We’re all crossing our fingers that power lines stay up and the Texas grid keeps doing its thing through this cold snap. But if you do lose power, we want you to have a few easy meal ideas ready to go {beyond that last sleeve of crackers or a PB&J}.
These meals won’t win any culinary awards and that’s not the point. They’re filling, flexible and made with ingredients you can keep on hand when the fridge and stove are out of commission. Think of this as your “everyone ate and no one cried” game plan.
Produce that doesn’t need refrigeration
(Use common sense here — cool rooms help, and bruised produce goes first.)
- Carrots
- Onions
- Garlic
- Shallots
- Tomatoes
- Cucumbers
- Bell peppers
- Avocados
- Bananas
- Lemons
- Limes
- Apples
- Basil
Condiments that are typically shelf-stable
(Check labels for individual brands.)
- Soy sauce
- Mustard
- Ketchup
- Hot sauce
- Honey
- Vinegar
- Nut butters
- Oils
- Ghee
- Tahini
So what can you actually make with all of this? A surprising amount.
Easy meals with canned chicken
(Open and eat right away. No saving leftovers without refrigeration.)
Buffalo chicken wraps
What you need:
- Canned chicken
- Ranch dip cups
- Flour tortillas
- Tomato
- Hot sauce
- Avocado
Drain the chicken and mix it with the ranch. Chop the tomato and avocado and fold them in. Spread onto a tortilla and add hot sauce to taste.
Tip: Swap ranch for BBQ sauce if that’s what you have.
Chicken tacos
What you need:
- Canned chicken
- Canned black beans
- Seasoning
- Flour tortillas
- Avocado
Drain the chicken. Drain and rinse the beans. Season with taco seasoning or a simple chili powder and cumin mix. Spoon into tortillas and add avocado for creaminess.
No-bake nachos
What you need:
- Canned chicken
- Canned black or pinto beans
- Nacho cheese sauce
- Salsa
- Tomatoes
- Avocado
- Tortilla chips
Drain the chicken and beans. Layer chips on a plate, drizzle with cheese sauce and add chicken and beans. Top with salsa, tomatoes and avocado.
Dense bean salad
What you need:
- Canned chicken
- Canned white beans
- Onion
- Olive oil
- Lemon juice or vinegar
- Veggies of your choice (tomatoes, cucumbers and bell peppers work well)
Drain the chicken. Drain and rinse the beans, then marinate them in a 2-to-1 ratio of olive oil to lemon juice or vinegar for at least 30 minutes. Combine with chicken, onion and vegetables. Use the remaining marinade as dressing.
Canned tuna ideas
Tuna wrap
What you need:
- Canned tuna
- Veggies of your choice
- Avocado
- Flour tortillas
Drain the tuna. Smash the avocado and mix it with the tuna and chopped veggies. Spread into tortillas.
Simple tuna salad
What you need:
- Canned tuna
- Olive oil
- Vinegar or lemon juice
- Shallot
- Basil
- Carrots
- Tomatoes
Drain the tuna. Finely chop the shallot, basil and tomatoes. Shred the carrots. Toss with a 2-to-1 ratio of oil to vinegar or lemon juice.
Tuna and crackers
What you need:
- Canned tuna
- Sundried tomatoes
- Crackers
Drain the tuna and mix with chopped sundried tomatoes. Serve with crackers.
Tuna “ceviche”
What you need:
- Canned tuna
- Tomatoes
- Onion
- Jalapeño
- Lemon juice
Drain the tuna. Chop the vegetables and mix together. Cover with lemon juice and let sit for 30 minutes. Eat with crackers, tortilla chips or on its own.
Other no-power meal wins
Cereal with shelf-stable milk
No explanation needed. Sometimes boring is beautiful.
Frito pie
What you need:
- Bag of Fritos
- Canned chili
- Onion
Open the bag, add chili and chopped onion, close and gently shake to mix.
Marinated beans
What you need:
- Canned white beans
- Olive oil
- Lemon juice or vinegar
Drain and rinse beans. Toss with a 2-to-1 ratio of oil to acid. Let marinate 30 minutes. Eat as-is, pile onto bread or add vegetables.
Veggie tacos
What you need:
- Canned black beans
- Canned corn
- Avocado
- Flour tortillas
- Seasoning
Drain and rinse beans and corn. Season to taste. Spread avocado on tortillas and top with the bean mixture.
Chickpea wraps
What you need:
- Canned chickpeas
- Tahini
- Veggies of your choice
- Flour tortillas
Drain and rinse chickpeas. Mix with tahini and chopped vegetables. Spread into tortillas.
Probably won’t be knocking on your kitchen door in the next few days. However, the Frito Pie looks good ( I don’t prefer onion ). Are you using the chili cold out of the can? Frito Pie was a regular item when I was growing up. One of my Mom’s specialties. Stay warm!