Caring is Sharing – Easy, Make Ahead Recipes for Friends in Need

Wondering what to take to a friend in need? We’ve got plenty of ideas for you in this post! These recipes are all make-ahead and travel well.

Life can take lots of ups and downs and when a downturn comes, it means so much to have family and/or friends who care. One of the nicest ways of showing that care is with a gift of food, whether it’s a loaf of warm bread on the doorstep, a plate of cookies or a meal that can be simply warmed and enjoyed.

Whether someone is ill, has had surgery, a difficult family situation or even something joyful (but tiring), like a new baby, food is a tangible way you can show that you care. These recipes are easy to make ahead and reheat well. We’ve included a range of options, so there’s something for everyone. Brighten someone’s day with one of these home-cooked recipes!

These delicious Honey-Glazed Apple Bran Muffins are moist, tender, studded with sweet chunks of apple and laced with cinnamon. They rise up with high-domed tops and come together quickly with one bowl and no mixer!

Think you don’t like kale salad? Think again! This delicious Tuscan Kale Salad with crisp, buttery bread crumbs, salty, savory Parmesan and a fabulous lemon basil dressing will have even the most adamant kale hater requesting seconds!

If you’re looking for a creamy, delicious comfort soup that’s loaded with healthy veggies, lean chicken AND comes together quickly, this Chicken Parmesan Pasta Soup is IT!

With super tender, melt-in-your-mouth chicken and a silky smooth sauce loaded with fresh veggies and tons of bright, fresh flavor, this Thai Coconut Chicken Soup ticks all the boxes! This soup has also been reported to be something that’s comforting and appealing to patients while going through chemotherapy.

Apple Cranberry Spinach Salad with Honey Cider Dressing – an insanely delicious and super healthy salad – perfect for any get-together with family and friends!

With less than 10-minutes of hands-on time and no-kneading, the name Ridiculously Easy Focaccia Bread says it all! Almost. It’s also ridiculously delicious!

This Eggplant Italian Sausage Gratin is bursting with fabulous Italian flavor. A delicious, make-ahead, dinner party-worthy meal!

These Italian Chicken Meatballs are made from boneless, skinless chicken breasts, not ground chicken. They’re lean, light, tender, juicy and full of flavor!

This fabulous Instant Pot (or oven) Pasta and Beef Soup is a throw-it-all in-the-pot soup that’s loaded tender chunks of beef and lots of healthy veggies!

This delicious Homemade Chicken Pasta Soup tastes like you spent all day laboring over it but in reality, you can put it together, start to finish in less than an hour! It’s also fabulous with leftover turkey!

This make-ahead Italian Chicken Sausage Ravioli Lasagna is bursting with fabulous Italian flavor and tastes as if you labored for hours. No one has to know the delicious little secret.

This hearty, healthy Black Bean Turkey Chili is loaded with veggies, black beans, lean ground turkey and lots of delicious South-of-the-Border flavor!

With cheese-stuffed ribbons of zucchini nestled in an easy Italian sausage-tomato sauce, this delicious Zucchini Involtini is a fabulous make-ahead meal that’s perfect for family dinners and entertaining!

This fabulous Mexican Chicken and Rice comes together in one skillet in way less than an hour. It’s loaded with fresh veggies, lean chicken and lots of south-of-border flavor!

These healthy, delicious Greek Chicken Meatballs come together quickly with lean chicken, lots of fresh veggies and a ton of fabulous flavor! Serve them as an appetizer, in sandwiches, in bowls with Greek salad, hummus and orzo (pictured), in wraps with pita bread and hummus…

Need a fun, delicious dessert for an upcoming fall event, or a sweet surprise for family and/or friends? This moist one-bowl pumpkin cake comes together in minutes, with no mixer needed. The fabulous salted caramel icing takes it to nirvana status!

This easy, one-bowl, no-mixer recipe really does produce the BEST chocolate chip cookies we’ve ever tasted. They’re buttery and crinkly with crisp edges, a chewy interior and lots of delicious chocolate chips.

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If you enjoy any of these recipes, please come back and leave a star rating and review! It’s so helpful to other readers to hear your results, adaptations and ideas for variations.