5 Meal Ideas For When Your Military Spouse is Away

Let’s just say it you guys – solo nights are hard.  Whether it’s swing shifts, a TDY, deployment, or any other reason you’re riding solo for dinner, cooking for 1 or 1 adult + kids can be complicated after an already long day of surviving. I’m a big fan of keeping it simple.  Focus on a protein, a carb, and a fat to make it a complete meal, and don’t be afraid to utilize your frozen foods.  If the separation is given with advance notice, I often plan ahead by doubling up some of our favorite meals and freezing half for once my military member leaves.  Soups freeze great and pair perfectly with a simple sandwich or grilled panini + who isn’t excited for soup season? Here’s a short list of my favorite meals to make and/or have pre-prepped! 

Creamy roasted tomato soup with grilled turkey + cheese

This one really checks all the boxes and I always have frozen tomato soup in my freezer pre-portioned out for an easy meal any time of the day.  

Crispy chicken tacos + black beans 

You know those chicken nuggets you have in your freezer that you keep reaching for on those long days? Don’t worry, I’m not going to tell you not to. But if you want to switch it up a little, chop them up, put them in a tortilla + add your veggie toppings for a full meal.  We love ours with tomato, lettuce, sour cream + corn with a side of black beans but we all have our taco preferences, am I right?

No recipe is needed here, just grab your favorite chicken nuggets and cook according to the package.

Pasta + meatballs with a side salad

I pretty much always have frozen homemade meatballs in my freezer ready to go into whatever dish I’m needing it for. Using boxed noodles and jarred sauce is super easy but can sometimes get a little boring.  There’s just something satisfying about adding your own meatballs to the dish. I make these in bulk, flash freeze them, then vacuum seal them for my deep freezer. From there I cook per the directions with some added time until they’re cooked through.  These are great as meatball subs or as sliders on Hawaiian rolls. Pro-tip if you’re someone who likes to make their own sauce, both red sauces and alfredo sauce freeze great as well. 

Slow cooker honey garlic chicken + rice and roasted broccoli

If I can say one thing, it’s to utilize your slow cooker.  I haven’t gotten into the InstaPot like my husband has so I’m team set it and forget it.  With my daily schedule, I can either get it done first thing in the morning and set it on low or during my toddler’s nap and set it on high.  This recipe is foolproof and so good.  

Sausage sheet pan dinner

What’s worse than a kitchen full of dishes after a long day? That’s why sheet pan meals are a great option.  I use Hillshire farm sausage which my family is a huge fan of, but honestly any proteins and veggies you like together make for an easy and delicious meal.  I love pairing the sausage with broccoli, sweet potatoes, and red bell peppers. This recipe does it a little differently than I do, but the more you make sheet pan dinners the quicker you find what works best for you!

I hope this helps give you some options for your solo nights + a few tips to help make your menu the best and easiest for your family!