Freezer Cooking for Busy Families
Supper goes a lot smoother when half of it is already done. That is all freezer cooking really is: putting part of a future meal away now. When I first got married, I made one huge batch of soup and froze it in portions for two, and it lasted us about eight months. When I was pregnant, I cooked two dinners at a time and froze one, so the freezer was full of ready meals when the baby came.
This hub keeps all of our freezer recipes, make-ahead starters and freezer meal collections in one spot, sorted by meal. For more ways to get dinner on the table faster, grab my weeknight kitchen shortcuts.
Pick one of the recipes readers pull up most, or scroll down to the meal you want to stock up on.
Start With Our Most Popular Freezer Recipes
These three get the most visits from Google and Pinterest, and each one puts your freezer stash to work.
Hamburger Meat Casseroles
A big collection of ground beef casseroles, with tips for assembling them ahead and freezing them.
Freezer Friendly Chicken Spaghetti
A creamy, cheesy pan you can put together now and bake on a night you need it.
Rotel Cheese Dip with Ground Beef
A warm, cheesy dip that can start with a bag of your make-ahead ground beef.
Freezer Cooking Basics
My two starters are a frozen seasoning blend and make-ahead ground beef. I add just enough water to hold the peppers and onions together in the muffin wells. A silicone pan makes the portions easier to pop out. For the beef, I brown six pounds in one large skillet, drain it, then divide it into six portions. Each portion starts with a pound of raw beef, even though the cooked portion doesn’t have to weigh a pound.
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How to Freeze Your First Meal
- Portion what you’ll use. Start with one dinner or enough cooked beef for one recipe. If the food is still hot, divide it into shallow containers and refrigerate it promptly before freezing.
- Label it before it goes in. Write the name, date, amount and what to do next. For example: “Chicken spaghetti, one pan. Thaw in fridge before baking.”
- Pick a night to eat it. Check the recipe for thawing directions and set a reminder to move the meal to the fridge. A deep casserole can take longer to thaw than a flat bag, so give it extra time.
More Freezer Cooking Guides
Let Me Plan Supper for You
Want to know what’s for supper before the week starts?
Freezer-Friendly Dinners
Leftover soup is a family tradition here. It started with my grandmother, got passed down, and I taught it to my kids. When we have odds and ends to use up, leftover soup is an easy dinner. Check each recipe for its own instructions on freezing and serving.
Freezer Breakfasts and Snacks
Muffins, pancakes, hot pockets and party bites you can make in a batch and pull out a few at a time.
Freezer Meal Roundups
Bigger collections for the days you want a long list to choose from, from casseroles and soups to breakfasts.
Freezer Cooking Tips and Recipes
Freezer-Friendly Breakfasts
Easy Casserole Recipes
Best Hamburger Soup Recipes
Keep Cooking Ahead
Choose a picture for more easy supper ideas.
