Cooking is hard, and it's easy to get caught up in eating microwave dinners (especially the ones from Trader Joe's) or spending money on fast food every day. But that can get expensive and unhealthy. A much better option is to make large batches of your favorite foods to freeze.
Freezing your dinners is the perfect path to easy and quick meals. Plus, it's meal prep friendly. Deciding what to freeze can be hard, which is why I'm here to help you discover some freezer-friendly recipes.
#SpoonTip: Don't freeze foods with high water content, like lettuce.
1. Pizza Rolls
Forget Totino's pizza rolls. This DIY version takes pizza rolls to a whole new level by incorporating fresh Italian sausage and making the dough from scratch.
2. Thai-Style Vegetable Curry
Just throw in whatever vegetables you have in the fridge to make this delicious curry, perfect for cold weather.
3. Chicken Teriyaki
Skip the takeout and make this six-ingredient recipe instead.
4. Italian Meatballs
Making meatballs and freezing them is a smart and quick way to add some protein to any pasta or sandwich (they're also great eaten solo).
5. Vegetarian Sweet Potato Lentil Soup
Did I mention that this soup recipe is a one-pot recipe and can also be made in a slow cooker?
6. Vegan Carrot Soup
This carrot and turmeric soup is perfect for when you're looking for something hearty and healthy to eat.
7. Tomato, Mushroom and Spinach Egg White Bites
Muffin pans aren't just for making sweet desserts — they can also help you make these filling tomato, mushroom, and spinach egg white bites for breakfast.
8. Ham and Cheddar Hot Pockets
Ham and cheddar is hands down one of the best types of Hot Pockets. And, thanks to store-bought pizza dough, you can make them yourself to freeze for later.
9. Red Quinoa with Edamame
For the freezer version of this recipe, replace cucumber with zucchini and briefly cook vegetables after adding to quinoa.
10. Beef Stew
Beef stew is the ultimate comfort food for those dreary, cold days when you're not feeling chicken noodle soup anymore.
11. Empanadas
There are so many different combinations to fill these flakey, warm crusts with, you'll never tire of eating empanadas.
12. Veggie Frittata
Freezing a frittata ahead of time means you don't have to just eat cereal on weekdays anymore.
13. Baked Falafel
Top your power bowls or salads with these gluten-free, baked falafel.
14. Gyoza (Japanese-Style Potstickers)
Making gyoza might not be as easy as running to get potstickers from Costco, but the payoff is defitely worth it.
15. Raspberry Breakfast Popsicles
Because smoothies for breakfast are overrated, and you can't carry them on a stick.
16. Homemade Pizza
Stop ordering delivery and just make the pizza yourself.
17. Spinach, Turkey Sausage, and Egg Breakfast Muffin
Start your day with this protein-packed breakfast, and get ready to take over the world (or at least get to class).
18. Shrimp and Red Pepper Sauce
Just defrost this sauce and pour it over cooked pasta, spaghetti squash, or bread, and you've got dinner.
19. Winter Chicken Stew
Even though it's called winter stew, you'll crave it every season, so it keep it in the freezer for those lazy days.