Recipes

The New Mama Meal Train

by StudioLink Recipe.
September 14, 2026
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Made by
Jaycie

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This thoughtful New Mama Meal Train covers more than dinner. A comforting tater tot casserole is paired with green beans and dinner rolls, while washed and cut fruit gives new parents an easy ready-to-eat snack and homemade brown butter chocolate chip cookies add a well-deserved treat.

Main Dish:
Tater Tot Casserole
Casserole Bake:
50 min + 5 min broil
Cookie Yield:
24 cookies

Postpartum Prep Tip: Washing and cutting the fruit before delivery makes it immediately ready to grab from the fridge. Jaycie shares that someone did this for her after she had her babies, and it made a big difference.

Ingredients:

0.5x
1x
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For the Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
  •   1 cup salted butter (sliced)
  •   1 1/2 cups dark brown sugar (packed)
  •   1/4 cup granulated sugar
  •   2 large eggs (1 large egg + 1 large egg yolk, at room temperature)
  •   1 tbsp vanilla extract
  •   1 tbsp plain whole-milk Greek yogurt
  •   2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  •   1 tsp baking soda
  •   1/2 tsp kosher salt
  •   3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
  •   3/4 cup milk chocolate chips (or dark chocolate chips, or chunks)
  •   flaky sea salt
 
For the Tater Tot Casserole
  •   1.5 lbs ground beef
  •   1/4 tsp garlic powder
  •   1/4 tsp onion powder
  •   1/4 tsp pepper
  •   dash salt
  •   2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  •   1 can cheddar cheese soup
  •   1 can cream of chicken
  •   1 cup sour cream
  •   1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  •   2 lbs frozen tater tots
 
Other
  •   fruit
  •   green beans
  •   dinner rolls
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Ingredients are subject to availability at local stores. Unavailable items will be automatically substituted at best-effort.

Directions

Tater Tot Casserole

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
  2. In a skillet over medium-high heat, brown the GROUND BEEF. Drain off any excess grease.
  3. Add the GARLIC POWDER, ONION POWDER, BLACK PEPPER, SALT, and WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE.
  4. Stir in the CHEDDAR CHEESE SOUP, CREAM OF CHICKEN SOUP, and SOUR CREAM until well combined.
  5. Transfer the beef mixture to the prepared baking dish.
  6. Top evenly with the SHREDDED CHEDDAR CHEESE, followed by the FROZEN TATER TOTS.
  7. Bake at 350°F for 50 minutes.
  8. Broil for an additional 5 minutes to brown and crisp the tater tots, watching closely so the top does not burn.
  9. Serve with GREEN BEANS and DINNER ROLLS.

Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

  1. Line a large plate or baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Melt the BUTTER in a small saucepan over medium heat. Once melted, whisk constantly as it crackles and foams. Continue cooking until it turns golden amber and develops a nutty aroma, about 5–8 minutes.
  3. Immediately transfer the browned butter and browned bits to a medium bowl and allow it to cool for about 15 minutes.
  4. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix the browned butter, DARK BROWN SUGAR, and GRANULATED SUGAR until combined, about 1 minute.
  5. Beat in the EGG, EGG YOLK, VANILLA, and GREEK YOGURT until smooth and creamy.
  6. In a separate bowl, whisk together the FLOUR, BAKING SODA, and KOSHER SALT.
  7. With the mixer running on low speed, gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix just until combined.
  8. Add the SEMISWEET CHOCOLATE CHIPS and MILK OR DARK CHOCOLATE CHIPS. Mix on low just until incorporated.
  9. Cover the dough and refrigerate for 10 minutes.
  10. Scoop approximately 2 heaping tablespoons of dough for each cookie and roll into balls. Place on the prepared plate or baking sheet.
  11. Cover the dough balls and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 24 hours.
  12. When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Allow the chilled dough balls to soften for about 15 minutes.
  13. Arrange the dough balls about 2 inches apart and bake for 9–11 minutes, until the edges are beginning to turn golden while the centers still look slightly underdone.
  14. Cool the cookies on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then sprinkle with FLAKY SEA SALT and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Finish the Meal Train

  • Wash, cut, and package the FRESH FRUIT so it is ready to eat straight from the refrigerator.
  • Package the GREEN BEANS and DINNER ROLLS alongside the casserole.
  • Add the cooled BROWN BUTTER CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES as an easy treat for the new parents.

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