The ultimate moving week meal guide for New Zealand

We all have those weeks where life gets too busy to think about meal prep, grocery shopping or making elaborate meals. If you’re moving, there’s even less chance of getting to the store in between all the other tasks on your to-do list. But, before you open Uber Eats again, take stock of what you’ve already got on hand.

With a few trusty pantry staples, frozen vegetables, and simple proteins like sausages or chickpeas, you’ll be surprised at how easy it is to whip up a warm, satisfying meal in under 30 minutes.

This guide covers six no-fuss, budget-friendly dinners designed to help you clear out your kitchen, eat well, and stay sane during the chaos of moving week.

All of these meals will easily feed a family of up to five people. Pick two or three and make enough to spread out over the week. You’ll have extra to freeze or reheat for another night’s dinner. This is especially helpful if you’re packing up your kitchen and don’t want to use all your utensils.

Pro tip: Cook in batches a few days ahead of your move, freeze meals in containers you don’t mind parting with, and focus on recipes that reheat well with just a microwave or stovetop.

So let's get into it.

• Why meal prep is easier than Uber Eats
• What you’ll need to prep your moving week meals
• Moving week meal pep recipes
  • Easy Lentil & Potato Dahl
  • Chickpea & Spinach Coconut Curry
  • Sausage & Vegetable Tray Bake
  • Creamy Tandoori Chickpea Pasta
  • Thai Red Curry Noodle Soup
  • Tomato & Lentil Stew
• Make it a wise meal move

Why meal prep is easier than Uber Eats

Okay, nothing is easier than just ordering Uber Eats, but these recipes will give you the fuel you need for moving week. What’s more, they’re designed to use a lot of food you’ll already have on hand.

It’s certainly cheaper than getting takeaways, and you use up a few cans and ingredients in the process. Think of it as a tasty way to lighten your load (and avoid lugging half-open spice jars to your next place). Now that’s a win-win.

What you’ll need to prep your moving week meals

These recipes utilise groceries that most of us have in the pantry, fridge or freezer. We’ve opted for as much canned and frozen produce as possible to make things even easier. In fact, the only ‘fresh’ vegetables you need are potatoes and onions, and most of us have these on hand.

These recipes are low-fuss, budget-friendly, and full of flavour, no last-minute supermarket dash required.

No fancy appliances here: We’ve also kept the number of kitchen utensils you’ll need to make these to a minimum. Most of these recipes are one-pan wonders, and only a handful of basic utensils are needed. Ideal for when half your kitchen is already boxed up.

Cooking utensils

• 1 medium pot for boiling rice, noodles, or boiled eggs

• 1 large frying pan or skillet for sautéing onions and curries

• 1 oven-safe dish or roasting tray for the sausage and veg tray bake

• Lid(s) for pots or pans for simmering stews and rice

• Wooden spoon or heatproof spatula

• Tongs for turning sausages in the tray bake

• Wooden chopping board for dicing onions, garlic and potatoes.

• Sharp knife for cutting potatoes, onions, or fresh veg if using

• Can opener for chickpeas, tomatoes, and coconut milk

• A colander or sieve to drain canned beans or rinse lentils

Pantry staples

• Chickpeas

• Lentils

• Diced or crushed tomatoes

• Coconut milk

• Tomato paste (optional)

• Peanut butter

• Flavour bases (tandoori and Thai red curry paste)

• Stock cubes

• Soy sauce/tamari

• Pasta

• Rice

• Cous cous

• Instant noodles or vermicelli

• Cooking oil

Pantry vegetables

• Potatoes

• Garlic

• Onions

Spices and dried herbs

• Smoked paprika

• Cumin

• Dried oregano, thyme or mixed herbs

• Garlic powder or onion flakes

• Ginger

• Curry powder

• Turmeric

Freezer staples

• Mixed veggies

• Frozen spinach or silverbeet

• Sausages

• Bread/wraps

Fridge essentials

• Eggs

• Cheese

• Sour cream or yoghurt

Moving week meal prep recipes

Easy Lentil & Potato Dahl

Ingredients:

• 1 cup red lentils (or 1 can brown lentils, drained)

• 1–2 potatoes, peeled and diced small

• 1 onion (or frozen diced onion)

• 2 cloves garlic (or 1 tsp garlic paste)

• 1 tsp grated ginger (or ground ginger)

• 1–2 tsp curry powder or garam masala

• ½ tsp turmeric (optional)

• 1 can of chopped tomatoes

• 2 cups stock (or 1 stock cube + water)

• 1 tsp oil or butter

• Optional: frozen spinach or peas stirred in at the end

Method:

1. In a pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until soft. Add garlic, ginger, and spices. Cook for 1–2 minutes until fragrant.

2. Stir in diced potatoes and canned tomatoes. Cook for a few minutes.

3. Add lentils and stock. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.

4. If using canned lentils, reduce cooking time to about 15 minutes and use less stock (about 1 cup).

5. If it gets too thick, add a splash of water. If it’s too watery, simmer a bit longer uncovered.

6. Stir in frozen spinach or peas for extra colour and nutrients.

7. Enjoy with rice, roti, naan, or just on its own with a dollop of yoghurt.

Why this is a great meal for moving week

This recipe makes use of two very common pantry staples: lentils (which are often ignored) and a can of tomatoes. What’s more, you can add any vegetables you have on hand at the end, and the whole dish only takes 30 minutes to come together.

Chickpea & Spinach Coconut Curry

Ingredients:

• 1 can of chickpeas (drained)

• 1 can of coconut milk

• Thai red curry paste

• Frozen spinach (or frozen mixed veg)

• Onion (if available)

Method:

1. Chop the onion and sauté it in a pan.

2. Add your curry paste and fry until fragrant. You can use any type of curry paste that typically comes ready to use.

3. Add chickpeas, coconut milk, and frozen spinach and simmer until thickened (10–15 mins).

4. Serve with rice or microwaveable rice pouch.

Why it's a great meal for moving week

This recipe makes a delicious curry, ready in twenty minutes using only pantry staples. Throw in any type of curry paste you have. While we’ve specified Thai curry, Indian tandoori paste works great too, as will any strongly flavoured version.

Sausage & Vegetable Tray Bake

Ingredients:

• Frozen sausages (straight from the freezer if they're separated)

• Canned tomatoes

• Onions, potatoes and any roasting veggies you have on hand

• Dried herbs (e.g., oregano, thyme)

• Optional: a tin of lentils or cannellini beans

Method:

1. Preheat your oven to 200°C

2. Cut your potatoes into cubes and the onions into wedges.

3. Place the sausages, vegetables, and canned tomatoes in a roasting dish. Sprinkle with herbs and a splash of olive oil.

4. Bake for 40 mins, turning sausages once. Add beans near the end for extra bulk.

Why it's a great meal for moving week

This is an easy recipe for nights when you don’t want to be standing over the stove. It requires minimal prep work (all you need to do is cut up the vegetables) and place them in a warmed oven.

Creamy Tandoori Chickpea Pasta

Ingredients:

• Pasta

• Tandoori paste

• Canned chickpeas

• Coconut milk or a spoonful of sour cream/cream cheese (if available)

• Frozen veg (e.g., peas, broccoli)

Method:

1. In a medium saucepan, cook your choice of pasta as per the directions on the packet.

2. In a frying pan, add tandoori paste and cook until fragrant.

3. Add the chickpeas, frozen vegetables, and coconut milk.

4. Simmer to thicken, then toss through pasta.

Why it's a great meal for moving week

This recipe works with most types of pasta—something all of us have in the cupboard. It’s also a great way to get rid of any last bags of frozen vegetables.

Thai Red Curry Noodle Soup

Ingredients:

• Thai red curry paste

• Canned coconut milk

• Stock cube or liquid stock

• Instant noodles or vermicelli

• Frozen veg or spinach

• Leftover cooked meat/tofu/egg (optional)

Method:

1. In a medium saucepan, heat 1 to 2 teaspoons of Thai red curry paste over medium heat until fragrant.

2. Pour in a can of coconut milk and 1 cup of vegetable or chicken stock. Stir well to combine.

3. Stir in 1 to 2 cups of frozen vegetables. Bring to a gentle simmer.

4. Drop in instant noodles or vermicelli. Cook according to the packet instructions (usually 3–5 minutes), stirring occasionally to separate them.

5. Once the noodles and veg are cooked, ladle them into bowls and top with a sliced boiled egg.

Why it’s a great meal for moving week

This meal comes together super fast. Plus, you can add cold meat or a boiled egg for added protein.

Tomato & Lentil Stew

Ingredients:

• Canned tomatoes

• Stock

• Can of lentils

• Frozen mixed veg or silverbeet/spinach

• Garlic/onion, if available

• Herbs/spices (e.g., smoked paprika, cumin)

Method:

1. In a large saucepan, heat a little oil over medium heat. Add chopped onion and garlic (if using) and sauté until soft and fragrant.

2. Stir in 1 can of chopped tomatoes, 1 can of lentils (drained), 1–2 cups of frozen vegetables, and 1–2 cups of vegetable stock or water with a stock cube.

3. Add your choice of spices, such as 1 tsp smoked paprika, ½ tsp cumin, and salt and pepper to taste. You can also add dried herbs like thyme or oregano.

4. Bring to a simmer and cook for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened and the veg is tender.

Why it’s a great meal for moving week

You can change the flavour of this recipe based on what spices you add to the dish, or serve it with rice one night and mashed potatoes the next.

Make it a wise meal move

As tempting as it is to eat takeaways during moving week, having a few go-to pantry meals can make all the difference. These simple dinners are designed to help you get through the chaos with something warm, filling, and stress-free on the table.

To make your move even smoother, hiring professional movers can help alleviate a lot of the stress around moving. Whether you’re moving down the street or across the country, Wise Move makes it easy to find reliable, trustworthy movers who can take care of all the heavy lifting for you.