As a busy mom of eight, it’s essential to have healthy make-ahead freezer meals in my toolkit.
While takeout and fast food can be enjoyable, it is not something we can do all the time. Instead, I prefer to have homemade meals as often as possible, even during busy seasons of life.
If I know life is about to become chaotic, I’ll pick a day to get everything prepped. My pro tip is to make extra of whatever meat is included in your freezer meal, whether that is ground beef or chicken. That way you can have some for dinner that night and the rest can go in the freezer. I’ll also make a double or even triple batch of soup, like my slow cooker French onion soup or broccoli soup, to enjoy that night and freeze for later, too.
So, if you are looking for simple freezer meal prep recipes to utilize on busy weeknights or to take to new moms, these easy freezer meals are for you!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Works for a big family or a single person – You can freeze these meals as one big meal or even in individual portions for smaller households.
Great addition to your meal planning routine – While some seasons we can make fresh meals every day, everyone has busy seasons where it can feel impossible to not get takeout or go out to eat multiple times a week. Adding these freezer meal recipes to your routine allows you to have healthy meals on hand when you are in a pinch.
Easy to put together – These recipes are not overly fancy and do not require a crazy amount of ingredients. No need to spend an entire day checking off your grocery list or prepping.
This roasted pumpkin soup recipe is the perfect nourishing recipe to make this fall. It is thick and creamy with the perfect mix of savory and sweet. Serve it alongside a sandwich, or pair it with a salad for a lighter lunch.
We love making this chicken chili recipe in the farmhouse. Hearty, cozy, filling, and easy to throw together on a chilly evening. It’s a staple dinner in our home. Dress your bowl of chili with a sprinkle of cheese and a dollop of sour cream. You can even take it up another notch by adding green onions, fresh cilantro, crunchy tortilla chips and lime juice to finish it off.
Roasted butternut squash soup recipe is the perfect fall soup. Roasted garlic, onions, and butternut squash are simmered with bone bone broth and pureed.
Creamy chicken and wild rice soup is filled with vegetables, bone broth, herbs and wild rice to make a hearty and delicious meal. Notes of bright lemon mixed with the savory taste of tender chicken and delicious herbs, makes this meal hard to resist! Freezer tip: You can freeze this soup with the dairy, but for the best texture, consider adding the dairy after reheating, this helps prevent separation and keeps it smooth and creamy.
This beef stew recipe offers tender beef simmered in a nutritious broth, packed with hearty veggies and herbs.Freezer tip: Slightly undercook the potatoes before freezing, this helps them hold their shape and maintain the best texture when reheated. Reheat low and slow so the beef stays tender.
This stuffed bell pepper soup recipe is a take on traditional stuffed peppers, turned into a hearty soup. Serve hot with a slice of crusty bread for the perfect family meal.
The ultimate comfort food, this is the best homemade chicken noodle soup recipe made from scratch and packed full of vegetables.Freezer tip: For chicken noodle soup, consider freezing the broth and chicken without the noodles, then add raw noodles while reheating so they cook directly in the soup for the best texture.
Chicken marsala soup takes the classic chicken marsala dish and turns it into a thick, creamy, bowl of soup. Seasoned with fresh rosemary, and the rich flavors of mushrooms and white wine, it’s comforting and warm on cold winter days.
Roasted red pepper and tomato soup is one of the easiest, yet most flavorful soups you can put on your table. Red bell peppers, tomatoes, onion, and garlic are roasted to perfection and then blended together with broth for a smooth and delicious bowl of soup your taste buds will love.
The best chicken pot pie recipe has a creamy vegetable and chicken loaded filling and then is topped with tender sourdough biscuits.Freezer tip: Place the prepared pot pie filling and biscuits into a baking dish cover tightly, and freeze for up to three months. To prepare for dinner, place the frozen pot pie into the refrigerator the day before (or at least the night before) to thaw. Then bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until the biscuits are golden brown and the filling is bubbly.
Enjoy this simple recipe for flavorful, tender, homemade meatballs made with Italian sausage and fresh garlic. Sausage meatballs are a comfort food, and easily adaptable to fit your menu.Freezer tip: Freeze cooked meatballs in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer bag. Reheat straight from frozen by simmering in sauce or baking until hot.
Ground beef and vegetables simmered in a rich gravy and baked between a flaky top and bottom crust, this easy ground beef pot pie is filling and flavorful. Freezer Tip: Assemble the pot pie but don’t bake, wrap tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. Bake straight from frozen at 400°F for 60-70 minutes until golden and bubbly.
Try this easy meatloaf recipe for a delicious and simple weeknight meal. Made with sourdough bread crumbs and topped with a tangy glaze, this recipe will be sure to become a family favorite.Freezer tip: Freeze meatloaf unbaked for best results, wrap tightly and freeze up to 3 months. Thaw overnight, then bake as directed. Or freeze fully baked, then reheat covered at 350°F until warmed through.
A hearty, winter, comfort food, shepherd’s pie is packed full of seasoned beef and vegetables, topped with creamy mashed potatoes, sprinkled with cheese, and baked until golden.Freezer tip: Assemble the shepherd’s pie but don’t bake it. Cover tightly with foil and plastic wrap. Freeze for up to 3 months. When ready, bake from frozen at 375°F for about 1–1.5 hours, until heated through and the top is golden.
This homemade chicken pot pie recipe is delicious and incredibly simple to make. It’s an easy recipe the whole family will enjoy.Freezer Tip: Assemble the chicken pot pie unbaked and let it cool completely. Wrap tightly in foil and plastic wrap, then freeze for up to 3 months. Bake from frozen at 375°F for 60-70 minutes, until the crust is golden and filling is bubbly.
With a caramelized onion and beef stock base, this slow cooker French onion soup is deeply savory, shockingly simple, and 100% gourmet. Freezer Tip: Cook soup as directed, cool, and freeze without bread and cheese. Reheat, then add to crocks, top, and broil when ready to serve.
This delicious orange chicken is coated with a flour mixture, fried until crispy, and covered in sweet, fresh, orange sauce. Freezer Tip: Freeze chicken and sauce separately. Thaw overnight, reheat sauce on the stove, and warm chicken gently in a skillet before tossing together.
The best Zuppa Toscana Soup is creamy, and flavorful filled to the brim with sausage, bacon, potatoes, kale, bone broth and cream.Freezer tip: Slightly undercook the potatoes before freezing, this helps them hold their shape and maintain the best texture when reheated.
A simple recipe with basic ingredients, this chicken kale soup is packed full of flavor from the onions, garlic, and chicken broth.Freezer tip: Slightly undercook the potatoes before freezing, this helps them hold their shape and maintain the best texture when reheated.
This instant pot Italian beef roast recipe is the easiest dinner for busy weeknights. Tender and bursting with flavor, it’s always a huge hit.Freezer tip: Cook and shred the beef as directed, then cool and freeze with its juices in airtight containers. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat on the stove or in the Instant Pot on sauté.
Take pizza night up a notch with these sourdough calzones. Made with a flavorful sourdough crust, fill each calzone with sauce, cheese, and your favorite pizza toppings, like red onion, green peppers, or sausage – the options are endless!Freezer Tip: Bake calzones completely and let cool. Wrap individually in foil or plastic wrap, freeze, and reheat in the oven until warmed through.
Loaded potato soup is a big hit with layers of flavors from starchy potatoes, fresh onion and garlic, cheddar cheese, and crispy bacon bits.Freezer tip: If you want the very best texture, I’d recommend freezing it before adding the dairy and stirring those in after reheating.
Sourdough bagels are savory, chewy, crusty, and deliciously tangy. These are an amazing way to start your morning or to enjoy for a yummy brunch. They also make quick, satisfying meals—think a classic salmon lox bagel, a turkey and cream cheese sandwich, or even a simple egg and cheese.Freezer Tip: Let bagels cool completely, then slice in half before freezing so they’re easy to toast straight from the freezer.
Make sure to label your freezer meals. For jars, I will use a piece of scotch tape on the lid and use a marker on the tape. Then, I peel the tape off after use, and don’t have to worry about marking up the lid a bunch of times.
If you are freezing a soup in a freezer bag, freeze them flat for easier storage.
For items that may stick together in the freezer, such as burgers or slices of bread, flash freeze them on a baking sheet in a single layer first before adding to a freezer bag.
The key to avoiding freezer burn is proper storage. Use an airtight container, like a zip-top bag (like a Ziploc bag) or freezer-safe storage containers. If you are using an aluminum pan for a casserole, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and then a layer of aluminum foil. You can also use a vacuum sealer for longer-term storage.
How long can you store meals in the freezer?
If properly stored, freezer meals will be freshest within three months, but can usually be stored for up to six months.
How should you reheat freezer meals?
The best way to reheat freezer meals is an Instant Pot or oven. Slow cookers are not typically recommended because they heat at a slower rate, which means food may stay at a temperature that allows bacteria growth for a longer period of time.
Should you thaw a freezer meal before reheating?
This depends on the meal. If it is a fully cooked freezer meal, I lie to thaw it in the fridge overnight before I plan to use it. If it is an uncooked freezer meal, I will sometimes just take it directly from freezer to instant pot or slow cooker.
You’ve so been inspiring me lately to make all things sourdough. I LOVE all that Ive tried of yours and feel great about being able to keep the starter going. Quick question- how do you freeze the tortillas? Just put them in a stack in a freezer bag? Do you need wax paper between or anything? Thanks so much for the inspiration!
I am so excited to make these freezer meals. I am starting a new job, and this will be SO helpful! I want to order a cast iron skillet on your Amazon Shop. It says they are pre-seasoned. Do I still need to season or will it work right out of the box? Thanks!
You have a lot of great ideas! I have made freezer meals for postpartum for every one of my six kids. They are such a blessing and so worth the hard work. It’s the last thing you feel like doing when you are super pregnant and tired but You’ll be glad to have them!
Lisa, you are an Amazing Mom and Wife. You Food is Delicious and Healthy. God Bless you and your Beautiful Family. Prayers for a safe and speedy delivery. I enjoy your Vlogs. <3
You are amazing! I so appreciate you doing this video and actually showing us how it is done.. Decided to try sourdough starter. Wish me luck! Good luck with your final few weeks.
Oh, and I pre ordered your book
Bless your heart Lisa, I was worn out watching you cook all day! I know it will be worth it when you have all these meals at your fingertips. Loved watching & I intend to try some of your recipes, it all looks delicious!
Love your recipes and videos!
You’ve so been inspiring me lately to make all things sourdough. I LOVE all that Ive tried of yours and feel great about being able to keep the starter going. Quick question- how do you freeze the tortillas? Just put them in a stack in a freezer bag? Do you need wax paper between or anything? Thanks so much for the inspiration!
I am so excited to make these freezer meals. I am starting a new job, and this will be SO helpful! I want to order a cast iron skillet on your Amazon Shop. It says they are pre-seasoned. Do I still need to season or will it work right out of the box? Thanks!
You have a lot of great ideas! I have made freezer meals for postpartum for every one of my six kids. They are such a blessing and so worth the hard work. It’s the last thing you feel like doing when you are super pregnant and tired but You’ll be glad to have them!
Lisa, you are an Amazing Mom and Wife. You Food is Delicious and Healthy. God Bless you and your Beautiful Family. Prayers for a safe and speedy delivery. I enjoy your Vlogs. <3
You are amazing! I so appreciate you doing this video and actually showing us how it is done.. Decided to try sourdough starter. Wish me luck! Good luck with your final few weeks.
Oh, and I pre ordered your book
Bless your heart Lisa, I was worn out watching you cook all day! I know it will be worth it when you have all these meals at your fingertips. Loved watching & I intend to try some of your recipes, it all looks delicious!
I am not able to click on the sourdough pot pie recipe? : ) I don’t see a link!
It is just because I haven’t released that post yet, but the video and post are coming very soon!