Today we are bringing you 25 easy meals that you can make-ahead and store in the freezer to help you deal with the stress of cooking over the holiday period. Take meal-prep to the next level with this easy collection of freezer-friendly breakfasts, freeze-ahead lunches and simple freezer dinners.
The holidays are the busiest time of year for home cooks, but with all the special celebratory meals, holiday baking and leftovers to get through, it is easy to forget that you still need to have plenty of simple breakfast, lunch and dinner ideas on hand to feed people through the festive season. Get prepped now by filling your freezer with these fantastic meal ideas that are fantastic to have on hand at short notice.
The Easiest Burrito Recipe (https://www.theseasonedmom.com/easiest-burrito-recipe/)
Burritos are the ultimate freezer food – they’re great for batch cooking and meal prep, and they’re perfect to just grab and heat up at the last minute or whenever cravings for a takeaway hit! You can also customise this recipe with all your favourite fillings.
Seriously Easy Chicken Pot Pie (https://happymoneysaver.com/frugal-food-homemade-chicken-pot-pie/)
Did you know that it is possible to freeze an entire chicken pie? This delicious chicken pot pie recipe can be made-ahead and frozen whole before being cooked from frozen for a big comforting family meal without any bother or stress.
Cauliflower and Chickpea Curry (https://www.thelastfoodblog.com/cauliflower-and-chickpea-curry/)
This rich and creamy vegan Chickpea and Cauliflower Curry recipe is perfect if you want to make sure you’ve got lots of healthy portions packed with veggies stashed away. It’s bulky enough to be served on its own, but is also delicious served alongside boiled rice, garlic naan or chapatis.
Coriander Lime Chicken Crockpot Tacos (https://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/slow-cooker-cilantro-lime-chicken-tacos-freezer-slow-cooker/)
A freezer meal that you can simply defrost before dumping the whole thing in the slow cooker is next level meal prep. This bright and tasty Coriander Lime Chicken Crockpot Taco recipe is perfect to serve as a weeknight taco meal or as part of a Mexican-inspired burrito bowl. If you want to cook the chicken before freezing, you can easily freeze the cooked leftovers too!
Freezer Chicken Fajitas (https://themodernproper.com/freezer-chicken-fajitas)
This Freezer Chicken Fajitas recipe involves just 10 minutes of prep time and you’ve got a bright and healthy meal full of veg ready for whenever you need it. Also, the homemade taco seasoning recipe included in this recipe sounds delicious!
Chicken Burrito Bowl (https://thrivinghomeblog.com/southwest-chicken-burrito-bowls-freezer-meal/)
This simple recipe shows you how to make freezer-friendly Chicken Burrito Bowl meal kits perfect for when you want to prep a freezer meal that is a bit fancier than just a thaw-and-bake. Serve them just as they are with frozen rice, chicken tenders, black beans, cheddar cheese and salsa, or add some fresh salad, sour cream and coriander at the table.
Spinach Bacon Pumpkin Mac and Cheese (https://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/pumpkin-mac-and-cheese/)
Pasta bakes freeze so incredibly well, and this Spinach Bacon Pumpkin Mac and Cheese recipe is healthy and packed with vegetables, as well as being super cosy and comforting. This recipe also includes simple swaps to make this mac and cheese recipe dairy or gluten free.
Pelmeni (Russian Meat Dumplings) (https://whiskedawaykitchen.com/pelmeni-russian-meat-dumplings/)
Batch cook these easy meat and onion filled Russian Peleni meat dumplings so you can add them to soups, fry them up with a bit of butter or simply serve them with a heaped spoonful of sour cream and a little bit of fresh dill.
Simple Salmon Fishcakes (https://fromthelarder.co.uk/simple-salmon-fishcakes/)
Homemade fishcakes don’t get enough credit as a freezer food. Serve this simple (gluten free) salmon fishcake recipe with a simple salad or some frozen peas and some lemon wedges for squeezing over just before serving.
Slow Cooker Chilli con Carne (https://www.rachelphipps.com/2020/09/slow-cooker-chilli-con-carne-beef-bean-chilli.html)
Chili is the ultimate freezer meal, and it is just an added bonus that this recipe is slow cooker friendly. Freeze it in portions to serve with all your favourite toppings or to spoon over a hot jacket potato.
Cornbread Muffins (https://www.dessertfortwo.com/blue-corn-muffins/)
Some freezer meals don’t always come together without something on the side, which is where these freezer-friendly cornbread muffins come in. Obviously they’d go great with that Chilli con Carne, but you can also enjoy them for breakfast heated and slathered in salted butter or jam.
Freezer-Friendly Breakfast Cereal Bars (https://www.theseasonedmom.com/back-to-school-breakfast-on-the-go-cereal-bars/)
Breakfasts are also something you can make-ahead and freeze, especially over the holidays when all that anyone seems to think about are savoury meals or baked goods. These Freezer-Friendly Breakfast Cereal Bars are fully customisable and great for kids.
Slow Cooker Italian Shredded Beef (https://kathleenscravings.com/slow-cooker-shredded-italian-beef/)
This Slow Cooker Italian Shredded Beef recipe freezes beautifully, and is equally as delicious stuffed warm into rolls or sandwiches, or piled on top of cooked polenta or a crisp baked potato.
Turkey Zucchini Lasagna (https://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/turkey-zucchini-noodle-lasagna-meal-prep/)
Everyone knows that you can freeze lasagna, but this healthier, Turkey Zucchini Lasagna recipe lightens up the comfort food favourite in a method that is specifically designed for freezing.
Freezer Teriyaki Chicken Meatballs with Broccoli (https://themodernproper.com/freezer-teriyaki-chicken-meatballs-with-broccoli)
Tender teriyaki chicken meatballs are frozen here with vibrant broccoli florets in a simple freeze, dump and bake freezer meal that is as healthy as it is full of flavour. This simple freezer meal is also kid friendly!
Slow Roasted Tomato & Squash Soup (https://www.rachelphipps.com/2018/10/recipe-slow-roasted-tomato-butternut-squash-soup-with-garlic-bread.html)
Soup is the ultimate freezer-meal and this bright, rich tomato soup recipe is packed with roasted tomatoes, butternut squash and herbs for something that is both super healthy and super satisfying.
Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes (https://www.dessertfortwo.com/make-ahead-mashed-potatoes/)
Okay, so mashed potatoes are not a meal in themselves but this simple method for freezing individual portions of mashed potato was so good it just simply could not be left out! So many weeknight meals from a steak supper or a simple plate of sausages, mash and beans can be made freezer-friendly with this Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes recipe.
Vegan Thai Red Chickpea Curry (https://eatwithclarity.com/vegan-thai-red-curry/)
With lots of fresh aromatics Thai food is usually pretty difficult to freezer, but this creamy Vegan Thai Red Chickpea Curry recipe is perfect for stashing in the freezer for when you want something a little different over the holidays. Serve it on its own, or with steamed Jasmine rice, fresh coriander and lime wedges.
Good Morning Healthy Maple Blueberry Courgette Muffins (https://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/healthy-blueberry-zucchini-muffins/)
These naturally sweetened blueberry courgette muffins are great for breakfast or guilt-free snacking either re-heated in the microwave or thawed at room temperature.
Mexican Inspired Cauliflower Rice (https://eatwithclarity.com/mexican-cauliflower-rice/)
You can find frozen cauliflower rice in bags in American supermarkets, so why can’t you freeze cauliflower rice meals for the next time you want a healthy, low carb meal but you’re too busy to cook? This Mexican Inspired Cauliflower Rice recipe is perfect by itself, in burrito bowls or stuffed into tacos – and it is paleo friendly!
Freezer-friendly Egg Muffins (https://tipbuzz.com/freezer-friendly-egg-muffins/)
Egg muffins are great to keep in the freezer for breakfast, lunch or simply to snack on as they are totally customisable and defrost really quickly in the microwave.
New England Clam Chowder (https://www.culinaryhill.com/new-england-clam-chowder-recipe/)
Believe it or not, it is actually really easy to freeze clam chowder! This authentic American-style recipe loaded up with bacon, potatoes, cream and clams can be frozen just as you would any other soup for a delicious, comforting and creamy bowlful whenever you fancy.
Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan Sliders (https://thrivinghomeblog.com/slow-cooker-chicken-parmesan-sliders-perfect-weeknight-meal/)
Not only is it really easy to prep this simple Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan Slider recipe for the freezer, but you only need 5 ingredients. You can literally freeze everything here from the slow cooked chicken to the rolls and the cheese so all you have to do is keep everything together in one big bag for a really hands-off dinner.
Bolognese Sauce (https://www.mapleandmango.com/bolognese-sauce/)
Amazing served over creamy polenta, boiled pasta or a portion of gnocchi bolognese sauce is something that you should be able to find portions of in every well stocked freezer. This hearty, crowd-pleasing recipe is an Italian classic.
Honey Garlic Chicken Fried Rice (https://inquiringchef.com/honey-garlic-chicken-fried-rice/)
Did you know that you can freeze egg fried rice? This Honey Garlic Chicken Fried Rice recipe is perfect if you’ve never frozen fried rice before – all you have to do is defrost it overnight in the fridge and you’ve got a delicious Chinese meal in minutes that is much healthier than a takeaway!
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