Get ahead of the week with these 50 Make Ahead Freezer Meals with Budget-Friendly Options, plus many are also gluten-free too. Using freezer meals will save you countless hours in the week allowing you to be at all the sports events, piano lessons, and life happenings without sacrificing dinner time.
For years now, I have been stocking my freezer with freezer meals to get us through the dinner chaos without having to run to a fast food restaurant and at this point, I have the system down. There are a variety of ways to stock the freezer from having a full freezer meal prep day to simply prepping two meals for dinner and freezing one. I am going to share with you a complete list of our favorite freezer meals along with an entire guide that you can use for your own freezer prep day! Do you want a FREE downloadable Mini Freezer Meal Plan? Check out the FREE Freezer Plan now.
Why Freezer Meals Work Well EVERY Time:
- Cut down on daily prepping and cooking time.
- Reduce stress on busy weeknights.
- Save you money by not having to run to a fast food place on a busy night.
- Save on groceries by using bulk ingredients when doable!
What containers should you use for Make Ahead Freezer Meals?
It is vital to use “Freezer-Safe” storage, do not use any type of storage product that is not freezer safe or you risk the food being ruined with freezer burn.
Here are a few versions of Freezer Safe Storage Products:
- Storage Containers
- Freezer Plastic Containers with Lids
- Freezer Bags
- Aluminum Freezer Containers with Lids
- Baggy Holders
Freezer Meal Basic Tips:
- Use freezer storage bags or meal prep containers that will freezer well under super cold temperatures.
- Label all freezer foods with the name and date, plus any prep instructions.
- Freeze liquids or soups flat to utilize storage space and reduce defrost time.
- Flash Freezing Tip – Use a baking sheet and individually freeze items, for example beef chimichangas, once frozen, wrap the chimichanga and then place them in a freezer safe bag so they do not stick together.
FREE Mini Freezer Guide
Grab my FREE mini freezer meal plan with 3 easy dump-and-go dinners and see how simple prep can be. It includes a grocery list and step-by-step instructions to get dinner done faster. These are all naturally gluten-free recipes too!
Freezer Meal Rules to Live By:
- Always let the foods cool completely before freezing.
- Do not let air seep into your freezer storage, this is what will cause freezer burn. Be sure to fully get all air out of the bags or fully seal the lids before adding to the freezer.
- Always Label!
What NOT to Freeze:
Many foods can be stored in the freezer after or prior to cooking; however, there are a few that are better left eaten fresh!
- Fried Foods
- Fully Cooked Pasta – Do not fully cook it!
- Watery Vegetables such as Lettuce or Cabbage.
- Blocks of Cheese or Heavy Dairy Items
How do you make ahead freezer meals?
It’s actually very simple and can be done a few different ways, first, you can always just make an extra batch of what you are cooking and freeze one for later or you can specifically make several recipes and prep them for the freezer.
This can be done with a variety of foods including breakfast and dinner items, such as these Breakfast Bowls.
If you are making soup, stew, or chili these can be stored in a Ziploc Freezer Safe Storage bag and then freeze it by placing it FLAT in the freezer, this way it takes up less space.
Slow Cooker Recipes can be assembled and frozen in a bag and then cooked when ready to serve, this means freezing all the ingredients in a bag or freezer-safe storage, let them thaw overnight when ready to cook, and then you simply pour it all in the slow cooker to cook.
Baked meals can be fully baked, then simply reheat in the oven when you are ready to serve. This would be similar to buying a frozen meal at the store, it’s already cooked but you are just reheating it.
How long will the freezer meals last?
Typically these will all last in the freezer for 3-6 months depending on the type of meal, sometimes soups can last even longer. It’s also VERY important to store them correctly by using freezer-safe storage.
This chart is a great guide for freezing food as well.
What foods freeze well?
- Pancakes, Waffles, & Biscuits
- Soup and Chili
- Casseroles
- Meats
- Smoothies
- Enchiladas
- Meatballs
- Seasoned Chicken
- Variety of Fruit and Vegetables
- Pizza
Freezer to Slow Cooker Meal Prep:
One of the biggest time savers for me has been creating the Freezer to Slow Cooker Meal Prep Guide! This guide is packed with simple, family-friendly recipes you can prep ahead, freeze, and toss straight into the slow cooker when you’re ready. Perfect for busy weeknights, meal prep, or saving time without sacrificing flavor!
- 10 Dump and Go 8-10 Hour Slow Cooker Recipes
- Freezer Prep Guide
- Printable Recipes, Guide, and Labels
- Easy to Watch Video to get you Started!
To get your dinner time back now with this starter guide, head over to the Freezer to Slow Cooker Prep Page! If you want to just try it out and see what you think, grab the FREE Mini Freezer Meal Plan, just click here and get yours delivered to your inbox!
50 Freezer Cooking Recipe Ideas
This dish can be fully made and then stored in the freezer in freezer safe storage or you can prep ahead and cook it when ready to eat.
Comments & Reviews
Tonneau Cover says
This is a great list of freezer meals! Good to see some doesn’t need or limited amount of preservatives to lasts.
Allyson says
So many convenient freezer meals! I just had to pin that blueberry smoothie with oatmeal, also, teriyaka chicken recipe.