23 dinners that you can freeze for later

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Planning your meals and freezing them for later is a smart way to handle busy days. This approach saves you time and ensures you’ve always got a home-cooked meal ready to go. It’s perfect for those times when you’re too busy to cook every day. By picking one of these 23 recipes that freeze well, you simplify your mealtime routine and guarantee that you have a great dinner waiting for you whenever you need it.

Stuffed bell pepper casserole in a pan with a wooden spoon.
Stuffed Bell Pepper Casserole. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Loaded Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole

Loaded broccoli cauliflower casserole in a baking dish garnished with green onions.
Loaded Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This dish is a lifesaver for those extra busy days. In just 30 minutes, you can prepare this casserole with broccoli, cauliflower, cheese sauce, and bacon for a comforting meal. It also freezes well, ensuring you have a hassle-free, ready-to-reheat dinner whenever your schedule gets hectic.
Get the Recipe: Loaded Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole

Creamy Italian Sausage Soup

A pot of soup with parmesan cheese and parsley.
Creamy Italian Sausage Soup. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

For a dinner that’s both quick and comforting, try this Creamy Italian Sausage Soup. Ready in just 30 minutes, it combines Italian sausage, cream cheese, and tomatoes into a hearty soup. It’s perfect for freezing, ready to warm you up on those days when time is short and you need a filling meal on the table fast.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Italian Sausage Soup

Twice Baked Potato Casserole

Twice baked potato casserole dish with cheese, bacon and green onions.
Twice Baked Potato Casserole. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

If you’re looking for a flavorful and filling weekday dinner, try this one. This casserole combines bacon, potatoes, sour cream, and cheddar in a comfort food you can easily prepare in advance. It’s great for freezing and comes in handy on those chaotic evenings when you need a quick, heartwarming meal.
Get the Recipe: Twice Baked Potato Casserole

Garlic Butter Chicken Bites

Chicken bites with garlic butter and herbs on a plate.
Garlic Butter Chicken Bites. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Cooked right on the stovetop and ready in just 20 minutes, this recipe features juicy bite-sized pieces of chicken, simmered in a delicious buttery garlic sauce. They’re perfect for freezing, especially when you need a fast and filling dinner on hectic days.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Butter Chicken Bites

Stuffed Bell Pepper Casserole

A plate of stuffed bell pepper casserole with a spoon.
Stuffed Bell Pepper Casserole. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This Stuffed Bell Pepper Casserole is a delicious one-pot weeknight dinner idea that is easy enough for beginner cooks to make — no stuffing vegetables required. It comes together in just 45 minutes and yields a filling, flavorful family meal.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Bell Pepper Casserole

Sweet Potato and Red Pepper Soup

A bowl of sweet potato and red pepper soup with sour cream and parsley.
Sweet Potato and Red Pepper Soup. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

You’ll appreciate having this comforting soup on hand during hectic weeks. Ready in an hour, this creamy blend of sweet potatoes and red peppers takes only an hour to prepare and is perfect to cook, freeze, and enjoy later. It’s a great go-to for a warm, homemade meal waiting for you after a long day.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato and Red Pepper Soup

Spinach Chicken Bake

A serving spoon serving of creamy spinach chicken bake.
Spinach Chicken Bake. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Prepare this chicken and spinach dish, pop it in the oven, and have a warm meal you can enjoy in just 30 minutes. It’s extra convenient for those busy weeknights as this dish is easy to freeze and reheat, making sure that you can have a hearty and filling dinner in no time.
Get the Recipe: Spinach Chicken Bake

Canned Chicken Patties

Canned chicken patties on a plate with broccoli.
Canned Chicken Patties. Photo Credit: Real Balanced.

Made with simple ingredients and easy-to-follow steps, these chicken patties come together quickly and are ready in 30 minutes. Freeze them for later, and you have a quick meal perfect for sandwiches or alongside veggies during those unpredictable, busy weeks.
Get the Recipe: Canned Chicken Patties

Cheesy Beef Casserole with Cauliflower Rice and Spinach

Cheesy beef casserole with cauliflower rice and spinach being spooned out of a baking dish.
Cheesy Beef Casserole with Cauliflower Rice and Spinach. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This hearty, cheesy, and flavorful casserole is just what you need on those extra busy weeks. Ready in 30 minutes and made in just one pan for convenience, this dish combines beef, cauliflower rice, and spinach. It’s a straightforward and freezer-friendly recipe that packs in so much flavor without the hassle, making it a practical choice for busy nights when you need something filling and easy.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Beef Casserole with Cauliflower Rice and Spinach

Coconut Curry Thai Turkey Meatballs

Thai turkey meatballs in a skillet with a wooden spoon.
Coconut Curry Thai Turkey Meatballs. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This freezer-friendly dish features ground turkey, coconut aminos, canned coconut milk, curry powder, and red curry paste, ready to serve in just 30 minutes. Pop them in the freezer and reheat them for later, especially on those busy days when you need a quick, flavor-packed meal without any hassle.
Get the Recipe: Coconut Curry Thai Turkey Meatballs

Creamy Ground Beef Skillet with Cauliflower Rice

Creamy ground beef skillet with cauliflower rice garnished with fresh herbs with a fork.
Creamy Ground Beef Skillet with Cauliflower Rice. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

In just 30 minutes, you can prepare this easy one-skillet dish. Made with ground beef, shredded cheddar cheese, cauliflower rice, and mushrooms. it’s a hearty and straightforward meal that’s great to have on those hectic days. Make them the day of, freeze them for later, and enjoy a flavorful, filling, and protein-packed meal in no time.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Ground Beef Skillet with Cauliflower Rice

Green Chile Chicken with Leftover Shredded Chicken Thighs

A skillet of green chile chicken with a wooden spoon.
Green Chile Chicken with Leftover Shredded Chicken Thighs. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Turn your leftover chicken into a delicious and hearty meal in just 20 minutes. This dish combines shredded chicken thighs with green chilies in a creamy sauce, made in just one skillet for convenience. It’s perfect for freezing, so on those days when you’re swamped, you can quickly heat up a flavorful dinner.
Get the Recipe: Green Chile Chicken with Leftover Shredded Chicken Thighs

Keto Zuppa Toscana

A bowl of keto zuppa Toscana with a spoon in it.
Keto Zuppa Toscana. Photo credit: Plays Well With Butter.

This Olive Garden-inspired soup is a practical low-carb option for any busy weeknight. Featuring a creamy base with garlic, sausage, radishes, and kale, for the best medley of flavors. This soup replaces potatoes with radishes, which perfectly take on the flavor and texture of potatoes. Make a pot of this and freeze it for later. It’s a great dish to have on hand for busy weeknights or special date nights, especially when you need a warm, nourishing dinner without much effort.
Get the Recipe: Keto Zuppa Toscana

Cheesy Fajita Baked Chicken

Cheesy chicken fajita bake in a baking pan.
Cheesy Fajita Baked Chicken. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

For those extra busy weeks, try this oven-baked fajita dish. It’s super easy to make and features seasoned chicken breasts topped with cream cheese, and sweet peppers, baked until bubbling and golden. This is a great make-ahead dish, perfect for freezing and ready for you to enjoy on those nights when cooking is the last thing on your mind.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Fajita Baked Chicken

Sweet and Spicy Bacon and Turkey Chili

Sweet and spicy bacon and turkey chili garnished with avocado slices, sour cream, and cilantro.
Sweet And Spicy Bacon And Turkey Chili. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This dish features the perfect blend of sweet, savory, and spicy flavors to enjoy on a busy weeknight. Featuring ground turkey, tomatoes, celery, carrots, bacon, and more, it’s a great way to add wholesome meals to your dinner routine. This chili is also freezer-friendly. Warm it up for a weeknight dinner be amazed at how quickly this will be gone from the table in minutes.
Get the Recipe: Sweet and Spicy Bacon and Turkey Chili

Crock Pot Taco Soup

Two bowls of Crock Pot taco soup with cheese and sour cream.
Crock Pot Taco Soup. Photo credit: Plays Well With Butter.

This comforting soup is one of the best decisions you can make on those extra chaotic weeks. With only 20 minutes of prep time, including browning the beef, tossing the ingredients together, and then setting your slow cooker to cook, it is a practical and low-effort dinner that brings out the best flavors without the hassle of spending hours in the kitchen cooking. Make it the day before, pop it in the freezer for later, and enjoy a warm and delicious dinner option on any busy day.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Taco Soup

Lemon Pepper Wings

Chicken wings in a bowl with lemon and parsley.
Lemon Pepper Wings. Photo credit: Plays Well With Butter.

When you are meal planning for the week and have a night that needs a quick dinner option, these wings are a great choice. The marinade can be prepared in advance, then the wings are pulled out of the fridge and cooked in about 30 minutes. Serve it with your favorite side and have a delicious meal that’s ready when you are.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Pepper Wings

Wild Rice Mushroom Soup

A bowl of wild rice mushroom soup with a spoon.
Wild Rice Mushroom Soup. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

In this recipe, the rice cooks while you simultaneously cook the other ingredients to save you time and ensure you can prep the soup as quickly as possible. The flavors and textures from the mushrooms and wild rice pair together perfectly, even when you freeze them for later. It’s a great soup to have on hand, ready to warm you up on any busy weeknight.
Get the Recipe: Wild Rice Mushroom Soup

Sausage Curry

Sausage curry in a skillet garnished with herbs.
Sausage Curry. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This Indian-inspired dish combines sausages and a medley of vegetables in a creamy, savory curry sauce. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s a freezer-friendly dish that’s perfect for meal prepping and will save you time and effort when you need a hearty meal on the table, especially on those particularly hectic days.
Get the Recipe: Sausage Curry

Shawarma Kebabs

A plate of shawarma kebabs with greens and lemon slices.
Shawarma Kebabs. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

These kebabs are quick to make and require minimal hands-on effort. You’ll cut up the chicken, marinate the pieces, skewer, and then bake in the oven. They’re easy to cook ahead and freeze, making this a practical and quick dinner option whenever your schedule gets too chaotic.
Get the Recipe: Shawarma Kebabs

Pollo Asado

Pollo asado on a white plate with lime wedges.
Pollo Asado. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This recipe features chicken thighs that are perfectly marinated in ingredients like cilantro, onion, orange juice, and lime juice. You can cook it on the grill, on a grill pan, or in the oven, and then pop in the freezer to enjoy later. Reheat it for later and serve on its own or in tacos, burritos, bowls, or quesadillas for a filling and impressive meal for any busy evening.
Get the Recipe: Pollo Asado

Chicken Bacon Ranch Poppers

A chicken bacon ranch popper skewered by a toothpick.
Chicken Bacon Ranch Poppers. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Ready in under an hour, these chicken bacon ranch poppers are perfect for a light dinner or snack. Freeze a batch and reheat for later. You’ll have an effortless dinner option for those nights when a quick, enjoyable dinner is just what you need.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Bacon Ranch Poppers

Meatza

A pizza with meat and sauce on a plate.
Meatza. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Pizzas are the ultimate comfort food on extra chaotic weeknights. Instead of bread-based crust, this meatza uses a seasoned pork crust that cooks in just 10 minutes. It’s easy to assemble and great for freezing. Topped with pizza sauce, mozzarella, and mushrooms, it’s the perfect dinner to enjoy especially when you need something special after a long, busy day.
Get the Recipe: Meatza

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