A month before your baby arrives, bribe a friend into helping you stock your freezer with meals.
I promise — your future self will thank you when you’re operating on three hours of sleep and the rest of your family is starving.
Pro-tip: Download Ibotta before you start shopping for your big freezer-meal making party. Scan or take a picture of your grocery receipts to get cash rebates via PayPal. Find out more about how Ibotta works.
1. Slow Cooker Lemon Garlic Chicken Thighs Recipe
Every dish should be as easy as dumping the contents of a frozen bag into a Crock-Pot. This one certainly is!
Get the recipe here.
2. Pizza Meatloaf Cups Recipe
via Naturally Curvy
This is a variation on meatloaf that puts pizza in the driver’s seat.
Plus, who can resist miniature food?
Get the recipe here.
3. Make-Ahead Homemade Chicken Taquitos
Substitute Monterey Jack cheese for the pepper jack cheese if you’re planning to breastfeed and don’t want the spice.
Get the recipe here.
4. Thai Peanut Chicken Recipe
via Smart Nutrition
This is an Instant Pot freezer meal. Need I say more?
Get the recipe here.
5. Make-Ahead Freezer Chicken Enchiladas
via Damn Delicious
I love how I can make a few pans of this at once and throw them into the freezer.
Get the recipe here.
RELATED: 16 Easy (and Healthy) Breakfast Ideas for Back-to-School
6. Slow Cooker Cranberry Pork Roast Recipe
Four ingredients go into a Ziploc bag and then into your freezer until it’s time to put it in the Crock-Pot. #win
Get the recipe here.
7. Make-Ahead Baked Ziti Recipe
via Simplemost
I promise comfort food will be your priority after you have a baby. Baked ziti helps.
Get the recipe here.
8. Easy Make-Ahead Cheeseburger Casserole
You may want to cut the mushrooms and double the bacon if you’re feeding small and picky eaters.
Get the recipe here.
9. 15-Minute Bacon, Egg & Cheese Breakfast Pizzas Recipe
via Busy Budgeter
Breakfast for dinner will be a nice change of pace.
And you’ll appreciate having a few “grab and go” foods in your freezer.
Get the recipe here.
10. Make-Ahead Crock-Pot Chicken Tikka Masala
via The Seasoned Mom
Save this for the nights you need a break from pasta.
Get the recipe here.
11. Make-Ahead Sloppy Joes Recipe
This one’s for the nights you need a break from arguing with your kids over what’s for dinner.
Get the recipe here.
12. No-Boil Cheese Manicotti Recipe
via Skinny Taste
Skeptics, I get it. Not boiling noodles before baking them?! But it works. Try it out and tell me if I’m wrong.
Get the recipe here.
13. Homemade Frozen Pizza Recipe
via The Kitchen
Basically, homemade frozen pizza is your protection against a last-minute Papa Murphy’s splurge.
Get the recipe here.
(Or find out all the secrets to saving at Papa Murphy’s and splurge away!)
14. Make-Ahead Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork
via Dash of Evans
Use this shredded pork to make carnitas; add BBQ sauce for sandwiches or teriyaki sauce for a change of pace.
Get the recipe here.
15. Mexican Stuffed Shells Recipe
Because turning anything into a taco just makes everyone feel better.
Get the recipe here.
16. Freezer-to-Crock-Pot Italian Wedding Soup Recipe
via New Leaf Wellness
Add this one to the comfort food column and substitute browned hamburger for the meatballs if you want!
Get the recipe here.
17. Make-Ahead Homemade Ham and Cheese Pockets
via Money Saving Mom
Hot pockets, but better because you actually know what’s in them.
Get the recipe here.
18. Cilantro Lime Chicken Tacos Recipe
Tacos + pesto + asiago cheese = the kind of trouble I look for.
Get the recipe here.
19. Make-Ahead Sweet Barbequed Pork Chops
via Taste of Home
Add rice and steamed veggies on the side and then pat yourself on the back for making a fancy meal even though you can barely find time for a shower.
Get the recipe here.
20. Crock-Pot Chicken & Dumplings Recipe
via Simply Recipes
Wait to add the milk and biscuits until you take this out of the freezer to cook it.
Get the recipe here.
21. Korean Beef and Rice Recipe
via Damn Delicious
Most people who have tried Korean Bulgogi rave about it. This dish is a nice first step if you’re a newbie to Korean food.
Get the recipe here.
22. Make-Ahead Black Bean Taco Soup
via Recipes Bnb
Soups are the varsity players in the freezer meal game because they’re easy to pre-cook and easier to serve.
Get the recipe here.
23. Healthy One-Pot Beef Stroganoff Recipe
Substitute Greek Yogurt if someone in your family doesn’t like sour cream.
Or just don’t tell them what’s in it — your call.
Get the recipe here.
UP NEXT: 20 Make-Ahead Freezer Dinners for Busy Moms
