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Need a quick dinner without cooking? These grocery store meals are perfect for busy nights when you don’t have the time or energy to make something from scratch.
From simple grab-and-go options to easy combinations you can throw together in minutes, these meals are affordable, practical, and family-friendly. Everything can be found at your local grocery store — no complicated prep required.
Whether you’re running errands, coming home late, or just need a break from cooking, these easy meal ideas will help you get dinner on the table fast.
Why Grab-and-Go Meals Work So Well
Grocery store meals are a great option when you need something fast because they:
✔ Save time on busy days
✔ Require little to no cooking
✔ Use affordable, ready-made options
✔ Help you avoid takeout
✔ Are easy to customize for your family
Having a few go-to grab-and-go meals can make dinnertime much less stressful.
Looking for some quick and easy grab and go grocery store meals for an easy dinner solution? Today, I’ve got 20 easy meal ideas for your whole family that you can pickup from your favorite local grocery stores!
We’ve all been there – dinner time is getting close and we have absolutely no idea what to make for dinner and no food ready to be cooked in the fridge. How easy it would be to turn to our trusty fast food restaurants to bail us out once again…
But wait! Here’s another idea!
Head to your local grocery store instead – you’ll likely save money and find a much healthier option for your family’s dinner.
Keep reading for 20 quick meal ideas to help you pull out an easy dinnertime win!
20 Quick & Easy Grab and Go Grocery Store Meals
When you don’t have time to cook a whole dinner from scratch, there are plenty of grocery store items that make a great option.
These grab and go food items are a great way to save some money and still eat great – with almost no work at all!
Quick Tip: Does your family have hectic schedules during the week? Plan ahead in your weekly menus to have a grab and go grocery store meal on your busiest night, so you can avoid eating out and get a quick dinner on the table for your family.
Who These Grocery Store Meals Are Best For
These easy meal ideas are perfect if you:
✔ Don’t have time to cook
✔ Need last-minute dinner options
✔ Are feeding a family on a budget
✔ Want quick meals without takeout
✔ Need simple, low-effort dinners
These are real-life solutions for busy days.
Here are 20 easy grab and go meals you can pick up from your local grocery store for a quick dinner:
You might want to save this list, or jot down some ideas to keep handy when you get in a dinnertime pinch!
I love using my Weekly Meal Planning Binder to have everything I need for meal planning in one place!
1. Rotisserie Chicken + Bagged Salad
Most grocery stores or places like Costco have delicious rotisserie chickens with different seasonings and flavors available in the deli section. These are a perfect ready to go dinner idea!
Rotisserie chicken can be used in many different ways and if you have any leftover chicken from dinner, you can add some to your lunch bag the next day.
Make a chicken salad: Grab a rotisserie chicken, a bag of salad mix, any extra toppings you like, and some salad dressing for a delicious and nutritious meal.
Try one of these delicious salad ideas with rotisserie chicken:
- Spinach leaves, feta cheese, apples slices, rotisserie chicken and poppy seed dressing
- Romaine lettuce mix, cheddar cheese, black beans (rinsed and drained), corn (rinsed and drained), rotisserie chicken, southwest salad dressing
2. Salad Kits
Another way to get a nutritious salad without doing any work, is to grab a pre-made salad kit.
Look in the produce department and the deli department to find the best options your store carries. You’ll want to find something that has some protein and bulk to it for a more filling dinner.
These are also great for healthy lunch ideas on the go!
My local stores have bagged salad kits and salad kits in plastic bowls in the produce section, as well as more hearty options with meat and pasta in the deli section. Check around your store to see what they offer.
3. Rotisserie Chicken + Bakery Rolls
Grab a rotisserie chicken and some bakery rolls to make delicious pulled chicken sandwiches for dinner. Serve these with chips, fruit, or a side salad for an easy dinner.
You may like to add sauce to your sandwich to change it up. This is a great way to use some leftover chicken if you use a rotisserie chicken for another dinner, too.
4. Rotisserie Chicken + Hot Deli Sides
Another delicious and super easy idea for the rotisserie chicken!
Grab a hot rotisserie chicken and some hot deli sides for the easiest dinner ever.
You can grab some rolls or salad mix to use the leftover chicken for sandwiches or salads for lunch the next day, too.
Check your local grocery stores to see who has the best hot deli sides in town. Our stores change up their offerings daily but will include: green beans, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, potato wedges, fried okra, and more.
5. Tuna Kit + Bakery Bread + Salad Mix
Grab a tuna kit from the canned meat aisle, some fresh bakery bread, and a salad mix.
Make the tuna salad to place on bread for sandwiches or on top of the salad.
Serve the sandwich with chips or fruit.
6. Deli Soup
Check to see what local grocery stores in your area carry hot soup. Some stores may have a soup of the day and others may have a whole soup bar.
Grab some crackers to go with it for an easy weeknight dinner.
7. Deli Sandwiches
You may have to do some hunting to find which stores have the best sandwiches in your area. Some have grab and go options, as well as custom sandwiches with freshly sliced cold cuts and veggies.
We have Publix in our area and they are known to have delicious and fresh sandwiches.
Grab a bag of chips or a salad kit to go with it.
8. Deli Salads
Here’s another great choice to look for in the deli department!
Does your deli section offer fresh salads?
Ours typically carry things like:
- pasta salads
- macaroni salad
- egg salad
- potato salad
- and more
Some grocery stores are even known to have a full salad bar with all kinds of options!
9. Deli Chicken Tenders + Hot Sides
Does your grocery store deli offer chicken tenders? Some carry them fresh and hot or chilled to reheat later.
These are always a great option. Grab some hot sides to go with it for a hearty dinner, or a salad kit to make a filling chicken salad.
10. Popcorn Chicken + Hot Sides
Many deli departments will also carry popcorn chicken, which is so fun for kids, too! Grab these for a road trip if you need a meal literally on the go!
Grab some different dipping sauces and hot sides for an easy weeknight dinner or a meal between kid’s games or activities.
These would also be perfect for a night off from cooking when your family eats a quick meal and plays a game or watches a movie together.
If you have a little time to heat something up, try one of these options:
11. Canned Soup
There are some great canned soup options out there. Pair with a salad or a quick grilled cheese for an easy weeknight meal.
12. Stir Fry Kit
Check in the meat department for a ready to cook stir fry kit. Many stores carry these. Or in the frozen section.
Cook it in a skillet with a little olive oil and heat up some rice for an easy, but super filling dinner your family will love.
And it’s much cheaper than going out for stir fry!
13. Chicken Pot Pie
Check the frozen section for a chicken pot pie meal that you can easily heat in the oven and serve.
These are filling on their own, but you can add a salad to stretch the meal farther.
I love this comforting meal – especially on a cold or rainy day!
14. Lasagna
Check the frozen section for a ready to heat lasagna meal. These usually come in different portions for different family sizes.
You can grab a salad or frozen breadsticks to serve on the side.
We love these and have them at least once a month. It fills everyone up and cleanup is a minimal.
And it’s much cheaper than going out to eat Italian and much easier than making it from scratch!
15. Macaroni and Cheese
Grab a frozen macaroni and cheese for a kid friendly weeknight meal, or a side to serve with some deli chicken.
These are easy to heat and no mess!
You can also find ready to heat sides in the refrigerated section – Bob Evans has some good macaroni and cheese or mashed potatoes.
16. Chicken Skillet Meals
Check the frozen section for a variety of chicken skillet meals. These are meals you dump in a pan on the stove and cook until done.
We’ve been very pleased with the Bird’s Eye Voila Meals like the Alfredo Chicken. They are hearty, yummy, and cleanup is very easy.
17. Pizza (Frozen or Take & Bake from the Deli)
My advice: Check the deli department first to see if they offer fresh take and bake style pizzas. If not check the frozen department.
These are kid friendly and perfect for movie or game night when you need a night off from cooking dinner.
18. Burger Patties
Grab some ready to cook burger patties from the freezer section or the meat department.
You can grill these outside, on an indoor countertop grill, or make hamburger steaks in a frying pan.
Don’t forget the hamburger buns and condiments.
19. Enchiladas
Head to the freezer section for some ready to bake enchiladas. Grab some chips and salsa for a quick appetizer to eat while the enchiladas bake.
These are easy to cook and clean up is so easy.
20. Meatloaf
Grab a frozen meatloaf family meal, some hot sides from the deli, and some rolls for an easy dinner any night of the week.
Your family will love the hearty meal and you’ll love how easy it was!
Alright there you go – 20 easy grab and go grocery store meals for when you don’t have the time or energy to cook!
These nutritious meals will help you avoid eating out and spending money on fast food, and allow you to eat a great meal at home with your family – even if you feel like you cheated a little bit! 😉
Oh, and don’t forget ice cream is totally a grab and go grocery store food! 🙂
If you are new to meal planning and eating at home, these grocery store meals would be a great way to get started without having to cook every meal from scratch.
How to Turn Grab-and-Go Foods Into a Full Meal
To make these meals more filling, pair them with:
• Fresh fruit
• A side salad
• Chips or crackers
• Cut veggies and dip
• Bread or rolls
Combining a few simple items can turn a quick grab-and-go option into a complete dinner.
Tips for Grocery Store Meal Planning
• Keep a short list of go-to meals for busy days
• Look for store-brand options to save money
• Buy items that can be used in multiple meals
• Stock up on easy sides like fruit and salad kits
• Rotate a few favorites each week
Having a simple plan makes these meals even easier.
Want More Easy Dinner Ideas?
If you love simple, stress-free meals like this, grab my FREE 5 Day Dinner Rescue Kit — quick dinners your family will actually eat.
Grab the FREE 5 Day Dinner Rescue Kit here and have your next 5 nights of dinner planned for you.
And if you want a full month planned out for you, check out my Stress Free Dinners: 30 Day Meal Plan.
More Easy Meal Ideas You’ll Love
If you like these quick meal ideas, check out these next:
• Easy Sandwich Ideas for Dinner
• 10 Quick Easy Pasta Dinners Kids Will Love•
Simple, budget-friendly meals for busy nights.
Frequently Asked Questions About Grocery Store Meals
What are easy grocery store meals for dinner?
Rotisserie chicken, deli sandwiches, salad kits, and frozen meals are all easy options.
Are grocery store meals cheaper than takeout?
Yes — most grocery store meals cost less than takeout and can feed more people.
What can I buy at the store for dinner without cooking?
Ready-made meals, deli items, and simple combinations like sandwiches or wraps are great no-cook options.
Need more help deciding what to make for dinner?
Planning meals and eating at home can help you save so much money, but it’s not always easy to figure out what to cook!
If you need some dinner ideas that are simple, quick, and budget-friendly, you’ll love the FREE 60+ Easy Dinner Ideas List – the handy resource you’ll love to use for quick, easy, and budget-friendly meal ideas to make meal planning simple and effortless!
Grab the FREE Easy Dinner Ideas List right here!
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