what is a good food item to prepare as a condolence for neighbor?!

I come from a big family, and so these events come up quite often. The items that have always been most appreciated are:

1. Fresh fruit salad (people think of dinner often but not about breakfast or lunch)
2. Cold cut platter (can be appreciated at lunch and dinner)
3. Crock pot of meatballs in marinara sauce or sausage and peppers in marinara sauce with snowball rolls and a tossed salad
4. MEATLOAF (just like you thought!)
5. Rotisserie chicken with mashed potatoes and green beans (comfort food)
6. Basket of breakfast breads/muffins

I hope this helps... I know you mentioned that you would like to do a dinner item but most poeple do that - so a breakfast or lunch type of item really would go a long way, too. Also consider waiting a week then dropping off some food because they could be inundated with things right now and really need a break a week or two from now when the gifted food runs out and they have the funeral bill to pay......

BBQ pulled pork. You can make it in the oven (google for recipes). The nice thing about this is it is such a casual meal, and can be lunch too. People can just grab it whenever, without having to fuss over a sit-down "time to eat now" meal. They can just keep it warm in a slow cooker or on the stove top.

Include plenty of sandwich rolls (hamburger bun style), a jar of dill pickles, a bag of potato chips and maybe a decent store bought cole slaw (or make your own if you are really ambitious).

Another option could be a good homemade spaghetti sauce with meat (I like using ground beef and also chunks of Italian sausage). Include a couple boxes of pasta. It's something that will hold well in the fridge for a few days, or it can be frozen. Plus it doesn't take up a ton of room in the fridge, in case they've been getting lots of casseroles.

Casseroles are always the "go to" for this type of thing, but they may get a few of those and may get sick of it.

Sometimes the best thing to take isn't a food item at all. If they're going to have a lot of family in consider getting them a big package of nice paper plates, plastic cutlery, napkins, plastic cups. I even put in a can of coffee at times. If that isn't your thing, consider something like a great pan of cinnamon rolls or muffins that they can use as a quick breakfast.

Lasagna or baked ziti. A ham, turkey, turkey breast, could be slice up and frozen for sandwiches. Pot roast, homemade soup, chili, or stew with some fresh rolls. They may also like a desert or cookies to put out for visitors so they don't have to do it. Casserole dishes are the easiest I include lasagna in that bunch~things where the whole meal is in one dish so they can either freeze it or eat off of it for a couple of days and just pull it in and out the frig, Hope that helped. That's a very kind gesture on your part.

life

Meatballs, with some good rolls might be good. Last time I made a pan of stuffed shells.

Lasagne or red beans and rice. Both of these items reheat really well. Meatloaf should work, too.

Home made Mac and Cheese, or Scalloped Potatoes..both are good comfort foods