To make busy school nights a little more manageable, it's important to make the most out of your time in the kitchen. Whether you double a crockpot recipe and freeze the rest into portioned containers or have a favorite meal that easily defrosts without compromising on flavor, save yourself some time by having your freezer full of options that you can grab in the morning.
Not all dinners can hold up in the harsh cold for a long period of time, but you'll be grateful to know about these options that are not only easy to prep extra servings of but can also be stored and rewarmed with minimal fuss. And remember — these freezable meals don't count as leftovers; they count as lifesavers!
Families can eat the fresh cilantro lime chicken and then freeze what they don't eat for another night.
This recipe not only combines everyone's favorite flavors of tacos in spaghetti form — it's also made in one pan. So not only is clean up a breeze, but you know it will be a crowd pleaser every time you defrost it for a quick meal.
Make a big batch of Vegetarian Mamma's veggie cakes, and thaw and serve them as needed.
Fashion Edible's flavorful goat cheese and sausage casserole is perfect for a hot breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Family Gone Healthy trades in noodles for veggies in this classic Italian dish that is easy to make and even easier to reheat.
For a freezable meal that's worthy of its own dinner party, try this crockpot pork with dried plums. Serve it over mashed potatoes, and enjoy the secret of just how simple it was!
Mom's Kitchen Handbook's saucy turkey meatballs will become a favorite part of your family's dinnertime repertoire. Your kiddos will go crazy for the flavor and you'll appreciate the easy prep.
We know kids love creamy macaroni and cheese, which makes this seriously easy recipe from Culinary Cory perfect for busy days. Defrost and serve with roasted chicken or fresh steamed veggies for a complete meal.
If chicken parm is a family favorite, try mixing things up a bit with Foxes Love Lemons's recipe for chicken parmesan soup. It has all of the saucy, cheesy goodness of the Italian staple but can be thrown together in the morning, will have your whole house smelling heavenly by dinner, and tastes just as good when you pull it out of the freezer.
Honey, garlic, and soy sauce are the dynamic trio that makes Just a Taste's honey garlic chicken your new solution to boring old chicken cutlets. It's so delcious that you're going to want to make extras to keep on hand!
Pull this lightened-up Italian chicken dish out of the freezer during a busy week and serve with a side of spaghetti or quinoa for a complete meal.
Proof that turkey's not just for Thanksgiving, these slow-cooker pulled-turkey sandwiches bring a taste of a summertime barbecue to the chilliest of Winter nights. Prep the meat in advance and keep it as a staple in your freezer to use for sliders, quesadillas, soups, or casseroles.
This recipe for a healthy take on a Chinese takeout favorite is so much better than ordering in, not only because it's fewer than 350 calories per serving but also because it can last in the freezer for months.
Not only does this beef and veggie stew require a mere 20 minutes of preparation time before slow-cooking to perfection, but it's also a hearty meal that can easily be defrosted for dinners and lunches.
Not only do these slow-cooker chicken fajitas require just five ingredients, but they are also low-calorie. After you layer the ingredients and let your crockpot do its magic, there's no additional cook time so you can easily serve for a meal and then freeze the rest a busy week.
Chili is a popular meal to make when you're trying to get extra meals out of your kitchen session. This dish is made using a Dutch oven on the stove, but you can easily adapt this recipe to be made in a slow cooker; just keep it on low.
One batch of this one-pot cheeseburger casserole could last the family for days, but be prepared that Damn Delicious's recipe is so good they may eat it all at once.