20 Easy & Delicious Ways to Eat and Enjoy Prepared Meat

This roundup of 20 easy and delicious ways to eat and enjoy prepared meat includes snacks made with pastrami, sandwiches stuffed with roast beef, family-pleasing suppers starring savory sausage and corned beef, and a whole lot more. Read on for mealtime inspiration for you and your family.

If you’re like me and your pantry and fridge are filled with things like canned salmon, canned beans, pre-shredded cheese, deli roast beef, and orange juice, then you’re a fan of processed foods. The term “processed” gets a bad rap, but what it actually means is, “prepared.”

Let’s use prepared meats as an example. Processed meats like roast beef, sausage, salami, corned beef, and beef jerky are “prepared” in large-scale kitchens (often referred to as a “plant”) in various ways. They are cut, chopped, seasoned and cooked, and they are safe to eat. In fact, every ingredient used is their preparation is approved by the FDA and inspected by the USDA.

Prepared meats were a staple of my diet growing up (read about my favorite roast beef sandwich on rye with Russian and coleslaw here), and they continue to make their way onto our family’s table today. And I’m not the only one! What follows are 20 wholesome and mouth-watering recipe ideas from some of my favorite dietitians who also love to cook, share recipes, and write about them.

Snacks and Appetizers with Pizzazz: Whether you’re hosting a fancy party, snacking on something substantial to hold you over until lunch, or tossing together an after-school snack, I’ve got you covered with recipes like Roast Beef Wellington Bites from Emily at Sinful Nutrition and Beef Jerky Snacking Board from Whitney at Sweet Cayenne. And wait until you see all the High-Protein Snack options featuring prepared meats that Liz at Shaw’s Simple Swaps is serving up.

Roast Beef Wellington Bites by Emily at Sinful Nutrition: Emily says, “These Mini Roast Beef Wellington Bites are a super easy and impressive appetizer that is perfectly paired with a healthier horseradish dipping sauce.”

Mediterranean Picnic Plate Grazing Board by Serena at Teaspoon of Spice: Serena says, “This grazing board is perfect for easy entertaining. Check out my tips for making a sunny Mediterranean Picnic Plate that looks as delicious as it tastes.”

Beef Jerky Snack Board and Roast Beef Kebabs from Ann at My Menu Pal. Ann says, “This Beef Jerky Snack Board is the perfect answer to fuel kids after school until dinner combining protein, carbohydrates and good fats. Yes, you have permission to eat processed (prepared) meat.”

High-Protein Snacks by Liz at Shaw’s Simple Swaps: Liz says, “These simple high protein, lower carb snack options will help to satiate and satisfy you throughout your busy days.”

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Let’s Do Lunch: Looking for ways to jazz up your child’s lunchbox? Check out the “I’ll never trade that” Roast Beef, Avocado & Caramelized Onion Sandwich from my blog and the Homemade Pizza Lunchables from Katie at Mom to Mom Nutrition. And if you’re wondering how hot dogs fit into a well-balanced lifestyle, Jodi at Create Kids Club and Mary Ellen at Milk and Honey Nutrition explain.

Roast Beef, Avocado & Caramelized Onion Sandwich with Pesto Mayo by Liz at Liz’s Healthy Table. Here’s what I’ve got to say about this recipe: “This sandwich can do triple duty as the star of your next picnic, al fresco lunch, or the main attraction in your child’s back-to-school lunchbox … or yours.”

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Main Meals (and other nibbles) with Family Appeal: Every time I ask my readers which meal occasion they struggle with the most, main meals consistently rank number one. To the rescue to solve your daily dinner dilemma are prepared meats. Jenna from Make Healthy Easy uses kielbasa in her recipe for Creamy Tomato Kielbasa Pasta and Gretchen from Kumquat Blog has a breakfast or breakfast-for-dinner recipe that tastes as great as it looks!

Creamy Tomato Kielbasa Pasta by Jenna at Make Healthy Easy. Jenna says, “Creamy Tomato Kielbasa Pasta is a quick and balanced dinner recipe perfect for busy weeknights. This could become your family’s next favorite meal.”

Corned Beef Hash with Fennel and Fried Eggs by Gretchen at Kumquat Blog. Gretchen says, “One of my favorite things about not having to rush out the door in the morning is to have the opportunity to make a real breakfast that my kids can sit and enjoy. And the favorite breakfast my kids like to eat is always corned beef hash.”

Sausage and Hot Dog Slider Bar by Jessica Levinson. Jessica says, “Have a little DIY fun at your next backyard barbecue by adding a sausage and hot dog slider bar with all the fixings!”