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It has depended on the dietary restrictions of the family. I have brought muffins (great for mom to snack on/eat one-handed), baked ziti (freezes well, likely pleasing to any little kids at home), chicken gyros (can omit tzatziki and be dairy-free), chicken chili (also freezes well) and cornbread, and spinach lasagna (another one where you can bake half a recipe and freeze the other half). In a pinch, I've also picked up a rotisserie chicken, salad, and dairy-free root veggie mash for a quick dairy-free meal delivery.

ETA: I've seen other moms bring a pot of soup, or pizza.

@Pancakes: Soo where do you live and do you deliver?

We received breakfast from a friend and it was so delicious, she gave us a baked french toast dish, fruit/yogurt parfait and some baked egg muffins. I usually give a baked pasta dish (divided in 2 to freeze half) with a bagged salad kit, homemade bread, and brownies.

Someone brought us a homemade chicken pot pie with a giant mason jar of lemonade, and I sort of wanted to kiss her. SO good!

Some ideas:

-A crockpot of chicken tortilla soup with toppings like tortilla chips, cheese, avocado, etc.

-Lasagna

-Taco salads or tostata bowls. The only prep for this is really browning the ground beef/turkey or shredding the cooked chicken. Everything else is just chopping and putting it in tupperwares. Usually I send either tostata bowls or tortilla chips, a container of cooked meat (beef or shredded chicken), a container of seasoned black bean and corn mixture, chopped veggies like lettuce, tomato, onions, cilantro, and olives, as well as a bag of shredded cheese and a container of sour cream. Then they can put together the salads themselves, whenever they want.

-White chicken chili (this is especially good for mamas who are doing dairy/gluten/soy free. I love the Pioneer Woman's recipe (tweaked a bit to avoid dairy), but use canned beans.

-I always try and send a loaf of banana bread or zucchini bread, too!

Oh, and as a random aside, I love it when people bring drinks. We usually don't have anything except for water here and it feels like such a special treat when people bring something like iced tea/lemonade etc.

I do a vegetable lasagna with butternut squash béchamel. It's reasonably easy to make and can be tailored for dietary restrictions. I usually use sautéed mushrooms, onions, and Swiss chard as the filling, and the béchamel can be made dairy-free if necessary (I use coconut oil and almond milk in place of the butter and milk, and leave out the Parmesan because it's nice to have but not necessary). Plus, it's total comfort food without being too heavy for warmer weather. My recipe is adapted from http://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-chard-mushroom-lasagna-137482.

AND I always make it in one of those disposable aluminum pans so the new parents don't have to worry about washing and returning one of mine!

I've sent Hawaiian meatballs and enchiladas before. I try not to get too creative, haha. I think a tray of sandwich fixings would also go far! And a pan of brownies. Or muffins. Or egg burritos...egg burritos were fantastic

Man I'm jealous only one person brought us food! It was a chicken and veggie pasta salad and it was delicious!

This is my go-to meal for new parents (and I take it along with some garlic bread that they can pop in the oven, and some salad and brownies, too):

http://www.hellobee.com/2014/05/22/chicken-parmesan-bake/

In fact, I'm actually planning on making it tonight for dinner!

@mrskc: ohh, tortilla soup is a great idea! We have a great recipe I could share. It freezes well and reheats easily, and tastes just as great!

We plan in making some & freezing it before the baby comes!

I always make a chicken pasta bake. Super easy.

I bring a frozen dish and since I received a pot pie that will be my new go to - so yummy. I also like bringing snacky brunch foods - since they're easy to grab and eat for momma. Usually cold cuts/a cut up rotisserie chicken, croissants/biscuits, cut up fruit/berries, cut up veggies and some cheese cubes. Add some home made cookies or a brownie and then I feel like I've provided a whole day of food

@Rainbow Sprinkles: I never thought about drinks! Great idea!

I second chicken pot pie. I have actually brought chicken pot pie muffins that they can freeze and dethaw for snacks / a full meal. They were a hit (the mom said she was breastfeeding and that they were perfect for one handed eating)! As an aside, you should double whatever you make and freeze it for you!

I've made both of these:

http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/mini-chicken-pot-pies/3614bb9a-77be-4f8f-8c2d-517f109494c4

http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/chicken-pot-pie-cupcakes/575fee43-39fc-4360-8793-5c3b929d30b1

I always do a ziti bake (in a tin dish so they don't have to worry about returning a dish or can freeze it if they need too) salad, bread, and I like to do muffins so the mom has something easy to grab for breakfast.

My favorite meal to make for new moms is Poppyseed chicken:

*4 large boneless chicken breasts
* 2 cans cream of chicken soup
* 1 tub sour cream (16 oz)
* 2 sticks butter
* Ritz crackers (1 box - 4 sleeves)
* Poppyseed

Boil chicken until cooked. Cut into chunks and mix with sour cream & cream of chicken - add salt and pepper to taste.

Crush 2 sleeves of the Ritz crackers into a large bowl. Melt one stick of butter and mix into crackers along with 1 tbsp of poppyseed. Layer it into a 9x13" baking pan. Pour chicken mixture on top. Repeat Ritz cracker mixture again and smooth over top of chicken mix.

I deliver it that way and tell them to keep it refrigerated and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes when ready to eat. I also bring a bag of steamable veggies, rolls and steamable bag of rice. It's one of my favorite meals and tastes better reheated too!

wow you ladies are all so sweet!! i don't know if it was the fact that we were in the nicu with A for so long or what but we didn't get sent anything by family and friends. and i always send something - though it's usually sweets

@mrskc: I bring gallon ziploc bags of washed, cut fruit. Breakfast burritos (hearty and easy to eat one handed in the middle of the night). Pre-marinated meat (if the dad can grill) with a bag of salad and a loaf of bread. Lots of plastic silverware, paper plates, plastic cups, and paper napkins because no one wants to do dishes!