Home Recipe Index Freezer Meals
By: Rachel Tiemeyer
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This collection of easy freezer meals will transform mealtime drama into low-stress, healthy family meals.
After publishing From Freezer to Cooker and From Freezer to Table cookbooks and testing hundreds of freezer meal recipes, we’ve narrowed down the best, most well-tested freezer meals to get you started.
Table of Contents
What Makes Our Freezer Meals Different
Did you know our freezer meals have been featured on the Hallmark Channel and in People Magazine? Our recipes stand out for these reasons:
⭐️ Well-tested, family-friendly recipes.Writingtwo cookbooksand working alongside a reader testing team (of over 100 testers!) helped hone our recipe testing skills.
⭐️ Approachable recipes with recognizable ingredientsyou can find at the store or in your kitchen already.
⭐️ Weuse mostlywhole food ingredientsbut take a few short-cuts when necessary.
⭐️ Weinclude the best ways to prep, package, and thaw your freezer meals so they taste like fresh meals. This is based on years of trial and error, methodical testing and research for our cookbooks, and feedback from our readers.
Benefits of Freezer Cooking
As tongue-in-cheek “freezer cooking evangelists“, we’re constantly sharing about how this food prep method has benefitted our families and so many others:
- Freezer cooking saves money by buying in bulk and avoiding eating out. If you can incorporate 1-2 freezer meals a week, you can easily save over $2,000 in a year!
- Cooking in bulk cuts down on time in the kitchen by prepping meals with the same ingredients at one time. You save time on prep and clean up.We even created 1 Hour Freezer Prep to help you do this!
- Freezer cooking helps you eat wholesome, delicious meals at home regularly.You know what goes in your food and can make modifications.
- Having a stash of freezer meals reduces dinnertime stress while bringing your family together around the table. This is what freezer cooking is really all about!
Here are our top easy freezer meals by category plus many more to get you started!
Top 5 Make Ahead Breakfast Recipes
- Make Ahead Breakfast Casserole – Only 5 ingredients!
- Freezer Breakfast Burritos or Frozen Breakfast Sandwiches– For easy grab-and-go breakfast.
- Frozen Smoothie Packs – 7 delicious, simple smoothies to help you eat more fruits & veggies every day.
- Blueberry French Toast Casserole with Vanilla Glaze – Great for serving groups or at holidays.
- Banana Breakfast Cookies – Kids love these healthier cookies.
Be sure to check out more of our top breakfast freezer meal recipes here…
MAKE AHEAD BREAKFAST IDEAS
Top 5 Chicken Freezer Meals
- Italian Chicken Thighs – 6 main ingredients. Fast and flavorful.
- The Ultimate Grilled Chicken Sandwiches – Memorize this marinade recipe. It’s a game-changer.
- Southwest Chicken Marinade – Our most popular chicken marinade! Make it into Southwest Chicken Tenders, Chicken and Bacon Wraps, or Southwest Chicken Salad.
- Chicken and Stuffing Casserole – Comforting, easy, great for groups.
- Chicken and Steak Fajitas – Restaurant quality. Comes together in minutes!
We have SO many more delicious chicken freezer meals…
CHICKEN FREEZER MEALS
Top 5 Beef Freezer Meals
- French Dip Sandwiches – Make in the crockpot or as Instant Pot French Dip. Yum!!
- Baked Italian Meatballs – Serve over spaghetti or on Meatball Subs. Air fryer instructions included.
- Crowd Pleaser Mexican Soup – Or try our Crock Pot Taco Soup or Instant Pot Taco Soup.
- Baked Penne Pasta – A big batch reader favorite! For a short cut, try Beefy Baked Ravioli instead.
- Totally Tasty Taco Bar – Use our taco meat recipe and tons of tips to pull together this awesome make ahead meal. Or try Beef Burritos instead.
Check out all the delicious beef freezer meals we have here…
beef FREEZER MEALS
Top 5 Freezer-Friendly Casseroles
No canned soups in these casseroles. Just delicious real food ingredients.
- Chicken Parmesan Casserole – Our most popular freezer meal for a decade. Super-duper simple.
- Spinach Lasagna Roll Ups – A budget-friendly, vegetarian pasta dish that’s filled with flavor! Try Easy Cheesy Baked Pasta for a similar yet faster meal.
- Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole – A healthier version of the old school “chicken and rice”. Delicious and filled with veggies!
- Chicken Spaghetti – Another old school yet popular one on our site!
- Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas – A freezer meal everyone will like. Serve with Guacamole and Mexican Chopped Salad on the side.
Find more of our freezer-friendly casseroles here…
freezer-Friendly recipes
Top 5 Crock Pot Freezer Meals
- Slow Cooker Crispy Carnitas – Make in the crockpot, oven, or as Instant Pot Carnitas. Complex-tasting, easy recipe for a group.
- Crock Pot Chicken Pot Pie – A secret ingredient plus our Whole Wheat Buttermilk Biscuits make this a freezer meal to remember.
- Crock Pot Honey Bourbon Chicken – Freeze alongside frozen rice and frozen stir fry veggies as a kit. A keeper recipe!
- Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings – Or try Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings. Both were featured on Hallmark Channel.
- Balsamic Shredded Beef – A dump-and-go slow cooker or Instant Pot meal that everyone will love. Serve over healthy mashed potatoes.
Check out all the easy crock pot freezer meals we have here…
Top 5 Instant Pot Recipes
- Instant Pot Chili – Like our Stovetop Chili, this is filled with flavor and gets rave reviews.
- Instant Pot Pulled Pork – Great one for BBQs or game day food! Serve with our 5-Ingredient Coleslaw.
- Instant Pot Bourbon Chicken – So delicious. Freeze alongside frozen rice and frozen stir fry veggies as a kit.
- Instant Pot Beef Stew – We both LOVE this one.
- Instant Pot Jambalaya – You’ll make this easy recipe again and again.
We have so many more Instant Pot freezer meals you will love…
Instant POT freezer meals
More Great Freezer Meals to Try
- Easy Freezer Meals for Two – If you’re just cooking for one or two people, try these favorites.
- Kid-Friendly Freezer Meals – These are our hand-picked freezer meals that kids can’t resist.
- Freezer Meals to Take on Vacation – Save so much money and time by prepping some of these meals ahead of time.
- Vegetarian Freezer Meals – From soups to pastas and more, you’ll love these meatless meals.
Find all of our freezer-friendly recipes here…
freezer-friendly recipes
How to Package Freezer Meals
Wondering what to freezer your meals in? Here are our top picks:
- Freezer-safe glass baking dish with air-tight lid:Having a glass baking dish or rigid container with an air-tight lid is a safe, reusable, and practical option. It not only allows for easy stacking of frozen meals, but a glass baking dish can also go into the oven when ready to bake or reheat.
- Freezer Storage Bags: You have two options for resealable freezer bags: Disposable or reusable bags.
- Wide-Mouth Mason (canning) Jars: Most canning jars are freezer-safe and useful when freezing soups, sauces, broths, and more. We like that they are made of safe material and that you can store smaller or individual servings of your freezer food.
- Heavy-Duty Aluminum Foil: Foil does a great job of blocking moisture and air in the freezer. It’s helpful because it can be molded into almost any shape and used to wrap and store baked goods, meat, burritos, sandwiches, etc. Or, use it to wrap a baking dish that doesn’t have a lid.
- Vacuum Sealer: Many of our readers have said they use a vacuum sealer for their freezer meals and have had great results. The benefit of preserving food this way is that, if done correctly, your meal is completely air-tight. And…as we all know by now…air is the enemy of delicious freezer meals! Vacuum sealer fans and companies swear that this method extends the life of freezer food from months to years. We haven’t tested that yet. 😉
If you want more detail on how to properly freeze food, we have written a whole post about the Best Ways to Package and Store Freezer Meals.
FAQs
Are these freezer meals healthy?
We aren’t about diets, eating low-fat foods, or cutting out food groups.
We are about cooking tasty, homemade food and eating all things in moderation. We’re also about cooking with as many unprocessed, organic and/or local ingredients as possible, including a variety of: vegetables and fruit, whole grains, organic and/or grass-fed meats, healthy fats (i.e. olive oil, avocado oil, coconut oil, grass-fed butter, and organic dairy).
By simply making homemade meals for your family, you are cutting out loads of sodium, sugar, simple carbs, and harmful trans-fats that come from fast food and store-bought convenience foods. You control what goes into your food.
How long do freezer meals last in the freezer?
If the freezer meal has been frozen solid the whole time, the USDA says it is actually SAFE to eat indefinitely. BUT, for best taste and texture, there are two things to know:
1) Package the food very tightly where air can’t reach it easily and place in a very cold spot in the deep freeze. Keep reading for tips about how to store freezer meals.
2) If it’s packaged correctly, then it’s optimal to eat it within 3 months. That being said, I’ve personally used many freezer meals that were in my deep freeze for 6-12 months. So don’t toss it out…give it a try!
What’s the best way to store frozen meals?
There are several different ways to safely and effectively store meals in your freezer. Some work better than others depending on the type of food you are freezing or even the space you have in your freezer.
The best way to store and save a freezer meal is in any method that will prevent air from getting to the food. It really depends on the recipe!
Can freezer meals go bad?
The USDA guidelines state, “Food stored constantly at 0 °F will always be safe. Only the quality suffers with lengthy freezer storage.”
What the best way to thaw frozen meals?
We’ve learned all the tricks when it comes tosafely thawing your freezer meals. Here are the 3 primary ways:
1. The best and safest way to thaw a freezer meal is to put it in the refrigerator for 24-48 hours. Thawing time will depend on the size of the meal but plan on roughly 5 hours per pound.
2. Another safe thawing option is to place the food in a leak-proof plastic bag and immerse it in cold water, changing the water out every 30 minutes. This still takes a bit of time–anywhere from 3-5 hours depending on how big your meal is, but it’s quicker than the refrigerator option.
3. A third option is to microwave-defrost food in a microwave-safe dish. Defrost your food using your microwave’s instructions. The reason this is the third option (our least favorite) is because this method (especially chicken) can tend to dry out food a bit. Regardless, sometimes you just need to quickly thaw something, so the microwave it is!
What is a freezer club?
We were both in on-going freezer clubs with friends for years. This is a smart (and fun!) strategy for stocking your freezer. Prep meals ahead of time in bulk for your family and others in your group and then swap them at your freezer club meeting. Read all about how to start a freezer club, where I share everything I learned.
What is a freezer party?
This is a one-time event where you gather with a small group to prepare freezer meals together. Much like a freezer club, it’s really fun! It’s also a fast way to stock your freezer. Read about how to throw a freezer party.
Make 6 Dump-and-Go Freezer Meals in 1 Hour!
Try a 1 Hour Freezer Prep Session ($6.99 value) for FREE!
Includes:
- Shopping & equipment lists
- Step-by-Step instructions & video tutorial
- Serving suggestions & dietary substitutions & more
Rachel Tiemeyer
As co-founder of Thriving Home, Rachel dreams about creating recipes (literally) and uses her husband, her 3 kids, and even the neighbors as guinea pigs several nights a week. She believes that good food has the power to bring families and friends closer together and continues to wake up excited about her job each day, even after 10+ years!
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Laura saysHello, love this concept. I’m new to this, is there a book with the recipes available to purchase?
Reply
- Carla from Thriving Home says
Hi Laura. Thanks for reaching out. We have written two cookbooks. You can learn more about both of them here: https://thrivinghomeblog.com/our-freezer-meal-cookbooks/
Reply
- Donna says
If we buy the glass containers you recommend and use them to freeze a meal, can the glass dish go straight from the freezer to the oven? I’m brand new to freezer meals, so I thought I’d ask. I’m thinking the answer is no because of the temp difference and think the glass would explode.
Reply
- Carla from Thriving Home says
Hi Donna! Yes, the ones we use are safe to do that. Although I’d recommend (like America’s Test Kitchen does), setting the frozen meal in the oven and then preheating it. This allows the glass temp to come up more slowly.
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- budda O mccullin says
Do I have to dethaw freezer
Meals or can I just put in crock
PotReply
- Carla from Thriving Home says
Hi! Unfortunately, you do need to thaw frozen meals before putting them in a crockpot. We wrote a whole post about it: https://thrivinghomeblog.com/can-you-cook-a-frozen-meal-in-the-slow-cooker/
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- Krista says
How long can freezer meals be stored in deep freezer?
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- Carla from Thriving Home says
Hi Krista! If the freezer meal has been frozen solid the whole time, the USDA says it is actually SAFE to eat indefinitely. BUT, for best taste and texture, there are two things to know:
1) Package the food very tightly where air can’t reach it easily and place in a very cold spot in the deep freeze. See our article about best freezer containers for tips on this.
2) If it’s packaged correctly, then it’s optimal to eat it within 3 months. That being said, I’ve personally used many freezer meals that were in my deep freeze for 6-12 months. So don’t toss it out…give it a try!Reply
- Robin Ruggeri says
You have great ideas! I used to cook a weeks worth of food when my kids were young. Now I’m going to doing it for my elderly mother-in-law. The muffin pan and smallest aluminum pans will be the perfect size. Thank you for the inspiration.
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- Carla from Thriving Home says
Thanks Robin. Bless you for cooking for your mother-in-law. I hope you find some favorites!
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- lori says
Why does it have to be so complicated??
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- Rachel Tiemeyer says
I’m sorry it feels overwhelming to you, Lori. Maybe you could try one of our “Double Your Dinner” recipes to begin with: https://thrivinghomeblog.com/doubleyourdinner/
Or, you can just choose any of these freezer meal recipes to make ahead and freeze (or double so you can eat one fresh and freeze one for later). Here are all of our freezer-friendly recipes with instructions: https://thrivinghomeblog.com/category/recipe/freezer-meals/
Please reach out if you have questions. We love to help people get started with freezer cooking!
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- Sandra Coffey says
The 4 layer turkey stuffing casserole was just like Thanksgiving Meal. Perfect for my son and daughter in law who just had a baby. I also fixed for them the Baked Tortellini with Sneaky Spinach. Thanks so much
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- Rachel Tiemeyer says
Wonderful to hear that, Sandra! And congrats on your new grandbaby! Thanks for taking the time to let us know. 🙂
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- Edward Kieni Kimani says
How can I get the Thrive frozen foods in Kenya?
Reply
- Rachel Tiemeyer says
I’m sorry, but I’ not sure.
Reply
- Mattie says
I’ve been following y’all for around 7 years? More than any other site—you’re recipes are my favorite. They always turn out great and I regularly have at least two of your meals in my weekly rotation. Just made the pumpkin chili tonight and it was amazing! I would have NEVER made this but so glad I trusted you guys and tried it!!
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- Rachel says
Mattie, this is such an encouraging comment. Thank you for taking the time to leave it. This is exactly why we do what we do! Bless you!
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- Erin says
Your site was recommended from a friend and MAN am I glad she did! I just ordered your cookbook!
I do have a question, do you have any freezer meals that you recommend for freezer to grill?
Thanks so much!
Reply
- Rachel says
Hey Erin. Nice to have you here! Yes, we have a whole post about freezer meals for the grill at the link below. I’d also suggest several from the cookbook including our Cheddar Chive Burgers, Chicken and Broccoli Foil Packs, Cilantro Lime Chicken, Flank Steak with Chimichurri Sauce, and the Grilled Honey Dijon Chicken Sandwiches. I hope that gives you a good start. Let me know if I can help in any other ways. Happy Freezer Cooking! https://thrivinghomeblog.com/30-real-food-grilling-ideas/
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