Want to stock your freezer? Taking a meal to a friend? Or do you simply appreciate the convenience of advance prep? Whatever the reason, it’s helpful to have a list of meals that reheat, travel, and freeze well. The following list is loaded with ideas for every taste and occasion.
Having a delicious meal in the freezer, ready to pull out on a busy workday, can feel like a small gift. Maybe you don’t need to freeze anything but could simply use a solid list of make-ahead meals that can be reheated when needed or taken to someone who is sick, recently had a baby, or is recovering from surgery or a loss in the family.
Freezer meals naturally fall into the make-ahead category, so whether you are stocking your fridge, freezer, or a friend’s fridge or freezer, the following list of tried-and-true recipes offers a helpful resource to return to when inspiration and ideas are needed.
When cooking for others, eating restrictions and preferences can add a layer of challenge. Most of the following recipes are or can easily be made gluten-free, dairy-free, and/or nut-free. There are also several vegan options that have pleased many meat-eaters too. These meals are indicated with an asterisk (*). Several other recipes can be made vegan with a simple adjustment – for example, using dairy-free chocolate chips in the breakfast cookie recipe.
SOUPS
Quick & Easy White Chicken Chili
Creamy (but dairy-free), flavor-packed, and easy enough to pull off on a busy weeknight – yet absolutely worthy of company!
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Amish-Style Chicken Corn Soup
Brimming with chicken and vegetables, a pot of this soul-warming soup is easy to make with basic ingredients. A regional classic and a true family favorite!
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Curried Butternut Squash and Red Lentil Soup*
Red lentils add a hearty dose of protein and minerals to this much-loved seasonal soup, yet no one would ever know they’re there. This Curried Butternut Squash and Red Lentil Soup is kosher, gluten-free, easily made vegan, and so very satisfying!
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Aunt Peggy’s Turkey Chili
Quick, easy, and super satisfying, this flavorful chili is a go-to on busy nights and reheats beautifully.
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Crock Pot Chicken & Wild Rice Soup (with freezer bag option)
A classic comfort food that’s wholesome and easy to make. Freezer bag option provides added convenience.
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Vegan Chili*
With its flavor-packed, quick-cooking, crowd-pleasing appeal, this meatless recipe defies traditional chili logic and is 100% worthy of the weekly dinner rotation.
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Chicken Tortilla Soup
A brimming pot of this wholesome soup is a filling favorite in our house. Topped with grated cheese and a few crushed tortilla chips, it’s extra special!
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Entrees
Spaghetti Squash Lasagna
Delicious, nutritious spaghetti squash lasagna has all the features we love about traditional lasagna, from the gooey cheese and hearty sauce to the best-ever leftovers. You won’t miss the noodles!
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3-Ingredient Chuck Roast in Foil
Flavorful, fork tender meat with ease…and your kitchen will smell amazing! This hands-off recipe has been a longtime favorite in our family, and it might just make the regular rotation at your house too.
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Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole
A modern remake of my mom’s classic casserole, this rendition of a childhood favorite is lighter but still delivers the memorable flavor. There’s even a crunchy topping, an option for extra veggies, and excellent alternatives for some dietary restrictions. (And Mom approves!)
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Spaghetti Casserole
Saucy, meaty, cheesy, and delicious, this make-ahead casserole is a longtime favorite that’s perfect for family dinners, casual entertaining, potlucks, and anytime you need to take a meal to a friend.
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Sheet Pan Chicken Fajita Bowls
Customizable chicken fajita bowls are simple to make with a convenient sheet pan approach and are sure to become a favorite. Wholesome, economical, and perfect for meal prep.
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Baked Tortilla Casserole
Easy, economical, and loaded with filling protein, this pantry-based meal offers a modern twist on the traditional casserole and can be prepared the day before. Simply pop it in the oven when ready to eat. The baked casserole may also be frozen.
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Freezer English Muffin Pizzas
Simple ingredients are assembled into meaty pizzas that can be baked straight from the freezer for easy, satisfying meals whenever needed. Loved by kids and adults alike, these are not your ordinary English muffin pizzas!
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Broccoli and Prosciutto Bake
This quick-to-assemble casserole is ideal on a busy night or when you simply don’t feel like cooking. It can also be made in advance and reheated and it freezes beautifully. Perfect for a potluck, to deliver to a friend in need, or to pack in a cooler for a weekend get-away.
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Slow Cooker Taco Chicken (with freezer bag option)
A good freezer bag meal will come to your rescue on busy weeknights and when cooking for a friend in need. Taco chicken is family friendly, endlessly versatile, and quick to prep. I given the bags as practical gifts, because who couldn’t use a healthy meal and a night off cooking amidst the busy seasons?
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Easy Italian Stromboli
Modeled after a favorite at a local pizza shop, this flavor-packed stromboli is easy to assemble and may be prepped in batches and frozen for later use. Gluten-free adaptation included.
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Classic Crispy Top Macaroni and Cheese
This is basic mac and cheese at its best – easy and cheesy with just the right amount of crusty topping. Excellent gluten-free adaptation available.
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Burgers, Proteins, & Sides
Gruyere Dijon Turkey Burgers
Dijon mustard and Gruyere cheese take ground turkey to new heights in these juicy, flavor-packed burgers that cook quickly on the grill or stovetop. Though pictured with a bun, they are equally delicious sans bun.
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Sweet Potato & Black Bean Veggie Burgers*
An appealing spicy-sweetness is the hallmark of these nutrient-rich veggie burgers, which are both vegan and gluten-free and can be made in advance. Like all the recipes on this list, they freeze well too!
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Parchment Packet Chicken
This zero-cleanup technique delivers tender, juicy chicken and is perfect on its own yet especially helpful for all those recipes calling for precooked chicken. Works with one chicken breast or many and offers endless flexibility with flavors.
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Jen’s Incredible Baked Meatballs
These tender, flavorful baked meatballs have been a family and reader favorite for many years. Hundreds of readers have called them the best meatballs ever! Serve them with spaghetti and your favorite sauce, as an appetizer, in a meatball sandwich－or all by themselves. Many readers report making double (even quadruple!) batches to stash in the freezer.
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Corn Spoon Bread
Corn Spoon Bread is best described as a delicious merger of baked corn and cornbread, and the quick-to-prepare side dish can be made ahead and reheats and freezes well. Enjoy in place of starches like potatoes and rice on your dinner plate, or use it to bolster a simple meal of soup or salad.
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Spanish-Style Chickpeas*
Pantry staples come together lightening quick in this plant-based meal that’s equal parts flavorful, satisfying, and budget friendly!
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Make-Ahead Baked Mashed Potatoes
This flexible, make-ahead mashed potato recipe is a sure-fire hit on a holiday table. You can even freeze it before baking, and the Parmesan crust will not disappoint!
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Breakfast (or breakfast for dinner!)
The Best Egg Sandwiches
Eggs are baked to light, fluffy perfection (easy and so good!) and then layered with the classic additions. Great for grab-and-go breakfasts or packed lunches throughout the week and when guests are in the house. Freezing and reheating details included.
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Amish Baked Oatmeal
Baked oatmeals are the ultimate make-ahead breakfast and can be frozen whole or in individual portions. This recipe is my most basic, and if you enter "baked oatmeal" in the search bar, you'll see a wide variety of seasonal variations and even an option with steel cut oats.
Sausage & Egg Casserole
This tried-and-true casserole can be prepared in advance and is perfect for holidays and special brunches. A smaller batch option follows the main recipe and is ideal for more intimate gatherings and the occasional breakfast for dinner!
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Blueberry Banana Smoothie*
This blueberry banana smoothie is creamy, delicious, and chock-full of nutrient-dense ingredients and filling protein. Plus it takes just five minutes to make with ingredients that are easily kept on hand. For a convenient freezer bag option, place all the ingredients, except the milk, in a zip-top bag and store in freezer. Add milk to the blender, along with the contents of the bag, when ready to enjoy.
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Scrambled Egg Muffins
Basic ingredients come together in minutes for these filling egg muffins that can be customized to taste. Economical, healthy, and delicious!
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Kitchen Sink Breakfast Cookies
A hearty, wholesome combination of odds and ends you likely have on hand, these one-bowl cookies are worth waking up for! (gluten-free and vegan optional)
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Lolita’s Low Sugar Granola*
Granola is supposed to be healthy, right? Yet too often a small serving is surprisingly high in sugar and calories. Happily, Lolita figured out a way to do it differently. Lucky for us, she shared her trade secrets! When taking to a friend, I like to include Greek yogurt and berries or other seasonal fruit.
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Baked Denver Omelet
Similar to a frittata, this baked omelet can be mixed in one bowl and requires no sautéing prior to baking. It’s a super speedy meal that is perfect with your favorite deli ham or leftover baked ham.
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Pumpkin Bran Muffins
The classic bran muffin meets a whole can of pumpkin in this wholesome recipe that the whole family will love!
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Homemade Breakfast Sausage Patties
Love sausage but trying to eat healthier? Ground pork, turkey, or chicken plus a short list of spices create a healthy alternative that tastes just like sausage and can be used in so many ways.
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Zucchini Banana or Applesauce Bread (grain-free & naturally sweetened)
This grain-free, naturally sweetened zucchini bread puts a healthy spin on the ultimate summer quick bread. As an added bonus, it’s easy to customize and tastes great!
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Freezer Breakfast Burritos
A little advance prep will reward you with a freezer full of these loaded burritos, and a helpful tip explains how they can go from freezer to microwave without getting soggy!
Desserts
Easy Mud Pie
This easy, make-ahead recipe is sure to become a favorite for casual entertaining and special occasions. The quick, no-bake homemade crust adds something special (and allows for a gluten-free option) but a store-bought cookie crust works well too.
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Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies
Three basic ingredients come together with ease in this flourless, dairy-free cookie that is sure to become a favorite with family and friends. They freeze so well too!
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Strawberry Granitas
Sweet, melt-in-your-mouth granitas can be made with a variety of seasonal fruits for a refreshingly light dessert or snack all summer long. Start with this simple recipe for Strawberry Granitas and customize to taste with a variety of options. No fancy equipment needed!
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Congo Bars
Congo Bars = the ultimate blondie! Perfectly chewy and so much easier to make than a batch of cookies, this foolproof recipe is a childhood favorite that has stood the test of time.
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Copycat Dairy Queen Ice Cream Cake
Guaranteed to be the hit of the party, my favorite Copycat Dairy Queen Ice Cream Cake includes fudge filling, chocolate crunchies, and all. There’s also a worthy gluten-free option for those who need it—and nobody will detect a difference!
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Apple Cake
No frosting is needed for this rustic cake that is studded with tender apples and comes together in a single bowl with pantry staples. Serve as is or with a scoop of ice cream and caramel sauce. (Or my favorite, salted caramel ice cream!)
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Salted Hot Fudge Sauce
This tried-and-true chocolate sauce is thick, velvety, and strikes the right salty-sweet balance. It’s quick and easy to prepare and makes a lovely gift! (Small and big batch recipe cards included.)
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Brownie Ice Cream Sandwiches
Best described as a handheld brownie sundae, these make-ahead treats will be the star of any party or potluck. And clearly they keep best frozen!,
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Chipwich Bars
Everyone loves a chipwich, so why not make it easier–and more fun–by making a sheet panful? I even have a simple trick for a cookie that isn’t rock hard when frozen, and the science behind it is fascinating!
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Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
If you don’t have a pumpkin cookie recipe (or even if you do!) this one will be the new standard in your household. Lightly spiced, chocolatey, and chock full of pumpkin and oats, this cookie hits all the right notes. And the best part is that it doesn’t have to be perfect to taste great!
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No-Bake Energy Bites
Chewy granola bar meets cookie batter in these easy-to-make bites, which include whole oats and a whopping half cup of heart-healthy flax meal. Store in the freezer for a grab-and-go snack whenever it's needed!
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I’d love to know if you try any of these recipes! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo @fountainavenuekitchen on Instagram and Facebook. Your feedback is always appreciated.
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