Do you need dinner on the table fast? Then, make it ahead of time and pop it in the freezer. Try 10 of my favorite delicious and easy make ahead freezer meals.
Summer is going by so fast! I’m not ready for it to end, but I know I need to start preparing to go back to school. In addition to working in my classroom, I also started working in the kitchen.
When I get home from school, it’s already 4:30. I’m exhausted after spending the day with 25 energetic 3rd graders. The last thing I want to do is spend an hour cooking dinner.
One solution to this problem is my make ahead meals. However, that requires an empty Saturday morning. I need to be able to go to the grocery store and spend at least an hour making the week’s meals.
Sometimes that’s just not possible!
Enter freezer cooking. I spend a day in the kitchen and end up with a freezer full of delicious food. That way, when I have a busy Saturday, my family doesn’t starve. I just pull some make ahead freezer meals out on Sunday and thaw them for the busy week.
Once the school year starts, I won’t have a whole day for freezer cooking. That doesn’t mean I forget about freezer meals. Instead, I just double my regular make ahead meal recipes. One is for dinner that week, and the other goes in the freezer for a later date.
Here are some of my favorite freezer meals.
Make Ahead Freezer Meals
1. Spinach and Cheese Stuffed Chicken from Love and Cilantro
Quick Tip: Danya from Love and Cilanto suggests cooking the chicken before freezing it. Then, just thaw it the night before and pop it in the microwave. Doesn’t get easier than that!
2. Baked Eggplant Parmesan from Whole Foods Market
Quick Tip: Buy eggplant during the summer when it is fresh and beautiful. Then, you can enjoy it when it’s out of season.
3. Chicken Tetrazzini from Lil Luna
Quick Tip: Go to the Dollar Store and get some aluminum pans that are 2 for $1. Put your make ahead freezer meals in them, so you can still use your regular baking dishes.
4. Honey Garlic Pork Chops from Food.com
Quick Tip: Write the date on your make ahead freezer meals. Then, try to eat them in the order you made them. That way you’re not pulling bags from the back of the freezer that are 5 years old (or at least you know they’re 5 years old if the date is there).
5. Creamy Garlic Penne Pasta with Chicken from Yellow Bliss Road
Quick Tip: Cover your casserole dishes with plastic wrap and aluminum foil before putting them in the freezer to keep them fresh longer.
6. Blue Cheese and Bacon Stuffed Burgers from Andie Mitchell
Quick Tip: Put parchment paper between the burgers so they don’t stick together when they freeze.
7. Creamy Pepperjack Chicken Enchiladas from the Sugar n Spice Gals
Quick Tip: You can cook a whole batch of chicken in the slow cooker. Use some of it for this casserole and freeze the rest to use for recipes later.
8. Copy Cat Pizza Hut Sauce from Budget Savvy Diva and Baked Meatballs from Cook with Honey
Serving Suggestions: Cook up a pot of spaghetti and serve spaghetti and meatballs or make some yummy meatball subs!
Quick Tip: Freeze the sauce in gallon bags and lay them flat in the freezer. That will take up a lot less space than plastic containers!
9. Blueberry Pancakes from AllRecipes
Quick Tip: Freeze the pancakes on a baking sheet. Then, transfer them to a freezer bag. That way, they won’t stick together.
10. Blueberry Lemon Cheesecake Squares from Simply Happy Foodie
Quick Tip: Yes, you can even freeze dessert. You can freeze it whole. Then, just pull dessert from the freezer when guests are coming for dinner. If you don’t want to share, cut it into squares, and freeze them individually. Then, you can pull one out whenever you’re craving something sweet.
A Full Freezer
Even though I’m not quite ready for summer break to be over, at least I know I won’t have to worry about what to feed my family. My freezer is stocked with delicious foods for breakfast, lunch (leftovers), dinner, and dessert.
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What Do You Think?
What is your favorite freezer meal?
Let me know in the comments below.
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You have posted freezer meals I have not seen before, love having the pictures as well!
I hope you get to try some of the recipes, Bobbi! My family loves them all!
These all look so yummy! Thank you for sharing!
You’re welcome!
This post couldn’t have come at a better time! With such a busy schedule, time to cook dinner is always compromised. Freezer meals are such a time saver. Can’t want to try out some of these recipes!
I’m glad you found it helpful, Shannon! Freezer cooking saves so much time! I hope you enjoy the recipes!