The bread may already be waiting, but the filling decides the rest of the evening. There are cold subs and cooked-chicken wraps, packaged chicken patties, hot meatballs and slow-cooked pork here. Choose the starting ingredient you have, then the amount of cooking you want to do.
5 recipes · Family meals
Illustrative serving idea.
A few ideas for the week.
Choose a filled bun, roll or tortilla dinner by its filling and preparation method.
Choose portions and review ingredients before confirming anything in your pantry.
Breaded chicken patties are cooked according to their package before being layered with lettuce, tomato and pickles.
The little job to plan for: The method uses package directions for part of the cooking. Read those before choosing your start time, especially if you have a different brand or package size.
How it begins: Bake or air-fry breaded chicken patties according to their package directions; verify chicken reaches 165°F.
At the finish: Spread mayonnaise on buns and layer with chicken, lettuce, tomato and pickles.
Check the list for: Breaded chicken patties, Sandwich buns, Lettuce, Tomato.
Deli meat, two cheeses and sliced vegetables make an assembly-based roll option.
The little job to plan for: Take a look at the chopping, slicing or shaving step before bringing the parts together. Use the preparation described there so the food goes into the next stage in the form the recipe expects.
How it begins: Wash lettuce and tomato.
At the finish: Close the rolls and cut crosswise to serve.
Check the list for: Sub rolls, Deli meat, Pepper jack cheese, American cheese.
Cooked chicken, Caesar dressing and salad ingredients are rolled into tortillas instead of served on a bun.
The little job to plan for: Take a look at the chopping, slicing or shaving step before bringing the parts together. Use the preparation described there so the food goes into the next stage in the form the recipe expects.
How it begins: Wash and dry lettuce, slice tomatoes and prepare the bread, rolls or tortillas.
At the finish: Fold the sides in and roll tightly.
Check the list for: Cooked chicken, Caesar dressing, Parmesan, Tortillas.
Meatballs simmer in marinara, then mozzarella is melted on the filled rolls under the broiler.
The little job to plan for: The method uses package directions for part of the cooking. Read those before choosing your start time, especially if you have a different brand or package size.
How it begins: Wash and dry lettuce, slice tomatoes and prepare the bread, rolls or tortillas.
At the finish: Close and slice to serve.
Check the list for: Frozen meatballs, Marinara sauce, Mozzarella, Sub rolls.
Slow-cooked pork is shredded and combined with barbecue sauce before being served on buns.
The little job to plan for: Have the lid or covering ready before you need it. Follow the covered and uncovered parts of the method in their own order, especially when the finish changes partway through.
How it begins: Place sliced onion in a slow cooker.
At the finish: Heat through and serve on buns.
Check the list for: Pork shoulder, Onion, BBQ sauce, Paprika.
The Caesar wraps use cooked chicken. Breaded patties and slow-cooked pork have their own cooking instructions. Keep those starting points separate when shopping.
Warm the bread where the method says
Some sandwiches are assembled cold, while the meatball subs finish under the broiler. Read the last step before getting everyone to the table.
Give the pork its full schedule
Pulled pork belongs on a day when the slow-cooker method fits. It is a different preparation from putting together a deli sub.
Before the shop
Check what is already in the kitchen
These recipes have different cooking requirements. A deli-meat sandwich and a slow-cooker pork bun do not share a preparation time, and cooked chicken should not be replaced with raw chicken in the wrap method.
A couple of useful questions
How do I choose one for tonight?
Start with the ingredients and cooking job you want. The notes beside each recipe show the preparation to plan for; open that recipe for the complete method before getting started.
What should I check before shopping?
Choose the dinners you want to make, then compare their full ingredient lists with what is already in the kitchen. Keep different prepared products, sauces and ingredient forms separate when checking the amounts.
Make it your kind of week.
Review dates, portions and what is already in the pantry before saving your meals or grocery additions.
