Stress-Free Sides: 3 Easy Tips for Quick, Tasty Meals

Life gets busy—especially around the holidays—but your meals don’t have to be complicated. While the main course often takes the spotlight, the side dishes truly bring everything together. Whether you’re hosting a big holiday dinner or need a weeknight meal solution, these three tips will save you time and keep your meals balanced and delicious.

1. Batch Cook & Relax: Spend a couple of hours over the weekend prepping veggies, roasting ingredients and cooking grains in bulk. Store everything in airtight containers, and during the week, mix and match for quick sides like grain salads or roasted veggie bowls. You’ll have a variety of fresh sides ready to go — without the daily prep!

2. Let Your Slow Cooker or Instant Pot® Do the Work: These appliances are lifesavers when it comes to stress-free cooking. Toss ingredients for mashed potatoes, casseroles or stuffing into your slow cooker in the morning and let it do the work while you go about your day. Need something faster? Your Instant Pot® can whip up rice, beans or risotto in a fraction of the time.

3. Prep & Freeze for Later: Make life easier by prepping sides ahead of time. Dishes like casseroles, gratins and roasted vegetables can be assembled and frozen. Just pop them in the oven straight from the freezer when you need them. It’s a perfect way to save time and reduce food waste.

Meal Solutions as Ready as You Are: When life gets busy and you need a meal in a pinch, Market 32 and Price Chopper have you covered! From fresh sushi and rotisserie chicken to piping hot pizza, ravioli and burgers, we offer a full menu of meal solutions to satisfy your cravings for delicious, nutritious food—no matter how packed your schedule is.

Whether you’re looking for something Ready to Eat, Ready to Heat, or Ready to Cook, we’re always ready with exactly what you’re craving.