26 Make-Ahead Freezer Meals You’ll Be Glad To Have on Hand

We’ve all been there: those days when there’s no time to cook from scratch (or you're feeling kinda lazy) — but the idea of takeout or fast food just isn’t an option either. Instead of settling for a bowl of cereal or a cold-cut sandwich, turn to your freezer. With just a little bit of planning and strategic prep you can easily stock it full of dishes that everyone in the family will love — and that are ready with almost no work at all. Plus, since some of the cooking was done in advance, cleanup is easier, too!

One of our all-time-favorite recipes for the freezer? Pulled chicken. Chicken thighs are the ideal slow-cooker meat because they emerge tender and juicy, even after hours of cooking. The sauce is a guaranteed kid-pleaser: Rich, sweet and low on spice and tang. Make a couple of batches to keep in the freezer for busy weeks when you know you'll have limited time for meal prep.

Long simmering makes this tough cut turn tender and yielding. Keep a batch or two of this hearty chili in in the freezer and all you'll have to do on weeknights is reheat, pile on your favorite toppings — and open a bag of tortilla chips for scooping!

Valerie says, "I love baked pasta dishes because they feed a crowd and are super comforting. I also love that they can be made in advance and frozen for another day. This is my go-to freezer pasta; it comes together quickly, freezes well and can be cooked from frozen, so even on the busiest days I can still have a yummy home-cooked meal."

We've turned the classic spinach and mushroom omelet into a delicious breakfast sandwich that you can enjoy anytime. The trick is to bake the "scrambled" eggs in the oven, and then cut out rounds for each sandwich that you can then freeze.

If you're already making meatballs, why not buy some extra meat and simmer a little extra sauce? This allows you to pack your freezer with dinner that just has to be thawed, reheated and tossed with some pasta — for almost no extra work at all.

This couldn't-be-easier skillet meal is inspired by one of our favorite dishes: pasta primavera. We skip the pasta but keep all the iconic flavors, so you can serve with crusty bread and soak up all the delicious sauce.

Set aside some extra time one weekend to make a dozen of these calzones. Then pack your freezer full of them and know you've got healthy lunches or dinners for those hectic days covered.

Not only does this easy, 30-minute meal freeze well, but you can cook it straight from the freezer — no thawing needed. Just be sure you assemble it in an oven-proof, disposable aluminum pan when you make it.

From the freezer to the table in under an hour, these muffins are ideal as an easy make-ahead option for a crowd. Freezing them before baking-instead of reheating after baking-ensures that they'll taste freshly baked, with soft tender insides and hot, gooey berries. Plus, you can bake exactly the number needed whether they're for a grab-and-go breakfast before work or entertaining house guests over the weekend.

This good, old-fashioned pot pie is so delicious it’s worth every minute you’ll spend making it — but if you need a shortcut, use a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken instead of cooking your own.

This shortcut gumbo eliminates the tricky step of cooking a roux for thickener. Instead, a small amount of rice cooked low and slow gives the stew just the right amount of body. With a bag of prepped ingredients in your freezer ready to go, you can serve this favorite even on a weeknight.

These vegetarian wraps are hearty and satisfying — and good in your freezer for up to 3 months. Best of all, reheating them is a breeze; just microwave for 3 minutes, or until warmed through.

Get your favorite playlist queued up and spend some time prepping this easy stir-fry for an almost instant meal later. Chicken and microwaved broccoli are tossed in a bag with soy and orange sauce and then frozen. Take comfort in knowing tomorrow night's dinner is waiting in the freezer!

Doing some meal prep over the weekend? Why not whip up a few dozen French toast sticks to tuck away in the freezer, while you're at it? Ree's recipe doesn't require many ingredients or much time at all — but turns out the sweetest, crunchiest little breakast bites you can imagine.

These individual-size casseroles taste just like everyone’s favorite appetizer: spinach and artichoke dip. Molly makes it a meal by adding chicken and topping each mini casserole with a biscuit.

Quartering the cauliflower, rather than cutting it into florets, allows this vegetarian meal to simmer all day in the slow cooker without it becoming mush. Stow a few bags of this pre-assembled meal in the freezer to keep on hand for busy nights.

How does Ellie stock her freezer? With her healthy Chicken Cacciatore. Made with just a few, simple ingredients like wine, tomato and herbs, it’s the deliciously garlicky dish she keeps on-hand for when her husband is on supper duty.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day so having something that’s ready to pop right into the oven can help you start your day right. Ree’s easy breakfast casserole can stay in the freezer for up to two months so make one (or two!) and hold for a busy morning.

Pull out your biggest pot and get ready to make a mess of chili. All the effort and time will pay off, knowing that your freezer is filled with easy dinners that can be thawed and quickly reheated.

This Mexican-inspired 'stir-fry' is the perfect quick weekend project: peppers, onions and chicken are tossed with a chili-spiced oil and frozen. It's hardly any work at all — but the payoff is huge when one of those extra busy weeknights rolls around.

Ree knows a thing or two about feeding a crowd — so it's no surprise that she has a recipe for one of our favorite freezer items: meatballs. They're perfect for topping pasta, bulking up casseroles, filling Hoagie rolls — or really any other use you can dream up — making it worth the time and effort to stock your freezer with them.

With just a little advance prep, you can have a weeknight Indian-inspired stir-fry in a snap. Peas, cauliflower and chicken are sealed in a bag with coconut-curry sauce and frozen — a perfect dinner after a hectic day.

Whether you’re in need of a quick morning meal or you’re treating your family to breakfast for dinner this toasty, make-ahead sammy is the perfect choice. If you’re having them for dinner, serve with frozen, oven-baked fries!

Corn, tomatoes, green chiles — this tangy, make-ahead mac and cheese has so much flavor. Best of all, you can stash it in your freezer and use it to spice up any weeknight meal.

Stuffed shells are the perfect make-and-freeze meal — and these are the one’s Ree stocks in her own freezer. Hers are stuffed with cheese but you can add meat like shredded chicken or cooked ground beef to the mix if you prefer.