Assembly Meals for Weeknight Cooking Made Easy

If you haven’t heard of assembly cooking before, it’s a time-saving way to get dinner on the table… minus all the prep! Rather than cook everything from scratch, you simply combine ready-to-use, pre-cooked and quickly prepared components to create delicious meals.

What is assembly cooking?

It means putting together a complete meal with minimal cooking, using a mix of fresh ingredients, convenient staples and even leftovers. These shortcuts don’t sacrifice quality; you’re simply using what you have on hand to build nourishing, balanced meals faster on busy weeknights.

Meals include a protein, like a rotisserie chicken you picked up from the supermarket, canned tuna, canned beans, tofu or even affordable eggs. Vegetables can be frozen or even a bag of pre-washed salad greens. And as for your carbohydrate, rice, pasta and bread are staples you likely always have in your pantry. At the end, bring on the flavour with the use of seasonings, herbs or store-bought sauces.

Examples of assembly meals

1. Customizable bowls

Lunch and dinner can easily be something you throw together, like a deconstructed egg roll using shredded cabbage from a bag and even pre-grated carrots, or a hearty lunch bowl that brings together ready-to-use ingredients like pita bread, store-bought hummus and pre-cooked beets from a can.

Power Bowls

Egg Roll in a Bowl (Cabbage Noodles with Ginger Pork)

vegetarian

Lunch Bowl with Egg, Vegetables, Hummus and Toasted Pita

2. Sandwiches

Use tortillas, pitas, flatbread and other breads to assemble quick, handheld meals loaded with protein like cold cuts or store-bought chicken and fresh or jarred vegetables. If needed, add some chips or salad from a bag to the side for a complete meal.

Sandwiches

Chicken Panini with Roasted Bell Peppers and Smoked Gouda

lunch

Spicy Chopped Italian Sandwich

3. Loaded salads

Yes, salad can be a filling meal when topped with proteins like canned tuna, a hard boiled egg, tofu or canned lentils. Nuts and seeds are great for adding texture and crunch, and don’t forget your favourite sauce or dressing for flavour.

budget recipes

Nicoise-Style Salad with Spicy Pita

meal salads

Green Bean, Egg and Tomato Salad

4. Appetizer platters

Grazing meals can be just as satiating as a full one. There’s the usual charcuterie board with meats, cheeses, fruit and crackers, but try mezze platters that include canned and jarred ingredients. The only cooking required is whipping up a homemade gremolata or browning tofu or cauliflower steaks.

Tofu, Soy and Co.

Mezze-Style Tofu with Onion Confit

Sharing Recipes

Family-Style Appetizer Platter

For more quick and easy meal ideas, be sure to consult our selection of recipes: