a disposable baking dish by melting the butter and seasoning it so they only have to pop it into the oven and bake.

Also bring along:

• Washed and prepared asparagus that can bake for the same amount of time as the salmon.
• A simple rice side dish
• This sunny citrus salad

14. Make Ahead Lasagna Roll-ups

PREP TIPS:

Far easier to make than a whole pan of lasagna, these roll-ups are freezer friendly and can be stashed away if your recipient has too much food on hand right now.

Also bring along:

• Frozen garlic bread or dinner rolls
• A package of prewashed baby spinach

15. Easy Stovetop Beef Stew

PREP TIPS:

Most meal trains are an endless line of chicken, surprise them with a hearty beef stew that uses budget-friendly cut of sliced beef stew meat.

Also bring along at least one of these starches:

• Plenty of fresh bread or biscuits
• A container of prepared mashed potatoes
• A container of prepared rice

16. Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

PREP TIPS:

Another easy, budget-friendly beef recipe is a prepared container of sloppy joe mix. This cheesesteak version has lots of peppers and onions inside which help increase the veggie intake for kids.

Also bring along:

• Sliced hamburger buns they can toast
• A package of sliced provolone cheese
• A bag of frozen french fries or tater tots
• A tray of raw veggies with dip

17. Chicken Fried Rice

PREP TIPS:

This kid-friendly chicken fried rice reheats very well. It would be a healthier version of take-out for the family.

Also bring along:

• A frozen bag of potstickers or egg rolls
• A mandarin orange and lettuce greens salad with sliced almonds

18. Chicken Enchiladas

PREP TIPS:

This casserole is a nice twist instead of another pasta dish. My shortcuts make it easy to prepare for you and it is freezer friendly for them.

Also bring along:

• A container of sour cream
• Freshly chopped cilantro, packaged separately in case some don't prefer it
• A batch of Mexican rice
• Chips and salsa

19. Shredded Chicken Tacos Kit

PREP TIPS:

Even easier than the enchiladas, this chicken taco mix is my kids' favorite.

Also bring along:

• A large package of tortillas
• A bag of shredded cheese
• A container of sour cream
• A container of hot sauce or taco sauce
• Freshly chopped cilantro, packaged separately in case some don't prefer it
• A bag of frozen cornA batch of Mexican rice
• Chips and salsa

20. Creamy Pesto Chicken Casserole

PREP TIPS:

For the families that really need some rich comfort food, this casserole is absolutely delicious. You'll definitely want to bring along some fresher sides to balance it out.

Also bring along:

• A simple green salad
• Fresh tomatoes, washed and sliced
• Fresh cantaloupe, pineapple, or strawberries, already washed and cut

21. Homemade Chicken Soup

PREP TIPS:

If the family is struggling with illness in the home, this homemade chicken soup is our essential home remedy. Loaded with lemon and roasted garlic, it helps so much when you're under the weather.

Also bring along:

• A container of cooked rice for them to mix into the soup as desired
• Buttery crackers or saltines
• A bag of oranges
• A container of orange juice & a liter of Sprite for them to make homemade spritzers

22. Crockpot BBQ Chicken

PREP TIPS:

Make a batch of this shredded BBQ chicken in your crockpot and deliver it to them as part of a dinner kit.

You could pick a baked potato bar, homemade BBQ chicken sliders, or simply deliver it as a BBQ dinner with sides.

Also bring along:

• A pan of homemade baked mac and cheese
• Baked beans
• Coleslaw
• Cornbread

23. Tandoori Chicken

PREP TIPS:

You could bake this tandoori chicken in your own air fryer and let the family simply reheat it. It makes amazing wrap sandwiches with pitas or used as a topper for a salad.

Also bring along:

• A bag of pita wraps
• A greek yogurt based dip from the grocery store
• Fresh tomatoes, washed and sliced
• This roasted carrot and wild rice salad

24. Freezer-Friendly Chicken Spaghetti

PREP TIPS:

A huge hit with kids, this is one of the easiest casseroles to prepare. It's perfect if you know there are some pickier eaters in the family.

Also bring along:

• A tray of fresh veggies with dip

25. Ham Slab Pot Pie

PREP TIPS:

A nice change of pace from chicken, this ham pot pie has a wonderful flaky crust. You can either bake it and let them reheat, or deliver it ready for the oven and let them bake it fresh.

Also bring along:

• Baked biscuits
• A simple green salad
• Some prepared fresh fruit

26. Breakfast for Dinner Burritos

PREP TIPS:

Surprise the family with a breakfast for dinner night. These breakfast burritos are baked and can be frozen. This is perfect because the family could freeze leftovers for a hearty grab-and-go breakfast for the kids later.

Also bring along:

• A jar of hot sauce
• This strawberry mango salsa with cinnamon pita chips

27. Freezer-Friendly Sausage Pasta Casserole

PREP TIPS:

This casserole is so delicious, we sometimes serve it at Christmas time. Sausage, spinach, and pasta in a delicious sauce.

Also bring along:

• Fresh pineapple -- this is ESSENTIAL, it pairs so well with this dish for some reason
• Fresh bread
• A simple green salad

28. Spicy Sausage Lentil Soup

PREP TIPS:

This soup makes a very large batch which is perfect if you want to cook for your own family and have enough to share with your friend. Or, if they have a large family the whole batch can be for them knowing they can easily freeze leftovers.

Also bring along at least one of these starches:

• Fresh bread
• Buttery crackers
• A can of refrigerated cinnamon rolls

29. Healthy Chicken Chili

PREP TIPS:

Another big-batch recipe, this healthy chicken chili is perfect for those who don't like beans.

Also bring along:

• A bag of tortilla chips for dunking
• A bag of shredded cheese
• A container of sour cream

30. Saucy Pork and Noodle Bake

PREP TIPS:

One of my husband's all-time favorite meals, this casserole uses cooked pork as the protein. It is comfort food in a pan.

Also bring along:

• A simple green salad
• Any prepared fresh fruit

Meal Train Side Dishes: Alternatives to a bag of salad mix

Side dishes are a perfect opportunity to make your meal train delivery shine.

With just a tiny bit of extra effort, this dish gives you the chance to show you really cared enough about the details of the meal to make it tasty.

To encourage kids in the family to eat more fruit, prepare one of these dips and deliver it along with freshly washed and sliced apples, strawberries, pineapple, cantaloupe, or another seasonal fruit:

To encourage kids in the family to eat more vegetables, consider making one of these savory dips and delivering it along with washed and prepared raw veggies like baby carrots, celery, bell peppers, broccoli, or pea pods.

Meal Train Desserts: Beyond chocolate chip cookies & brownies

Unless you are famous for your cookies or brownies, I really recommend surprising the family with something more unique for your meal train dessert.

Bonus points for a dessert that can be frozen and enjoyed in the future if they have too much on hand now.

Awesome Meal Train Extras: Going the extra step

The single most memorable thing one of my friends brought on top of her meal was homemade strawberry scones, raw and ready to be baked or stuck in the freezer for the future.

Having something fresh and homemade out of my oven for breakfast with none of the kitchen mess was such a blessing. She also brought a jar of homemade strawberry freezer jam which was the trigger for my passion for making it myself every year since.

These extras are totally optional but for a friend who needs just a little extra special something, consider adding one of these crunchy snack mixes for them to enjoy over a few days:

Or, you could bake up one of these simple breakfast treats so they have something sweet to look forward to at the start of a really rough day:

Meal Train Transportation: Getting the food to the table

Knowing I'd be making a steady stream of these Mommy Meals for my playgroup meal train, I got into the habit of keeping these disposable kitchen supplies on hand at all times:

• Aluminum casserole pans, bought in bulk at Costco: I use them for baking the casseroles and as a delivery system for meals with lots of pieces
• Disposable storage containers in various sizes
• Zip-top baggies
• A roll of masking tape: for marking food with baking instructions, storage tips, and the date so the recipient can figure out the expiration date
• Sharpie

The most important tip is to deliver your meal train dinner in 100% disposable containers. The last thing you want to do is burden your recipient with worrying about returning a special dish to the proper giver.

Extra thoughtful touch: If you know the family is going through an especially trying time, you might even consider delivering a pretty package of disposable plates and utensils to give them a night off from dishes.

If you're looking for even more ideas and recipes, be sure to sign up for my email newsletter! I share weekly inspiration for celebrating the seasons and family-friendly meal ideas you'll love.

Have a great suggestion for me to add to the list of meal ideas? Leave me a note in the comments and add to this resource!