Take a cooking shortcut
They can be your best friends in the kitchen. We’re talking about the grocery products that will help you save prep time, so you can have that ever-elusive spare moment to yourself every once in awhile. Here’s what we suggest you have on hand.
Meat
- Pre-cooked beef roast, roasted whole chicken, fried chicken pieces and smoked salmon
- Canned salmon, clams, tuna and shrimp
- Frozen meatballs, chicken nuggets, fish fillets, minute steaks and pre-formed hamburger patties (meat and freezer aisles)
- Skinless, boneless chicken breasts and thinly cut beef and pork for stir-fry (meat aisle)
- Pre-cooked shrimp (seafood case)
- Thick-sliced deli ham, turkey and roast beef (deli aisle)
Try: Impossibly Easy Ham and Cheddar Pie
Alternatives to meat
- Frozen meat substitutes, including some that are like ham, steak, lamb, chicken breasts and nuggets, hot dogs, turkey, pork chops, BBQ ribs, bacon, sausages, beef chunks, ground beef and egg-less fried eggs
- Frozen seafood, including salmon, tuna, crabs and shrimp
- Tofu and tempeh (soy-based)
- Shelf-stable meat substitutes, including vegetarian turkey and chicken (soy-based)
Try: Asian Soup Bowl with Chicken
Vegetable
- Pre-cut vegetables and stir-fry vegetable packages from Green Giant
- Minced garlic in a jar
- Bagged salads and lettuce
- Canned, seasoned tomatoes (diced, stewed, and whole)
Try: Linguine with Vegetables & Cheese.
Sauce & seasoning
- Dry packets of seasonings, such as Old El Paso taco seasoning, sauces and salad dressing mixes
- Bottled sauces, marinades and salad dressings
- Tomato sauces
Try: Taco Seasoned Chicken
Dairy
- Pre-shredded cheeses
- Pasteurized eggs
Try: Bean and cheese
quesadillas.
Bread & pasta
- Quick-cooking meat- and cheese-filled pasta in dairy aisle
- Old El Paso tortillas for fast meat and veggie wraps (can be frozen)
- Pocket pita bread and submarine sandwich rolls (can be frozen)
- Instant rice, Betty Crocker potatoes, couscous and Hamburger Helper mixes
Try: Party mashed potatoes.