Time-saving meal solutions

Stock your refrigerator and pantry with easy-to-use ingredients to save steps and time in the kitchen.

Canned and frozen vegetables, quick rice mixes, and refrigerated potatoes and pastas often only take a few minutes to prepare.

Keep a few packages of smoked sausage in your freezer where it will keep for two or three months. Savory and hearty smoked sausage can come in handy when planning and preparing meals because it is fully cooked and ready to use for quick and easy meal options.

When you have stocked up on the basics, you’ll have many dinner solutions that only take minutes to prepare so that your family can enjoy a delicious and satisfying meal any night of the week.

• Prepare your favorite seasoned rice mix, then stir in sliced smoked sausage. Heat through for dinner in 30 minutes.

• Serve smoked sausage alongside refrigerated mashed potatoes for a truly quick meal solution.

• Add sliced smoked sausage to a quick stuffing mix and pair with your favorite frozen vegetable for an instant meal solution.

• Stir sliced smoked sausage into prepared macaroni and cheese, then heat through for a one-pot meal that is quick, satisfying and delicious, and minimizes cleanup time, too.

• Add sliced smoked sausage to a jar of your favorite pasta sauce and heat through. Serve over any cooked pasta and enjoy.

• Have breakfast for dinner by adding diced smoked sausage to scrambled eggs for a surprise dinner any night of the week.

• Complete any meal with a prepackaged salad and your favorite dressing or some sliced fruit.