Supermarket Buys for Faster Dinners : Food Network

Bin of Fresh, Green Baby Spinach at a Farmer's Market

Photo: Marianne Guntow ©

Scroll For More Photos

1 / 10

Washed Baby Spinach

Raw or cooked, these greens add protein and iron to any dish. Try baby spinach in salads, stir-fries and soups.

couscous in wooden spoon on kitchen table

Photo: Joanna Wnuk

2 / 10

Couscous

A few minutes is all it takes for it to be table-ready, and couscous is as versatile as cooked rice; try it served alongside roasted meat or chicken, paired with sauces, as a stuffing or to thicken a soup.

Photo: Sasimoto

3 / 10

Frozen Shrimp

Defrost a bag of shrimp in 10 minutes (or less!) by immersing it in a bowl of water. You’ll have a protein that takes three to five minutes to cook, depending on whether it’s steamed, boiled, sauteed, grilled or roasted.

Photo: lvinst

4 / 10

Precooked Polenta

Depending on how it’s prepped, these rolls work as a stand-in for pasta, rice or bread: Try them sliced for personal pizzas/flatbreads, mashed into a gravy or sauce, or chopped and sauteed in a stir-fry.

Photo: Sinisa Botas

5 / 10

Refrigerated Pizza Dough

Pizza and calzones are solid options, but try stretching the dough extra-thin and baking it for flatbread or heating it in a pan for flour tortillas.

Photo: GraÃ§a Victoria

6 / 10

Frozen Shelled Edamame

This choice is protein-rich and has a soft texture that’s just as pleasant pureed for a dip or sauce as it is whole and tossed into salads, stir-fries or eaten plain for a snack.

Photo: Rusudan Mchedlishvili

7 / 10

Rotisserie Chicken

Carved, shredded, sliced or chopped, rotisserie chicken works as a topping or filling, in a soup or salad, cold or heated through.

8 / 10

Canned Beans

Cost-effective and rich in fiber, canned beans can be used whole to whip up a chili or fortify a soup; or mash them for a side or a burrito filling.

Photo: Spirit of Nature

9 / 10

Frozen Brown Rice

Serve healthful hot grains in minutes as an accompaniment to a quick vegetable saute or roast chicken; leftovers also make a hearty addition to soups and casseroles.

Photo: Handmade Pictures

10 / 10

Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese

Grate or shave this cheese over pasta or vegetables for a savory fix that adds richness in the simplest dish. Sprinkle a layer over a casserole and broil until golden for a quick crust.

Legal Terms and Privacy

Meals

Ingredients

Dinners

Tips & Techniques

10 Supermarket Buys for Faster Dinners

Washed Baby Spinach

Couscous

Frozen Shrimp

Precooked Polenta

Refrigerated Pizza Dough

Frozen Shelled Edamame

Rotisserie Chicken

Canned Beans

Frozen Brown Rice

Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese

Next Up

10 Ways to Organize and Speed Up Your Supermarket Trip 11 Photos

7 Spending Traps to Avoid at the Supermarket 8 Photos

10 Ways Busy Parents Get Dinner on the Table — Fast! 11 Photos

10 Restaurant Kitchen Hacks You Can Totally Use at Home 11 Photos

Great Indoor Grilling Dinners 4 Photos

Weeknight Dinners in 25 Minutes or Less 6 Photos

10 Smart Ways to Spend Less Money at the Grocery Store 11 Photos

11 Grocery Shopping Mistakes That Are Costing You Money 12 Photos

10 Kitchen Hot Spots You Really Need to Disinfect 11 Photos

Out of the Box: Sweet Recipes 11 Photos

We Recommend

22 Peanut Butter Recipes That Make the Most of Everyone’s Favorite Pantry Staple 22 Photos

Weeknight Dinners in 25 Minutes or Less 6 Photos

The New Wine "Bottles" 10 Photos

All of the Pumpkin Spice Groceries You Can Buy for 2023 82 Photos

The 25 Building Blocks of a Budget Pantry 26 Photos

Pairing Pasta with Sauce 6 Photos

Related Pages