Healthy Freezer Meals

Freezer meals can be a lifesaver at any time of day. Learn what to freeze (and how to freeze it) for an easy, delicious breakfast, lunch, or dinner!

On busy nights, freezer meals are the first thing I turn to in order to get a quick, wholesome, and delicious dinner on the table. This might come as a surprise, as frozen food can get a bad rap as boring, mushy, or bland. While I’m not a fan of processed frozen dinners, I often freeze the soups, stews, and casseroles I make at home. Stored and reheated the right way, they’re just as flavorful as they were the day they were made. And when I have a freezer full of nourishing homemade meals, there’s no reason to eat out or order in. The easiest, tastiest options are the ones I’ve already prepped and frozen!

Below, you’ll find my 5 favorite types of freezer meals, along with my best tips for storing and reheating them. So make a big batch of one of these 50+ freezer meal recipes, and freeze the leftovers for another day. Trust me, you’ll thank yourself later!

Soup Freezer Meals

Without question, soups are the freezer meals I have on hand most often. I reach for them when I want a quick lunch in the middle of a workday, when we’re returning from a trip, or when I’m craving a healthy, warming dinner but don’t have time to cook.

Stew Freezer Meals

Soup’s heartier cousin, stew is another of my favorite freezer meals. Allow it to cool completely before you store it in airtight, freezer-safe containers or Mason jars in your freezer. Again, defrost it in the microwave, or allow it to thaw in the fridge before reheating it on the stove.

On any given day in winter or fall, I have a stash of at least one of these hearty stews in the freezer:

• Cauliflower Coconut Curry
• Easy Veggie Chili
• Vegan Butternut Squash Chili
• Zucchini White Bean Chili, Love & Lemons Every Day, pg. 99

Casserole Freezer Meals

If you want to be prepared to serve a crowd, casseroles are the freezer meals for you! Assemble an entire casserole and freeze it before baking. Alternatively, if you want to have single portions on hand, bake any casserole and allow it to cool. Then, slice it, and freeze the individual slices.

To reheat an entire frozen casserole, cover it with foil and bake for about 1 hour at 350, or until warmed through. To brown the cheese on top, uncover the dish for the last 20 minutes of baking. If the cheese is getting too browned before the middle is thawed, simply cover it back up and continue to bake. Reheat individual slices in the microwave (the timing will depend on your microwave) or in the oven for 20-30 minutes.

• Easy Baked Ziti
• Roasted Vegetable Lasagna
• Eggplant Parmesan
• Vegetarian Black Bean Enchiladas

Veggie Patties and Balls

Veggie patties and balls are great single-serving freezer meals, though of course, you can reheat as many as you need to serve a group. Oftentimes, I make a double batch of these types of recipes to keep on hand in the freezer. They reheat perfectly, and I love the satisfaction of cooking once and eating (at least) twice!

Freeze veggie patties and balls after you bake them. To reheat, bake them again for 20 to 25 minutes at their original baking temperature, or until they’re warmed through and the edges are slightly crisp.

• Best Veggie Burgers
• Crispy Baked Falafel
• Chickpea Harissa Veggie Burgers, Love & Lemons Every Day, pg. 173
• Vegan Meatballs

Freezer Meal Components

If I want to toss together hearty salads or buddha bowls throughout the week, having cooked grains, legumes, or other plant-based proteins on hand in the freezer is a life-saver. Here’s how I freeze them:

• Baked Tofu and Tempeh
  Follow these recipes from start to finish, marinating and baking the tofu or tempeh. Allow it to cool completely before transferring it to a freezer bag or freezer-safe container. To reheat, bake the frozen tofu or tempeh for 15 to 20 minutes at 425.
• Cooked grains or legumes like Brown Rice, Farro, Quinoa, or Lentils
  First, cook the grains or lentils and allow them to cool slightly. Spread them in a thin layer on parchment-lined baking sheet and carefully place the baking sheet in your freezer. Freeze for at least two hours to prevent the grains from clumping together. Then, transfer them to a freezer-safe container or freezer bag for longer storage.

Pasta sauce and pizza dough are also great cooking components to freeze. Here’s how I do it:

• Pesto
  Freeze it in small containers or ice cube trays so that you can defrost the perfect amount for whatever you’re making! When you’re planning to use pesto, let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
• Tomato sauces like Marinara or Pizza Sauce
  Allow them to cool completely before freezing them in freezer-safe containers. Let them thaw overnight in the refrigerator, or defrost them in the microwave.
• Pizza DoughPrepare the dough through its final rise, stopping right before you’d stretch it to fit your pizza pan. Then, freeze it for up to a month. When you’re ready to use it, transfer frozen dough to the fridge to thaw overnight. Once it’s thawed, let it sit at room temperature for 1 hour until it becomes pliable.

Easy Freezer Meals for Breakfast

When you have to run out the door in the morning, there’s nothing better than having a frozen stash of quick breads, muffins, or pancakes at the ready. To make quick bread an easy grab-and-go breakfast, freeze it in individual slices. Transfer them to the fridge to thaw overnight, or pop frozen bread slices, pancakes, or muffins in the microwave.

If we’re leaving super early to go to the airport, I’ll grab frozen muffins or scones straight from the freezer. After an hour or so, they’ll have thawed, so they’re a perfect travel breakfast or snack.

• Healthy Banana Bread
• Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins
• Banana Pancakes
• Blueberry Muffins
• Homemade Waffles
• Pumpkin Bread
• Gluten-Free Breakfast Cookies
• Chocolate Zucchini Bread

Smoothies are another great breakfast to prep and freeze ahead of time. Freeze individual smoothie packs with fresh fruit, veggies, and superfood add-ins. In the morning, blend the frozen ingredients with juice, nut milk, or oat milk to make a healthy, energizing breakfast.

• Strawberry Banana Smoothie
• Avocado Lime Smoothie
• Healthy Green Smoothie
• Kale Smoothie
• Berry Superfood Smoothie Bowl