Make ahead freezer meals

shannonae · November 2024

Anyone want to share for some inspiration? What meals are you making ahead of time? Would love recipes as well. I am not very good at this. Do you fully cook the meal and then freeze it? Or do you put all the ingredients together, freeze, then thaw & cook?

mitchip · November 2024

I’m going to head to Costco tomorrow and get some stuff ready for freezer meals.

I generally make them for the crockpot so I put the meat, veggies and sauce into a freezer bag.

I thaw the bag overnight in the fridge (it doesn’t matter if it not completely thawed) and throw it into the slow cooker. Generally 8hrs low or 4 hrs high.

There’s a million recipes online but you can do just about any combo of meat and veggies. If you don’t want sauce, season generously and add some oil or butter.

mamahen521 · November 2024

I’ve done some of both.

Lasagne and soups are good ones you can cook fully ahead and then freeze in individual portion sizes and just reheat. Chili and white chicken chili are big favs around here. I also just made a bunch of chicken pot pie filling and froze it. Instead of a traditional crust, I plan to just bake off a few freezer biscuits and top it with that.

For crock pot meals, one of my favs is just having a pot roast on hand in the freezer. I season mine with salt, pepper, garlic, and a little dill, braise it for a few minutes on each side, and then stick it in the crockpot with baby carrots, onion, new potatoes, and cover the whole thing with apple cider and let it cook until it’s falling apart. It’s such a warm cozy meal for fall and winter that takes about 10 minutes of prep.

I also did some breakfast prep with frittatas that you make in muffin pans for individual servings. They are super easy and I used the first recipe that pops up when you google it. They freeze and reheat well.

One thing I did was make a little inventory list on my phone of what freezer meals I prepped, what in the pantry is intended to go with, etc. I think it will help me to have a list and not have to go look in the freezer to see what we have.

mitchip · November 2024

ooo yes. Roast is my comfort food!

MrsCaliRN · November 2024

Smart idea to keep an inventory on your phone @mamahen521

cornichonmam · November 2024

I've been trying to put one meal in the freezer a week for a few weeks. I've got some taco mince, bolognese and a few other things.

I'm thinking of making some pressure cooker/slow cooker dump dinners when I start my maternity leave at the end if this week. I'd be interested if anyone has any good recepies.

We've got a chest freezer in the garage that came with the house. It needs a good clean but then I've got a lot more space for freezer meals.

I'm going to make a double batch of my favourite lactation cookie recipe. I freeze the dough raw on trays then bag them up the next day. They cook really well from frozen. I usually add a mixture of dark chocolate chips, dried sour cherries and dried apricots as my additions to the basic dough. Here's the recipe.

https://www.howsweeteats.com/2015/02/lactation-cookies/

MrsCaliRN · November 2024

Thank you for the lactation cookie recipe @cornichonmam!

cornichonmam · November 2024

@MrsCaliRN Have you tried it? I over scooped the brewers yeast in my batch so they have a bit of a bitter after taste. It's annoying but I'll still eat them.

MrsCaliRN · November 2024

Not yet @cornichonmam I’m still pregnant over here (39w1d) but planning to make them after I deliver. I ordered the ingredients I didn’t have and they’re set to arrive Monday, 3 days before my due date

mamahen521 · November 2024

I made the cookies and LOVE them. It could just be that because of the GD I haven’t had good sweets in a while, but my husband confirmed that they are pretty good. I took a bag to the hospital and ate them like crazy as snacks between meals. Hopefully they help with milk supply!

cornichonmam · November 2024

@MrsCaliRN I'm still pregnant too. 40+2.

@mamahen521 I'm not sure they help but they aren't going to hinder and they're pretty healthy for a cookie recipe. I'll be eating plenty either way. 😅

_beckywhite_ · November 2024

@shannonae Meal prepping can be a game-changer, especially during the postpartum period when convenience is key! Many people find success with fully cooking meals and then freezing them, as this allows for easy reheating without any extra steps. Dishes like casseroles, soups, and stews freeze exceptionally well.

However, if you prefer to put ingredients together and freeze them uncooked, that’s also a great approach! Just be sure to label everything clearly with cooking instructions. Here are a couple of simple recipes to get you started:

1. Chicken Enchiladas: Cook chicken with spices, roll in tortillas with cheese and enchilada sauce, then freeze. When ready to eat, bake directly from frozen until heated through.

2. Vegetable Soup: Sauté your favorite vegetables, add broth and seasonings, let it cool and then freeze in portions. Just thaw and heat when you're ready for a warm meal.

Both methods work well; it just depends on what fits your lifestyle better! If you're looking for more ideas or specific recipes tailored to your taste preferences or dietary needs, don’t hesitate to ask!

MrsCaliRN · December 2024

I finally made the lactation cookies @cornichonmam linked. Except I spaced out and forgot to add the flour. They are still delicious but chewier and flattened out a bit. In the words of Bob Ross, “just a happy mistake.”

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