Grocery Store Shortcuts I Have Zero Shame About
I’m not going to pretend I make everything from scratch. Some weeks the rotisserie chicken and the bagged salad are the reason dinner happens at all, and I’m not sorry about it. I’ll be honest: this list started on a night I stood in the store at 5:20 with a cart full of practice snacks and no plan.
My Go-To Shortcuts
Rotisserie chicken. This is the one I buy most. Shred it for tacos, quesadillas, or a quick pasta, and you’ve got two or three meals from one purchase. I use this multiple times a week when I’m stuck.
Bagged salad and pre-cut veggies. Ready-to-eat greens and baby carrots mean a side is done before I start the main dish. Or, I grab a bag of coleslaw and make egg roll in a bowl in about 25 minutes.
Frozen veggies. Steam them or toss them in the air fryer. They don’t go bad in the crisper drawer, and they cook in minutes. My kids are a sucker for the old-school peas and carrots mix.
Pre-shredded cheese. It’s a little more expensive, and I buy it anyway. On a no-plan night, I’ll pay for the time.
Refrigerated pizza dough. A sheet pan of dough with whatever toppings are in the fridge is an easy dinner, and the kids can help build it.
Store-bought sauces and seasoning blends. Taco seasoning packets, jarred pasta sauce, and salsa are the reason I can get a meal on the table in 30 minutes, like my taco spaghetti. Homemade is great when I have time. Most nights I don’t.
What I Actually Make With Them
Shortcuts only matter if they turn into dinner. A few of my favorites:
- Chicken tacos or quesadillas are a weeknight dinner I can make in about 20 minutes.
- Air Fryer Pizzas is the one I make when the kids want to help.
- Air Fryer Green Beans is how I get a vegetable on the table without standing over the stove.
FAQs
Yes! I can normally make a full meal to feed the five of us with one rotisserie chicken for $10.99. At a restaurant, one meal is going for $21.99
Yes, but not every night. Save the from-scratch meals for the weekends or the slow weeks, and let the shortcuts carry the rest.