On busy nights, these simple freezer meals will aid you get a wholesome dinner on the desk with out a number of fuss. They embrace cozy soups, pastas, and extra!
Once I wish to get a fast, wholesome dinner on the desk, freezer meals are the very first thing I flip to. These simple meals aren’t store-bought frozen dinners, however the soups, stews, and casseroles that I make forward and freeze myself. Saved and reheated the appropriate method, these freezer meals are simply as flavorful as they had been on the day they had been made. When I’ve a stash of them available, making a scrumptious, wholesome dinner is so simple as heating one up!
Under, you’ll discover my favourite freezer meals to make forward, together with my greatest ideas for storing and reheating them. So choose a recipe, make a giant batch of it, and save the leftovers for an additional day. Belief me, you’ll thank your self later!
9×13 Freezer Meals
Baked pastas and enchiladas are a few of my favourite make-ahead freezer meals. They’re comforting, satisfying, and assured to please, whether or not I’m warming them for a crowd or simply Jack and me.
To freeze these recipes, totally assemble them as much as the purpose of baking. Tightly cowl the baking dish and freeze for as much as 3 months. If you wish to serve them, bake, coated, at 350°F for one hour, or till heated via. Then, if the dish you’re making has a layer of cheese on high, uncover and bake till the cheese is browned and effervescent. Really easy!
Best Vegetarian Lasagna
My philosophy on vegetarian lasagna? The extra veggies, the merrier! Roasted mushrooms, fennel, onions, carrots, zucchini, tomatoes, and leeks pack this recipe with thrilling textures and flavors.
Vegetarian Black Bean Enchiladas
Roasted butternut squash, scallions, and black beans fill these comforting veggie enchiladas. Serve them with sliced avocado, cilantro, and a giant squeeze of lime juice on high!
Easy Baked Ziti
Dollops of lemony ricotta create a scrumptious creamy layer within the middle of this spinach baked ziti.
Stuffed Shells
Heads up: the tactic I take advantage of for reheating these stuffed shells is slightly completely different from the one I take advantage of for the opposite recipes on this part. I nonetheless totally assemble the shells earlier than freezing, however as a substitute of baking them from frozen, I switch them to the fridge to thaw in a single day, or for at the least 10 hours, earlier than I bake them. Then, I bake them, coated, for half-hour, or till they’re totally heated via. They arrive out good!
Chili and Bean Freezer Meals
These simple freezer meals are a staple in our home all through the autumn and winter. To freeze them, totally put together the recipes and permit them to chill to room temperature. Then, switch them to freezer-safe containers and freeze for as much as 3 months. Place containers within the fridge to thaw in a single day or defrost them within the microwave. Tip: I prefer to freeze particular person parts in order that I can reheat one for a fast and simple lunch!
Easy Vegetarian Chili
On a chilly evening, this smoky, spicy chili will heat you up from the within out. It’s incredible with a facet of homemade cornbread or jalapeño cornbread. They each freeze completely too!
Cannellini Beans and Greens
Served with a slice of crusty bread, these lemony white beans are a nourishing, warming, and satisfying meal.
Black Bean Chili
This thick, hearty chili is nice by itself…nevertheless it’s even higher with all of the fixings! Pile your bowl with Greek yogurt or vegan sour cream, pickled red onions, jalapeños, cilantro, and/or avocado to take it excessive.
Veggie Burger and Ball Freezer Meals
The subsequent time you’re cooking veggie burgers or balls, double the recipe and freeze half for later! Stash the cooked, cooled patties or balls in a freezer-safe container or Ziploc bag, and freeze for as much as 3 months. To reheat, bake them at 400°F for 10-20 minutes, or till totally thawed and heated via.
Easy Black Bean Burger
These simple bean burgers are SO easy to make! They arrive collectively in beneath half-hour.
Crispy Baked Falafel
Once I discover a stray bag of this crispy, herb-flecked falafel in my freezer, I really feel like I’ve received the lottery. Serve it with pita, recent veggies, and hummus or tahini sauce for a recent, flavorful vegetarian meal.
Best Veggie Burger
Made with meaty mushrooms, walnuts, balsamic vinegar, and soy sauce or tamari, these vegan veggie burgers have a tremendous savory taste.
Best Vegan Meatballs
Serve them over pasta, or stuff them into subs with a handful of arugula and many marinara.
Saucy, “Meaty” Freezer Meals
Have you ever tried cooking with green jackfruit? With its delicate taste and meaty texture, it’s an important plant-based substitute for pulled or shredded meat. I really like to make use of it to make saucy BBQ sandwiches and spicy vegan tacos, and each fillings freeze completely. Switch them to the fridge to thaw in a single day and reheat them on the range, or defrost them within the microwave. And don’t overlook – hamburger buns and tortillas freeze properly too. Preserve some available, and also you’ll have the ability to assemble these recipes very quickly!
BBQ Jackfruit Sandwiches
My plant-based model of a pulled pork sandwich. High it with pickles and a fast cabbage slaw for a scrumptious crunch.
Vegan Tacos
Love candy and spicy flavors collectively? You HAVE to do this recipe! The straightforward mango salsa presents a refreshing distinction to the flavorful jerk-spiced taco meat.
Freezer-Pleasant Soups
Soups are the wholesome freezer meals I make most frequently. They’re soothing, warming, and excellent for lunch or dinner. To be sincere, virtually any soup recipe will freeze properly, however to get you began, I’ve shared a number of of my favorites beneath.
To freeze these recipes, permit them to chill fully after cooking. Then, switch them to hermetic containers and freeze. Understand that soup will develop within the freezer, so don’t fill your containers fully. Enable frozen soup to thaw within the fridge earlier than reheating it on the range, or defrost it within the microwave, stirring each couple of minutes.
Best Lentil Soup
Coconut milk and curry spices fill this soup with wealthy, warming taste.
Potato Leek Soup
Blended white beans add plant-based protein to this creamy, dairy-free soup.
Cabbage Soup
A whole head of cabbage wilts down into this nourishing veggie soup.
Butternut Squash Soup
We’ve this fan-favorite recipe on repeat all through the autumn and winter. It’s easy, creamy, and stuffed with candy, earthy taste from the squash and recent herbs.
Black Bean Soup
This 10-ingredient soup is thick and creamy, with a kick of warmth from chipotles in adobo. Tame the spice with a dollop of Greek yogurt, vegan sour cream, and/or avocado.
Many-Veggie Vegetable Soup
This versatile soup recipe is my favourite method to make use of up no matter veggie odds and ends I’ve within the fridge. Cauliflower, broccoli, butternut squash, potatoes, or greens… They’d all be scrumptious on this many-veggie soup.
Yellow Split Pea Soup
Yellow break up peas add plant-based protein to this vegan riff on corn chowder.
Creamy Tomato Soup
This creamy tomato soup isn’t made with any cream. As an alternative, blended chickpeas create its easy, velvety texture.
Extra Favourite Freezer Meals
Just a few extra freezer meals so as to add to your rotation! Discover freezing and thawing directions in every recipe’s description beneath.
Homemade Taquitos
Freezer meals have by no means been extra enjoyable! Filled with meaty jackfruit, refried beans, and tangy inexperienced chiles, these crispy taquitos are an important addition to any well-stocked freezer. Reheat them from frozen in a 400°F oven for 25 minutes, or till crisp and warmed via.
Easy Coconut Curry
Filled with veggies like cauliflower, butternut squash, peas, and spinach, this fragrant coconut curry is one in every of our go-to wholesome freezer meals. Serve it over cooked white or brown rice, which – heads up! – it’s also possible to make forward and retailer within the freezer.
Butternut Squash Ravioli
Making selfmade ravioli is a little bit of a mission, so why not cook dinner as soon as and eat twice? Freeze raw ravioli in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet for 2 hours. Then, switch them to an hermetic freezer bag and freeze for as much as 3 months. If you’re able to eat, cook dinner them in a big pot of salted boiling water till they float, for about 6 minutes.
Vegan Breakfast Burrito
Overlook their identify – these yummy tofu and veggie burritos would make an important meal at any time of day. To freeze the burritos, totally assemble them and wrap them tightly in foil. Freeze for as much as 3 months. Switch one to the fridge to thaw in a single day earlier than zapping it within the microwave to warmth it via.
Make-Forward Elements
To me, a number of the greatest freezer “meals” aren’t meals in any respect. As an alternative, they’re freezer-friendly parts that provide you with a head begin on making a full meal later. Take pasta sauce, pizza dough, and cooked grains. Upon getting them available, you may simply make a wholesome, home-cooked dinner with out a number of fuss.
Basil Pesto
Or vegan pesto or kale pesto! Freeze them in ice dice trays in an effort to thaw as a lot or as little as you’d like at a time.
Marinara Sauce
Preserve marinara helpful in your freezer, and also you’ll by no means have to purchase the store-bought sort once more! To freeze it, permit it to chill fully, switch it to an hermetic container, and freeze for as much as 3 months.
Homemade Pizza Dough
The subsequent time you make homemade pizza, double the dough! As soon as it rises, freeze half in an hermetic container for an additional evening. To make use of it, permit it to thaw in a single day within the fridge. Convey it to room temperature earlier than you stretch it.
Rice
Considered one of my favourite methods to meal prep is to batch-cook and freeze grains like rice, quinoa, and farro. That method, every time I want a wholesome side dish or a base for a grain bowl, I simply must pop one within the microwave to thaw. To freeze cooked grains, unfold them in an excellent layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and freeze for 2 hours. After that, you may switch them to a freezer bag or container with out them clumping collectively.
Black Beans or Instant Pot Black Beans
Or any home-cooked beans. All of them freeze completely! They’re extra flavorful than their canned counterparts, and after getting them in your freezer, they’re equally handy. Add them to chilis, salads, or soups, or serve them as a side dish.
Freezer Meals: Freezer-Pleasant Veggie Soup
Serves 4
This wholesome veggie soup is one in every of our favourite freezer meals to make forward!
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- Sea salt and recent black pepper
- 1 medium carrot, diced
- 1 small candy potato, diced
- ¼ cup dry white wine, non-compulsory
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced fireplace roasted tomatoes
- 4 garlic cloves, chopped
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon purple pepper flakes, extra to style
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
- 1 cup chopped inexperienced beans
- 1 zucchini, diced
- 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 2 tablespoons balsamic or white wine vinegar
- 1½ cups chopped kale
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Warmth the oil in a big pot over medium warmth. Add the onion, ½ teaspoon salt, and a number of other grinds of pepper, and cook dinner, stirring often, for 8 minutes. Add the carrot and candy potato, stir and cook dinner 2 extra minutes.
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Add the wine, if utilizing, and cook dinner for about 30 seconds to cut back by half, then add the canned tomatoes, garlic, oregano, and purple pepper flakes. Stir within the broth and bay leaves. Convey to a boil, then scale back the warmth to a simmer and cook dinner, coated, for 20 minutes.
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Stir within the cherry tomatoes, inexperienced beans, zucchini, chickpeas, and canopy and cook dinner 10 to fifteen extra minutes, till the inexperienced beans are tender.
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Stir within the vinegar, kale, an extra ½ teaspoon salt (or to style), and extra pepper. Let cool, then switch to glass storage containers.
