The freezer has been doing heavy lifting to avoid wasting us each meals and cash for some time now.
Is your grocery retailer operating an enormous sale on floor beef? Purchase it in bulk and freeze it. Have some leftovers that you just don’t need to toss? Lower down on meals waste and freeze these, too!
Not solely can you purchase contemporary greens after they’re in season and freeze them for later, however the freezer may aid you put together for the busy dinner nights forward.
In terms of probably the most scrumptious freezer meal recipes, we all the time ask ourselves the next: Is it simple to meal prep forward? Is it wholesome? Filling?
Wholesome meals may be nice in idea, however typically a salad or veggie soup isn’t satisfying sufficient to fill us up, inflicting snack cravings and pointless spending later.
We’ve put collectively a listing of 12 simple, reasonably priced freezer meal recipes. And so they aren’t simply wholesome; they’re are also hearty sufficient to maintain you happy and filled with power all day lengthy.
12 Freezer Meal Recipes For Busy Nights
1. Wholesome Freezer Breakfast Burritos
An important meal of the day simply bought simpler. Not solely do these breakfast burritos make the most of cheap, nutrient wealthy components like candy potatoes and black beans, however they’re additionally simply customizable with any of your favourite components. As an example, high off your burrito with sizzling sauce! Make a bunch for the week to freeze and eat this scrumptious meal for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Servings: 8
Predominant Substances: Candy potatoes ($1/pound on common), eggs ($4.25/carton on common), black beans ($0.99/can on common)
2. Cilantro Lime Hen and Lentil Rice Bowls
Full of nutritional vitamins and protein, lentils are one of many most cost-effective and healthiest meals you should buy. This wholesome freezer meal combines taste with ease—simply throw lentils, hen thighs or hen breasts, salsa, hen broth, and aromatics into the crock pot or prompt pot and voila! Dinner is served. Freeze the leftovers in freezer secure luggage or containers, or freeze all of the components collectively forward of time for straightforward cooking one other day.
Servings: 8
Predominant Substances: lentils ($2/pound on common), hen thighs ($2/pound on common)
3. Therapeutic Hen and Rice Soup
One other Pinch of Yum recipe that’s certain to get you thru these colder winter nights. In terms of simple freezer meals, soups reign supreme. Not solely does this soup freeze fantastically and use ever-so-affordable boneless skinless hen thighs, however it is usually bursting with immune boosting and anti inflammatory components like ginger, turmeric, and spinach. Freezer meal prep meets your crock pot for a really hearty meal.
Servings: 4-6
Predominant Substances: Hen thighs ($2/pound on common), jasmine rice ($1.30/pound on common)
4. Cut up Pea Soup
Cut up pea soup has gotten a foul rap through the years, however this isn’t your grandparents’ cut up pea soup. Bursting with taste, heartiness, and depth, this soup is each crave-worthy and will get even higher because it sits in your freezer. Not solely are cut up peas cheap, however they’re filled with protein, fiber, and B nutritional vitamins. Make a batch for in the present day and freeze half of it (sans toppings) for later—your future self will thanks!
Servings: 4
Predominant Substances: Dry cut up peas ($1.59/pound on common), potato or rutabaga ($1.19/pound on common)
5. Butternut Squash Lasagna
What’s extra comforting than having a lasagna within the freezer for a weeknight dinner? This recipe requires simply 10-ingredients to create a creamy casserole that’s full of veggies, vitamin C from butternut squash, and is dairy-free besides. Between the creaminess of the squash and the meatiness of the mushrooms, we promise you received’t miss the bottom beef and melted cheese. Assemble, cowl nicely, and freeze. While you want a scrumptious meal, pull it out, cowl with foil, and bake for an hour in a 350 diploma oven. A wholesome dinner even nonna would approve of.
Servings: 6
Predominant Substances: Butternut squash ($1.99/pound on common), mushrooms ($4.40/pound on common), lasagna noodles ($1.89/bundle on common)
6. Zucchini Lasagna Rolls
In search of conventional pink sauce lasagna flavors with out the pasta? Look no additional. Thinly sliced zucchini replaces lasagna noodles and is full of a ricotta, parmesan cheese, and frozen spinach combination on this lighter model of a traditional. Make it in the summertime when bulk zucchini is extraordinarily low cost and freeze for the cooler climate. Need additional protein? Add some shredded hen.
Servings: 6
Predominant Substances: Zucchini ($1.99/pound on common), ricotta cheese ($4/container on common)
7. Cauliflower and Tomato Masala with Peas
Indian meals may be a number of the extra scrumptious freezer meals there are. This tackle Gobi Matar is simple, cheap, and vegan. Plus it’s full of well being boosters like cauliflower, frozen peas, ginger and turmeric. Numerous spices and tomato sauce make this freezer meal hearty and warming. Seize it out of the freezer together with some flatbread for dipping or boil a fast pot of quinoa to make all the dinner gluten free.
Servings: 4
Predominant Substances: Cauliflower ($3.59/head on common), tomato puree ($1.49/can on common), frozen peas ($0.99/bag on common)
8. 5-Ingredient Candy Potato Black Bean Chili
In terms of tasting higher with time, chili is king. This nutritious vegetarian model is the right hearty meal to maintain readily available in your freezer. A spicy kick from the chili powder and sizzling sauce will heat you up on a chilly winter’s evening. Antioxidants? Test. Filling protein? Test. Low cost and straightforward? Test and examine. For an additional dollop of wholesome fat, garnish with avocado or add floor turkey!
Servings: 6
Predominant Substances: Candy potatoes ($1/pound on common), black beans ($0.99/can on common), pink salsa ($2.49/jar on common.
Do you know that you would be able to purchase avocados in bulk and freeze them them to economize? Seize a bunch for this recipe and save them for different scrumptious freezer meals just like the casserole beneath.
9. Roasted Veggie Enchiladas Casserole
Though enchiladas and casseroles aren’t meals that often scream “well being”, this roasted veggie model might change your thoughts. Stuffed to the brim with cauliflower, candy potatoes, pink peppers, spinach, and black beans, this recipe is filling, satisfying, economical and full of vitamins. High with bitter cream, lime juice, and use 100% corn tortillas for a vegetarian, gluten free dinner that you just’ll be thrilled to have in your freezer not solely as a weekday choice, but additionally as a showstopping most important dish to serve firm!
Servings: 6-8
Predominant Substances: Candy potatoes ($1/pound on common), black beans ($0.99/can on common), cauliflower ($3.59/head on common), pink bell peppers ($3.49/pound on common)
10. Greatest Veggie Burger Recipe
Retailer-bought veggie burgers have been a freezer staple for years, however have you ever ever tried to make your personal? Typically cheaper and far more healthy, selfmade veggie burgers substitute filler with actual greens. This model combines mushrooms, brown rice, and walnuts within the meals processor for a protein packed meal that even probably the most discerning meat eaters will love. Make an entire batch and freeze them on a parchment-lined sheet pan. As soon as frozen, pop right into a freezer bag for straightforward storage and pull one out to grill, saute or bake once you want a fast, wholesome dinner! Add on a slice of cheddar cheese or hold this recipe dairy free.
Servings: 8
Predominant Substances: Mushrooms ($4.40/pound on common), brown rice ($0.95/pound on common), uncooked walnuts ($4.99/bag on common)
11. Mushroom Bourguignon
Portobello mushrooms are the right, cheaper, extra nutritious various to beef. Elevate them much more in this traditional mushroom bourguignon that tastes gradual cooked, however comes collectively rather more rapidly than its unique namesake. French freezer meals? Wholesome indulgence at its most interesting.
Servings: 4
Predominant Ingredient: Mushrooms ($4.40/pound on common)
12. Spiced Chickpea Stew With Coconut and Tumeric
This Alison Roman unique recipe went web viral in 2020 for good motive. Not solely is it wealthy with flavorful, anti-inflammatory components (hello once more, turmeric and ginger), however it calls for cheap pantry components like chickpeas and coconut milk, making it simple to make at any time. Freeze leftovers or the entire batch and indulge on this hearty stew when the craving hits.
Servings: 4-6
Predominant Substances: Chickpeas ($0.99/can on common), coconut milk ($2.29/can on common), kale ($2.79/bunch on common)
Determine which of those wholesome freezer meals you need to make? Take a look at these tricks to stretch your freezer meals ever extra.
1. Label your frozen meals.
Ever put one thing within the freezer solely to query what it was? All the time label your meals with the date that you just made it and its contents. Not solely will this aid you get dinner on the desk quicker, however it would additionally forestall you from throwing unknown contents out. Unsure how lengthy you possibly can freeze one thing for? Test this out to study extra!
2. Portion out your freezer meals.
Whether or not you’re cooking for a household of 5 or simply for your self, pre-portioning your freezer meals as wanted beforehand is usually a lifesaver. Quite than defrost all the dish, pull out the variety of serving you want!
3. Use correct storage supplies.
All the time make the most of official freezer luggage, plastic wrap, and freezer secure tupperware when freezing meals to protect high quality and freshness. Nothing is worse than going via all of the work of making a meal solely to have it succumb to freezer burn!
4. Quiet down your meals earlier than you freeze it.
By no means put sizzling meals into the freezer. Remember to permit your meals to chill down first earlier than packaging it up.
Contributor Michele Becker is a Boston based mostly author who focuses on meals, in addition to Italian journey and historical past.