Freezer meals aren’t just for dinner! This yummy list of make ahead & freeze lunches will change your life and pad your pocketbook! From taquitos to homemade hot pockets to burrito bowls, there is something here for everyone!
I am usually great about making freezer meals – however, the majority of them are for dinner. But this year, I have been trying to save money by making lunches ahead for my husband to take to lunch. And at home, I do enjoy them as well, by the way. A quick grab from the freezer, then a quick reheat makes a delicious healthy lunch. And I don’t have to cook or think about it. It’s great!
My kids get make-ahead cold lunches, but my husband likes warm food most of the time. Sometimes he takes leftovers, which is great, but we don’t always have leftovers on hand. For his lunch, I wanted one-dish meals that could easily be reheated in the microwave at his office. Healthy options that I can make ahead and freeze as well. So I wanted to share some of the best ideas out there that I have found. Most of these are things I can spend a morning cooking up in advance, and he can then take them out every day to pack in his lunch.
Please share what you or your husband take for lunch to save money!
10 Make Ahead and Freeze Lunches
1. Chicken Burritos – Oh, man, are these delicious! Make up a bunch, then freeze each individually to reheat at work.
2. 15-Minute Quinoa Burrito Bowls – These are like zesty tacos in a bowl but easier and filled with healthy, nutritious quinoa and chicken sausage to take it to that next level!
3. Homemade Hot Pockets – I customize these hot pockets for everyone’s lunches! Warm them in the microwave for a quick and tasty lunch.
4. Creamy Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup – One of my favorite lunches! Freeze soup in individual containers and heat for a quick and yummy warm lunch.
5. Homemade Freezer Chicken Taquitos with Cream Cheese & Cilantro – I bake these up so they are fully cooked, then just reheat them for lunch. My kids love them, too!
6. Sesame Honey Lettuce Wraps – Make these wraps for dinner and then package them up in individual portions for lunch! YUM!
7. Mini Naan Pizza – Make a bunch of these pizzas, customize them and then freeze them for a quick and delicious lunch! You can stick them in the microwave, oven, or air fryer!
8. Individual Chicken Pot Pies – These Mini Chicken Pot Pies are so easy to make and taste like they’re made from scratch! They are a perfect size and so hearty – perfect for a yummy lunch!
9. Chicken Burrito Bowls – These are the perfect combination of healthy ingredients, super flavorful taste, they are fast to reheat, and the best part of all? I get full from eating them!
10. Creamy White Chicken Enchiladas. Make up a pan of these enchiladas, then add to a lunch container/ziplock container. Freeze and take one each day – yum!
And this is just the beginning of yummy freezer meal lunch ideas!
More Lunch Ideas
- Homemade Creamy Cheesy Broccoli Soup
- Easy Meatball Subs
- Easy Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches
- Pulled Pork Sliders
- Make Ahead Orange Chicken
- 4 Ingredient Pizza Pocket
Hope you enjoyed this round-up of these yummy prepped lunches. Please share any other recipes or make-ahead lunch ideas you make too! Snap a picture and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #happymoneysaver and tagging me @happymoneysaver!
About Karrie
Food is my love language. But so is saving money. So I like to combine the two a lot and make thrifty make ahead and freeze meals to save time. Because life is busy, and freezer meals can come to the rescue for all of us. And yes, they actually CAN taste good. Read more...
Comments & Reviews
Elle says
I loved this too, thank you! I love cooking my husband lunch and dinner, and I love that he prefers my food over bought food 🙂 This post was just what I was looking for. Thanks!
Nicki says
These are awesome ideas! I love to cook and love cooking my husband’s lunches to take to work. I ran out of ideas, so I’m sure he will love something new. 🙂 I’m sure I will also!
Lovecookingformyfamily says
Thank you so much for this. I looked for this exact title because although I may just eat a salad or fix the kids PBJ, I wanted specific ideas for hearty recipes to make for my husband. Perfect post!
(My hubby does all the laundry too. Love it!)
*Please do not change your content because of others.
Karrie says
Thank you! I love my husband too, and am okay with making him freezer lunches. At least he eats this way and doesn’t spend money going out to eat! That’s a win for me. 🙂
WeNeedToLoveAllWomen says
Oh my goodness, the comments are crazy irritating. I love the title, and I love this post. I was looking for ideas for both my husband and I, since I’m really busy with school and having two kids under two! I think the women who are saying things like “this title makes me want to puke” need to stop being so narrow minded. I left a six-figure job when my son was a year old because it IS my dream to stay at home and raise my family. I don’t think that makes me less of a woman, and I’m deeply offended and saddened that someone would suggest that since I stay at home with my family that I am unequipped to make a difference in the world. I make a hell of a difference in this world, thank you. CrankyPants should try to to see what being a real feminist is all about- embracing all women and all of their choices. Any who, great post! I’m excited to try these recipes out!
CrankyPants says
This title makes me want to puke. The ideas are good. Why can’t you just stop stereotyping the rest of us? Women have jobs. Women go to work. Women eat lunch. Women feed themselves. You want to wear an apron and play house with your husband, great, have fun. I want to go make a difference in the world.
Sar says
I’m having no luck getting that chicken pot pie recipe. Can you please help?
Jennifer says
Hi- these are just what I was looking for- I’m looking for ideas always for my family but specifically today for my Grandma- I want to stock her freezer up with easy items. How do you suggest heating up the sliders…
Happy.MoneySaver says
What a great granddaughter! I would heat up the sliders in the microwave with a slightly moist towel around them if the outside is hard. Because they are baked the bread should soften and be delicious!
Nicki says
These are a lifesaver-and a budget saver!
Dayna says
This is a great idea.
Rachel Rubin says
It boggles my mind why women themselves can be so blind and guilty in perpetuating this problem. When I saw this title, I thought it was a joke! It makes assumptions about gender roles, and instills the idea that the woman’s role is in the kitchen…And all you people saying that we should ‘respect’ a woman’s choice to be a homemaker, rather than pursue her own goals and dreams, I call bullshit!
I say, make your own sandwich, man.
Elodie says
Uummm, I know this will probably totally confuse you, but WHAT IF a woman’s hopes & dreams ARE staying home & raising a family? She’s not short changing herself, and she’s not judging you for wanting to be in the work force. I worked until I my husband and I started building our family. I stay home- I cook almost every meal- and I support my husband in all his endeavors (even making his lunch, because I know he often gets so busy he forgets to eat.)
The ones that are “perpetuating” stereo types are the ones that are easily offended by & nit pick everything. It’s going to get to the point that selling chicken “breasts” will be offensive to feminists or distinguishing dark meat vs white meat will not be politically correct because it’s racist. This craziness needs to stop. Just let everyone live out their lives & quit being so sensitive AND judgemental. :-/
And Karrie- Thank you for taking the time to share these resources. The title actually attracted me because it was exactly what I was looking for!
Lorielle says
I work at a law firm full time and my husband stays home and manages the rental units we own. I often make meals for him to heat up because a microwave is about all he can manage. In return, he splits the wood, keeps the fire going that saves us a bundle on heating, and the automobiles in good running condition. He also crawls under the house with the spiders and fixes the pipes that freeze in subzero temps, and he climbs onto the roof when we get leaks. Plus he does all that for our rental units. What a great tradeoff for me! All I have to do is work in a comfortable office, and cook and clean at home, and I am way better at all of those … trust me. I do NOT enjoy *any* of the stuff he does, so please don’t “liberate” me so I have to trade chores or professions with him.
But to stay on topic, I also don’t like supermarket frozen dinners. They usually have too much sodium and ingredients I can’t pronounce. So I Googled freezer meal ideas and here I landed. Benefits both me and hubby. THANK YOU, Karrie.
Karrie says
Hi Lorielle!! Thanks for your comment, and so happy you are going to give freezer meals a try, you will LOVE them!!
Mia says
You’re his slave honey, don’t fool yourself. I’m wondering what would happen if you suddenly feel tired one day and don’t want to cook and clean after work anymore. Will he do it? If he stays at home, why can’t he do that? Such a fool…
Angie says
What is the deal with all the feminist stuff? If you don’t like the title, don’t read it. If you don’t want to cook for your husband or kids, don’t. If you don’t have a husband, maybe that’s why. For those that choose to cook for our husbands, that’s okay. It’s all a choice. Slow your roll. I’m a working mom/wife. My husband works too. I think it’s okay for me to be the one to cook. Like I said-my choice. Sorry to rant but that irritates me. Thanks for these recipes. I’ll enjoy making them for me ANDY my husband.
Suzanne Murdoch says
FYI not supporting women’s choices (all women even SAHM’s) is NOT feminist… it’s anti feminist. 🙂
Chloe says
I had no idea being a feminist meant I couldn’t feed my husband if I wanted to. All this time I thought the option to do what you want was the essence of third-wave feminism. Heaven forbid we acknowledge people often have different reasons behind the same actions. I cook because I enjoy it, I have time, and I’d rather spend my grocery budget on real food rather than Trader Joe’s frozen dinners, but because I make food for my husband to take to work sometimes I guess I’d better march down to the courthouse and drop my maiden name. Won’t be needing that anymore. At least my mother-in-law will finally be happy.
…wait, does this mean I have to start plucking my eyebrows?! MAKE YOUR OWN STINKIN MINI QUICHE, SWEETIE.
Kelsey says
Thank you for these great ideas! I’ll be trying them. And as a single, working woman I’m not in the least bit offended by the title of this post, but rather by the way some women feel the need to bash homemakers for their lifestyle choice as if they are lesser people for it. Heaven forbid a wife do something nice for her husband because it’s the 21st century! You are not feeding any stereotypes, just simply stating how and why you use these recipes. Maybe if these people did nice things for there loved ones they wouldn’t have so much time to troll the Internet and tear others down!
Morgan says
I must say, the title of this article has completely turned me off from reading any further. As a busy WOMAN working 50+ hour weeks, I was hoping to find lunch ideas for myself. However, as this is only meant to be for my husband, I’ll search elsewhere.
Happy.MoneySaver says
Sorry didn’t mean to offend! 🙂 In earlier posts I had been talking about make ahead cold lunches for my kids and now was moving on to my husband! I use the ideas for him or for me–just passing along what works in my family!
Brittany says
You have no need to apologize. Your post was not offensive in any way and I feel did not put women down in the least (we should be respectful of ALL women from those who wish to be homemakers to those who wish to be out in the work force and anything in between). I thank you for your post as it gave me some great ideas for myself, my husband and even my children. Don’t feel like you need to apologize for those who are too close-minded and who are only looking for a fight. Keep up the good work 🙂
Delaney says
Agree with Brittany! I work full-time and usually pack leftovers or a sandwich for myself and it’s easy peasy. My boyfriend has such a hard time coming up with lunch ideas as he needs to put down a lot of calories in a short amount of time and doesn’t have the option to leave work and grab something. Thank you for all of your suggestions! I also make big batches of chili, burrito bowls and risotto which all freeze and reheat well. 🙂
Candace says
Oh cool your jets lady. If you only think they’ll work for your husband don’t make/eat them. I don’t have a husband, but I think they’ll work fine for me!
Thanks Happy Money Saver!
Beth says
Amen. I was put off by this too. Obviously I know I can use the recipes too, but why do we have to perpetuate these stereotypes? The first one being than a woman has to cook dinners and now lunches for her man, and another that men can’t do this themselves… When I get married, my husband will either already know how to do this stuff, or I’ll show him. Just as women are capable of working as hard as men, then can cook for themselves (and maybe even for us! *gasp*) every once in a while. End feminist rant.
Karrie says
This isn’t perpetuating any stereotypes… not once did I say anything like “All women should make their husbands lunch..every day…in a dress, barefoot. ” I know there is a group of people out there that actually do make lunch for their husbands and I thought it might solve a problem for them . But these can also be great lunch ideas for ANYONE obviously. I enjoy taking one of these out of the freezer for my own lunches too.
I actually LOVE to cook for my husband and do NOT look at it as a negative thing. I LOVE doing nice things for the man I love but I did not say that I HAVE to make him food. It is NOT WRONG to do nice things for your spouse. My husband is very capable of making lunch for himself and does so the majority of the time. But he also really appreciates it when I make lunch for him too. I get plenty of thank you’s and hugs when I do something like this. Marriage is all about love, kindness and forgiveness.
True joy in life is found in doing good kind loving things for others, and that’s what this post is about. Love. Please stop taking things the wrong way and turning it into something ugly and negative. Thanks.
Denise Brewer says
Thank you. I read it because I was looking for something for my husband. As it is my joy to cook for him. There is always someone trying to put someone else down. Just because someone else thinks it is a chore, doesn’t mean it is wrong if some feel it a joy.
Ladies what ever works for you. Let me do what ever works for me.
Katie says
Love this. And I support and love your heart behind the blog post. I’m a newlywed and I want to bless my husband and surprise him by having lunch ready for him on some days when I have the time. Otherwise he grabs an oatmeal packet because he’s on the go all day. I’m a 1st year teacher just trying to keep life balanced and stay afloat, and I frankly HATE cooking, but that’s what you do for people you love. Sacrifice. Pinning and making all of these recipes!!
Gina says
Stereotype? Really? 1. SAHMs are not the majority of women in U.S. and haven’t been for long time. 2. SAHMs get way too much flack from “feminists” who SHOULD be supporting ALL women’s choices. 3. If you are in the minority of SAHM, odds are packing your husband’s lunch is part of your job, though not always, whether you love this specific task or dread it, and find lists like these very helpful. 4. This list is helpful for any adult who needs/wants to pack their lunch. 5. If the title offends you, or you somehow think this doesn’t apply to you, move along. I don’t go on a webpage about tips for working mothers and complain that they rudely didn’t think about the SAHM and are offensively perpetuating the stereotype that all mother’s work now.
Suzanne Murdoch says
Agree… just FYI real feminists do support all choices… please don’t be tricked into thinking that women who don’t are “feminists”.
Torrey Healey says
Jesus Christ, all the feminists come out of the wood work over a goddamn post about lunches. Any of you women can eat these, don’t take the title so literal. And some of us women DO enjoy making our husbands dinner AND lunch. I make my husband breakfast, lunch, and snacks 6 days a week. And you know what, I work 16 hour days and on those days HE makes dinner. Get over yourselves and go somewhere else if you can’t find a recipe you can use. Stop being so offended by stupid things that are NOT offensive.
jes says
WOW MS. CATS! Back up! Karrie is nice enough to share her time and recipes to make our lives easier, and you want to rip her apart? What is wrong with you? Awesome, thoughtful, real people are in the world, sorry that you are not one of them!!
CTY says
I cook up some Jumbo stuffed shells( al dente) and fill them will all kinds of savory things. They are especially good for using up the 3 TB of whatever leftover. I’ve done traditional Italian with ricotta cheese, chicken/beef pot pie, mushrooms w/diced roast beef, sausage pepper & onions fillings, chicken al fredo & broccoli, tuna casserole ones (just tuna in a cheese sauce with peas) are really good–anything really. I cook the pasta & cool quickly (to stop the cooking process), let them dry out a bit & freeze on single layers. Once frozen I place them in a container. Whenever I am cooking something that I think lends itself to them, I take a few out of the freezer. After dinner they are thawed enough to fill (you may have to squirrel away some of the dinner before it gets to the table).
I have also spent some time making different fillings just for stuffing these. The pasta cooking process is the same. The pasta dries a bit while I am making fillings. I fill them & freeze them in small Pyrex dishes with lids. I make extra sauce for topping & sometimes add cheese.
In a pinch these are dinner.
Caroline says
Love this idea! Thank you for sharing!
Sarah @ My Joy-Filled Life says
Thank you for sharing my Lasagna Roll Ups. This is a great list! I’m pinning to my freezer cooking board.
Jen says
Everything looks so yummy. I can’t wait to try some of these. The individual chicken pot pie looks so good but my hubby only has a microwave at work. Any ideas on how to store these other than in foil? Thanks for all the tips!
Happy.MoneySaver says
I came up with three different alternatives that could work for those pot pies.
One – Regency Loaf Pans Disposable Italian Stand Alone 4 x 2 inch Mini , 4 pack – http://amzn.to/1tYrSUQ
Two – Bakerpan Silicone Mini Loaf, Rectangle Shape – http://amzn.to/1tYs1HQ
Three – Mini Loaf Pans, Set of 4 – white Porcelain – http://amzn.to/1tYsbyW
I think all three of these would be good options that can go in the microwave! 🙂
Sara says
Or just pre cook and put in plactic for a Jacked Up Pot Pie. No worries
Sara says
This is exactly what I needed to see today. We’re trying to eat less processed foods, but lunch is the hardest. Leftover dinner just isn’t cutting it. So excited to try these!
Once A Month Meals says
Wow! You have certainly created a delicious looking round up for the hubs! I know mine would gladly take any of these in his lunch! Thanks for sharing our Chicken Poblano Soup!
Kelly @ New Leaf Wellness says
Thanks so much for sharing my bean and cheese burritos! I love all of your ideas. Definitely want to try the sliders. Yum!