Stock the ol' chill chest with side dishes that freeze well. These easy-freeze sides are just what you need when you're tight on time.
17 Freezer-Friendly Side Dishes
Updated on May 20, 2024
1/17
Cowboy Beans
Total Time
4 hours 30 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This cowboy beans recipe is tradition when my girlfriends and I go up north for a girls weekend. The husbands and kids are left at home, but the slow cooker comes with us! —Julie Butsch, Hartland, Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts:
3/4 cup: 340 calories, 5g fat (2g saturated fat), 35mg cholesterol, 691mg sodium, 54g carbohydrate (23g sugars, 12g fiber), 21g protein.
2/17
Freezer Sweet Corn
Total Time
45 min
Servings
3 quarts
From the Recipe Creator:
People ask me how to freeze corn on the cob because my frozen corn tastes as good as fresh! This way it stays crisp-tender and now I can have “fresh” corn any time of the year. —Judy Oudekerk, St. Michael, Minnesota
Nutrition Facts:
1/2 cup: 113 calories, 5g fat (2g saturated fat), 10mg cholesterol, 245mg sodium, 18g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 2g fiber), 2g protein.
3/17
Homemade Pierogi
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
6 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Pierogi, dumplings stuffed with a filling, make for a wonderful change-of-pace side dish. —Diane Gawrys, Manchester, Tennessee
Nutrition Facts:
4 pierogi: 373 calories, 22g fat (13g saturated fat), 86mg cholesterol, 379mg sodium, 38g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 2g fiber), 6g protein.
4/17
Texas Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Total Time
50 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
These creamy potatoes get their flavor burst from garlic and caramelized onions. Their savory goodness makes any meal better. —Richard Markle, Midlothian, Texas
Nutrition Facts:
2/3 cup: 236 calories, 14g fat (7g saturated fat), 31mg cholesterol, 313mg sodium, 25g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 2g fiber), 4g protein.
5/17
Scalloped Sweet Corn Casserole
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This is my Grandma Ostendorf’s corn recipe I grew up enjoying. Now a grandmother myself, I still serve this comfy, delicious side as a family classic. —Lonnie Hartstack, Clarinda, Iowa
Nutrition Facts:
2/3 cup: 258 calories, 15g fat (8g saturated fat), 104mg cholesterol, 604mg sodium, 26g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 2g fiber), 8g protein.
6/17
Dijon Veggies with Couscous
Total Time
40 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Coated in a tangy Dijon sauce, these tasty veggies and fluffy couscous make for a delightful side. —Juliana Dumitru, Fairview Park, Ohio
Nutrition Facts:
1 each: 182 calories, 5g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 388mg sodium, 29g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 3g fiber), 6g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 starch, 1 vegetable, 1 fat.
7/17
All-Day Red Beans & Rice
Total Time
9 hours 10 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My family loves New Orleans-style cooking, so I make this authentic dish often. I appreciate how uncomplicated it is. And its smoky ham flavor is scrumptious. —Celinda Dahlgren, Napa, California
Nutrition Facts:
2/3 cup bean mixture with 2/3 cup rice: 297 calories, 7g fat (3g saturated fat), 33mg cholesterol, 441mg sodium, 50g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 12g fiber), 17g protein
8/17
Favorite Cheesy Potatoes
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My family loves these potatoes. I make a large batch in disposable pans and serve them at all our get-togethers. The holidays aren’t the same without them. It’s also a super recipe for Christmas morning brunch. —Brenda Smith, Curran, Michigan
Nutrition Facts:
1/2 cup: 294 calories, 16g fat (10g saturated fat), 42mg cholesterol, 813mg sodium, 26g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 2g fiber), 10g protein.
9/17
Three-Bean Baked Beans
Total Time
1 hour 20 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I got this recipe from an aunt and made a couple of changes to suit our tastes. With ground beef and bacon mixed in, these satisfying beans are a big hit at backyard barbecues and church picnics. I’m always asked to bring my special beans. —Julie Currington, Gahanna, Ohio
Nutrition Facts:
3/4 cup: 269 calories, 8g fat (2g saturated fat), 19mg cholesterol, 708mg sodium, 42g carbohydrate (21g sugars, 7g fiber), 13g protein.
10/17
Portobello Risotto with Mascarpone
Total Time
45 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Portobello mushrooms add a beefy flavor to this creamy classic. Each serving is topped with soft, buttery mascarpone cheese, which makes it extra special. —Carmella Ryan, Rockville Centre, New York
Nutrition Facts:
3/4 cup risotto mixture with 1 heaping tablespoon marscarpone cheese: 350 calories, 21g fat (10g saturated fat), 51mg cholesterol, 393mg sodium, 31g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 7g protein.
11/17
Festive Corn ‘n’ Broccoli
Total Time
15 min
Servings
5 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This recipe is delicious and versatile. I often substitute a tablespoon of minced fresh basil for the dried, and two to three ears of sweet corn (about a cup cut fresh from the cob) for the Mexicorn. —Lucile Throgmorton, Clovis, New Mexico
Nutrition Facts:
2/3 cup: 135 calories, 9g fat (6g saturated fat), 24mg cholesterol, 541mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 4g fiber), 4g protein.
12/17
Golden Mashed Potatoes
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
When there’s no gravy with the meat, this is great to serve in place of regularly mashed potatoes. I make it often to take to picnics and church socials. My husband even made it for his family’s reunion one year when I couldn’t go!
—Cindy Stith, Wickliffe, Kentucky
—Cindy Stith, Wickliffe, Kentucky
Nutrition Facts:
3/4 cup: 370 calories, 13g fat (9g saturated fat), 41mg cholesterol, 456mg sodium, 55g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 6g fiber), 9g protein.
13/17
Slow-Cooker Marinated Mushrooms
Total Time
6 hours 15 min
Servings
5 cups
From the Recipe Creator:
Here’s a healthy and delicious addition to any buffet spread. Mushrooms and pearl onions seasoned with herbs, balsamic and red wine are terrific on their own or alongside a tenderloin roast. —Courtney Wilson, Fresno, California
Nutrition Facts:
1/4 cup: 42 calories, 2g fat (0 saturated fat), 1mg cholesterol, 165mg sodium, 4g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.
14/17
Green Bean and Cauliflower Casserole
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I like to make a savory homemade cream sauce for the timeless green bean casserole. This time I added another vegetable for a delicious twist that sets my casserole apart from the rest! You can omit the vermouth if you’d like by substituting another half cup of chicken broth. —Ann Sheehy, Lawrence, Massachusetts
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 217 calories, 13g fat (6g saturated fat), 19mg cholesterol, 539mg sodium, 19g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 3g fiber), 7g protein.
15/17
Mozzarella Sticks
Total Time
25 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I’m particularly fond of these tasty mozzarella sticks because they’re baked, not fried. Cheese is one of my family’s favorite foods. Being of Italian descent, I cook often with ricotta and mozzarella cheeses. —Mary Merchant, Barre, Vermont
Nutrition Facts:
2 sticks: 312 calories, 17g fat (10g saturated fat), 116mg cholesterol, 749mg sodium, 22g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 1g fiber), 20g protein.
16/17
Duo Tater Bake
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
2 casseroles (10 servings each)
From the Recipe Creator:
I made this creamy and comforting potato dish for Thanksgiving and it was a winner with my family. They said to be sure to include it at every holiday dinner. It’s a keeper! —Joan McCulloch, Abbotsford, British Columbia
Nutrition Facts:
3/4 cup: 236 calories, 12g fat (8g saturated fat), 38mg cholesterol, 246mg sodium, 25g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 2g fiber), 5g protein.
17/17
Baked Two-Cheese & Bacon Grits
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
In the South, everyone loves three things: bacon, cheese and grits! After playing around with this recipe, I took it to my first family party as a newlywed, and it was a huge hit. This recipe has become a family tradition that I’m sure will be passed down for generations. —Melissa Rogers, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Nutrition Facts:
3/4 cup: 466 calories, 34g fat (18g saturated fat), 143mg cholesterol, 840mg sodium, 23g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 1g fiber), 17g protein.
