A meal train is a way for a group of people to bring food to someone in need. These easy meal train ideas are perfect for sharing with loved ones, ensuring they’re nourished and cared for during life’s more overwhelming moments.

34 Meal Train Ideas to Comfort Loved Ones

Sheet-Pan Lemon Garlic Chicken
Baked Spaghetti
Strawberry Poppy Seed Salad
Fresh salads (especially ones with protein) are a great meal to bring new parents—the salads will provide some nutrition to help Mom and Dad endure those first few weeks of sleepless nights!
Pepperoni Pan Pizza
Spinach Burritos
Sheet-Pan Chicken and Veggies
Skillet Mac and Cheese
Chipotle Carnitas
Ham & Veggie Casserole
Bulgur Salad
Sausage Manicotti
Bratwurst Dinner
Frito Corn Salad
Crescent Turkey Casserole
Roasted Curried Chickpeas and Cauliflower
Tuscan Fish Packets
Chicken Thighs with Shallots & Spinach
Provide some rice to round out this meal. Simple white or brown rice will do just fine, or you can make one of these healthy rice recipes.
Creamy Skillet Noodles with Peas
Bacon & Swiss Chicken Sandwiches
Bonnie’s Chili
A batch of buttery cornbread is the perfect side dish to pair with this comforting chili.
Arrabbiata Sauce with Zucchini Noodles
Southwest Vegetarian Bake
Beef with Broccoli
If you want to send over something sweet as well, try one of these easy desserts that have five ingredients or less.
Vegetable Strata
Burrito Bake
Beef and Shells
Pair this dish with one of these make-ahead salad recipes—the perfect sides for a meal train. They taste even better as they marinate, so you won’t have to worry about soggy salad!
Bacon Salad
Shrimp Fried Rice
Peasant Skillet
Baja Pork Tacos
Spicy Rice Casserole
Bean & Cheese Quesadillas
Salmon Sliders
Quinoa and Black Beans
Meal Train Ideas FAQ
What is a meal train?
A meal train is an organized effort to provide home-cooked meals to someone in need, such as a family with a new baby, someone recovering from surgery or a grieving friend. The meal train organizer creates a schedule, and friends, family or community members can sign up to deliver meals on specific days.
How do you set up a meal train?
To organize a meal train, communicate with the recipient to establish dietary limitations and desired delivery times. Depending on the situation, the meal train might last for one or two meals or as long as several weeks. For longer meal trains, utilize meal train websites, group chats or shared spreadsheets to coordinate participants and meal assignments. Ask volunteers to choose meals that are easy to reheat, like make-ahead meals or make-ahead freezer meals that can be frozen for future use.
What are the best meal train ideas and recipes?
The most suitable meal train recipes are convenient to transport and reheat, which includes casseroles, soups, slow-cooker dishes and baked pastas. Quick comfort food recipes like lasagna, chicken potpie, mac and cheese, or chili are all good choices. Make sure to label meals with reheating information.