Prepping Freezer Meals & Snacks

Whether you’re expecting a new baby or looking for guidance on freezer food prep, look no further. Here are 8 useful tips for preparing freezer meals, plus recipes, freezing instructions, and thawing directions.

Feeling ambitious toward the end of my pregnancies, I cooked a couple of times each week and ended up stocking our freezer with several large-batch meals, plus cookies, healthy snacks, and breakfasts. I felt accomplished and prepared, but more importantly, my mind was at ease knowing we’d have homemade food for all meals and snacking.

Even when my family and I aren’t preparing for a baby, we still prepare meals in advance, which is tremendously useful for busy days or for serving to guests.

Overview: 8 Tips for Preparing Freezer Meals

It’s so handy and convenient to have prepared meals stocked in your freezer. Here’s what you’ll want to do first.

1. Clear out your freezer. Unless you have a spare freezer in the garage or basement, clear out as much room as you can in your kitchen freezer. 
2. Containers + labeling. I like to freeze flat foods in zipped-top freezer bags. Things like cookies, bars, and muffins are perfect for stacking because they are relatively flat. I layer them on paper plates then put the whole plate into the zipped-top freezer bag. Freeze foods like chili, soup, pulled meat, and meatballs in freezer-friendly containers. (Update: I recently began using these glass freezer containers and they’re fantastic for larger batch items.) Label everything with the recipe name and the date.
3. Freeze in smaller portions. Sometimes it makes sense to prepare food in large batches, but I would lose my mind if I had to eat chicken noodle soup or pulled BBQ chicken for lunch and dinner 5 days in a row. In these instances, I freeze the meals in smaller portions. Smaller portions also reheat quicker. This variety pack of glass freezer containers is very useful for varying portions.
4. The slow cooker is your BFF. Take full advantage of your crockpot when preparing freezer meals. I often choose “set it and forget it” meals, like my slow cooker chicken chili pictured above, because they don’t require a ton of standing, stirring, chopping, and prep work. Utilizing the slow cooker makes cooking in bulk much easier since it requires little “hands-on” time.
5. Concentrate on easy and filling meals. Stick with easy, satisfying meals and any recipe that can simply be reheated on the stove for a quick meal.
6. Bonus if they’re healthy and nutritious. If you have a new baby, a large family, or a super busy schedule, I bet your energy is zapped. Healthy meals sustain you.
7. Don’t forget about breakfast and snacks. Most people who meal plan only focus on dinners, but breakfast and snacks are just as important. I’m usually running around a lot in the mornings and something as simple as brewing coffee feels like a victory. I link to a bunch of freezer-friendly healthy breakfasts and snacks below.
8. Don’t stress. You CAN do it all, but you can’t do it all at once. Don’t beat yourself up if you plan to make a dozen meals and only end up preparing 4. At least it’s something!

8 Freezer Meals

The recipes here are ideal for freezing. They don’t require too much time to prepare and they freeze well. You’ll find that most soups, stews, pasta bakes, and pie dough are great for freezing.

1. Slow Cooker Chicken Chili. (Picture above.) This meal keeps on giving because it’s super filling and freezes wonderfully. Freeze it in a big container or a few smaller ones. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or place the container/bag in the sink filled with cool water. Once thawed, cook in a large pot on medium heat for about 30 minutes, or until heated through. Or reheat in the microwave until warmed throughout. (Freeze up to 3-4 months.)
2. Vegetarian Lasagna. The entire lasagna was prepared in a disposable 9×13-inch pan, covered tightly with aluminum foil, and frozen (unbaked). Defrost it in the refrigerator overnight, then bake (covered) in a 375°F (191°C) oven for 45-50 minutes. Remove aluminum foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes until heated through. (Freeze up to 3-4 months.)
3. Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup. (Pictured below.) This soup is incredibly flavorful, tastes super comforting, and will keep you full for hours. Freeze in 1 big container or a few smaller containers. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or place the container/bag in the sink filled with cool water. Once thawed, cook in a large pot on medium heat for 30 minutes. Or reheat in the microwave until warmed throughout. (Freeze up to 3-4 months.)
4. Taco Spice Turkey Chili. I LOVE this satisfying chili because it packs big flavor in each bite. Freeze in a big container or a few smaller ones. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or place the container/bag in the sink filled with cool water. Once thawed, cook in a large pot on medium heat for about 30 minutes, until heated through. Or reheat in the microwave until warmed throughout. (Freeze up to 3-4 months.)
5. Turkey Meatballs. I made a double batch of these meatballs—plain. Meaning, I just made the meatballs and baked them in the oven without using the slow cooker or adding the tomato sauce. (You can also skip the browning step: just prepare/roll the meatballs and bake at 400°F (204°C) for 25 minutes.) Chicken meatballs work great also. I recommend making and freezing plain meatballs because when thawed out, you can enjoy them a bunch of different ways such as enjoying with pasta, as meatball subs, or plain with your favorite dipping sauce. Simply thaw overnight in the refrigerator. (Freeze up to 3-4 months.)
6. Coconut Chicken. This chicken recipe is a family favorite. After the chicken is coated in the coconut, place on a parchment paper or a baking sheet lined with a silicone baking mat and freeze for 2-3 hours or until frozen solid. Transfer the chicken to a large freezer-friendly bag or container. See the recipe for how to bake/reheat the uncooked frozen chicken. (Freeze up to 3-4 months.)
7. Slow Cooker Honey Teriyaki Chicken. This teriyaki chicken is easy, relatively healthy, saucy, and super versatile—what’s not to love? Place the cooked chicken into a freezer-friendly container. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or place the container/bag in the sink filled with cool water. Once thawed, cook in a large pot on medium heat for 10 minutes, until heated through. Or reheat in the microwave until warmed throughout. It’s great over rice or quinoa, with steamed veggies, or sandwich-style in buns. (Freeze up to 3-4 months.)
8. Pulled BBQ Chicken. Easy and versatile! Freeze in a big container or a few smaller ones. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or place the container/bag in the sink filled with cool water. Once thawed, reheat in the microwave or on the stove until warmed throughout. Great as is, for pulled BBQ chicken sandwiches/sliders, or on top of a salad. (Freeze up to 3-4 months.)

How to Freeze Breakfast + Healthy Snacks + Cookies

I love whipping out “fresh baked” cookies if we have company over. And when the moment calls for something sweet, these delicious and nutritious treats will win over most crowds.

1. Breakfast Cookies. Of course I prepped a bunch of my favorite healthy, gluten-free, and dairy-free cookies. Pile the cookies onto a paper plate, place the cookies + plate in a freezer-friendly bag or container (no need to layer them between parchment), and thaw a few at a time in the refrigerator when you crave a quick and nutritious snack. (Freeze up to 3-4 months.) See note in that blog post about turning these into Lactation Cookies.
2. Healthy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies. Pile the cookies onto a paper plate, then place the cookies + plate in a freezer-friendly bag or container (no need to layer them between parchment), and thaw in the refrigerator. They’re delicious! (Freeze up to 3-4 months.)
3. Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Granola Bars. Like both cookie recipes listed above, pile the bars onto a paper plate, then place them into a freezer-friendly bag or container (no need to layer them between parchment), and thaw in the refrigerator. (Freeze up to 3 months.)
4. Breakfast Casserole. Packed with healthy veggies, this quick and simple breakfast will keep you fueled all morning. When I want to freeze it, I bake it in a disposable aluminum pan, then set it aside to cool completely. Cover it tightly with aluminum foil, then freeze. When ready to eat, thaw it for about 24 hours (covered) in the refrigerator, then bake it in a 350°F (177°C) oven for 25-30 minutes. (Freeze for up to 3-4 months.) For an individually portioned meal idea, these egg muffins freeze wonderfully.
5. Zucchini Bread. This unfussy batter is a cinch to whip up; there’s no mixer required! After the bread bakes and cools, transfer it to a freezer-friendly container. Thaw at room temperature for a few hours before serving. (Freeze up to 3-4 months.)
6. Apple Crumb Cake. I knew we’d have a lot of visitors when the baby was born, so I made this to serve to family members who’d spend the night. You can bake and freeze it in a disposable 9 × 13 pan or cut the cooled cake into slices and freeze it in a freezer-friendly bag or container. (Freeze up to 3-4 months.)
7. Cookies! I baked a few batches of cake batter chocolate chip cookies so we could enjoy some treats when we had visitors. To freeze cookies, you can pile them on a plate and place in a zipped-top bag OR cover tightly with foil. Or you can layer between sheets of parchment paper in a freezer container or bag. Thaw at room temperature for a few hours before serving. (Most cookies can be frozen up to 3-4 months. I always have a batch of regular chocolate chip cookies in my freezer, too!)

Other Helpful Tutorials

• Baby Apple Banana Oat Muffins
• Make-Ahead Baking
• How to Freeze Cookie Dough
• 36+ Fun Baking Projects
• How to Freeze Cakes