My best friend died last night.  I want to take some food to his widow and adult son who's staying with her for a while.  I'm having trouble concentrating but I'm thinking in terms of something that cooks fairly fast, keeps well and can be warmed to serve.  I can package a lot of it (not soup) in vacuum bags.

I'll start a pork butt soon but I'm hoping for something that cooks faster.

What would you take?

Sorry to hear about the loss!  Casserole?

Lasagna...bake it off.  Let it cool and cut it into portion sizes and wrap them individually.  They can be heated as needed and keep pretty good in the freezer too.

Pulled pork or pulled beef keeps well in the freezer and especially if you portion it so only a bag needs to be pulled out one at a time.

Sorry for your loss and try to stay strong for his family.

Sorry about your loss, Paul. ..... One of life's hard realities that's never easy. ..... How about meatloaf? ..... It's a pretty generic thing that everybody likes, and under this situation, the focus won't be on "culinary art", and in the smoker should cook faster than something like pulled pork. Whatever you prepare, I'm sure the thought will far exceed the dish.

I am so sorry for your loss and his family's loss.

I have always liked casseroles.  They can be reheated very quickly and even individual portions taken out and microwaved.  Your taco stuffed pasta shells would be excellent for this I think. I have always liked tuna noodle casserole and it is quick and easy to make  and very warm and comforting. If you are also thinking of foods for a memorial after the service, finger foods are always good -- ham biscuits, deviled eggs, even meatballs and ABTs.

sorry for your loss.  I too am in the "casserole group".  Very easy to portion, heat and serve.

Good ideas all.  Thank you.  Yeah, Kristin, I can't even think of my own recipes.

I'm sorry for your loss.  Will be saying prayers for you and his family.

I like the idea of casseroles.  Another possibility is to just put some kielbasa or other favorite sausage on the smoker for an hour or so and cut it up into bite sized pieces.  You could include a potato of some kind as well, baked or mashed.  That way that can just reheat whatever portion size they like.

Sorry for your loss.
I make my Scroodle recipe.
Go easy in a crockpot.
https://pelletfan.com/index.php?topic=77.0

I make my Scroodle recipe.
Go easy in a crockpot.
https://pelletfan.com/index.php?topic=77.0

So I would boil the pasta, add the sauce and put it in a crockpot to stay warm?

Yes

That's included in the fare.  It appears that they're getting more food than they can use but they have family arriving so it may be okay.