The Best Freezer Meals That Aren’t Casseroles
Looking for freezer meals that aren’t casseroles? These ideas are perfect for people with a new baby, recovering from illness, grieving a loss, or anybody who just wants to have a few meals tucked away for a busy weeknight!
“Love this post! I’m expecting baby #3 and know that life will be insane so I look forward to freezing some of these meal ideas ahead of time.”
—Amanda
Freezer Meals – So Much More Than Casseroles!
I became an expert on make ahead freezer meals in my 30’s. It’s a decade of life in which pretty much everybody you know is having babies. And the joyous occasions are also mixed with illnesses and losses and grief and hectic lives, so really no matter what, the best thing you can do is take somebody a home-cooked meal.
My goals for make ahead meals are always quite simple: delicious meals that offer comfort, while trying to stay away from too many casseroles and packaged ingredients.
If you love casseroles, I love that for you, but they’re not my favorite, so this guide will focus on make ahead meals that AREN’T casseroles. I mean, we can debate whether a lasagna is a casserole or not, but I did my best here.
And keep in mind that there doesn’t even need to be a life event for a freezer meal. I’ll often make a double or triple batch of a recipe we love that I know freezes well, like meatballs or sloppy joes, just SO I can freeze it for future meals. What’s better than a weeknight where you just pop something into the oven and eat?
I’d love it if you shared this freezer meal ideas guide with anybody preparing meals for new parents, somebody grieving a loss or recovering from illness or injury, or anybody who just wants to have a few meals tucked away for a busy weeknight!
How to Make Make Ahead Meals
Creating the best make ahead meals starts with a solid plan. Here are some tips to get started:
- Choose Meals that Freeze Well. Sounds like a no brainer, but not all meals are freezer-friendly. Focus on hearty dishes like soups, stews, braised meats and baked pasta dishes.
- Just Use Disposable! Re-usable containers are always my choice at home, but when taking meals to others, I don’t think it’s cool to ask them to wash the container, keep it around their house and remember to give it back to me. Disposable is way easier.
- Partially Cook Before Freezing. Most meals should be at least partially cooked before freezing. This helps keep the texture perfect when the item is reheated.
- But Undercook Pasta a Bit. I’ll often freeze small trays of homemade mac and cheese for future meals, and I always undercook the noodles by about 2 minutes compared to what the box recommends for al dente. This way, when the mac and cheese is baked to reheat, and the noodles get cooked again, they won’t be mushy.
- Cool Completely Before Freezing. Probably my #1 tip. Whatever you do, DON’T put a lid on hot food and put it right in the freezer. The hot food will steam and cause condenstation, which is going to form ice crystals and freezer burn all over the food. Allow food to cool completely (uncovered!) in the fridge first, THEN cover and freeze it.
- Label and Date Everything. It’s easy to forget what’s what, especially if you’re a sleep-deprived new parent or something. Proper labeling ensures everything is used up before it loses flavor and quality. It’s also super helpful to write the cook time and temperature directly on the package.
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How to Freeze Meals
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Freezing meals is simple, but here are a few tips to ensure the best results:
- Portion Meals Out. Depending on the situation, divide larger meals into single or family-sized portions before freezing. This way, people can defrost exactly what is needed without waste.
- Use the Right Packaging. I’ve found that gallon freezer bags almost always leak while thawing after food is frozen in them so I skip them (except for being a container for aluminum foil wrapped things like burritos). Instead, I use:
- Pint + Quart Sized Deli Containers (takeout containers) – I usually buy these at my local Gordon Food Service. These are the best choice for liquidy things like soups and stews.
- Foil Pans with Lids – I use these exact ones from Amazon. I’ll freeze trays of mac and cheese with these, and also build lasagnas directly in these pans! You can fit about 2 to 3 servings of lasagna in one pan, depending on if it’s being served with side dishes or not, so err on the side of two pans for a family of 4.
- Leave Room For Expansion. No matter what container you use, don’t fill it to the tippy top. Liquids expand when frozen, so leave a bit of extra space for this to happen.
Home Chef Tips for the Best Freezer Meals
- Be Generous with Portions. Especially if the meal is for new parents. Mom might be absolutely ravenous if she’s nursing, and heck, Dad might be extra hungry, too. If not, and they end up with leftovers, they can always eat them for lunch the next day, but better to have a bit too much than not enough, right?
- Consider Side Dishes. I’ve found that this is a thoughtful touch that a lot of people overlook. Bringing somebody frozen soup? Grab a loaf of frozen garlic bread to pair with it. Offering meatballs? Grab a pouch of microwave quinoa or wild rice in a flavor that might pair well. Add a can of black beans to a tray of enchiladas. Grab some cornbread muffins to go with chili. Even a few boxes of frozen vegetable medleys that you just have to microwave are often very helpful!
- Don’t Forget Dessert! This is another thoughtful touch that goes a long way. Chocolate chip cookie dough can be scooped and frozen in balls. Then, they can be baked from frozen for fresh cookies on demand, basically.
Make Ahead Freezer Meals FAQs
A good rule of thumb is 3 months, stretching to 6 months if necessary. It’s important to remember that if stored properly, the meals will still be safe to eat beyond this period, but the quality of texture and flavor may begin to deteriorate.
The best materials for freezer meal recipes including airtight, freezer-safe containers like glass or BPA-free plastic containers.
Food with high water content, like lettuce and cucumbers, doesn’t freeze well. Creamy soups and sauces will sometimes separate after freezing (but may come back together when reheated and stirred), so you may need to experiment a bit.
It depends on the meal. Some dishes, like marinated chicken or meatballs, can be frozen raw for cooking at another time. But dishes like soups, stews and casseroles should generally be fully cooked before freezing.
24 Freezer Meal Recipes That Aren’t Casseroles
Easy Freezer Meals
Best Breakfast Burritos Recipe
Chicken Tinga Tacos (Meal Prep, Freezer Friendly)
How to Make the Easiest Shortcut Brunswick Stew
Freezer-Friendly Croissant Breakfast Sandwich Recipe
Baked Chicken Chimichangas
Healthy Freezer Meals
Tofu Curry
Salmon Patties from Canned Salmon
Lamb and barley soup
Red Lentil Curry
Green Olive Soup with Olive Oil
Crockpot Freezer Meals
Taco Soup in Slow Cooker
Beef Vegetable Soup (Slow Cooker)
Slow Cooker Butter Chicken Meatballs
Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff
Instant Pot Freezer Meals
Instant Pot Chili
Instant Pot Salsa Verde Beef
Instant Pot Carnitas
Instant Pot Salsa Chicken
Kid Friendly Freezer Meals
Authentic Italian Meatballs
Instant Pot Chinese Chicken and Broccoli
Lasagna Recipe (Cottage Cheese version)
Homemade Hamburger Helper
Sausage Spinach Ricotta Stuffed Shells
Love this post! I’m expecting baby #3 and know that life will be insane so I look forward to freezing some of these meal ideas ahead of time.
Congratulations, Amanda. So happy for your and your family! I hope some of these ideas come in handy for you 🙂
I have never done freezer meals, so it’s nice to have some ideas. I especially like the idea of the lentil soup (I’ve picked up a couple of recipes for lentil soup lately, but I think this one will win out.
Glad you liked this post, Susan! We eat a lot of lentil soup around here. Nutritious and delicious!