When all you have time for is a quick reheat in the oven, these delicious lasagnas, soups, enchiladas, pot roasts and more will get to the table in a flash. They're super easy to make ahead and stock in the freezer to love later on.
42 Make-Ahead Freezer Meals for Super-Busy Nights
Updated on Sep. 18, 2024
Zucchini Pizza Casserole
My husband has a hearty appetite, our two kids never tire of pizza and I grow lots of zucchini, so this tasty tomato casserole is absolutely tops with us throughout the entire year. Once you’ve tried the recipe, you may even decide to grow more zucchini in your own garden next summer! —Lynn Bernstetter, White Bear Lake, Minnesota
You can also freeze zucchini for all of your favorite zucchini recipes.
1/42
2/42
Taco Stuffed Shells
Total Time
50 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Here's a kid-friendly dish so flavorful and fun, nobody is likely to guess that it's also lower in fat. It's a great family supper for busy weeknights! —Anne Thomsen, Westchester, Ohio
If your meal prep involves freezing food, then you’ve probably come across the dreaded freezer burn. Check if the freezer burns safe to eat.
3/42
Spicy Bean and Beef Pie
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My daughter helped me come up with this recipe when we wanted a one-dish meal that was different than a casserole. This pie slices nicely and is a fun and filling dish. —Debra Dohy, Massillon, Ohio
4/42
Hawaiian Pork Roast
Total Time
4 hours 40 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Bananas, liquid smoke and soy sauce flavor this fall-apart-tender pork roast. It’s just like the kind I enjoyedat the luaus I went to in Hawaii. —Mary Gaylord, Balsam Lake, Wisconsin
5/42
Tortellini Soup
Total Time
40 min
Servings
6 servings (2 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
This is my favorite soup recipe. It's quick to fix on a busy night and full of healthy, tasty ingredients. It originally called for spicy sausage links, but I've found that turkey sausage, or even ground turkey breast, is just as good. —Tracy Fasnacht, Irwin, Pennsylvania
6/42
Simple Creamy Chicken Enchiladas
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
2 casseroles (5 servings each)
From the Recipe Creator:
This chicken enchilada recipe is one of the first dishes I created and cooked for my husband right after we got married. He was so impressed! We fix these creamy enchiladas for friends regularly. —Melissa Rogers, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
7/42
Chicken Ring
Total Time
35 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Here's an impressive-looking dish that's a snap to prepare. Even when my cooking time is limited, I can still serve this delicious crescent wreath. The red pepper and green broccoli add a festive touch. —Marlene Denissen, St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin
8/42
Cassoulet for Today
Total Time
1 hour 35 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
French cassoulet is traditionally cooked for hours. This version of the rustic dish offers the same homey taste in less time. It’s easy on the wallet too. —Virginia Anthony, Jacksonville, Florida
9/42
Jambalaya
Total Time
4 hours 50 min
Servings
11 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
During chilly times of the year, I fix this jambalaya at least once a month. It’s so easy—just chop the vegetables, dump everything in the slow cooker and forget it! Even my sons, who are picky about spicy things, like this dish. —Cindi Coss, Coppell, Texas
10/42
The Best Shepherd’s Pie
Total Time
30 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This is the best shepherd's pie recipe I've ever tasted. It's very quick to make, and I usually have most—if not all—of the ingredients already on hand. —Tirzah Sandt, San Diego, California
11/42
Chicken Potpie
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
2 potpies (8 servings each)
From the Recipe Creator:
This is the best chicken potpie recipe! Chock-full of chicken, potatoes, peas and corn, this recipe makes two golden pies, so you can serve one at supper and save the other for a busy night. —Karen Johnson, Bakersfield, California
12/42
Stuffed Shells with Meat
Total Time
1 hour 30 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Here’s a rich and comforting dish that’s terrific right away or made ahead and baked the next day. Pesto makes a surprising filling for these cheesy and satisfying shells. —Blair Lonergan, Rochelle, Virginia
13/42
Southwestern Casserole
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
2 casseroles (6 servings each)
From the Recipe Creator:
I’ve been making this mild family-pleasing southwest casserole for years. It tastes wonderful and fits nicely into our budget. Best of all, the recipe makes a second casserole to freeze and enjoy later. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas
14/42
Chicken Florentine Meatballs
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Served over squash and a chunky, mushroom-tomato sauce, these tender meatballs are tops when it comes to great flavor. —Diane Nemitz, Ludington, Michigan
15/42
Make Once, Eat Twice Lasagna
Total Time
1 hour 30 min
Servings
2 lasagnas (12 servings each)
From the Recipe Creator:
Our family loves this recipe along with a green salad and garlic bread. It's so handy to have an extra pan in the freezer when unexpected guests drop in or you need to take a main course to a charity event. —Geri Davis, Prescott, Arizona
16/42
Stuffed Chicken Rolls
Total Time
4 hours 25 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Just thinking about this dish sparks my appetite. The ham and cheese rolled inside are a tasty surprise. Leftovers reheat well and make a perfect lunch with a green salad. —Jean Sherwood, Kenneth City, Florida
17/42
Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This dish always gets rave reviews! Using rotisserie chicken makes it super easy to assemble and gives it an extra boost in flavor. Sometimes I like to add smoked paprika to the sauce and a little seasoned salt to the bread crumbs. —Mary Brehm, Cape Coral, Florida
18/42
Pulled Pork Pasta
Total Time
25 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I'm the proud mother of wonderful and active children. Simple, delicious and quick meals like this BBQ pork skillet are perfect for us to enjoy together after school activities, especially if I have leftover pulled pork. —Judy Armstrong, Prairieville, Louisiana
19/42
Chicken Biscuit Casserole
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Golden biscuits cover this homespun dish laden with chicken, broccoli and cheese. It's then topped with a celery seed mixture. My family requests this all-in-one dinner once a month. —Karen Weirick, Bourbon, Indiana
20/42
Thai Beef Stir-Fry
Total Time
40 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
A distinctive peanut sauce complements this colorful combination of tender sirloin strips, cauliflower, carrots, broccoli and mushrooms. I like to dish it up over spaghetti, but you could use fried noodles instead. —Janice Fehr,
Austin, Manitoba
21/42
Miniature Meat Pies
Total Time
45 min
Servings
about 1-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I make these handheld pies in advance, keep them in the freezer, then bake them the day of the party. They are always a hit at tailgate and potlucks. —Gayle Lewis, Yucaipa, California
22/42
Potato Chip Chicken Strips
Total Time
40 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This novel recipe is a fast and tasty change from fried chicken.—Sister Judith LaBrozzi, Canton, Ohio
23/42
Buffalo Chicken Pizza
Total Time
40 min
Servings
8 pieces
From the Recipe Creator:
Fans of spicy chicken wings will love this rendition that turns it into pizza. Serve it up with blue cheese dressing and crisp celery, just like the tasty original. —Shari DiGirolamo, Newton, Pennsylvania
24/42
Korean Beef and Rice
Total Time
15 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
A friend raved about Korean bulgogi, which is beef cooked in soy sauce and ginger, so I tried it. It's delicious! You'll dazzle the table with this tasty version of Korean beef and rice. —Elizabeth King, Duluth, Minnesota
25/42
Sausage Manicotti
Total Time
1 hour 20 min
Servings
7 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This classic Italian entree comes together in a snap but tastes as if it took hours. It's so tasty and easy to fix. My family always enjoys it. —Carolyn Henderson, Maple Plain, Minnesota
26/42
German Meatballs
Total Time
45 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This is one of our favorite main dishes. Because we raise our own pork and beef, the meat we use is always freshly ground. For variety, these meatballs can be cooked with a sweet cream gravy or steamed with tomatoes. But we prefer them with homemade sauerkraut. —Iona Redemer, Calumet, Oklahoma
27/42
Slow-Cooker Sweet and Sour Pork
Total Time
6 hours 30 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Chinese food is a big temptation for us, so I lightened up a favorite takeout dish. As the pork cooks, the aroma is beyond mouthwatering. —Elyse Ellis, Layton, Utah
28/42
Black Bean Turkey Enchiladas
Total Time
50 min
Servings
14 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My best friend and I created this recipe together because we wanted a meal that’s easy to prepare, affordable and nutritious. We both have hectic schedules, so when we’re feeling crunched for time, it’s a relief to have these wholesome enchiladas waiting for us in the freezer. —Holly Baber, Seattle, Washington
29/42
Pineapple Chicken
Total Time
20 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I'm always on the lookout for low-fat recipes that are scrumptious, too, like this pineapple chicken recipe. Quick-cooking chicken breasts get wonderful, sweet flavor from pineapple, honey and teriyaki sauce. —Jenny Reece, Lowry, Minnesota
30/42
Moroccan Braised Beef
Total Time
7 hours 20 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Curry powder is a blend of up to 20 spices, herbs and seeds. Add a pinch of curry to your favorite soups, stews, salads and even rice for an exotic flavor. In this Moroccan stew, begin with 2 teaspoons of curry, then add more to your taste. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
31/42
Chicken Broccoli Casserole
Total Time
45 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This delicious chicken and broccoli casserole recipe is a twist on chicken divan that came from an old boss. It’s quick, satisfying comfort food. —Jennifer Schlachter, Big Rock, Illinois
32/42
Mexi-Mac Casserole
Total Time
55 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I typically have most of the ingredients for this dish in my pantry. Green chiles give it a little bite, but it’s easy to swap in a can of spicier tomatoes to turn up the heat. —Jan Conklin, Stevensville, Montana
33/42
Beef & Mushroom Braised Stew
Total Time
2 hours 5 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Every spring, my family heads out to our timber acreage to collect morel mushrooms, and then we cook up this stew. We use morels, of course, but baby portobellos or button mushrooms or will work, too. —Amy Wertheim, Atlanta, Illinois
34/42
Sweet-and-Sour Meat Loaf
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My husband and I like basic, hearty meat-and-potatoes meals. The sweet-and-sour flavor adds a deliciously different twist to this longtime standby. —Debbie Haneke, Stafford, Kansas
35/42
Pork, Bean & Rice Burritos
Total Time
6 hours 25 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
The combination of spices is key to this slow-cooked pork—it's my family's favorite burrito filling. The aroma that fills the air as the pork slowly simmers is like a Mexican restaurant. A perfect recipe for tailgate parties. —Valonda Seward, Coarsegold, California
36/42
Grilled Marinated Ribeyes
Total Time
20 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
These juicy steaks are a favorite meal of ours when we go camping. Let them sit in tangy, barbecue-inspired marinade overnight and you've got a rich and hearty dinner ready to grill up the next day. —Louise Graybiel, Toronto, Ontario
37/42
Mexican Chicken Alfredo
Total Time
55 min
Servings
2 casseroles (4 servings each)
From the Recipe Creator:
One family member likes Italian; another likes Mexican. They’ll never compromise when this is on the menu. —Tia Woodley, Stockbridge, Georgia
38/42
Breadstick Pizza
Total Time
45 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Not only do refrigerated breadsticks lend a fun twist to pizza, but they make this dish a weeknight staple at my house. Feeding kids? Slice pieces into small strips and let the kids dip each strip into marinara sauce. They’ll love it! —Mary Hankins, Kansas City, Missouri
39/42
Greek Pork Chops
Total Time
25 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My in-laws taught me a lot about cooking, so any time I come across a great new recipe, I enjoy making it for them. These bright, lemony chops quickly became a favorite. —Geri Lipczynski, Oak Lawn, Illinois
40/42
Lone Star Pot Roast
Total Time
2 hours 20 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Pot roast becomes especially delicious with the addition of chopped green chiles and taco seasoning. —Helen Carpenter, Albuquerque, New Mexico
41/42
Mozzarella Baked Spaghetti
Total Time
50 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This satisfying easy baked spaghetti recipe comes together and will please everyone at your table. Add a salad and breadsticks, and dinner's done. —Betty Rabe, Mahtomedi, Minnesota
42/42
Chipotle Shredded Beef
Total Time
8 hours 25 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This beef is delicious whether you serve it all rolled up in a tortilla, with corn salsa in a burrito, in a bun or over rice or mashed potatoes. So many options! —Darcy Williams, Omaha, Nebraska
