20 Healthy Make-Ahead Freezer Meals For Busy Days
on May 30, 2024, Updated Sep 08, 2024
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Is this the year you plan to incorporate more healthy food into your diets? My freezer is empty and I need more healthy make-ahead freezer meals. I’m always looking for healthy dinner ideas that are easy for busy weeknights, too.
Here are some of my family’s favorite healthy freezer meals. Feel free to mix and match recipes to make a whole menu plan.
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Healthy Make Ahead Freezer Meals
Having prepared meals in my freezer saves me more often than I can tell you. Make ahead meals prevent us from unhealthy options or getting take-out pizza. So they not only keep my family healthier, but it saves me money too!
One of the best ways to keep healthy make ahead meals in the freezer is to take a few take a few extra minutes when preparing the recipe. Double it. Then eat one meal and put one in the freezer. Voila! Another meal for a busy day with minimal effort = drive through avoided!
Unfortunately, even though I KNOW that freezer meals save me big, I’ve gotten off the bandwagon in the last year and have been pretty lazy in the kitchen. This year, I’m taking it back. Starting this week, I will double at least ONE recipe and put at least ONE meal a week into my freezer. Here are the recipes I’m considering to get started.
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Life is always busy. Having easy freezer meals at my disposal makes life so much better! If you're looking for delicious and healthier meals to add to your freezer stash, here's a collection of our favorite!
Looking for a creative twist on tacos that freezes well? Try these stuffed taco shells!
One of our favorite freezer meals is spinach mozzarella meatloaf. It's a family favorite even though my kids swear they don't like spinach.
How about chicken burrito bowls right from the slow cooker? This favorite recipe from Damn Delicious is always a hit!
Chicken bacon broccoli and potatoes? Yes, please! Potatoes can turn brown when frozen, but if they are covered well by the other ingredients, they usually work out well.
These take a little extra effort, but the result is worth it! My kids love the pizza version.
Bean burritos are a staple at our house. Pulling them out of the freezer and heating them up makes them even quicker when we need a quick meal.
Did you know you make make stroganoff ahead and freeze it? I love quadrupling this easy recipe and freezing the leftovers. My kids love it too!
Need an option for Meatless Monday? This vegan three bean chili delivers!
Chicken Parmesan Casserole is a kid friendly freezer meal idea your whole family will love!
Taco Tuesday is a staple at our house and this taco meat is the magic! Made with grass-fed beef and beans, it's always a crowd pleaser.
Have you ever thought about freezing sandwiches? If you heat them up in the oven, it's actually quite a delicious meal! And making this sandwich is as easy as spreading herbed butter and your favorite meat & cheese on a baguette!
Here's another meal idea for Meatless Monday! This easy Italian Zucchini Pie is a great way to freeze extra zucchini you may have growing in your garden.
Parmesan garlic chicken is one of my favorite ways to freeze chicken breasts or thighs when I find them on sale. It's so full of flavor and a simple dredge in a few ingredients is all it takes to make this main dish.
Lasagna is another one of my favorite meals to freeze. Make it easy by using leftover spaghetti sauce from the night before!
Turkey pot pie is a fabulous way to use up leftover holiday turkey! This recipe is healthy and delicious!
Using bone in chicken pieces and garden fresh veggies, this delicious chicken dish is bursting with flavor straight from your freezer!
One more option for Meatless Monday that won't disappoint in this ultra gooey 3 Cheese Penne! You won't miss the meat in this!
Did you know you can freeze smoothies? Here's how to easily make and freeze kid friendly green smoothies!
Having breakfast ready in the freezer is such a boon on busy mornings (or for hubbies who are too lazy to make their own...) Did I say that? ๐
Supplies for Healthy Freezable Meal Recipes
- Glass Mixing Bowls: Glass mixing bowls are perfect for prepping ingredients and storing items until you need them.
- Bamboo Cutting Boards: Bamboo cutting boards are a great eco-friendly option.
- Stainless Steel Knives: Choose sharp, good-quality knives to make chopping and food prep easier.
- Silicone Baking Mats: Reusable and non-stick, silicone baking mats reduce the need for disposable parchment paper.
- Food Processors: A good food processor is like magic. It makes prepping meals so much easier and you get the right texture and consistency in your food.
- Silicone Food Storage Bags: Reusable and durable, silicone bags are a great alternative to single-use plastic bags.
- Freezer Paper: Eliminate freezer burn by wrapping items like meats.
- Measuring Spoons: I like having multiple sets of measuring spoons when I prep a lot of food at once.
- Measuring Cups: I like multiple sets that include liquid measuring cups, too.
- Slow Cooker: I love being able to put items in a slow cooker and then freezing the leftovers OR pulling something out of the freezer and putting it in the slow cooker. Meals are ready when you need them.
How about printable labels for your lovely freezer meals? Download them free here. Print them on 4″ x 5″ labels like these and then stick them on your containers! Easy-peasy.
What are you waiting for? Check out these recipes and start cooking for your freezer! If you want more freezer friendly recipes, I’ve got a whole category of tried and true freezer friendly recipes!
Tips for Using Freezer Meals
I’ve heard people say they don’t like freezer meals because their food tastes like the freezer. Take just a few minutes for these tips so your food looks and tastes just as fresh as when you put it in.
First, label each meal with its name and the date it was prepared. Keep track of what’s in your freezer and use it within a few months.
Plan ahead and thaw meals in the refrigerator overnight. If you’re in a hurry, use the microwave’s defrost setting or place the meal in a sealed bag and submerge it in cold water. Never thaw meals at room temperature, as this can lead to bacterial growth.
Once it is thawed, make sure you reheat it evenly. Always check the internal temperatures in the thickest part of the food.
If I don’t have enough to freeze for a full family meal, I like to freeze leftovers in individual portions. This gives my growing teens healthy options any time of day (or night).
Finally, to keep your frozen meals appealing, add a few fresh ingredients. Sprinkled fresh herbs, a drizzle of olive oil, or a dallop of sour cream goes a long way to making the food feel fresher.
Whether it’s busy mornings or activity-filled evenings, having several healthy freezable meals will keep your family out of the drive through. What are your favorite freezer meals?
More Meal Prep Ideas You’ll Love
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- 5 Practical tips to help you start cooking from scratch
Thanks for including my Homemade Chicken Pot Pie recipe! There are lots of yummy looking recipes here–I’ve pinned it already so I can try some of them soon!
You’re so welcome, Brenda! I hope you find something yummy. ๐
Hi there – thanks for including my recipe! Hope your readers enjoy it as much as mine do!
You’re welcome, Kylee! Thanks for the fun recipe. ๐
Trying to sign up for the free weekly newsletter but neither of my email addresses are accepted, it says no email server provider has been provided for this campaign.
That’s very strange, Cathy. I think it’s fixed! Can you try again? Thank you for letting me know. ๐