7 Make-Ahead Freezer Meals

Brierley Horton, M.S., RD is a dietitian nutritionist, content creator and strategist, and avid mental health advocate. She is co-host and co-creator of the Happy Eating podcast, which breaks down the connection between food and mental wellness.

My favorite dinners are the ones where I put a healthy meal on the table and my daughters rush to their seats. The key phrases there are “healthy meal” and “rush to their seats”—that’s the registered dietitian in me talking.

But I’m also a working mom. And some nights, between after-school activities, kid sports, and the work emails or articles that sneak into the evening, just getting dinner on the table at all feels like an accomplishment.

That’s when I lean on my freezer. Pre-made burritos, a pasta bake, leftover soup or spaghetti sauce I stashed away for exactly these nights. I’ll round it out with a side of frozen peas or edamame (two staples in our house), a bagged salad, or some raw fruits and veggies. Dinner? Done!

In that same spirit of planning ahead, I’ve pulled together some of Cabot’s most popular make-ahead freezer meals. Each one comes with simple freezing and reheating instructions to make future you very grateful.

Pro tip from our farmers: double the recipe. That way, you’ve got dinner tonight and a stress-free meal waiting for you down the road when the calendar is bursting.

And, just to be clear—I’m not in the kitchen whipping up a homemade dinner every night. I’ve got a DoorDash subscription and a short list of local takeout favorites for the nights when even freezer meals aren’t happening.

Frozen Bean & Cheese Burritos

Packed with bell peppers, rice, black beans, zesty spices, and our mild cheddar, these eat-in-your-hand meals freeze perfectly and make a wonderful meatless meal whenever it’s convenient. Simply freeze each burrito individually, then reheat when ready in the microwave or toaster oven.

Cheddar Cheese Dumplings

These protein-packed dumplings are the perfect recipe to batch cook—leftovers can go straight into the freezer and work well for another dinner, work or school lunches, or even just a snack. Pair them with a side salad for the simplest of meals.

Southwestern Pasta Bake

This may be a pasta bake, but it delivers on protein at 38 grams (57% of your daily target) and it’s incredibly easy to freeze and serve another time. Simply prep the recipe and don’t bake it yet. Instead, cover tightly with plastic wrap and foil and place in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, remove plastic and cover with foil. Place in a cold oven and turn the oven to 350°F. Bake for 45 minutes covered and then uncover and continue baking for 30 minutes longer or until heated through.

Twice Baked Potatoes

Everyone in our house loves a baked potato—and these are fairly low-calorie so they work for lunch, or double up for dinner. Freeze each potato in foil and then inside a freezer bag. They’ll last up to 3 months in the freezer. When you’re ready to eat them: unwrap potatoes and bake at 350°F for about 1 hour. To microwave frozen potatoes, cook on high until heated through, about 2 to 3 minutes.

Gouda Mac & Cheese

This recipe is super simple to cook and freeze! Transfer the fully cooked recipe into a freezer-safe container. Before heating, thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Cover with foil; cook in 350°F preheated oven 20-25 minutes or until bubbly. Remove foil; heat 5 minutes to brown top.

Apple Oatmeal Bars

Not dinner per se, but these bars are great to keep on hand for snacks, school lunches, or even dessert. Their versatility is what earned them a spot on this list. Store them in the freezer individually wrapped for up to 1 month. Then thaw and reheat in your oven, microwave, or air fryer.

Chive, Cheddar & Green Chili Corn Mini-Quiches

These golden-puffed quiches will go quickly so we recommend at least doubling the recipe. Freeze your extras first on a baking sheet, then transfer to a zip-top freezer bag. When ready, reheat in the oven, microwave, or air fryer.