Some days, dinner just doesn’t go as planned. Maybe you forgot to thaw the chicken, or life got hectic, and takeout isn’t an option. Don’t worry! With a little planning, you can have quick, homemade meals on hand that are ready to go when life throws a curveball.
One of the best ways to make weeknight dinners easier is by prepping and freezing meals ahead of time. These freezer-friendly ideas are perfect for busy moms who want to have a quick, homemade meal without the stress.
1. Meat Sauce 🍝
A batch of hearty meat sauce can be a lifesaver on those “what’s for dinner?” nights.
How to Prep:
- Make a large batch of your favorite meat sauce.
- Pour into silicone molds or small plastic containers and freeze.
- Once frozen, pop them out and store them in zip-top bags.
How to Serve: When you’re ready, just thaw, heat, and serve over pasta. Pair with a side salad or garlic bread for a complete meal.
2. Soups 🍲
Soups are versatile and freeze beautifully.
How to Prep:
- Make a large pot of chicken noodle, vegetable, minestrone, or your favorite soup.
- Let it cool completely before freezing individual or family-size portions in containers or bags.
How to Serve: Reheat on the stove or in the microwave and serve with crackers or a grilled cheese sandwich for a comforting meal.
3. Baked Ziti or Goulash 🧀
These pasta-based dishes are filling and freeze well.
How to Prep:
- Prepare your ziti or goulash, bake it, and let it cool.
- Freeze in individual servings or a large casserole dish.
How to Serve: Thaw overnight or pop it in the oven straight from the freezer at 350°F until heated through.
4. Chicken Fried Rice 🍚
This freezer-friendly meal is perfect for using up leftover veggies.
How to Prep:
- Cook ground chicken with chopped carrots and onions.
- Mix with cooked rice and stir-fry sauce.
- Freeze in portions.
How to Serve: Heat in a skillet or microwave for a quick, flavorful dinner.
Make Dinner Stress-Free. Having a freezer stocked with ready-to-go meals can take the pressure off dinner time. With just a little prep, you’ll always have a backup plan for those unpredictable evenings.
If you want more help with meal planning, grab my free Meal List sheet to help with creating your meal plans.
Stay tuned for Part 2, where I’ll share easy meals you can make with pantry staples and on-hand ingredients!