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
Hate your readers says
I hate half of these comments. Future members of the first wives club unite…. Evidently here, on your poor blog. Sheesh. My personal brand of asshole CAN cook for himself. It will always be rice & beans & maybe eggs….. & my kitchen will be a wreck. @130lbs I need him to not forget or to not work through meals. Sometimes, it’s worth the little extra self sacrifice…. & the bonus, he’s usually a better human & not such the asshole. & then it’s my fault the kitchen is a mess!
Christine says
Awesome ideas 🥰 loving your blog
Hubby will love some of these for sure
Happy-Money-Saver says
I am so glad! Thanks!
Debbie says
It’s called love.
Net says
Wow…because husbands are too useless to make and pack their own lunch? Are we still encouraging women to take care of them? Their time is still too valuable when compared to the wives that they shouldn’t have be bothered with a task that is the wife’s responsibility? Are men that inept? Where are the recipes for husbands to make for their working wives, or wives in general? Great recipe, but wow…nope…he can make it himself or starve.
Happy-Money-Saver says
I was sharing what I do in my family. Definitely could apply to anyone else! I work also so I am all for easy lunches. 🙂
Sue says
Horrible selfish comment. We do for each other…in different, but helpful ways. Thats how it works. I’d rather take five minutes to pack him healthy leftovers that I made myself, than know he’s eating garbage from the convenience store or starving every day.
Miriam says
Exactly. The mental load of having to think about organizing the work lunch of another adult human who presumably has two legs and a heartbeat is almost worse than actually doing it.
If you still don’t get it, then replace the word “husband” with “wife” in the title of the article. If that title seems foreign to you, then you need to look hard at the hypocrisy driving your discomfort.
Ck says
As a young widow with young children I quickly realized I could choose to take offense when others shared their lives (that I had lost or had never had) OR I could celebrate their circumstances with them and lean into what was helpful to me and let go of what wast. Choosing the latter made life beautiful in the midst of grief and hard single parenting. It is her blog and her life – take what you want and leave the rest! Goodness gracious, people! 🙂
Thanks for these ideas – I now have two college students along with my husband working full tme this summer and freezer lunches have saved both our budget and our health! Getting the, “thank you for the lunch , mama – it was amazing” or “my wife makes the best lunches” texts while I am busy at work fills my love bucket! Excited to add some of these to our freezer inventory 😄 Thanks!
Rose says
I was thinking “Oh great! Some freezer meals for lunches will be awesome!” and then I clicked on the link and saw “For your Husband” and kind of cringed a little. There’s nothing wrong for cooking for your husband, but considering this isn’t a lifestyle “Tradwife” blog, you’d include more of your audience by excluding language like that.
Happy-Money-Saver says
This is my life and I made it for my husband. It can work for anyone though. I also have kid-friendly meals and lunches but I hope people can see that it can work for everyone.
Karen says
It’s not that they can’t make their own lunches. It’s an act of love on our part.
Amy says
I am currently pregnant and my husband is working 10 hour shifts at work and I’m on maternity leave, so we both need warm hearty lunches to get us through this winter before the baby arrives, preparing foods like this ready to go means that neither of us needs to worry about the other not eating right! I actually bought us both Bento Boxes that we prepare the night before! I think my husband will love some of these recipes as Mexican food is definitely his favourite! Thank you for the great ideas! We currently have mini Quiches, Hot Dogs (just Microwave the sausage), Sweet and Sour chicken with Cauliflower Rice or Breakfast Muffins. We then have an orange and Raisins, a mini cake and a extra little treat from the other person.
Anna says
HA! 😆
My husband can make his own lunches to freeze if he wants them!
We’re not living in the 1950s
J. says
Agree!!!!
Candace says
Seriously.
J says
As someone who cannot work, my husband is the one who provides. As his wife, I want to make his life at home as easy as possible. He shouldnt have to do anything if hes working 12 hours 6 days a week. House is clean, lunches are premade, and he doesnt have to lift a finger. That’s not living in the 50s, that’s called being a team. That’s called not mooching off your S/O. Also, we aren’t an older couple. We’re both 20. This isnt an old mindset. Change your thinking.
Ksam says
I agree J, I am also a stay at home mum of 3 aged 5 and under while my Husband works long hours to provide, and for as long as this is the case I am willing to try to look after him and save money while doing so! THANKYOU for your post! Looking forward to trying out these recipes!
jenni says
Totally agree!! Can’t believe people are so offended at making lunches for your husband. I work part time from home, my husband works full time outside of the house. It’s my pleasure to do something nice for him and make his day a little better! <3
Lacey says
I work full time out of house and so does my boyfriend. Cooking for my loved ones is a love language of mine. His is acts if service. I love making sure the freezer is stocked full of pull out dinners for while I’m at work. It’s not for everyone but I love doing it.
Lee says
Couldn’t agree with you more 👍🏽 I to make all meals for my hard working husband . He works hard at work for our family and I work hard at home for our family. He has enough stress at work so part of my pleasure is to make his days less stressful by making sure he has good nutritious food/snacks to eat while at work. We are a “TEAM”. And as Dr. Laura would say…. “ what can we do as wives to make our husbands happy their married to us?” Yes, my husband can cook for himself but this is only one way I can love on him when he’s out slaying dragons for our family 😉 Keep up the good work👍🏽
Amanda says
I agree with you and I do the same for my husband. It is purely an act of love and appreciation and being a team player. It really makes him feel special and cared for.
Debbie says
Precisely!!
Kristy says
My husband spends 6 days a week in a truck driving all over the country away from his family making sure people get the things they need in this country to keep going. The least I can do is show him how much we love and appreciate all his sacrifices for our family by prepping some food for thought to get him through the days. It doesn’t matter if its 1950 or 2020 showing your other half some love and appreciation and giving your best is what you should do.
Debbie says
Totally agree
Laura says
Seriously? You don’t care for him enough to make food? It doesn’t have to be the 50’s to have decency. My husband has worked all our adult lives to provide for our family. When our children were young and I was blessed to be able to stay home with them, I made sure he had breakfast, and a lunch to take with him, and dinner at night. What is wrong with wanting to show your love this way?
Debbie says
Well said!
Alli says
I think it’s just a little gendered. I’m sure the author has a husband so this makes sense for them, but since this is for all yours of readers, it wouldn’t take anything away from the post if “for your husband” was left out. These recipes can be made for myself, my wife, kids, etc. So maybe just cutting out the “for your husband” would make it a more inclusive post and get more readers to view it. I was personally turned off a little by that being added, as I don’t have a husband, so I’m sure others were as well and may not have read it because of that. Still a good post, just something to think on if you want more people to read it and relate to it.
Snowy says
I agree. Thank you for your reasonable assessment without getting all offended or insulting.
Julia says
Her blog her life 🙄 inclusive is stupid language used to say boohoo your life isn’t like mine so make it that way through what you say enjoy the recipes and move on with your life and stop being language police.
Amanda says
Maybe just, not getting offended?
kayla mitchell says
“Individual Chicken Pot Pies from Tastebook” I’m trying to find the link to this, and I can’t find it on the web. Do you know where we could find this recipe? Thank you
Jennifer says
This list is exactly what I was looking for! These are perfect for a stay at home mom during the weekdays and will be handy to have for easy weekend lunches with my husband, too! Thanks!!
Michelle says
Theses sound really good & I’m going to go through your blog for more. It’s just me & my husband now and these will be perfect. Especially when it’s 9 pm & we’re in the middle of binge watching Netflix. Just throw ’em in the oven. 🙂
You know, I was just telling my grand-daughter the other day that the reason people bully is because they feel so badly about themselves.
Laura says
Love these recipes! I am not creative when it comes to lunches, so this will help my husband avoid eating out on his lunch break. It really can add up!
Mia says
Hey, if you’re not pushing any stereotypes as you mentioned, you should totally make a “dinners for your wife after she comes home from work”. I’ll wait for it.
Karrie says
lol! Yes!!
Candace says
I would read that!
Ksam says
Just substitute the word ‘Husband’, for the word ‘wife’ if your circumstances are reversed! Honestly..!!
Penny says
Thank you for these suggestions. I was looking for something that I could cook and freeze for my husband to take with him in his truck–he is a long haul trucker. It is very expensive to eat on the road and many times he can’t stop where there is food available–he can’t just go through the local drive up window. He has a microwave in his truck, so I found exactly what i was looking for. He can grab a few of these to add variety to the packaged meals that he usually has with him.
Thank you!
Elise says
These ideas are awesome!! I also clicked on it because seeing “husband” gave me hope that it had heartier ideas! I’m happy to pack a salad or a pb&j but my husband prefers these lunches! Thanks so much for putting this list together and the suggestions for alternative baking dishes for the pot pie!
Kelli says
Thank you so much for this post! My husband works in the oil and gas industry and stays in a camper on location far from home for 2 weeks at a time. It’s hard not seeing him for that long but I enjoy making these recipes and packing them up for him when he heads off. It makes him feel so comforted when he’s able to eat these home cooked meals away from home and I’m happy to give him one less thing to worry about while he’s off providing for his family. Thanks again!
Karrie says
You bet!!
Aleesha says
This is exactly why I was looking for these ❤️, glad to see someone else uses them the way I plan to!
Lindsay says
Thank you for this post! I originally pinned it like a year ago and keep revisiting it for ideas!
As for all the negative comments I am seeing, I wonder why people bothered to comment if it was SO OFFENSIVE. My husband was working third shift for 3 years and developed a sleep disorder in the process. Making lunch for him was a way I could make sure that he at least ate healthy while dealing with the stresses of a weird shift and severe sleep issues. Feminism is NOT about being down with men or putting down women who make a CHOICE to do something nice. My husband cooks, I cook, he cleans, I clean. It’s a team. So go elsewhere if the title bothers you so much that you can’t just enjoy the delicious recipes.
Iliana says
Thank you, very helpful!!
Amanda says
Love these recipes…great ideas. Just what I was looking for. I’ll add a shout out to all the MEN out there making lunches for THEIR husbands!
XVII says
Great recipes! Can’t wait to get married so I can make these!
Monica says
Wow! People just stop. I am a divorced woman, never got offended, nor did the wording stop me from reading. Just move on and do not read it then, we wonder why the world is so cruel today. Geez…..