Weeknights can be so incredibly busy whether it’s from working late or having to take the kids to their endless after school activities. So, do your future self a favor and plan ahead when you have a bit of extra time by prepping these delicious make ahead freezer meals. Sure pre-made frozen meals from the store can do in a pinch, but they can sure get expensive and be loaded with sodium. So, here are some awesome homemade options to save you time and money. Your future self will thank you!
Make Ahead Freezer Meals for Breakfast
1. Smoothie Packs You Can Make Ahead of Time
Smoothies can be an awesome breakfast or after school snack, but it can be a hassle cutting up fruit and trying to figure out the right flavor combinations. Eliminate the guesswork and prep these genius 3-ingredient smoothie packs for a healthy breakfast in way less time. You can even add a scoop of protein powder to help keep you full longer. (via Hello Glow)
I also love this post, which has the awesome smoothie hack to include frozen yogurt cubes in your smoothie kits:
2. Easy Homemade Freezer Pancakes
Check out this hack to have a delicious homemade pancake breakfast even on the weekdays. No more having to opt for cereal out of desperation. (via A Cultivated Nest)
3. Make Ahead Freezer Breakfast Sandwiches
These Egg McMuffin copycats are a favorite of my husbands and it is unbelievable how expensive they are if you buy them in the store. Not to mention all the unnecessary additives they come with. So it is the best of both worlds to make this awesome homemade version. You can prep a huge batch every two weeks and save SO much time and money during the week! (via The Suburban Soapbox)
4. Easy Breakfast Burritos
Similar to the breakfast sandwiches above, these make ahead breakfast burritos are sure to become a quick breakfast favorite in your household. You can easily customize the ingredients to whatever you like too. (via 100 Directions)
Main Dish Make Ahead Freezer Meals
5. Make Ahead Freezer Mac
Mac and cheese is a favorite in just about every family it seems. But, unless you make it out of the box, it’s not quick & easy to make on a busy weeknight. Unless you follow this awesome make ahead freezer version, that is! (via Hip Homeschool Moms)
6. Baked Ziti Freezer Meal
Even if you aren’t home, your kids and husband can easily heat up this freezer baked ziti for a quick & easy homemade meal. (via Macheesmo)
7. Homemade Frozen Meatballs
Frozen meatballs are an amazingly versatile item to have on hand. They are great for a quick snack/appetizer or to make spaghetti and meatballs in no time. (via Belle Vie)
8. Make Ahead Vegan Chili
This is a delicious and easy weeknight meal that would be perfect for a cold or rainy day. Even if you aren’t vegan, incorporating meatless meals like this vegan chili during the week can be a great way to cut down grocery costs. (via Love and Lentils)
9. Make Ahead Lasagna Rollups
This make ahead freezer meal is perfect for one or two person households. A whole casserole dish of lasagna is simply too much and you end up throwing half away unless you eat it for every meal for a week. Instead, you can make several of these genius lasagna roll ups that are the perfect size for dinner and some leftovers. (via The Pioneer Woman)
10. Free Printable Labels for Your Freezer Meals
These free printable labels are an essential for your make ahead freezer meals. They are especially perfect if you make freezer meals for your husband or kids to reheat when you are out of the house because you can include cooking directions. (via Money Saving Mom)
11. Freezer to Oven Enchilada Sweet Potatoes
These enchilada stuffed sweet potatoes are a fun smash up of foods. They can go directly from your freezer to your oven for a weeknight meal in minutes! They are a vegetarian recipe, but you can also add some ground turkey depending on your preferences. (via Sweet Peas and Saffron)
12. Make Ahead Ravioli Lasagna
One of the best parts of make ahead freezer meals is that you can leisurely make them anytime of the day without having your kids asking every 5 minutes if dinner is ready. Here’s another creative freezer meal that will help save your sanity on weeknights. (via Neat Nest Organizing)
13. Homemade Frozen Pizza
Homemade frozen pizzas beat the store bought version any day. Higher quality ingredients mean they taste better and you can add your favorite topping combinations. This is also a fun activity to do with kids. You can make one pizza for that night and then make 2-3 others to freeze and have for later while you have all the ingredients out. (via The Kitchn)
14. Chicken Cheese Enchiladas Freezer Meal
This chicken enchiladas recipe is a great recipe to make ahead of time before a big party or family get together. That way you can enjoy your time the day off and don’t have to worry about cooking! (via Make & Takes)
15. 20 Slow Cooker Freezer Meals for Under $120
Convenience often translates to $$$$, but not with this genius slow cooker freezer meals. You can make all 20 meals in one day for under $120! Do I need to say more? (via Living Rich with Coupons)
16. 20-Minute Tuscan Pasta
This blog was created by six sisters who know all about busy families. So, naturally they are great resources for pulling together quick weeknight meals in a hurry like this 20-minute Tuscan Pasta. (via Six Sisters’ Stuff)
17. 10 Crockpot Chicken Freezer Meals in One Hour
Ever see an amazing sale on chicken at the store but wonder if you will be able to use it up? Here’s your solution. Check out these 10 amazing chicken crockpot meals that you can prep and freeze in just an hour! Then, whenever you have a busy week, you can pop one in the crockpot in the morning and dinner will be ready as soon as you get home! (via Moms with Crockpots)
Reader Favorite: 10 Overnight Oats Recipes That’ll Make Your Mouth Water
Which of these make ahead freezer meals are you excited to try? To save even more time in the morning, check out our post on overnight oats linked above.
