How do you squash the “what’s for dinner and who’s making it” debate? Freezer meals! How do you save hundreds of dollars and stop recognizing all the drive through attendant’s voices? Freezer meals! How do you turn a father who’s “special dish” is Top Ramen into a hero ? Make ahead freezer meals!
As you can see I have a huge passion for freezer meal cooking. My name is Karrie and I am a busy work-at-home mother of 4. I am little bit disorganized and a free spirit. And make ahead freezer meals for a month have saved me.
Here’s how it started – After a few years of being married I gave birth to my first boy and girl. Yep! Twins. These twins sent my life into a busy chaotic whirlwind of diaper changes, feeding, chasing them around and trying to cook dinner for my family. Often times, when I had an especially busy exhausting day I would turn to fast food, or home cooked fast food for dinner like boxed Mac – n – Cheese, hot dogs or even cold cereal.
I knew this wasn’t the food I wanted myself or my family to eat, but because of being exhausted and not wanting to spend an hour or two in the kitchen I would do the easy fast thing.
It was during this time I heard about easy freezer meals for a month and decided to try it out. I cooked for a whole day in my kitchen and got 30 meals done. I felt so wonderful and the rest of that month I didn’t dread the dinner hour. My husband was so happy to have real cooking again and it was the start of my love of freezer cooking.
I have been doing freezer meals for many many years now and I still love them like crazy. So much in fact that I made my first ever cookbook! It’s called Seriously Good Freezer Meals. Please head on over and order yourself a copy! Inside there are menu plans and 150 of the BEST ever tasting freezer meals I’ve ever developed. For reals. You are gonna LOVE them!!!
*update! My cookbook has been out since February and I have received so many kind emails and messages about my cookbook from all of you! My heart is so full and I’m so happy you all love it so much! Thank you!
Okay, now back to the freezer meals info and recipes.
MY TOP 15 ALL-TIME FAVORITE FREEZER MEAL RECIPES
1. Homemade Easy Lasagna Recipe (Freezer Meal). This recipe is straight from my mom, who is one of the best cooks I know! I often make two lasagna pans up, bake one that night for dinner and freeze the other.
2. Easy make ahead Orange Chicken Freezer Meal. This one is just so good. And my kids will eat it up too, which makes me one happy mama.
3. Chicken Burrito Bowls. I love to make up a bunch of these and use them for my lunches. Such a yummy healthy freezer meal recipe.
4. Stuffed Shells Freezer Meal recipe. All 5-star reviews on this recipe from my readers. They love it as much as I do!
5. Instant Pot Shredded Beef Fajitas. Topped with fresh cilantro, and stuffed into a warm corn tortilla. Oh my goodness.
6. Make Ahead & Freeze Chicken Enchiladas. I have this tried & true recipe that has been on my blog for years and I also have a new updated homemade version in my cookbook.
7. French Dip Sandwich freezer meal cooked in the crockpot. Dipping into that savory au jus sauce is about the best thing I’ve ever eaten. It’s soo good.
8. My kids go crazy for these make-ahead Homemade Chicken Strips. I can’t blame them though, they are ah-mazing.
9. Creamy Cheesy Cilantro Chicken Taquitos. Perfection I’m telling you… perfection.
10. Baked Chicken Pesto Alfredo freezer meal. A great one I love to gift to others in need.
11. Chicken Pot Pie freezer meal – this one is only available in my cookbook Seriously Good Freezer Meals, but it had to be mentioned as it’s the best of the best.
11. Instant Pot Turkey Bolognese Freezer Meal. I love that this one is fast and low fat. Served over pasta for dinner.
12. This Freezer Meatballs Recipe is a staple in our household. They are super simple to make and it’s easy to double the batch. I am always stocking up the freezer with them because my family loves them so much.
13. Twice Baked Potatoes (Make Ahead and freeze) – this one is only available in my cookbook Seriously Good Freezer Meals, but it one of my favorite meals to have on hand when I am in need of that perfect comfort food. Mmmmm.
14. The BEST ever chocolate chip cookies. I make the dough, and then freeze little cookie dough balls so when I need a few cookies, I can pop them them into the oven and have warm fresh cookies anytime.
15. And lastly, my Darn Good Chili recipe. The perfect balance of flavor, heat and all good things. I love this in the winter time.
Freezer meals can be invaluable to parents as we try to juggle our busy lives. Preparing a freezer full of Freezer Meals is one of the best things I’ve ever done to help my family of six and save me money. I hope you dig in, give freezer meals a try and save yourself time and money.
FREEZER MEAL FAQ
Who are freezer meals for?
Make ahead freezer meals for a month are great for people:
– Who have busy lives and don’t always have time to cook a nice meal.
– People who eat at fast food a lot but want better healthy meals quick.
– Brand new mothers who just had a baby and need to rest or enjoy every precious minute of a new one.
– College students, empty nesters, singles and newly married couples.
– Folks who are sick, elderly or injured and cannot cook.
– And let’s be honest…pretty much everyone else out there.
What can be frozen and what cannot?
There are a few items that don’t freeze well. Lettuce, cucumbers, bean sprouts, and raw potatoes will turn mushy when thawed. Hard-boiled eggs will go rubbery so I avoid freezing those as well. Egg-based sauces like mayonnaise will separate and curdle when thawed. And many dairy products such as cream, yogurt, cream cheese, sour cream and cottage cheese will sometimes go watery when thawed. However, if I am using sour cream or cottage cheese in a dish that will be baked I usually have no issues. Other than those main items you should be able to freeze most items and have your meal turn out.
What containers are good to use for easy freezer meals?
Gallon or quart-sized plastic or re-usable freezer safe bags. Just make sure and get out as much air as possible by squishing the food around and flattening the bag as much as possible. Seal it tightly to avoid any spills or freezer burn as well. I have heard of people using reusable gallon sized bags as well to save even more money. Ziploc freezer meal recipes are my most used freezer meals for a month.
Aluminum foil pans or your own baking dishes. Look for these at the dollar stores where you can often get a 3 pack for a dollar. For my big family of 6, I use the 9×13 sized containers for our meals. However, if you are freezer meal cooking for two you can buy the smaller sized ones. Also check your local restaurant supply stores for multiple containers as well. You could also use your own metal pans, but you want to make sure you have enough of them before you get started.
What containers work best with freezer meals for Instant Pot cooking?
For those of you who want to take your Instant Pot freezer meals out of the freezer, and pop the frozen meal right into your Instant Pot without defrosting or thawing, these 64 oz freezable plastic containers with lids are awesome. Just make sure you also get a pack of these Sharpie peel-off markers so you can write on the bucket lids over and over again.
Here is a list of my favorite freezer meal supplies that are perfect for beginners or even those who have been doing it for a while!
How long can freezer meals last?
The majority of freezer meals will last anywhere from 3 to 9 months, depending on the ingredients used.
How do I get started making freezer meals?
This is probably the question I get asked the most. When you are getting started you sometimes just don’t know what to do! Here are some of my freezer meals for beginners posts and videos.
FREEZER MEALS FOR BEGINNERS
HOW TO PREVENT FREEZER BURN
MAKING 50 FREEZER MEALS IN A DAY!
FREEZER MEALS FOR TWO
HOW TO HOST A FREEZER MEAL PARTY
10 AWESOME IDEAS FOR ORGANIZING YOUR FREEZER
MY FAV FREEZER MEAL SUPPLIES
YOUTUBE VIDEO: FREEZER MEALS FOR BEGINNERS: 6 TIPS ON GETTING STARTED
Do you have more freezer meal recipes to share?
I sure do. Here are some of my freezer meal recipes listed in groups for you. Enjoy!
Breakfast
Homemade Sweet Milk Waffles
Sausage Egg & Cheese Biscuits
Bran Muffins
Freezer Friendly Buttermilk Pancakes
Homemade Sausage Patties
Green Smoothie packets
Make Ahead Gluten-Free Breakfast Sandwiches
French Toast Casserole
Breakfast Bowls
Strawberry Oatmeal Smoothies
Easy Cinnamon roll recipe
Vanilla Orange Custard French Toast
Lunches
Healthy Homemade Hot Pockets
Oven Baked Chicken Strips
Homemade Frozen Yogurt Pops
Homemade Granola Bars
Chicken Taquitos
Mozzarella Sticks
Meatballs
Dinners
Chicken Enchiladas
Homemade Easy Lasagna
Homemade Chicken Pot Pie
Fried Rice for the freezer
Creamy Cheesy Broccoli Soup
Tuna Casserole
Baked Chicken Pesto Alfredo
Homemade Stir-fry
Hamburger Patties
Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Desserts
The Master Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (freezer friendly)
Ice Cream Sandwiches
Brownie Bites
Apple Crisp
Healthy Freezer Meals
Honey Lime Chicken
Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Homemade Whole wheat bread
Homemade Stir-fry
Healthy Homemade Hot Pockets
Oven Baked Chicken Strips
Homemade Frozen Yogurt Pops
Homemade Granola Bars
Vegetable Lasagna
Slow Cooker Freezer Meals
Slow cooker Chicken Broccoli Alfredo over Pasta
Sweet & sour chicken
Slow cooker Roast Beef French Dip Sandwiches
Beef Barley Stew
Darn Good Chili
Bacon Covered Kalua Pork
Boneless BBQ Ribs
Crock Pot Sausage Gumbo
Easy Freezer Meals
Creamy Tomato Basil soup with ravioli
Roast Beef French Dip Sandwiches
Beef Barley Stew
Darn Good Chili
Bacon Covered Kalua Pork
Boneless BBQ Ribs
Other things you will find in my freezer
Homemade Chicken broth
Freezing Blueberries
Homemade Beef Broth
Rendered Tallow
Make Ahead Green Smoothies
Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls
Thank you for sharing such a great list! Although I’ve been monthly cooking for about 20 years, I’m going to be trying 5 of your recipes this week. Again, thank you for sharing!
Looking forward to trying some of your recipes. As a dialysis patient, it’s necessary to cook most everything from scratch and, since I’m a family of one, meals can be a daunting experience. LOL As an added note, for those who enjoy grilled foods, when my kids were young, I would grill on Sunday, everything for the week and wrap in foil and label it with freezer tape. (cook just shy of done) I would tell my oldest daughter what dinner was, for the night, and she would take it out of the freezer, when she got home from school (she was 14) and put it in the oven set at 200-250 degrees. By the time I got home, from work, the meat was warmed but not overcooked and I would open a couple of cans of veggies, to go with it and dinner would be ready within 15-20 min. For working moms, this works out really well, especially if you have a weekend that doesn’t allow you to prepare freezer meals.
Do you blanch some of your veggies before freezing? For example to make the beef stew crock pot – can you just blanche the carrots and potatoes?
Yes you can blanch the veggies if you like. 🙂
Hi Karrie. Thank you for your list of freezer meals! I am going to host a cooking bee to prepare meals for my friend who has severe rheumatoid arthritis so she has healthy, easy meals for herself and her husband and boys. You have saved me time and much searching! We should be able to put together a pile of meals in no time.
Take care.
Carrie (isn’t it a great name??)
Definitely a great name! 🙂 That is so thoughtful! Your friend is going to love it!
Thinking of trying all these wonderful dishes but being new to freezer meals I was wondering how long can they freeze for?
It really depends on the dish but I would say in general about 3 months is standard. Some meals can last for longer. Definitely try some of these meals out. They have saved me on busy days!
As a live alone eighty year old, I came upon your awesome site in search of “freezing buttermilk pancakes.” All I can say is thank-you, thank-you thank-you…….I feel like a kid in a candy store!
Any tips on reheating without using the microwave? We haven’t used one in about 3 yrs now. Should your freezer meals be thawed before baking or cooking?
Reheating without microwave… if it’s a stew or soup you can add some to a pot on the stove, and if its a casserole, add it to the oven – just takes longer to reheat but that’s okay! I think its better to thaw first, but if you forget you can totally just add it to your oven frozen (I do it all the time. ) Thanks for the question!
I don’t know if anyone else has suggested this, but something I’ve done in the past when freezing meals is to either line a favorite freezer-safe casserole dish with plastic wrap and put the meal right in my dish. Once the food is frozen, remove it and put it in a plastic freezer bag or Foodsaver (or similar). That done, I have my casserole back for other things, and I have a perfect fit for oven or microwave final cooking when it’s time to eat.
You can go right to the freezer bag or Foodsaver bag with more liquidy foods and use your casserole or whatever you’ll be cooking or reheating in as a ‘mold’.
Also, use the Foodsaver vacuum AFTER the food is frozen so you don’t get the liquid oozing out of the bag.
This works well with breads in the Foodsaver as well; from sad, squished-bread experience. 🙂
Great ideas Linda!
Hi! I am brand new to this but wanting to start it as the school/fall sport BUSY schedules are just around the corner. Do buy frozen chicken, thaw it while prepping, freeze it in zip lock baggies with rest of meal, then thaw it again before placing in crock pot?
You can do that Andrea, but I prefer to only freeze things one time. So I will buy fresh chicken and then make the meals, then freeze. Many people buy frozen chicken though so you can do this. I just think it tastes a little bit better when its only been frozen one time.
I love recipes for make a head and freeze. Right now I only do a couple but would love to stock my freezer to make life more simple. A couple of my favorites is meatloaf and lasagna. I just make my own favorite meat loaf recipe and freeze them raw then throw them in the crockpot in the morning. same with the lasagna but I havent been able to make a small enough portion to fit in the crock pot!
Crock pot tip: Use thick sliced potatoes or onions on the bottom of the crock pot and this will hold the meat off the bottom and out of the grease. You can also crumble up tin foil. I like the onions with my meat loaf because they are like having grilled onions.
Love your tips Theresa! Thank you.
How did that work out for you…teaching freezer meal classes?
Great tips and tricks! Freezer cooking is a way of life for us!
I just found this site … awesome. I have been freezing meals for a few years and now I have even more recipes to try. Thank you. One trick I found for freezing stock, chili, spaghetti sauce and other liquids is those hamburger pattie presses. (the plastic stack-able kind cheapest found at garage sales) I can measure out certain amounts in them, stack and freeze them and then they just pop out to go into freezer bags. This way I can reheat for 1 or more depending on how many “pucks” I use. Although you do have to be careful about the stock … they tend to melt slightly when transferring if your not quick or your kitchen is warm (like killing time while bread is baking lol) I had to break them apart after.
That is a great tip!
Thanks for reminding me about the joys of freezer food. Nothing gives me such a sense of wellbeing than noting that I have meals on hand. Like shopping in your very own “take away” but way more healthy and cheaper.
I know! There is something so reassuring about having a few freezer meals in the freezer. I get it!
when doing you 50 meals in a day will we follow the recipes exactly and get say 3 or so meals or do we need to triple the recipes?
Follow the quantities next to the recipes. Those are the times I make the recipes to make the 50 meals in a day. Good luck!
We eat gluten free as three of r 4 family members are gluten sensitive. I find I do a lot of cooking and baking from scratch and its harder for my husband to cook now. But after finding this I realized I can make the meals using my gluten free ingredients when I have extra time and freeze them to be made when I have less time or for days my husband needs to fix dinner! Yay!
No such thing as gluten sensitive. Either you have celiacs or you don’t.
Sorry, you are incorrect. I have multiple chronic illnesses and I am gluten sensitive but I do not have celiacs. There are people like myself, who have an intolerance to the carbohydrates in wheat. So, unless the carbs in wheat will somehow be removed, there are gluten sensitive people. However, Soy is my total enemy, in which I have a no tolerance allergy (Epi Pen necessary). Please don’t be quick to judge what people already know and you obviously are not an expert of..
To Karre, thank you for this beautiful sight and allowing us the benefits of your diligent work!!! You inspire many of us who have food intolerances as well as actual allergies, to create menus we can modify and prepare in advance. Sometimes when your limited on time or just not feeling well or both, it’s too much of a hassle to find or figure out what’s ‘safe’ to eat. Im sure I’m not the only one who goes hungry because we can’t just go to restaurant or deli to ‘pick up something’..
My son and I are both sensitive to gluten also, but neither of us have celiac disease. It amazes me how ignorant some people can be. Im also sensitive to dairy, and have to watch my intake.
I am so excited to try freezing meals. I have been feeling so burned out by having to be in the kitchen so much each evening. Thanks again!
Tried your lasagna recipe last night ? Doubled it to freeze one. Definitely adding this to my list of freezer meals. It was a hit! The only variation…was fresh garlic instead of powder. My husband wants me to do the pork recipe and broccoli soup. Thanks for sharing your tips & recipes!
I am so glad you liked it!
I just want to say I love your site. I have found so many things I want to try for the new year. Thanks.
So glad to have you!
I have seen that you can use your own pans but line them first, freeze them, than remove everything with the liner once frozen, and place in a freezer bag that way it’s ready to put back in the pan when you need to cook without in-disposing the pan.
That’s a great tip!