Best Meal Starter Products
10 Food-Editor-Approved Store-Bought Meal Shortcuts

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Nicole Perry
While we're not exactly prescribing a semi-homemade lifestyle, a la Sandra Lee, sometimes a little dinner headstart, in the form of canned beans, a jar of really-good tomato sauce, or some roasted beets is the difference between a home-cooked meal and Chinese take-out. These pantry, freezer, and fridge staples are items we actually keep on hand and use on busy nights, when a completely-from-scratch meal is just not going to happen.
Canned Beans

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Nicole Perry
Frozen Spinach

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Good Tomato Sauce

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Chicken Stock

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Frozen Brown Rice

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Anna Monette Roberts
Puréed Pumpkin

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Frozen Puff Pastry

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Roasted Red Peppers

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Cooked Lentils

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Anna Monette Roberts
Pre-Cooked Beets

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Nicole Perry