8 Simple Recipe Ideas While Your Kitchen is Being Remodeled

Before a kitchen remodel, you are full of vision and excitement. You can't wait to see the new countertops and backsplash. You dream of using your new fixtures and enjoying your modern ergonomic layout. 

But while the renovation is in progress, the biggest impediment is the fact that you can't actually cook in your kitchen. No stove, no oven, and you might even be cut off from your full-sized fridge.

At the same time, you don't want to order takeout every night or start eating unhealthily. So you set yourself up a kitchenette in the living room with a few little essentials. Perhaps you have a microwave, or perhaps a hotplate and toaster oven. You are likely using the closest bathroom sink to wash up and trying to minimize dishes and mess. We know exactly where you're coming from.

Eating right can be hard during a kitchen renovation, and keeping your family well-fed is an even greater challenge until your stove is available again. That's why we're here to share a few of our favorite clever and simple meal ideas when your kitchen is in transition.

Lunchmeat and Egg Salads

Let's start with what you can enjoy straight out of the mini-fridge. When you have a family to feed, limited time, and chaos in your kitchen, having a few fast solutions is key. The best starting place is lunchmeat salads. Lettuce and spinach can be your base. Chop in tomato, mushroom, and other veggies to taste. Then dice in a few slices of lunchmeat and quarter a hard-boiled egg. Dress with caesar, ranch, or your dressing of choice.

Healthy Cold-Cut Sandwiches and Wraps

What about cold sandwiches? Now is a great time to rediscover your grocery store's deli section - and not just for the premade potato salad. Check out the thick-cut ham, thin-sliced turkey, and spiced specialty meats like pastrami. Invent new family sandwiches or explore classics you've never made at home before. Sandwich fixings are the best way to make meals quick and available without a full kitchen.

Hot Pressed Paninis and Quesadillas

Have a sandwich press or even just a hotplate and a pan? You can make hot sandwiches. Skip the grilled cheese for healthier options. Get yourself some thinker bread for paninis or stock up on tortillas to make some cheesy quesadilla variety.  Hot sandwiches can really help to mix up a deli-based diet while your kitchen is under construction. Mix up the ingredients for hot vs cold and maybe even microwave-sautee a few veggies to go in each panini.

Toast and Tostadas

If you have a toaster oven or a pan set up, you can make toast or tostadas. Many people are fond of avocado toast for breakfast, and you can still have that. If you like traditional Italian bread with fresh tomatoes and light cheese, you can have that, too. Or stack nacho fixings on a flat tortilla and quarter into tostada triangles.

Fruit and Muffins

Don't underestimate the importance of a family snack counter. A bowl of fresh fruit and a covered dish of muffins can make a big difference between a cranky or happy afternoon. Make it easy to snag a little breakfast or a snack on the go without having to fire up the toaster oven or mix a salad for something nourishing. Packs of juice that don't need fridge space can also improve everyone's outlook because quick, tasty calories are available.

Spaghetti and Meat Sauce

Did you know you can still make spaghetti in a tiny temporary kitchen?  You can fry or bake meatballs or break up ground beef. Cook your noodles in the microwave, then heat the sauce in that same microwave but cover it. Tomatoes explode. Combine the meat, sauce, and noodles for an almost perfect recreation of a family traditional meal.

Toaster Oven Casserole

If casseroles are part of your normal family routine, you can still make casseroles in the toaster oven.  Get a pan of the right size and make as large a casserole as the pan will hold. With the right time and temperature, you can still enjoy the healthy compotes your family is accustomed to.

Just be sure to set that pan to soak in hot water with soap on the counter, since you won't have the kitchen sink to soak in.

Hot Plate Soup

Last but not least, you can even make soup. In fact, it's one of the most reliable ways to cook meat without a meat-ready counter. Pick your favorite soup recipe and boil it up in a pot on your camp stove. You can start with your favorite canned soup, if you're in a hurry, or recreate a personal favorite with a simple ingredient list.

Enjoying Every Step of Your Kitchen Renovation

Remodeling your kitchen is an exciting time. This should be a period when you're constantly checking in on the progress, admiring the countertop as it goes in, and dreaming about the final result when the work is done. You and the family can enjoy the under-construction time much more easily with a fun menu planned to work with your temporary kitchenette instead of against it. With simple ingredient lists and minimum prep space required, every meal can still be healthy and fresh without a full kitchen to work with.

Ready to dive into your new kitchen experience? Edesia is ready to help you enjoy the process every step of the way. Contact us today to begin planning your kitchen renovation with our designer-builders.