I’m taking my eating and cooking proclamation for summer very seriously and one of the ways I’m doing this is store-bought (not homemade) food and a little formula!
The proclamation in question?!
This is the summer of repeat dinners, no-cooking meals, eating with our hands, only making recipes we know by heart, meals that happen outside!!
And like I said, one of the ways I’m pursuing this summer food dream is with a little formula that is store-bought + home-cooked and equals less cooking.
Less cooking! More “whipping up” and “throwing together.” Here’s how 👇
Think of this as the 70/30 rule. Where 70% of the dish is store-bought (think of this as the main dish, which usually makes up 70% of the meal), and 30% is whipped up or assembled from scratch.
To do this, I have found 5 absolutely delicious items that taste almost as good as homemade!
I always have these on hand! So many people say these are a dupe for Chick-fil-A nuggets, and honestly, I get it.
Here’s how to use them for a satisfying meal!
Store-bought:
Just Bare frozen nuggets
Canned corn
Hot Honey
Homemade:
A reasonable amount of mashed potatoes
No drippings gravy (comes together in under 10 minutes)
Store-bought:
Just Bare Frozen Nuggets
Bag of favorite potato chips
Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning packet
Package of large flour tortillas
Homemade:
Copycat Wingstop ranch
Honey buffalo sauce
This fish has a cult following for a reason. It is made with 100% frozen fish fillets (not minced). And it is so flaky and delicious! Here’s how I’m using it.
Store-bought:
Gorton’s frozen battered fish
Bag of slaw
Jar of Mateo’s salsa
Homemade:
Creamy slaw dressing
Store-bought:
Gorton’s frozen battered fish
Bag of frozen Ore-Ida Extra Crispy fries
Frozen peas
Homemade:
Smashed peas
Tartar sauce (trust me)
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These frozen meatballs are superior to other frozen meatballs! They are not spongy and have such a great texture.
Store-bought:
Kirkland Italian Style meatballs
Bag of favorite chips
Freshly baked hoagie rolls
Homemade:
Quick homemade marinara (or doctor up a jar of sauce!)
Other ways to use them I want to try:
Meatballs served over a creamy orzo with loads of parmesan and a little bit of lemon juice.
Quick skillet of meatballs and sauce served with crusty bread everyone can dip into!
I love homemade orange chicken, it just tastes so fresh and irresistible but pan frying the chicken can take time. If I’m in a pinch, I buy a bag of TJ’s Frozen Orange Chicken, which is technically a kit. But I disregard the sauce (because I don’t love it) and make my own!
Store-bought:
Trader Joe’s Frozen Orange Chicken
Frozen broccoli
Rice
Homemade:
Orange sauce
This one is a given, as it is a home cook’s secret weapon, but here are some ways I use it that I think are unique!
Store-Bought
Rotisserie chicken (shredded)
Favorite ranch (I love Litehouse Homestyle Ranch or Toby’s Ranch)
Bag of tortilla chips
Homemade:
Hawaiian BBQ Sauce
Store-Bought
Rotisserie chicken (shredded)
Gochujang (Trader Joe’s has one in a tiny container that I love)
Bachan’s Original Japanese BBQ Sauce
Homemade:
Quick-pickled white onions
Here’s how I make it for just 1:
Saute some shredded rotisserie chicken in 1/2 Tbsp butter. Once heated, add 2 Tbsp Bachan’s Japanese BBQ sauce and 1 tsp Gochujang. Mix it until it all comes together! Serve over a bed of rice and with quick-pickled white onions.
Store-Bought
Rotisserie chicken (shredded)
Can of refried beans
Mini corn tortillas
Homemade:
Honey Chipotle Vinaigrette
These are my favorite frozen pot stickers! The filling is so good and fresh, and the wrapper-to-filling ratio is perfect!
I use it in a homemade Pot Sticker Soup, or I will saute them and serve them with a homemade pot sticker sauce.
Quick Black Vinegar + Chili Crisp Sauce:
3 Tbsp soy sauce
2 Tbsp black vinegar (a DELICIOUS Chinese vinegar that is a must!)
1 Tbsp chili crisp, plus more for serving (this is my favorite)
1 scallion, thinly sliced
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tsp toasted sesame oil
1 tsp rice vinegar
1 tsp honey
Optional:
1 tsp toasted sesame seeds (for garnish)
1 Tbsp pickled ginger (to serve alongside)
Add everything to a small bowl and mix to combine!
To really take summer eating to a whimsical place, these are some of my favorite summer and outdoor items.
My absolute favorite glasses are also made in shatter-resistant plastic, so you can enjoy your favorite drinks outside in your favorite cups!
I’m also obsessed with these summery options for drinkware!
Nothing screams summer to me more than bright colors and fresh produce. And these outdoor plates are giving me all the summery vibes!
Hi, I live next to my grill now! All I want to do all summer long is grill! These grilling essentials have made me so much more confident in grilling. (I’m especially attached to my grill brush scrubber because it cleans EVERYTHING off my grill with little effort on my part).
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