Food

Family meals and meal kits continue to be popular for takeout and delivery

Chains in all segments—from quick service to fine dining—are jumping on the trend of ready-to-eat or ready-to-assemble meals to go. The dinners and kits appeal to households sheltering in place.
Cotton Patch family meals
Photograph courtesy of Cotton Patch

Cotton Patch Cafe is focusing on comfort foods in its family meals to go. On offer are hand-battered chicken tenders served with housemade cream gravy or dipping sauce; chicken spaghetti, a combo of chicken, cheesy sauce, diced tomatoes and pasta; and Mama’s Favorite Meatloaf, made from scratch and topped with chunky tomato sauce. All are priced at $33 and can feed four to six.

Shake Shack introduced the Shackburger DIY kit for $49. The package includes eight burger patties, eight potato buns, American cheese and Shack Sauce. It comes with an instruction sheet for preparing the burgers at home.

Designed to entice couples, PizzaRev debuted a date night package, available for takeout, curbside pickup or delivery. The meal includes two craft-your-own pizzas, two salads and a bottle of wine for $33.

STK

Photograph courtesy of STK

For upscale diners, STK has launched Home Meal Kits for two or four people ($59.95 or $99.95). The dinners feature cryo-sealed 6-ounce steaks, STK steak rub and sauce, fully cooked sides such as asparagus and mac and cheese, and a recipe card.

Texas Roadhouse, the casual-dining chain that has traditionally stayed away from takeout, is offering Family Packs that start at $19.99. Options include burgers, chicken tenders, pulled pork and sirloin steak, accompanied by a family-size salad, four sides and fresh-baked bread. Individual ready-to-grill steaks are also available for carryout.

Qdoba

Photograph courtesy of Qdoba

A family meal with a Mexican accent is now available from Qdoba Mexican Eats. Included are all the fixings for a dinner to feed five: a choice of grilled adobo chicken or steak, cilantro lime rice with black beans, queso, pico de gallo, salsa verde, shredded cheese, tortillas and a large bag of chips. The package is priced at $34.95.

In New England, regional chain D’Angelo Grilled Sandwiches ismenuing family-style rice and grain bowls for $29.99, portioned to feed five people. The hearty bowls feature proteins along with the grains, with varieties including chicken teriyaki, steak, Southwestern chicken and BBQ chicken.

 

Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.

Multimedia

Exclusive Content

Technology

From acqui-hire to vaporware: The new restaurant tech ABCs

Tech Check: These six terms are popping up more often in industry conversations, providing a glimpse at the next wave of trends.

Financing

So much for the consolidation trend

The Bottom Line: Companies operating more than one restaurant chain are more likely to be selling than they are buying right now.

Food

Taco John's travels back to its 'West-Mex' roots to spice up the menu

Behind the Menu: Starting with its new Fiesta sauce and maximizing what’s already stocked in the pantry, the Mexican fast-food chain is driving flavor throughout its platform.

Trending

More from our partners