I do most of my grocery shopping at Sprouts Farmer’s Market. Sprouts has a reputation for being expensive, and it can be depending on what you get, but there is always some meat and produce on sale and i appreciate the quality ingredients, so I think it’s worth it.
Have you been to Sprouts before? It’s similar to Whole Foods. It has a focus on health foods and seasonal produce and also sells food in bulk. Sprouts is a privately owned Arizona-based chain with locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, and Texas.
I appreciate that it has a good variety of meals I can make quickly, and I can just choose from the Market Corner section of pre-made meals if I don’t want to cook. I’m meal planning for myself, my husband, and my choosy toddler on a weekly basis, so I keep it simple and try to have something for everyone. These meals are some of our family favorites, but I could also see a college student on a budget or a larger family finding plenty of inspiration from this list too. We all have busy lives, right?
Read on for easy meals you can make for your family with the help of Sprouts convenience items.
Taco platter + avocado + cherry tomatoes
The taco platter in the market section is always great to get on a day when I need to grocery shop and don’t have the time or energy to cook dinner. It comes with cooked chicken, shredded cheese, shredded cabbage, tortillas, salsa, and chipotle cream. I saw an identical looking taco platter in the Stater Brothers weekly ad recently, so it must not be a Sprouts exclusive.
Market Corner tamales + homemade refried beans
The package comes with 6 tamales for $8.99, so maybe not the best deal but it’s nice for my small family, especially when I’m already at Sprouts and need a quick dinner. If we had a Mexican grocery store close by, I would get tamales there instead, but this is a good option.
Tortellini or ravioli + frozen peas + raspberries and blueberries
Cook the fresh ravioli according to the package directions, drain, then add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of peas to the pan and add the ravioli back in. Add in 1 tablespoon each butter and olive oil, along with 1/2 teaspoon salt and about 1/4 teaspoon oregano. Heat on medium for about 4 minutes. Serve with fresh fruit.
Fish + sweet potato fries + strawberries
Sprouts has a great selection of both fresh and frozen fish. I like that the fish filets are frozen individually, so you don’t have to defrost a big package all at once. I often serve the fish filets as is, but sometimes make them into fish tacos.
Frozen chicken nuggets + peach smoothie
This is for when you want to eat as if you’re at a certain fast food chicken franchise, but in the comfort of your home. Add some frozen French fries or a fresh fruit cup and I’m sure everyone will be happy.
Hawaiian sweet dinner rolls + Chuck roast + clementines + plums or dried prunes
Cook chuck roast, chicken thighs or pork roast in a crockpot. Serve with rolls and barbecue sauce. I like serving a meat heavy meal like this with citrus because vitamin C helps with iron absorption. The plums or prunes, well you know what those are for.
Frozen waffles or pancake bites+ bananas + yogurt
I like to have breakfast for dinner some nights when I don’t have a plan or run out of time. I always have a box of waffles in the freezer and pancake mix in the pantry for any time of day. Sprouts also carries a store-brand frozen product called pancake bites, which are pretty good for a quick meal or snack.
Meatloaf + mashed potatoes + carrots + broccoli
Sprouts has meatloaf and mashed potatoes in the ready-to-eat Market Corner area of their stores. I have bought the mashed potatoes a few times but I pair it with homemade meatloaf, which is easy enough. Try my baked sweet carrot fries with this dinner too.
Cheese plate, as fancy or kid-friendly as you please
Although it seems like an appetizer, a cheese plate can be filling enough for dinner. This can be a good way to use up leftovers too! Just artfully arrange cheese, grapes, crackers, and deli meat on a serving board. Be sure to cut the food appropriately if serving for children under 4 years old.
Modern Notebook 