Dinner at the Zoo

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35 Easy Freezer Meal Recipes

Make meal time easier with 35 easy freezer meal recipes like cheese enchiladas, lasagna roll ups and cheeseburger casserole.

Stock your freezer with delectable dishes like lasagna, chili, pastas, casseroles and more, then simply thaw and reheat for an instant meal. Freezer meals are perfect for those days when you’re just too busy to cook!

A group of freezer meal recipes like lasagna roll ups, Italian meatballs and ropa vieja.

Weekdays can be crazy busy.  There are daily errands to run, kids’ sports and activities, appointments to make, and about the time you want to sit and relax for a moment you remember – it’s dinner time!

We love easy freezer meal recipes in our home. You can spend some time prepping a week’s worth of meals and toss them in the freezer. There are so many different meals that freeze beautifully and taste just as good as when you’ve cooked them fresh!

It’s not just dinner that you can freeze. There are also options for breakfast and lunch freezer meals to make busy days go a little smoother.

Here are 35 easy freezer meal recipes you can make ahead. You won’t have to worry about what to eat when you are ready to relax!

35 Easy Freezer Meal Recipes

A group of freezer meal recipes like breakfast burritos, baked ziti and chile verde.
Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf
This bacon wrapped meatloaf is ground beef mixed with breadcrumbs and seasonings, then covered in bacon slices and baked until golden brown. A unique twist on the classic recipe that will earn you rave reviews!
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A bacon wrapped meatloaf with a slice out of it, on a serving platter.
Baked Rigatoni Pasta
This baked rigatoni recipe is pasta tossed in a flavorful meat sauce, then topped with plenty of cheese and baked until golden brown. A super easy dinner option that's great for feeding a crowd!
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A spoon serving up a portion of baked rigatoni pasta.
Beef Chili
This beef chili is a blend of meat, tomatoes, spices and beans, all simmered together to make a delicious and hearty meal. An easy classic chili recipe that's quick to make and always gets rave reviews!
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A bowl of beef chili topped with cheese, sour cream and green onions.
Cheeseburger Casserole
This cheeseburger casserole is ground beef, bacon, macaroni and plenty of cheese, all baked together to perfection. A quick and easy dinner option that's always a hit with both kids and adults!
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Cheeseburger casserole with ground beef and pasta, topped with melted cheese, bacon and tomatoes.
Pork Carnitas Recipe
This recipe for pork carnitas (Mexican Pulled Pork) is tender meat slow cooked with citrus and spices, then broiled to crispy perfection. It’s a perfect taco filling and tastes even better if it’s made a day in advance. 
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A skillet of pork carnitas served with fresh salsa.
Breakfast Burrito
This breakfast burrito recipe is loaded with eggs, sausage, beans, cheese and pico de gallo, all wrapped up in a warm flour tortilla. A quick and easy breakfast option that takes just minutes to put together.
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A cross section of a breakfast burrito filled with eggs, sausage, beans and cheese.
Cheese Enchiladas
This recipe for cheese enchiladas is rolled flour tortillas filled with cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses, then topped with red sauce and more cheese and baked to golden brown perfection.
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A dish of cheese enchiladas topped with olives and green onions.
Baked Ziti
This baked ziti recipe is layers of pasta with meat sauce and three types of cheese, all cooked together to golden brown perfection. A hearty dinner option that's perfect for feeding a crowd!
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A serving of baked ziti with meat sauce and ricotta cheese.
Chile Verde
This chile verde is chunks of pork in a green tomatillo sauce, all simmered together until the meat is fall-apart tender. A Mexican classic that's packed with flavor and makes for a unique and unexpected dinner option.
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A pot of chile verde topped with cilantro and lime wedges.
Chipotle Barbacoa
This Chipotle barbacoa is beef that is slow cooked in a smoky, savory sauce until it is fall-apart tender. A copy of the restaurant favorite that has tons of flavor and is perfect for burritos, tacos, nachos and other Mexican offerings.
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A platter of Chipotle barbacoa served with rice, beans and salsa.

Can I put a frozen casserole in the oven?

Yes, you can cook a casserole from frozen. The casserole will require a longer cooking time, typically 30 minutes longer than what the recipe specifies. You can tell if your casserole is heated through by inserting a thermometer into the center of the casserole. The thermometer will register 160 degrees F when it’s ready to serve.

A group of images of recipes to reheat and serve like lasagna roll ups, pulled pork and million dollar spaghetti casserole.
Cincinnati Chili
This Cincinnati chili recipe features a hearty meat sauce that is flavored with tomatoes and spices, then simmered to perfection. Serve the chili in the classic style over spaghetti with a variety of toppings, then watch the rave reviews come in!
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Cincinnati chili served over spaghetti with cheese and onions.
Ham Casserole
This ham casserole is egg noodles, broccoli and diced ham in a creamy sauce, all topped with cheese and baked to golden brown perfection. A comfort food classic that's the perfect way to use up leftover ham!
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Ham casserole with egg noodles and broccoli, topped with melted cheese.
Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole
This million dollar spaghetti casserole is tender pasta tossed in a hearty meat sauce, then layered with four types of cheese and baked to golden brown perfection. A comfort food classic that's perfect for feeding a crowd!
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A slice of million dollar spaghetti topped with melted cheese.
Lasagna Roll Ups
These lasagna roll ups are lasagna noodles that are topped with ricotta cheese and meat sauce, then rolled up and baked to golden brown perfection. A unique and elegant way to serve lasagna!
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Lasagna roll ups with meat sauce, served with a side of green beans.
Italian Meatballs
The best Italian meatballs with a blend of two types of meat and the perfect amount of herbs and spices. This recipe produces tender and juicy meatballs each and every time!
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A bowl of Italian meatballs in tomato sauce.
Instant Pot Short Ribs
These Instant Pot short ribs are flavorful beef ribs cooked with vegetables and seasonings until tender. The fastest and easiest way to prepare succulent short ribs that always get rave reviews!
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A bowl of Instant Pot short ribs in sauce with carrots and green beans.
Penne alla Vodka
This penne alla vodka is tender penne pasta tossed in a rich and delicious tomato, vodka and cream sauce. Add a sprinkling of parmesan cheese and you’ll have a restaurant quality meal in the comfort of your own home.
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A bowl of penne alla vodka pasta topped with parmesan cheese, parsley and red pepper flakes.
Manicotti Recipe
This manicotti recipe is Italian sausage with three kinds of cheese, stuffed into pasta then covered with sauce and baked to perfection. A comfort food classic that's great for feeding a large crowd!
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A dish of baked manicotti pasta topped with melted cheese and parsley.
Instant Pot Pulled Pork
This Instant Pot pulled pork is chunks of meat coated in spices, then pressure cooked to tender and juicy perfection and served with BBQ sauce. An easy way to get that classic pulled pork flavor with minimal effort!
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Instant Pot pulled pork on a sandwich with a side of fries and coleslaw.
Pasta al Forno
This Pasta al Forno is rigatoni pasta tossed in a savory meat sauce, then topped with plenty of cheese and baked to perfection. A hearty main course option that's perfect for feeding a large group.
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A spoon serving up a portion of Pasta al Forno with rigatoni and sausage.

How do you freeze homemade chili?

To freeze chili, the first thing you need to do is cool the chili, either in the refrigerator or by immersing the bottom of the chili pot in a container of ice. Then the chili can be packaged into freezer safe containers or resealable bags. If you pour the chili into resealable bags, remove the air, seal the bags and lay them flat in the freezer. To freeze in a container, simply seal the container and place in the freezer.

A group of images of meals that can be reheated like turkey casserole and taco lasagna.
Picadillo
This picadillo is a blend of ground beef, olives and vegetables, all simmered together with spices and tomato sauce. A classic dish that takes just minutes to put together and always gets rave reviews!
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A pan of picadillo with a serving spoon in it.
Taco Soup
This taco soup is a hearty blend of ground beef, two types of beans, vegetables and seasonings, all simmered to perfection. An easy dinner option that’s kid friendly and quick to make!
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A bowl of taco soup topped with tortilla strips, sour cream, cheese and avocado.
Ropa Vieja
This ropa vieja recipe is a traditional dish of beef roast that's simmered with tomatoes and seasonings until tender, then shredded and served with olives. A classic dinner that always gets rave reviews!
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A plate of ropa vieja served with rice and black beans.
Taco Lasagna
This taco lasagna is layers of flour tortillas, melted cheese, beans, veggies and ground beef, all baked together until golden brown. The ultimate Mexican casserole that is always a big hit with both kids and adults!
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A slice of taco lasagna topped with salsa, sour cream and cilantro.
Turkey Chili
This turkey chili is a blend of ground turkey, tomatoes, spices and beans, all simmered together to make a delicious and hearty meal. A lighter version of the classic chili that's easy to make and always gets rave reviews!
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A pot of turkey chili served with cornbread.
Vegetable Lasagna
This vegetable lasagna is layers of noodles, veggies, marinara sauce and three different kinds of cheese, all baked to golden brown perfection. A vegetarian main course option that's perfect for feeding a crowd.
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A slice of vegetable lasagna topped with melted cheese and parsley.
Texas Chili
This Texas chili is chunks of beef that are slow simmered with a variety of spices to make a rich and hearty stew. A no bean chili that's packed with flavor and is always a hit with family and friends.
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A bowl of Texas chili topped with cheese and sour cream.
Classic Stuffed Shells
These stuffed shells are filled with three types of cheese, then covered in marinara sauce and more cheese and baked to golden brown perfection. A comfort food classic that's great for feeding a crowd!
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A spoon holding up stuffed shells filled with cheese.
Slow Cooker Beef Stew
This slow cooker beef stew is loaded with chunks of tender beef, potatoes, carrots and peas. It’s a hearty and comforting one pot meal where the crock pot does all of the work!
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A bowl of slow cooker beef stew with meat, carrots, potatoes and peas.
Turkey Casserole
This turkey casserole is made with diced leftover turkey, egg noodles and vegetables, all tossed in a creamy cheesy sauce and baked to perfection. A quick and easy dinner that's perfect for repurposing holiday leftovers!
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A spoon serving up a portion of cheesy turkey casserole.

How long will freezer meal recipes last in the freezer?

Generally speaking, most freezer meals will stay fresh for 2-3 months. After that time, you may experience a decline in quality. Be sure to label your freezer meals with the date they were cooked so that you know which ones to use first!

A collection of easy freezer meal recipes like chicken meatballs, beef enchiladas and chicken tinga.
Chicken Tinga
This chicken tinga is a classic dish made with shredded chicken that's simmered in a smoky and savory sauce. A quick and easy dinner option that can be made into tacos, burritos, nachos and more!
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Chicken tinga tacos with lettuce and pico de gallo.
Chicken Meatballs
The best chicken meatballs baked until golden brown and flavored with garlic, herbs and spices. These meatballs are great served as an appetizer, or over a big plate of spaghetti.
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Chicken meatballs in a skillet of garlic butter.
Baked Oatmeal
This recipe for baked oatmeal is a blend of oats with milk, sweetener, eggs and fresh berries, all baked together to golden brown perfection. Baked oatmeal is perfect for serving a brunch crowd and is great for meal prep and grab and go breakfasts.
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A dish of baked oatmeal with blueberries and raspberries on top.
Beef Enchiladas
This beef enchiladas recipe is seasoned ground beef wrapped in flour tortillas and topped with red enchilada sauce and cheese, then baked to perfection. The absolute best enchiladas you'll ever eat!
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A plate of beef enchiladas topped with sour cream, olives and green onions.
Breakfast Casserole with Bacon
This breakfast casserole with bacon is loaded with eggs, bacon, potato tots and cheese, and is topped with tomatoes, avocado and herbs.
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This breakfast casserole with bacon is a hearty meal that's full of eggs, cheese and potatoes. It's perfect for a holiday breakfast!

Save yourself some time and effort by making some of these delicious freezer meals. They will be hot, delicious and ready to eat whenever you want!

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    Comments

    1. eden says

      its just my husband and i, and im the only one who cooks. im so thankful for these freezer ideas. i cook everyday fir every meal we eat. thank you so much for these ideas!

      Reply

    3. Terri Beavers says

      5 stars
      I keep saying that I’m going to make up some freezer meals and now that I have so many choices I need to get busy. I don’t think there is one on here I wouldn’t like.

      Reply

    4. Debra Hawkins says

      I need this right now! I have a huge order of chicken coming in next week and I need to know what to do with it!

      Reply

    5. Carol Cassara says

      5 stars
      So much recipes to choose from! It’s always nice to make meals ahead so that you can go through the week without having to worry about time spent preparing meals!

      Reply

    6. Gabriella says

      These are so perfect for me as a college student! I hardly ever have time to cook, but I definitely could take one Saturday and make meals for the future!

      Reply

    7. Ricci says

      Thanks for all of these yummy freezer meal recipes!! I am always on the hunt for a new recipe and seem like great ones!

      Reply

    9. Jenn @ EngineerMommy says

      Freezer meals are the best. I love the convenience of preparing something and freezing it for another day. I have a few options in my freezer right now.

      Reply

    10. Our Family World says

      5 stars
      This post is a gold mine of recipes! Freezer meals are far better than eating out or getting boxed meals at the grocery store. I like to prepare our food myself and keeping some of them ready in the freezer would give me that assurance that my family will have something hearty and healthy to eat during those times when I am out on travel.

      Reply

    11. Chubskulit Rose says

      4 stars
      Your rolled up lasagna inspired me to make it today. My husband will be happy, he has been craving lasagna for days.

      Reply

    12. Kelly Reci says

      I don’t freeze my meals nearly enough and I know it could save us a TON in groceries! Definitely need to start doing that from now on and some of these meals are so easy to make (and budget-friendly, too!)

      Reply

    13. Angie says

      I seriously need to get on the meal prep bandwagon-I have no time to cook, and it’s going to get worse when I go back to work. These freezer meals are perfect!

      Reply

    14. Alison Rost says

      5 stars
      I don’t think meal planning is going to be successful without these types of recipes! I really appreciate them and I have a few things here that I want to try as soon as possible!

      Reply

    15. valmg @ Mom Knows It All says

      I love freezer meals, they can save so much time and energy and money. This list has a few choices that I think I’d like to try.

      Reply

    16. Karen Morse says

      5 stars
      There are days wherein my husband and I are simply too busy to deal with making dinner at home! I’m so thankful for posts like this with lists of recipes!

      Reply

    17. Amber Myers says

      5 stars
      Yum, I must try this out! I hate to cook, so maybe if I planned ahead and had meals ready to go, I wouldn’t be so cranky about it. Everything here looks tasty!

      Reply

    18. candy says

      I do freezer meals all the time and it does save time and money. Especially on those days when we are in a hurry or to tired to cook. Stops us from eating out and spending even more money. Something here for everyone to enjoy.

      Reply

    19. Alli Smith says

      It would be nice to have a freezer full of meals that I only have to heat up on super busy days. Your Beef and Barley soup looks delicious. I need to make it and freeze the leftovers.

      Reply

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