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 easy 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.
A bacon wrapped meatloaf with a slice out of it, on a serving platter.

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 spoon serving up a portion of baked rigatoni pasta.

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 bowl of beef chili topped with cheese, sour cream and green onions.

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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Cheeseburger casserole with ground beef and pasta, topped with melted cheese, bacon and tomatoes.

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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A skillet of pork carnitas served with fresh salsa.

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 cross section of a breakfast burrito filled with eggs, sausage, beans and cheese.

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 dish of cheese enchiladas topped with olives and green onions.

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 serving of baked ziti with meat sauce and ricotta cheese.

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 pot of chile verde topped with cilantro and lime wedges.

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 platter of Chipotle barbacoa served with rice, beans and salsa.

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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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 served over spaghetti with cheese and onions.

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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Ham casserole with egg noodles and broccoli, topped with melted cheese.

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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A slice of million dollar spaghetti 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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Lasagna roll ups with meat sauce, served with a side of green beans.

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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A bowl of Italian meatballs in tomato sauce.

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 Instant Pot short ribs in sauce with carrots and green beans.

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 penne alla vodka pasta topped with parmesan cheese, parsley and red pepper flakes.

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 dish of baked manicotti pasta topped with melted cheese and parsley.

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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Instant Pot pulled pork on a sandwich with a side of fries and coleslaw.

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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A spoon serving up a portion of Pasta al Forno with rigatoni and sausage.

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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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.
A pan of picadillo with a serving spoon in it.

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 bowl of taco soup topped with tortilla strips, sour cream, cheese and avocado.

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 plate of ropa vieja served with rice and black beans.

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 slice of taco lasagna topped with salsa, sour cream and cilantro.

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 pot of turkey chili served with cornbread.

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 slice of vegetable lasagna topped with melted cheese and parsley.

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 bowl of Texas chili topped with cheese and sour cream.

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 spoon holding up stuffed shells filled with cheese.

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 bowl of slow cooker beef stew with meat, carrots, potatoes and peas.

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 spoon serving up a portion of cheesy turkey casserole.

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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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 tacos with lettuce and pico de gallo.

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 meatballs in a skillet of garlic butter.

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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A dish of baked oatmeal with blueberries and raspberries on top.

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 plate of beef enchiladas topped with sour cream, olives and green onions.

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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This breakfast casserole with bacon is a hearty meal that's full of eggs, cheese and potatoes. It's perfect for a holiday breakfast!

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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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. 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!

  2. 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.

  3. 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!

  4. 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!

  5. 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!

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

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

  9. 4 stars
    Your rolled up lasagna inspired me to make it today. My husband will be happy, he has been craving lasagna for days.

  10. 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!)

  11. 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!

  12. 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!

  13. 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.

  14. 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!

  15. 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!

  16. 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.

  17. 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.