IT’S HERE! Welcome to my ultimate freezer meal guide. Since have 3 kiddos in the span of 4 years, I know a thing or two about how easy, convenient, and (often) necessary it is to have access to nourishing, freezer-friendly meals. Life gets busy and cooking a satisfying breakfast each morning and a fresh dinner every night can feel (and is) impossible at times.
I’m here to provide an amazing resource to help you get meals on your table for your family (or just yourself!) during the busy seasons of life. Trust me, you’ll LOVE these easy freezer meals!
Get my FREE freezer meal guide
Along with this blog post, we created a FREE easy-to-follow, printable freezer meal guide to keep on-hand and come back to time and time again! It takes all of the info from this post and packages it onto two pages (or one double-sided page) that you can keep in your kitchen drawer or hang on your fridge. So easy!
In this post, I’ll walk you through how to freeze and reheat virtually any meal. We did our best to include TONS of different categories of recipes, including breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and desserts, so that you can learn how to freeze different meals! Please note that this list does not include every recipe in each category (the blog post would be WAY too long!) so be sure to click the category buttons after each meal type to get even more inspo.
Check out all of my tips on how to freeze your favorite meals, and pick out a few to try this week!
Why freeze your meals for later?
- Save time. Whether you’re a new mama adjusting to newborn and postpartum life, a parent wrangling a big family, or someone with an incredibly demanding job – you’ll save SO much time prepping and freezing meals ahead of time. No need to cook every day of the week when you can plan ahead and have breakfasts, lunches, and dinners at your fingertips to reheat whenever you need them!
- Save money. Busy weeks often lead to easy takeout options, which can really add up over the months and year. With homemade meals ready to go you can save takeout for special occasions! Plus, cooking and freezing in bulk for a big family or just 1-2 people will save you tons of trips to the grocery store.
- Nourishing meals on-demand. Yes, “health” means something different for everyone, but I’m a firm believer that the best way to prioritize nutrient-dense, nourishing meals is to cook them right at home. Many people don’t have time to do this 5-7 days per week, so when you prep them and freeze them ahead of time you’ll find it SO easy to enjoy healthy meals all week long.
- Reduce waste. Freezing leftovers or even parts of meals is a great way to reduce waste because your meals won’t go bad before you finish them. The majority of recipes typically last up to 3 months in the freezer! This is especially convenient when you’re just feeding yourself or yourself and a roommate or partner because you don’t have to finish the entire meal in just a few days.
Tips for freezing every recipe
- Let the food cool completely before freezing so that it doesn’t develop freezer burn.
- Meals can be stored for up to 3 months unless otherwise noted.
- Not all food has to thaw before reheating – read the instructions carefully!
- To feed more people, I recommend doubling a recipe and freezing half for later!
- If you’re freezing multiple meals, try selecting recipes that have similar ingredients. That way your prep time (including grocery shopping) is much easier.
- Freeze meals in the portions you want to eat them. That way you don’t have to worry about slicing or dividing meals when they’re frozen solid.
- Use labels on your freezer-safe bags or containers so that you know what’s in your freezer!
Types of recipes we DO NOT recommend freezing
- Leafy greens & veggies: I don’t recommend freezing salads or recipes that use fresh, leafy greens as they’ll get extremely mushy after being frozen.
- Recipes with garnishes & sauce drizzles: if you plan to freeze certain recipes, I recommend leaving off garnishes like nuts, fresh herbs, etc. because they won’t stay fresh after freezing. If the recipe calls for a sauce drizzle to finish the dish, I recommend adding this after you’ve reheated the meal and are ready to eat!
Although we don’t recommend freezing meals with these types of ingredients, you can absolutely freeze herbs on their own for later! Head to this guide to learn exactly how to freeze fresh herbs.
Types of recipes that require a bit more attention when freezing
- Stovetop pasta dishes: this includes mac and cheese and other super creamy pasta recipes. Feel free to freeze these dishes as you would with casseroles (like lasagna), however, when you reheat them, I recommend doing so on the stovetop and adding a bit more liquid (like milk).
More freezer guides
- How to Prep Smoothies: 3 Different Ways (plus tips and tricks!)
- How to Freeze Fresh Herbs
- How to Freeze Cookies (2 different ways!)
Tools you’ll need to freeze meals for later
- Aluminum foil
- Airtight glass containers
- Reusable freezer-friendly silicone bags
- A label maker (great if you’re freezing multiple meals!)
How to freeze your favorite recipes
Scroll through to check out all of the recipe categories that are great for freezing! You’ll find their basic freezing and heating instructions, plus a list of delicious recipe to try.
Breads & Muffins
- To freeze: wrap your entire bread loaf or individual slices tightly in foil. Place your wrapped loaf, slices, or whole muffins in a glass container or silicone bag.
- To reheat: Let the bread loaf, slices, or muffins thaw at room temperature. Microwave bread slices or muffins in 15-second intervals if you like them warm.
Try prepping and freezing these recipes:
Best Ever Healthy Banana Bread Recipe
Healthy Peanut Butter Banana Muffins (dairy free + gluten free)
Blender Double Chocolate Spinach Muffins
Pistachio Poppy Seed Orange Yogurt Bread
Morning Glory Zucchini Carrot Muffins
Get all of my bread recipes here, and all of my muffin recipes here!
Baked Oatmeal
- To freeze: place individual baked oatmeal slices or cups in a glass container or silicone bag and freeze. If you’re freezing an entire baked oatmeal, wrap the entire pan well with foil and freeze.
- To reheat: reheat slices or cups in the microwave from frozen in 15-second intervals for 1 to 2 minutes. To reheat an entire baked oatmeal, cover the pan with foil and reheat from frozen in the oven at 350 degrees F for 20 to 25 minutes.
Try prepping and freezing these recipes:
Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Baked Oatmeal
Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal Cups
Orange Creamsicle Baked Oatmeal
Peanut Butter Banana Baked Oatmeal Cups
Vanilla Brown Butter Pear Baked Oatmeal
Pancakes & Waffles
- To freeze: place on a parchment-lined baking sheet so they aren’t touching and freeze for 30 minutes, then place in glass containers or silicone bags and freeze.
- To reheat: reheat pancakes for 30 to 60 seconds or bake at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes. Use a toaster to reheat waffles directly from the freezer.
Try prepping and freezing these recipes:
Fluffy Yogurt Pancakes (high protein, gluten free)
Healthy Banana Oatmeal Pancakes (made right in the blender!)
Sidney’s 4-Ingredient Banana Pancakes
The Best Fluffy Vegan Pancakes
Get all of my waffle and pancake recipes here!
Quiches & Egg Bakes
- To freeze: place individual slices in glass containers or silicone bags and freeze. You can also freeze the entire quiche at once if you have a large enough freezer-safe bag or container.
- To reheat: reheat slices from frozen or thaw in the refrigerator overnight by microwaving at 15-second intervals. Reheat an entire egg bake from frozen at 350 degrees F for 30 to 35 minutes.
Try prepping and freezing these recipes:
Butternut Squash Bacon Spinach Quiche
Maple Apple Breakfast Chicken Meatballs
Savory Chicken Sausage, Egg and Cheese Muffins (keto + low carb)
Spinach & Goat Cheese Quiche with Sweet Potato Crust
Healthy Breakfast Egg Muffin Cups
Jalapeño, Pepper Jack & Turkey Bacon Quiche with Potato Crust
Get all of my savory breakfast recipes here!
Cinnamon Rolls
- To freeze before baking: after the first rise, once they are rolled up, sliced, and placed in the pan, cover the pan with plastic wrap and foil, then freeze.
- To bake from frozen: thaw in the fridge overnight, then place in a warm spot until rolls have risen and doubled in size, 1 hour. Bake as directed.
- To freeze after baking: cool cinnamon rolls to room temperature, then double wrap the pan well with plastic wrap and foil well and freeze, or freeze individual cinnamon rolls in a container or bag.
- To reheat from frozen: defrost at room temperature, then warm in the oven at 350°F for 10 to 15 minutes, or in the microwave for 20 to 30 seconds, then frost.
Try prepping and freezing these recipes:
The Best Cinnamon Rolls You’ll Ever Eat
Vegan Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls
The Best Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls You’ll Ever Eat
Lemon Lover’s Lemon Blueberry Sweet Rolls
Soups, Stews, Curries & Chilis
- To freeze: add to a glass container or silicone bag, leaving a little space in the container for the liquid to expand, and freeze. Do not freeze recipes with noodles or rice – feel free to add these once reheated.
- To reheat: thaw in the fridge overnight, then reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave at 30 second intervals.
Try prepping and freezing these recipes:
One Pot Butternut Squash Yellow Curry
Butternut Squash Green Chile Chicken Soup
Actually, the Best Vegetarian Chili Ever
Creamy White Bean Chicken Enchilada Soup
Get all of my soups, stews, curries & chilis here!
Burgers, Meatloaves & Shredded Meat
- To freeze raw: shape your meatloaf or burgers, wrap well in plastic wrap and foil, and freeze.
- To reheat & cook from raw: thaw in the fridge, then bake meatloaf as directed or cook burgers on the stovetop or grill as directed.
- To freeze cooked: wrap meatloaf or burgers in foil, or shred your cooked meat, then place in a glass container or silicone bag and freeze.
- To reheat from cooked: thaw in the fridge, remove the foil, and bake meatloaf at 350 degrees F for 30 to 45 mins, heat burgers in a pan on the stovetop until heated through, or reheat shredded meat in a slow cooker, microwave, or in a pan.
Try prepping and freezing these recipes:
Slow Cooker Italian Chicken Sandwiches (freeze the meat for easy sandwiches later!)
Cheddar-Stuffed Sweet Potato BBQ Turkey Meatloaf
Moroccan-Spiced Turkey Burgers with Creamy Feta Sauce
Slow Cooker Gochujang Chicken Sandwiches
Cheddar-Stuffed Buffalo Chicken Meatloaf
Buffalo Zucchini Chicken Burgers
Get all of my burgers here!
Meatballs
- To freeze raw: place shaped meatballs on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze for 2 hours until solid. Then transfer to a glass container or silicone bag and freeze.
- To reheat & cook from raw: thaw frozen raw meatballs in the fridge, then cook as directed in the recipe.
- To freeze cooked: add cooked meatballs to a glass container or silicone bag and freeze.
- To reheat from cooked: thaw in the fridge, then cook in a pan on the stove until heated through.
Try prepping and freezing these recipes:
Firecracker Chicken Meatballs with Cilantro Coconut Pineapple Rice
Juicy Turkey Meatballs in Tomato Basil Sauce with Burrata
Oh So Good Chicken Meatballs in Pumpkin Coconut Curry Sauce
Jalapeño Coconut Curry Chicken Meatball Bowls
Get all of my meatball recipes here!
Casseroles, Pasta Bakes & Enchiladas
- To freeze unbaked: assemble fully, leaving off any bread crumb toppings, then double wrap with foil and freeze.
- To reheat & cook from unbaked: thaw in the fridge, add bread crumbs if needed, then bake as directed.
- To freeze baked: wrap pan in foil or add individual slices to a glass container or silicone bag and freeze.
- To reheat from baked: thaw full casserole or slices in the fridge, then bake full casserole at 350 degrees F for 30 to 45 mins or heat slices at 30 second intervals in the microwave. If reheating pasta bakes, add a little milk before reheating.
Try prepping and freezing these recipes:
Cozy Roasted Vegetable Butternut Squash Lasagna
Dreamy Refried Bean Chicken Enchiladas with Homemade Enchilada Sauce
Pesto Mushroom Chicken Lasagna Roll Ups
Sweet Potato Black Bean Enchiladas with Avocado Lime Crema
The Best Healthy Turkey Lasagna You’ll Ever Eat
Get even more comfort food recipes like these here!
Stir-Fries & Sheet Pan Meals
- To freeze: freeze protein, veggies, and any sauce in a glass container or silicone bag.
- To reheat: thaw in the fridge, then add contents to a pan and reheat on the stovetop.
Try prepping and freezing these recipes:
Sheet Pan Moroccan-Spiced Chicken with Sweet Potatoes & Cauliflower
Sweet and Sour Pineapple Broccoli Chicken Stir Fry
30-Minute Sesame Chicken Green Bean Stir Fry
Sheet Pan Roasted Veggie Tacos (with yummy sauce options!)
Ginger Cashew Chicken Stir Fry with Coconut Cauliflower Rice
Get more one pan meals here!
Cookies (dough & baked cookies)
- To freeze cookie dough: roll into balls, place on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and freeze until solid. Add frozen cookie dough balls to a glass container or silicone bag and freeze.
- To bake dough from frozen: simply add a few extra minutes of baking time to the recipe.
- To bake dough from thawed: thaw dough in the fridge and bake as directed in the recipe.
- To freeze baked cookies: Place in a glass container or silicone bag in a single layer lined with wax or parchment paper and freeze.
- To reheat baked cookies: thaw at room temperature before enjoying.
Try prepping and freezing these recipes:
Pistachio, Coffee & Brown Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Healthy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies (vegan & gluten free!)
The Best Bakery-Style Peanut Butter Cookies
Damn Good Paleo Chocolate Chunk Tahini Cookies
Get all of my cookie recipes here!
Cakes (frosted & unfrosted)
- To freeze unfrosted cakes: wrap individual cake layers in plastic wrap and foil, then place in glass containers or silicone bags and freeze.
- To reheat frosted cakes: thaw in the fridge, then bring to room temperature before frosting and serving.
- To freeze frosted cakes: freeze full cake or slices for at least 2 hours to let the frosting solidify, then wrap in plastic wrap and foil, place in a glass container or silicone bag, and freeze.
- To reheat frosted cakes: thaw in the fridge, then bring to room temperature before serving.
Try prepping and freezing these recipes:
Dad’s Extraordinary Yellow Cake with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
Damn Good Peanut Butter Banana Cake (gluten free, grain free)
Brown Butter Apple Coffee Cake
Grain Free Tahini Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake
Get all of my cake recipes here!
Brownies & Bars
- To freeze: wrap entire pan in foil or place individual bars in a glass container or silicone bag and freeze.
- To reheat: thaw at room temperature before enjoying.
Try prepping and freezing these recipes:
Grain Free Tahini Brownies (the best brownies I’ve ever eaten!)
Ooey-Gooey Salted Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Bars
Raspberry Bars with Oatmeal Cookie Crumble
Salted Tahini Caramel Millionaire Bars (vegan + paleo)
Get all of my brownies & bars here!
Crisps & Crumbles
- To freeze: assemble completely but do not bake. Wrap with plastic wrap and foil and freeze.
- To reheat: remove plastic wrap and foil and bake from frozen at 350 degrees F for 1 hour or until bubbly.
Try prepping and freezing these recipes:
Best Healthy Apple Crisp Ever!
Strawberry Crisp with Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Crumble
Gluten Free Peach Crisp with Salted Coconut Milk Caramel
Fresh Cherry Crisp with Almond Oatmeal Crumble
Get all of my crisps and crumbles here!
Fruit Pies
- To freeze: wrap whole pie in foil or place individual slices in a glass container or silicone bag and freeze.
- To reheat: thaw whole pie or slices in the fridge, then reheat in the oven at 350 degrees F for 20 to 30 minutes.
Try prepping and freezing these recipes:
The Best Tart Cherry Pie You’ll Ever Eat
Tony’s Very Favorite Dutch Apple Pie
I hope you love this easy freezer meal guide! If you try out any of the recipes, be sure to leave a comment so I know how the freezer prep went.
