6 Freezer Meals Every Busy Family Should Keep Ready
Baked ziti, chicken Alfredo bake, bean and cheese burritos, meatballs, chili and pizza dough: the backups that rescue a bad night.
A freezer meal is a gift to your future self. On the night everything goes wrong, dinner is already made.
Freezer basics
- Cool quickly. Divide hot food into shallow containers and refrigerate before freezing.
- Wrap well. Press out air and use freezer bags or airtight containers to prevent freezer burn.
- Label everything with the name, date and reheating instructions.
- Keep the freezer at 0°F. Food stays safe indefinitely at that temperature, but quality is best within 2 to 3 months for most cooked dishes.
- Thaw in the fridge overnight, never on the counter, and reheat to 165°F.
More detail in how to freeze and reheat dinners.
Baked three-cheese ziti
- 1 unbaked pan of baked ziti
Freeze unbaked, tightly covered. Thaw overnight and bake covered at 375°F for 30 minutes, then uncovered until hot.
Chicken Alfredo pasta bake
- 1 unbaked pan of chicken Alfredo bake
Freeze unbaked. Thaw overnight and bake covered, then uncovered, until the center reaches 165°F.
Bean and cheese burritos
- 2 (15-ounce) cans refried beans
- 2 cups cooked rice
- 2 cups shredded cheese
- 10 flour tortillas
Roll tightly, wrap each in foil and freeze. Unwrap and microwave 2 to 3 minutes, turning, or bake at 375°F for 30 minutes from frozen.
Baked meatballs
- 2 pounds ground beef or a beef and pork mix
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup Parmesan
- Garlic, parsley, salt
Bake at 400°F for 18 to 20 minutes to 160°F, cool and freeze on a tray, then bag. Simmer from frozen in marinara for 20 minutes.
Weeknight chili
- 1 batch chili
Freeze in flat bags or containers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight and reheat to a simmer.
Pizza dough balls
- 1 batch homemade pizza dough
Oil each ball, bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
