44 Easy Make Ahead Meals To Freeze For Later

Stock the freezer with these recipes, and you'll never be unprepared for dinner.

Medically reviewed by Carolyn O'Neil, MS, RDN

After a busy weekday, the last thing you want to do is cook a time-consuming meal. Don't waste time and money going out to eat because we've rounded up a month of freezer-friendly meals to make your dinnertime stress-free and delicious. These meal ideas don't skimp on flavor and taste and are just as yummy when re-heated. 

Slow-cooker recipes are some of the easiest meals to freeze, and we've got the most delicious slow-cooker dinners, like barbecue sandwiches, corn chowder, and pork tacos. Soups like hearty beef and baked potato are ideal for chilly fall nights. Your family will love these easy freezer meals, and you'll love the time they save you. Stock the freezer with these freezable recipes, and you'll never be unprepared for dinner.

Easy Chicken And Dumplings

This favorite Southern comfort food is always welcome at our dinner table. Start with deli-roasted chicken and combine it with cream of chicken soup and chicken broth. Use canned biscuits to make this dinner even more straightforward.

Chicken And Sausage Jambalaya

This creole dinner will spice up your weeknight. Make this dish in about one hour with classic jambalaya ingredients like chicken thighs, smoked sausage, rice, and vegetables. Your proteins might vary depending on your preferences and can include ham, turkey, oysters, or shrimp.

Hearty Beef And Freezer Veggie Soup

Vegetables from the frozen food section help speed up the prep time for this warm, comforting soup. It's perfect for chilly nights. With 40 minutes of active, hands-on time, you can have soup to feed a crowd.

Eggplant Rollups

This low-carb Italian dish will satisfy your lasagna cravings. Slice salted eggplant into strips to remove all the excess moisture. This vegetable-based lasagna will be your favorite new Italian dinner.

Southern Pimiento Mac And Cheese

Any Southerner will tell you: Pimiento cheese tastes good with just about anything, including mac and cheese. Wait until you are ready to serve to top this dish with breadcrumbs. Use bacon, fresh chives, and hot sauce to flavor it to your preference.

Pasta-Chicken-Broccoli Bake

This pasta bake will be your kids' favorite way to eat their veggies. With just a bit of sautéing and stirring, you'll be ready to enjoy this cheesy pasta dish. Try topping with chopped pecans for some extra texture.

Slow-Cooker Corn Chowder

This delicious slow-cooker chowder makes use of fresh summer corn. Wait until ready to serve to the top with a mixture of corn kernels, bacon, red onion, chives, and lime juice. Placing these toppings on last helps preserve the herb's freshness.

Deb Wise's Tamale Pie Mix-Up

Have this hearty, cheesy take on tamale pie ready in the freezer for fiesta night at your house. With only one pan, you can prepare to feed a crowd. Combine ground beef, cornmeal, tomato sauce, and corn with layers of cheese.

Tomato, Cheddar, And Bacon Pie

Classic Southern tomato pie gets an upgrade with a bacon-filled crust. A tip from the test kitchen: Pat the tomato slices down to remove any excess moisture, sprinkle them with salt, and then let them sit on the counter for around 30 minutes. This step helps to draw out the excess liquid that would make your crust soggy.

Slow-Cooker Barbecue Beef Sandwiches

These sandwiches and a classic barbecue side dish are perfect for those busy weekday dinners. You can freeze the meat for up to one month. You should be able to shred the meat with two forks after hours in the slow cooker.

Baked Potato Soup

Have fun creating a personalized toppings bar to accompany this baked potato soup. Keep this soup ready for a chilly winter evening, and pop some fresh rolls in the oven for a warm and comforting dinner. To make things easier, cook the potatoes in the microwave first to help soften them.

Heavenly Chicken Lasagna

This chicken lasagna is the best indulgent dish for nights when you need layers of goodness. Layers of sauce, spinach, cheese, and chicken add to one delicious dish. Layer your ingredients in advance, cover, and chill overnight if you want to make dinner the day before.

Old Fashioned Meatloaf

The ketchup-based glaze on this Southern dish includes Worcestershire sauce for extra flavoring. Meatloaf is a classic dish. Substitute celery for carrots or bell peppers if you want some variety.

Bacon And Cheddar Grits Quiche

Breakfast for dinner is easy with make-ahead and frozen casseroles like this one. Start with a "crust" of cheesy grits and add thick slices of bacon. To prevent the custard from spilling out while baking, spread cheese over the edges of the warm grits "crust."

Slow-Cooker Pork Tacos With Fresh Tomato Salsa

Cook the pork ahead and make the fresh tomato salsa before serving. We recommend pairing it with a homemade margarita, especially after a long day. Before cooking the meat, trim off any excess fat because it is not required.

New Orleans Red Beans And Rice

Sliced Andouille sausage and creole seasoning spice up this red beans and rice recipe. This versatile recipe simmers the beans all day and pairs well when poured over fluffy rice. Sliced green onions are perfect for garnishes.

Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin

Prepare the pork tenderloin with spices (we used McCormick Grill Mates Montreal Steak Seasoning), wrap it with bacon, and freeze. Thaw and prepare according to the recipe when you're ready to cook. With 25 minutes of cook time, you'll have a delicious slice of bacon-wrapped pork.

Chicken Enchilada Casserole

This creamy enchilada casserole, made with layers of Tex-Mex goodness, is filled with shredded chicken. You can substitute smoky shredded BBQ brisket or pulled pork instead of chicken. The two types of cheese blend seamlessly with the tortilla and filling mixture.

Turkey Pot Pie With Cranberry-Pecan Crusts

This turkey pot pie with cranberry-pecan crusts will have you ready for the flavors of Thanksgiving. You can even make this casserole with leftover Thanksgiving turkey. A tip from the Test Kitchen: If making ahead, store crusts separately and place them on the pies before serving so they stay firm.

Spinach And Herb Pastatta

You read that correctly—this dish is a cross between baked pasta and a frittata. Yes, it is absolutely delicious. This comforting, hearty dish combines spinach, penne pasta, and Asiago cheese.

Greek Baked Ziti

This easy dish is perfect for preparing and freezing to cook on busy weeknights. Follow the recipe to Step 5, then freeze until you are ready to serve. Let it stand for half an hour before cooking.

Smoked Pork Stuffed Pasta Shells

This hearty filling calls for a pound of smoked pork from your favorite barbecue restaurant, but you could use an equal amount of smoked chicken instead. This is the perfect make-and-freeze for cool weather. Coming home to this easy and hearty approach to dinner will have you wondering why you don't prep ahead more often.

Classic Chicken Tetrazzini

Chicken tetrazzini is everything you love about casseroles—easy to make, bakes in one dish, and can be made and frozen for busy weeknights. This one will become a family favorite in no time. Be ready to freeze an extra batch.

New Tuna Casserole with Potato Chips

Our new take on this old fashioned Southern dish includes favorite ingredients, such as sharp white Cheddar and Parmesan cheeses, while incorporating flavorful fresh veggies, like leeks and haricots verts. A crunchy topping—made of crushed potato chips and panko breadcrumbs—complements the creamy interior. This tuna casserole can be prepped days in advance, and then frozen until you're ready to cook and serve.

Coriander-Coconut-Braised Ribs

Simmering low and slow in coconut milk and a rich combination of aromatics allows these pork ribs to gently cook to tender, flavorful perfection. Serve them over a bed of warm basmati rice. And if you find yourself with leftovers, shred the meat from the bones and freeze for future taco ingredients.

Curried Chicken Pot Pie

Pot pie is always a welcome meal to come out of the freezer, whether it's a curry version or a traditional chicken recipe. Thawing out the pot pie for a full 24 hours is the best way to go, prior to baking. Once ready, your family will wonder what took you so long.

Cheese Dreams

How about an appetizer for dinner? These cheese dreams will fill that noshy craving and might just be enough to get you through the evening. Make these cheesy treats the day before and refrigerate, or freeze up to 3 weeks. If frozen, pop in the oven straight from the freezer; increase the bake time by 10 minutes.

Chicken Casserole D'Iberville

This recipe is named for a community north of Biloxi, Mississippi, and it does come in handy as one of those very easy to freeze and make dishes we all depend on. Once covered tightly with foil, these casseroles freeze well unbaked for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in refrigerator and bake as directed for a satisfying midweek meal.

Cowboy Casserole

There are four ingredients that you will find in almost every recipe for Cowboy Casserole: ground beef, corn, shredded cheese, and Tater Tots. Without all of these elements, while we’re sure your attempt will be stick-to-your-bones delicious, it won't be a Cowboy Casserole. Once you've nailed the formula, this will be one of your most tempting make ahead meals yet.

Lasagna Roll Ups

You can substitute sautéed mushrooms or spinach for this recipe's canned artichokes. A trio of cheese ensures there will be more than enough melted comfort in every bite of this casserole. Whether you opt to make it ahead to keep in the freezer for a mid-week meal or serve a slice the next time you host supper club, these cheesy Lasagna Roll Ups deserve a spot in your regular cooking routine.

Quick Beef Chili Recipe

This recipe is ready in under an hour, but the best part? It freezes easily so that chili can easily be included in your weekly meal rotation. Be sure to keep this recipe handy when short on time.

Chicken-Parmesan Meatballs

This recipe takes all the components of chicken Parmesan and turns them into bite-sized meatballs. Instead of breading the chicken, breadcrumbs act as a binder. Freeze these raw, then thaw out completely before you start the delicious browning process.

Turkey-Noodle-Poppy Seed Casserole Recipe

Most of the ingredients in this casserole are pantry staples that you probably already have. If you don't, you can easily substitute with something else. For example, if you don't have egg noodles, simply use whatever pasta noodle you have on hand.

Greek Meatballs With Cucumber-Yogurt Sauce And Rice Recipe

The use of budget-friendly ground chuck makes this recipe a good family meal option, providing four people with two hearty meals. Greek Meatballs are also a great option if you are taking a dish for a party on game day. Be extra prepared with your make and freeze plan.

Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole

Casseroles like this are known for their ability to use simple and easy to substitute ingredients, hands-off prep time, and freezer-friendly results. This is one of those standbys that is a satisfying crowd pleaser. Keep it in mind for larger potlucks or a game day celebration.

Chicken-Andouille Gumbo With Roasted Potatoes

What could be better than a batch of andouille gumbo awaiting you in the freezer? All of that hard work will pay off when you pull this out and let the thaw begin. We are wondering if there is a Cajun occasion for this, or if you simply wanted to spice up your Tuesday.

Chicken And Wild Rice Casserole

If you prepare this as directed up to step 2, you can put a pin in it and freeze this delicious dish for up to one month. Once you've pulled it out for just the right night to have a satisfying dinner, you'll get all the praise you deserve.

Pizza Spaghetti Casserole

You can freeze this unbaked casserole for up to one month, and once tried and tested by your dining guests, this will be a go-to. Be sure to share this at a potluck and at your annual family get-together. Your serving dish will be plenty clean by the end of the night.

Basil Tomato Soup

We love the rich flavor in a version of the classic soup that is begging for a grilled cheese sandwich pairing. This freezes so well, we are convinced that you will always have a batch hanging out, ready to be thawed. Don't forget the fried okra, which takes this option up a notch.

Mac And Cheese With Ham

In this recipe, chopped, smoked ham rounds out the dish, and makes it a heartier main dish than its meatless versions. The creamy mixture of meat, pasta, and cheeses—including Gouda and sharp Cheddar cheese—is topped off with crushed cornflakes and melted butter, making a second serving a necessity.

Hamburger Steak With Sweet Onion-Mushroom Gravy Recipe

This comes together easily, and your freezing option is simply to make the hamburger patties ahead of time. Think of the many ways you could serve this traditional and delicious approach to ground beef. Our version here is only the beginning.

Ham And Noodle Casserole

Made with egg noodles, chopped ham, a tasty mix of vegetables, and a rich and creamy sauce, the casserole is made two at a time in two 8-inch square baking dishes to serve eight people. You are just about to make a tasty impression on a big crowd.

Creamy Cauliflower Soup with Bacon

Substituting a potato for the usual half-and-half or heavy cream gives this rich, full-bodied cauliflower soup a velvety texture without adding more fat. Go ahead and add the cauliflower stem to the pot - it has great flavor and will be blended along with the florets. Serve with a tossed salad or your favorite hearty sandwich.

Old-School Squash Casserole

The buttery topping is one of the alluring pieces of this filling dish, but Southern Living community members note many ways to adapt it for equally delicious results. "I used Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs instead of crackers and I still had a crunchy, crispy topping," Teresa Crawford says. What variations would you try to make it your own?

Want a dessert to pair with that frozen dinner? Here are some delicious make-ahead, freezer-friendly desserts perfect for the holiday season.

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Read the original article on Southern Living.