Can’t cook tonight? 11 Charlotte-area meal prep places make it easy to heat-and-eat.
We get it. Life is busy, no matter the season. With the constant juggle between work, family and personal time (what’s that?), finding moments to enjoy a home-cooked meal might seem like a fairy tale.
Perhaps that’s why we’ve seen a surge in Charlotte area take-and-bake meal prep services. We asked around and found these highly recommended local businesses that handle all the shopping, chopping, measuring and mess so you can transform hectic evenings into effortless family dinners.
The Butler’s Pantry
Located in the Courtyard of Cotswold Shopping Center, The Butler’s Pantry bills itself as “a gourmet take away boutique” that offers both fresh and frozen entrees, appetizers, side dishes and a wide variety of desserts, all made in house. Menu choices include beef Bourguignon with potatoes, Low Country crab cake, chicken pot pie and cheese biscuits and gravy. The tomato pie and lemon bars come highly recommended by regular customers. And if you have a little time to spare before you grab and go, the shop also offers indoor and outdoor seating areas where you can relax and enjoy an appetizer and a bottle of wine.
Location: 274 S Sharon Amity Road Charlotte, NC 28211
Instagram: @thebutlerspantryclt
Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen
Located in Charlotte’s South End area, Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen prepares fresh family table meals daily, available for same-day pickup or delivery if ordered by 11 am. Choose a hot meal for eating that night or plan ahead for cold food in oven-safe packaging that can stay fresh for several days. The menu includes entrees like Wagyu flank steak, seared salmon and braised beef pot roast. Fresh sides include garlic fingerling potatoes, Brussels sprouts with sherry and honey and seasonal local vegetables. And don’t skip out on desserts: chocolate crumble cheesecake bar, salted caramel brownies, Nutella pie, chocolate chunk/ snickerdoodle cookies and a seasonal gluten-free dessert cup. The family meal packs include four entrees, two sides, a table salad and four dinner rolls. Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen also offers cooking classes and team-building events for those interested.
Location: 4001 Yancey Rd, Charlotte, NC 28217
Instagram: @chefalyssaclt
[LIFE HACK: Hack dinner by using family style meals at Charlotte restaurants.]
Clean Eatz
Clean Eatz offers a health-conscious, weekly meal plan service, with both pickup or delivery options available in Charlotte – and you aren’t required to be locked into a subscription to enjoy the convenience. Clean Eatz meal plans address specific goals and lifestyles like Keto, gluten free, weight loss and heart healthy. The Keto plan, for example, includes a cilantro lime chicken bowl, pepperjack beef enchilada and crack chicken, while the heart healthy plan offers chicken and sweet potato waffle, sweet and sour chicken and chicken mash potato bowl. With the “build your meal” plan, you can mix and match from all menu items. Clean Eatz also has packaged snacks and supplements for a healthy lifestyle. The Charlotte Clean Eatz restaurant also has a dine-in café with burgers, wraps, flatbreads, smoothies and more.
Location: 1800 Camden Rd, Suite 108, Charlotte, NC 28203
Instagram: @cleaneatzlife
DeSarno’s
DeSarno’s is an Italian market with plenty of take and bake options. With a slogan of “Our kitchen, our mess to your table, no stress,” its menu is full of traditional Italian fare like lasagna, baked ziti, chicken picatta and eggplant parmigiana, as well as comfort food like chicken pot pie and shepherd’s pie. The entrees come in single serve, half portion (feeds two or three) and full size (feeds four to six), with soups and sides like lemon herb orzo, garlic bacon brussels sprouts and split pea soup in either half pint or pint sizes. The regular menu is also accompanied by weekly specials and meal deals.
Location: 6420 Rea Road, Suite B4, Charlotte, NC 28277
Instagram: @deesarnos
Enzo’s Italian Market
Offering a taste of Italy’s rich culinary heritage, Enzo’s owners believe, “the secret ingredient to great food is love.” Its cooler is stocked with prepared food options such as spaghetti with meatballs, eggplant parmesan, chicken marsala, meat or ricotta ziti and stuffed shells, to name a few. And while you’re there, grab some cheeses, charcuterie, fine wines or authentic Italian desserts like cannoli, tiramisu and Italian cream cake to round out your meal.
Location: 4420 Potter Rd, Stallings, NC 28104
Location: 121 S Main Street Lancaster, SC 29720
Instagram: @enzos.italian.market
New York Butcher Shoppe
Three Charlotte area locations of New York Butcher Shoppe offer a range of hearty meals with classic options like seasoned and stuffed meats, salads and sides, with an additional rotating menu of specialty and seasonal meals. Treat yourself to dishes like bacon stuffed pork chops, chicken parmesan, beef Stroganoff, baked manicotti and stuffed filets. Call ahead with your order from their online menu or just stop in and pick up everything you need.
Location: 2452 Park Road, Charlotte, NC 28203
Location: 2018 Bridgemill Dr #104, Indian Land, SC 29707
Location: 20823 N Main St Ste C, Cornelius, NC 28031
Location: 1034 Gold Hill Rd Suite G, Fort Mill, SC 29708 (opens soon)
Instagram: @nyybutchercharlotte
Pasta and Provisions
This specialty Italian market not only offers a huge selection of Italian meats, pastas, salads, wines and more, but it serves up a variety of fresh pastas, lasagnas, soups and other dishes ready to reheat and enjoy in minutes. A few notable menu offerings include chicken Marsala, lobster and crabmeat ravioli, braised short rib Pomodoro and Italian wedding soup. One Facebook reviewer claims the Bolognese sauce is as good as his Sicilian grandmother’s.
Location: 1528 Providence Rd. Charlotte, NC 28207
Location: 4700 Park Rd. Charlotte, NC 28209
Location: 1600 S Mint St. Charlotte, NC 28203
Instagram: @pasta_provisions
Reid’s Fine Foods
Reid’s has been a Charlotte staple since opening on Morehead Street in 1928. While on site dining is available, Reid’s also has a variety of items available for pick up from its prepared foods case and butcher shop that make for a quick, hassle-free meal. Among its prepared dishes are beef or chicken lasagna, chicken tetrazzini, sausage and grits casserole and chicken pot pie. Don’t forget to pick up dessert like some fresh baked cookies or lemon pound cake.
Location: 2823 Selwyn Ave, Charlotte, NC 28209
Location: 4331 Barclay Downs Drive, Charlotte, NC 28209
Location: 121 W. Trade St. Suite 150, Charlotte, NC 28202
Location: 135 Levine Avenue of the Arts Suite 120, Charlotte, NC 28202
Instagram: @reidsfinefoods
SplenDishes
Across the state line, SplenDishes Kitchen offers three options for convenient meals: Weekly Meal Prep, Dinners Done! Freezer Meal Program or Personal Chef Services. The freezer meal program gives you the option of five or 10 healthy dinners for your family that come with a protein and veggie and are prepped and ready with cooking instructions. All meals are fully cooked and only need reheating. The menu changes weekly and includes dishes like shrimp scampi, stuffed pork chops, Korean Bulgogi beef and honey garlic chicken. Another perk: SplenDishes is based in Corks, Cooks & Books, so you can enjoy a good book and a glass of wine or beer when you pick up your order.
Location: 295 Herlong Ave Suite 401, Rock Hill, SC 29732 (Fort Mill porch pickup is also available)
Instagram: @shonalskitchen
Switchin’ Kitchens
Switchin’ Kitchens has been offering pre-made meals for Charlotte area families on the go since 2006. Its take-and-bake menu items include Buffalo wing casserole, cheeseburger pie, chicken broccoli casserole, chicken tetrazzini and Nana’s chicken pot pie (making a mental note now to try this!). Also available are appetizers, desserts and breakfast dishes that include the overnight French toast and rise and shine quesadillas. All the items at Switchin’ Kitchens are designed to be frozen and thawed to have on the table in 30 minutes.
Location: 8025 Ardrey Kell Road Suite 102 Charlotte, NC 28277
Instagram: @switchin_kitchens
Table and Twine
Charlotte’s Table and Twine offers both a subscription meal service and a “finish and serve” pickup option. Its menu, which rotates weekly, offers a variety of options packaged in servings of one, two or four, including easy heating instructions for dinner in 20 minutes or less. You’re sure to find something for everyone with selections like artisan street tacos (beef short rib, chicken, shrimp or vegetarian), five cheese manicotti, barbecue chicken and homestyle meatloaf. Sides range from gouda mac and cheese to summer harvest vegetable salad and more. A friend told me her family loved the chicken pot pie and homestyle green beans.
Location: 2600 Youngblood Street in Charlotte, NC 28203
Instagram: @tableandtwineclt
- Julie Greene contributed to this report.
