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25 Meals That Comfort a Loved One
Adina Bailey
May 13, 2025
Adina Bailey, Take Them A Meal
Something Extra for You - Twice a Week!
Did you spot an extra email from us last Friday—or notice the fresh new logo at the top of today’s email?
For years, we’ve shared a popular weekly email filled with recipes and thoughtful ways to care for your friends. Recently, we realized there's so much more we’d love to share—some ideas we’ve created, others you’ve passed along, and many we’ve discovered and can’t wait to tell you about.
So starting now, The Extra Helping: Simple Ways to Show You Care, will arrive in your inbox twice a week—on Tuesdays and Fridays!
Tuesday’s email will continue to bring you comforting recipes and care tips you know and love, while Fridays will feature a curated list of creative ideas, meaningful stories, and inspiration from our community.
You’ll also get to meet Kelli and Nadia soon! They’ll be working alongside me to create The Extra Helping. Kelli has a gift for picking just the right recipe to bring to a friend (plus incredible photography skills) and Nadia shines with her beautifully simple ideas for showing love and care.
We hope you enjoy this little “extra helping” from us each week!
I am a member of a group on Facebook called The Lazy Genius Collective, inspired by Kendra Adachi, author of The Lazy Genius Way: Embrace What Matters, Ditch What Doesn't, and Get Stuff Done.
This group seeks to share ideas on simplifying their lives and encouraging each other to be geniuses about what really matters.
I love this group for many reasons. I can ask questions and receive many helpful replies to topics such as dinner ideas, ways to simplify my home, or even tips about caring for loved ones.
I encourage you to check out this group for yourself if you are on Facebook.
One very relevant question I stumbled upon was from a woman asking others about meal ideas for a dear friend undergoing cancer treatment. She specified that her meal recipient's taste was for simple meals, like "meat and potatoes," and was concerned that she didn't have any recipes to meet that requirement. She was delighted to receive so many helpful recommendations!
When taking a meal to someone you love, consider one of the following tested recipes.
25 Meals That Comfort A Loved One
Lasagna - This is the epitome of comfort food! Use disposable loaf pans like these to make small meal portions. They can be frozen and then reheated as necessary. Looking for a gluten-free recipe? Click here for our recommended recipe.
Freezer Meal Shepherd's Pie - I love being able to freeze a meal if needed. Sometimes, the ingredients in traditional shepherd's pie do not freeze well. This recipe takes the guesswork out for you and freezes well!
Soup and Salad - Soup and salad form a simple yet nourishing combination. I appreciate this website for its many well-received soup and salad pairings!
Brinner - Take pancakes, omelets, or even baked egg muffins!
Send them Soup! Don't forget to visit our webpage where you can always Send Them A Meal! Simply order and specify when you want your meal delivered. Your recipient can thaw and enjoy the same day or keep frozen until later!
Rotisserie Chicken, Cooked Rice, and Broccoli - No recipe needed!
Meatball Subs - Make the meatballs in advance and store them in the freezer. Take out and mix with your favorite sauce to make these easy and delicious meatball subs.
Classic Beef Stew - This recipe is a classic and suitable for those with Diabetes.
Easy Chicken and Dumplings - This recipe uses a rotisserie chicken and premade refrigerated biscuits, so there is minimal cooking.
Many of us have friends or loved ones who are going through treatments of various kinds. Whether it is for cancer or another illness, I hope I've inspired you with fresh ideas if you need simple and comforting meals for someone you know!
For another spin on meatball subs, try our recipe that travels well, Mini Turkey Meatballs and Tomato Sauce!
In Case You Missed It
1. This Million Dollar Spaghetti is always a hit! Layers of pasta, cheesy goodness, and hearty meat sauce come together for the ultimate comfort meal. It’s easy, affordable, and perfect for a family dinner or sharing with a friend in need!
Don’t have Instagram? Click here for the recipe!
2. Here’s a peek behind the scenes as our team prepares and packages the meals you send to those who need it most.
3. Have you seen this awesome hack to keep your potluck dish cold while it sits out for everyone to enjoy? It’s genius and so easy to do!
4. If you’re taking a meal to a family and want to include breakfast for the next day for them to enjoy, consider taking these delicious Egg Muffins. They come together quickly and freeze well, so all the recipient needs to do is pop them in the microwave the following day.
Don’t have Instagram? Click here for the recipe!
5. Whether it's her first or her fifteenth child, every mom needs to take care of herself while she cares for her new little one. Here are some great ideas for taking meals, snacks, gifts, and/or encouragement to a mom of a new little one.
Take Them A Meal is an easy (and free!) online tool for coordinating the delivery of meals to loved ones. If a friend is ill, elderly, or welcoming a child, you can rally their community to take them meals. We also offer delicious, fully-prepared meals that can be shipped directly to their door!
Send Love in a Box - Freshly Prepared Meals Shipped Nationwide!
Surprise your loved ones with a delicious, chef-made meal delivered straight to their door. Explore Shipped Meals
Our culinary team has tested each of these recipes to make sure we can heartily recommend them. Explore Our Recipes
Check out these thoughtful and practical gifts including engraved spoons, meal carriers and more!