20+ Recipes to Store in Your Freezer For the Nights You Just Don't Wanna Cook

Updated on 9/8/2017 at 6:00 PM

POPSUGAR Photography | Jenny Sugar

You get home from work hungry and exhausted and you wish a healthy meal were there waiting for you. While the slow cooker is perfect for times like this, it only works if you have time to prep it in the morning. That's why freezer meals are an essential weapon against automatically ordering takeout.

These hearty recipes, from soups to burritos, are full of protein, fiber, and flavor. Make one of these recipes with the sole purpose of freezing individual portions in glass containers, or you can make one for dinner and then freeze your leftovers for lunch the next day. They're perfectly portioned to keep calories in check and they heat up in just a few minutes. You can defrost each container in the fridge the night before or warm it up in the microwave.

Sweet Potato, Chickpea, and Quinoa Veggie Burger

Make a double batch of these veggie burgers and store them in a glass container separated by wax paper.

Get the recipe: sweet potato, chickpea, and quinoa veggie burgers

Roasted Tofu, Cauliflower, and Broccoli

Low in carbs and high in protein, this vegan one-pan meal is perfect on its own or served with brown rice you've previously frozen.

Get the recipe: roasted tofu, cauliflower, and broccoli one-pan meal

Chickpea Coconut Curry With Sweet Potatoes

Prep this curry in a slow cooker in the morning, enjoy a bowl that night, and freeze the rest in two-cup glass containers. Serve with rice or quinoa you've premade and frozen.

Get the recipe: chickpea and sweet potato curry recipe

Maple Cumin Lentils Over Spaghetti Squash

Divide these maple lentils and spaghetti squash into containers or freeze individual portions of just the lentils to serve over regular pasta.

Get the recipe: maple cumin lentils over spaghetti squash

Butternut Squash and Lentil Soup

Made in a slow cooker or a big pot on the stove, this makes the perfect protein-packed, cold-weather lunch.

Get the recipe: butternut squash lentil soup

Turkey Chili

Make this in the slow cooker and save portions for when you're in a pinch.

Get the recipe: turkey chili

Vegan Lasagna

Instead of ricotta, the creaminess in this lasagna comes from blended tofu flavored with garlic and fresh basil. The velvety consistency will floor you, and it freezes just as well as regular lasagna.

Get the recipe: vegan lasagna

Split Pea and Sweet Potato Soup

This hearty, protein-packed soup is great to have on hand for quick meals.

Get the recipe: vegan split pea and sweet potato soup

Roasted Sweet Potato and Black Bean Burrito

Cut burritos in half and wrap in tin foil or freeze one-cup servings of just the filling to make fresh burritos or tacos.

Get the recipe: roasted sweet potato and black bean burrito

Coconut Curry Butternut Squash Soup

You can't go wrong freezing soup! Enjoy yours with a fresh salad and warm bread.

Get the recipe: coconut curry butternut squash soup

Roasted Roots Soup

Made with Jamaican spices and coconut milk, each serving is under 300 calories.

Get the recipe: roasted roots soup

Roasted Tofu, Sweet Potato, and Pepper 1-Pan Meal

This easy one-pan meal offers 15 grams of protein and so much sweet flavor! Make a batch and freeze five servings for the week in 16-ounce mason jars.

Get the recipe: roasted tofu, sweet potato, and pepper one-pan meal

Bean and Sweet Potato Soup

Full of fiber and ringing in at under 300 calories a bowl, this soup makes a great hearty lunch or dinner for a cold day.

Get the recipe: black and white bean soup with sweet potatoes

Butternut Squash and Quinoa Chili

Take an hour to whip up this butternut squash, kidney bean, and quinoa chili, and you'll have four servings waiting for you when you need them.

Get the recipe: butternut squash and quinoa chili

Low-Calorie Black Bean Soup

Add a bit of broth, a few veggies, and some seasoning, and you've got yourself a nutritious, protein-packed stew that is sure to fill the belly.

Get the recipe: low-calorie black bean soup

Creamy Vegan Mac and Cheese

Would you believe that all that cheesy goodness is completely dairy-free? And no, it's not made with fake cheese, nutritional yeast, or even fake butter. The earth-shattering creaminess comes from pureed cashews and white beans, and yes, it freezes well!

Get the recipe: vegan mac and cheese

Vegan Bolognese

You won't be missing beef at all with this decadent vegan recipe made with tempeh.

Get the recipe: vegan bolognese recipe

Vegan Stuffed Shells

These plant-based stuffed shells totally taste like the real thing! They're made with tofu and are just 60 calories each, so you can warm up as many as you want.

Get the recipe: vegan stuffed shells

Slow-Cooker Vegetarian Chili

Here's a chili recipe for those who don't eat meat. Cook it in the slow cooker and it makes eight to 10 servings.

Get the recipe: vegetarian chili

Chickpea and Kale Stew

Each serving of this hearty veggie-packed stew offers 24 grams of protein and makes the perfect addition to your freezer meal stash.

Get the recipe: chickpea and kale stew

Cauliflower Rice and Beans

Using cauliflower instead of rice not only cuts on carbs and ups the vitamins A and C, but it also increases the fiber — this recipe offers almost 17 grams per 398-calorie serving.

Get the recipe: cauliflower rice and beans

Tomato Lentil Soup

Simple, filling, and full of fiber, enjoy this soup alone or served over whole grains.

Get the recipe: tomato lentil soup

Sweet Potato Veggie Burger

For a quick, healthy dinner, keep these patties on hand. Freeze them in a glass container separated by wax paper.

Get the recipe: sweet potato veggie burger

Spicy Chicken Chili

Make a big batch and freeze a bunch for later.

Get the recipe: spicy chicken chili