Home Recipe Round-Ups
By: Polly Conner
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Look no further for kid-friendly freezer meals that you can stock up on. These 30+ recipes are well-tested on our own families and many of our readers’ families, as well. A must-have resource for the future!
P.S. Our family faves are the Parmesan Chicken Tenders, Pepperoni Calzones, and French Dip Sandwiches below.
Table of Contents
Benefits of Freezer Cooking
- Freezer cooking saves money by buying in bulk and avoiding eating out. If you can incorporate 1-2 freezer meals a week, you can save over $2,000 in a year!
- Cooking in bulk cuts down on time in the kitchen by prepping meals with the same ingredients at one time. Browning ground beef? Chopping veggies? Making soup? Why not double or triple it and then utilize the freezer? You save time on prep and cleanup.We even created 1 Hour Freezer Prep Sessions to help you do this!
- Freezer cooking helps you eat wholesome, delicious meals at home regularly.You know what goes in your food. You can make modifications too.
- Having a stash of freezer meals reduces dinnertime stress while bringing your family together around the table. This is what freezer cooking is really all about!
5 Best Ways to Store Freezer Meals
1) Freezer-Safe Glass Dish with Air-Tight Lid
Having a freezer-safe glass baking dish or rigid container with an air-tight lid is a safe, reusable, and practical option. It not only allows for easy stacking of frozen meals, but a glass baking dish can also go into the oven when ready to bake or reheat.
You have two options for resealable freezer bags: Disposable or reusable bags.
3) Wide-Mouth Mason (canning) Jars
Most canning jars are freezer-safe and useful when freezing soups, sauces, broths, and more. We like that they are made of safe material and that you can store smaller or individual servings of your freezer food.
4) Heavy-Duty Aluminum Foil (or Plastic Wrap)
Foil does a great job of blocking moisture and air in the freezer. It’s helpful because it can be molded into almost any shape and used to wrap and store baked goods, meat, burritos, sandwiches, etc. Or, use it to wrap a baking dish that doesn’t have a lid.
Many of our readers have said they use a vacuum sealer for their freezer meals and have had great results. The benefit of preserving food this way is that, if done correctly, your meal is completely air-tight. And…as we all know by now…air is the enemy of delicious freezer meals! Vacuum sealer fans and companies swear that this method extends the life of freezer food from months to years. We haven’t tested that yet. 😉
30+ Kid-Friendly Freezer Meals
These are all kid-tested and approved meals in our homes!
Homemade Chicken Nuggets
Satisfy your fast food cravings at home with these healthier, homemade chicken nuggets. Only a few recognizable ingredients are needed. Kids and adults love this recipe!
If you have a Parmesan Chicken Tenders lover, try our easy shake-and-bake version!
Homemade Chicken Nuggets
Ham & Cheese Sliders
These are my go-to meal for groups. Kids LOVE them.
Ham and Cheese Sliders
Baked Chicken Parmesan
Serve over spaghetti or pasta with extra marinara. Yum! You can even make extras and turn them into Chicken Parmesan Sandwiches another night.
Baked Chicken Parmesan
Freezer Breakfast Burritos
Your family will love this easy, make-ahead Breakfast Burrito Recipe that goes straight from the freezer to the microwave or oven for a fast and satisfying breakfast. My family also loves breakfast burritos for dinner!
Breakfast Burritos
Pepperoni Calzones
Kids love this fun twist on pizza. You can also omit the pepperoni and just have Cheese Calzones.
Pepperoni Calzones
Ham and Cheese Crescent Rolls
Our recipe forHam and Cheese Crescent Rollsis next level. Crafted with homemade dough, each rolls enfolds savory ham and melty mozzarella, delivering akid-favorite pairing. This batch yields a generous quantity, which is a huge time saver and ideal for freezer storage.
Ham and Cheese Crescent Rolls
Chicken Parmesan Casserole
Hands down our most popular recipe on Thriving Home. Serve “as is” or over your child’s favorite pasta.
Chicken Parmesan Casserole
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Baked Oatmeal
Rachel bakes one of these most weeks and her kids mow through it. Serve warm with a little milk on top.
Check out all our Baked Oatmeal Flavors!
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Baked Oatmeal
Mac and Cheese with Sneaky Sweet Potato
Rachel’s made this baked mac and cheese for years for her little ones as a way to add in some extra veggies. The sweet potato is pureed (read: hidden) and gives it that orangey color they like. 😉
It’s clear that Rachel’s family loves mac and cheese, she has also perfected this 5-Ingredient Stovetop Mac and Cheese, as well as a 6-Ingredient Instant Pot Mac and Cheese!
Mac and Cheese with Sneaky Sweet Potato
Whole Wheat Pumpkin Pancakes
Did you know you can make a large batch of pancakes ahead and freeze them? These are a reader and kid fave!
We even wrote a recipe for Oatmeal Pancake Mix that you can keep on hand to speed up your process!
Whole Wheat Pumpkin Pancakes
Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
A great weeknight meal that all ages love. If your kids love drumsticks, be sure to try our Crispy Baked Drumsticks as well!
Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
Beefy Baked Ravioli
This fake-out lasagna is hearty and delicious! I don’t know a man, woman, or child alive who wouldn’t like this easy fake-out lasagna.
Beefy Baked Ravioli
Balsamic Shredded Beef
One friend’s child confessed, “This is better than candy!” True story. Slow cook in the crock pot and serve over mashed potatoes or polenta or on it’s own.
Balsamic Shredded Beef
Chicken Tortellini Soup
This easy Chicken Tortellini Soup is a delightful twist on chicken noodle soup that will bring some serious comfort food to your table without much fuss. It’s kid-friendly, freezer-friendly, and delicious.
Chicken Tortellini Soup
Sweet and Savory Pork Chops
A few simple ingredients (honey, soy sauce, and garlic) can bring a simple pork chop to life! To make these pork chops a sweet & savory delight, be sure to reduce the marinade at the end and drizzle it over the top of those chops. You won’t regret it.
Sweet and Savory Pork Chops
Baked Parmesan Chicken Tenders
These baked Parmesan Chicken Tenders (or our Air Fryer Chicken Tenders) produce a crispy, yet healthy version that rivals any deep-fried tender. A delicious chicken tender recipe that cooks straight from frozen!
Baked Parmesan Chicken Tenders
Pizza Bread
Made with simple ingredients, and requiring minimal effort, this is a kid favorite! It’s an easy, 20 minute meal that is also freezer friendly.
If you want to keep your pizza lovers on their toes, try English Muffin Pizzas or Pizza Soup!
Pizza Bread
Italian Sliders
Moist and packed with Italian flavor, these sliders will impress anyone from guests to the youngest eaters in your house.
Italian Sliders
Taco Meat
There are lots of ways you can serve this so kids will like it. My kids love Baked Nachos!
Taco Meat
French Dip Sandwiches
There’s no getting around the truth–this easy recipe is absolutely mouthwatering! I make this at least once a month for my family, because it’s SO easy to throw together and everyone loves it.
French Dip Sandwiches
Quick Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
Thiseasy and fast Homemade Chicken Noodle Soupmade with lean chicken and whole wheat egg noodles isflavorful, healthy, and oh-so comforting! Your home will smell amazing after making a pot of this, too.
Try our Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup, too.
Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
Cheesy Baked Pasta
Have a kid who doesn’t like meat? Try this easy baked pasta that tastes like lasagna. It’s got a bit of sneaky nutrition with whole wheat penne pasta and fresh herbs, too.
Cheesy Baked Pasta
Creamy Chicken Taquitos
These can be made in the Instant Pot or Slow Cooker, and go directly from freezer to oven to table in minutes! A family favorite among our readers.
We also have a recipe for Beef Taquitos and Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos.
Creamy Chicken Taquitos
Pork Tenderloin with Seasoned Rub
This Pork Tenderloin Rub recipe is one of our family’s top 5 favorites. I’ve been making it for YEARS, and it turns out perfectly every time.
GePork Tenderloin with Seasoned Rubt the Recipe
BBQ Pulled Pork
Can’t go wrong with pulled pork! Kids and parents alike love this freezer meal. It can be made in the Crock Pot or Instant Pot!
If your kids like shredded pork, try it with a Mexican, Cuban, or Greek flair!
BBQ Pulled Pork
Shredded BBQ Beef Sandwiches
If your kids prefer shredded beef over shredded pork, then give this freezer meal recipe a try. Make it in the Instant Pot or Slow Cooker!
Shredded BBQ Beef Sandwiches
Spinach Lasagna Rolls
Kids love the individual rolled-up lasagna noodles. Don’t worry, the sneaky spinach is tucked away inside the cheesy goodness. By the way, this one is vegetarian.
Spinach Lasagna Rolls
Breakfast Casserole Muffins
Have these on hand for hearty, grab-and-go breakfasts. They have been a reader favorite for a LONG time.
Breakfast Egg Muffins
Italian Baked Chicken Thighs
So easy and so delicious! Only 6 ingredients and most are already in your pantry!
Or try Air Fryer Italian Chicken Thighs.
Italian Baked Chicken Thighs
Mini Chicken Burgers
This chicken burger recipe is a kid and adult fave! Make ahead and freeze a batch for later or make them tonight for a delicious and healthy dinner.
Or try Air Fryer Mini Chicken Burgers.
Mini Chicken Burgers
Baked Italian Meatballs
Serve with a side of sauce for dipping, or over spaghetti, or as Meatball Subs. Delicious! Try our Gluten Free Meatballs or Air Fryer Meatballs, too.
Baked Italian Meatballs
5-Ingredient Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole
If a cheesy hash brown casserole had a baby with a traditional breakfast casserole (the kind with bread), you’d end up with this Breakfast Casserole with Hash Browns! It’s hearty, cheesy, and full of flavor from the meat and cheese. Bonus: This dish is gluten-free!
Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole
Gourmet Chicken Sandwiches
Marinate and grill up these flavorful chicken breasts for some delicious sandwiches that everyone will love.
Grilled Chicken Sandwiches
Mini Meatloaf Muffins
We have parents tell us all the time that they make these for their kids. Great way to sneak in extra veggies, too.
Mini Meatloaf Muffins
Totally Tasty Taco Bar
What kid doesn’t love a taco in some form? I mean, I guess there’s one out there somewhere but most love a crunchy or soft shell taco with some meat and cheese in it. The beauty of a taco bar is that they can customize it.
Change up Taco Night with Baked Nachos, Ground Beef Quesadillas, Beef Burritos, or Taco Pie instead.
Taco Bar
Baked Penne Pasta
This baked pasta makes a TON! Tip: Split it between two 8×8 inch casserole dishes and freeze one for later!
Baked Penne Pasta
Salmon and Sweet Potato Cakes
These salmon and sweet potato cakes are packed with nutrition and flavor! Enjoy them as a sandwich or a la carte. Don’t worry, there’s no fishy-ness in these cakes. All the different flavors and textures make them absolutely great, in my opinion.
Salmon and Sweet Potato Cakes
Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce
With a few simple ingredients, this hearty Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce couldn’t be easier or tastier! Serve over pasta, zoodles, or spaghetti squash for a delicious and healthy dinner. It’s dairy-free, gluten-free, and freezer-friendly.
We have an Instant Pot Spaghetti Sauce recipe as well!
Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce
FAQs
What’s the best way to store frozen meals?
There are several different ways to safely and effectively store meals in your freezer including freezer bags, glass containers with air-tight lids, and freezer-safe Mason jars. Some methods work better than others depending on the type of food you are freezing or even the space you have in your freezer. The best way to store and save a freezer meal is in any method that will prevent air from getting to the food. It really depends on the recipe.
What’s the best way to thaw a frozen meal?
We’ve learned all the tricks when it comes tosafely thawing your freezer meals. Here are the 3 primary ways:
1. Thaw in the refrigerator: The best and safest way to thaw a freezer meal is to put it in the refrigerator for 24-48 hours. Thawing time will depend on the size of the meal but plan on roughly 5 hours per pound.
2. Thaw frozen food in cold water: Another safe thawing option is to place the food in a leak-proof plastic bag and immerse it in cold water, changing the water out every 30 minutes. This still takes a bit of time–anywhere from 3-5 hours depending on how big your meal is, but it’s quicker than the refrigerator option.
3. Thaw frozen food in the microwave: A third option is to microwave-defrost food in a microwave-safe dish. Defrost your food using your microwave’s instructions. The reason this is the third option (our least favorite) is because this method (especially chicken) can tend to dry out food a bit. Regardless, sometimes you just need to quickly thaw something, so the microwave it is!
When it comes to getting a nutritious meal on the table most nights, these kid-friendly freezer meals are the way to go. Prep them ahead on the weekends–even double the batches while you’re at it–and you’ll save yourself time and stress at dinnertime.
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The Best Kid-Friendly Freezer Meal Resources
Although we love the recipes above, we actually spent years painstakingly developing, testing, and retesting freezer-friendly recipes for our cookbooks! You can find them at all major booksellers. Check out the reviews to see what readers are saying!
Buy the Books!
Polly Conner
As co-founder of Thriving Home, Polly’s passionate about helping busy parents get dinner on the table. With a house full of kids, dogs, and (usually) a DIY project in the works, she knows firsthand how every minute (and every dollar) counts. As a business owner, she enjoys wearing multiple hats and serves best as a project manager for Thriving Home.
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Reader Interactions
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Whitley saysWhere can I find the colored disposable pans you use? They would be perfect for color coding !
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- Rachel Tiemeyer says
Polly got them years ago at Party City.
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- Donnarae Meuer says
I looked in this group of 30 recipes only to see stromboli and it is not there!
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- Rachel Tiemeyer says
Here is our pizza stromboli freezer meal recipe, if that’s what you are looking for. I hope that helps! https://thrivinghomeblog.com/pizza-stromboli/
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- Debra Magerkurth says
Im looking for kid friendly healthy freezer meals to make for a new mom with 3 little girls.
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- Rachel Tiemeyer says
Hi Debra. Be sure to check out this our list of recipes for new moms, too. Hopefully that will help. https://thrivinghomeblog.com/101-meals-to-take-to-new-moms/
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- Scarlet says
I love all these ideas! Freezer meals are so nice to have on hand for when you know you will be out of town or gifting to friends who are going through something tough.
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- Ali Southerland says
Planning next month’s menu, and I can not wait to make that brownie baked oatmeal. Looks so good!
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- Nicole says
This is seriously the best and most helpful recipe page I have ever found! Thank you so very much! I am a very busy mommy with kids who are 7, 3, 2, and due in May. It can be really hard to find just the right recipes to fit each of their tastes, my busy schedule, and my husband’s picky taste too! This is PERFECT! Now I can get started freezing some meals for when the baby arrives too!
**Can I ask you: Can these glass containers go straight from the freezer to the oven? Thank you so much for your time!!
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- Polly says
It’s not recommended to place a dish from the freezer into a hot oven. The dramatic temperature change can cause the glass to crack or shatter. One way around this is to place the dish in the oven BEFORE preheating and letting it warm up with the oven as it comes to temperature. I’ve done this a few times!
The ideal way to cook most of these meals is to let them thaw in the fridge for 24-48 hours before cooking but I also know that not everyone is thinking that far in advance. 🙂
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- Shawn says
These all sound so good.. Unfortunately many have cheese, my picky eater won’t eat most cheesy foods there are a couple i will try though… Thank you!
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- Tara says
I began following your blog when I was pregnant with my second child and decided I’d stock up on freezer meals for maternity leave/back-to-work (which, incidentally, was the BEST. IDEA. EVER.) That baby boy is now 2, and I’d wager about half of what makes it to my table each week is pulled from your blog – so thanks! Got (and love!) your cookbook and will host my first freezer party tomorrow night (eek, there’ll be 8 of us!).
Ok, done with sharing 😉 Question time – I’m interested in sharing other freezer meal ideas at the party and the Easy Stromboli sounds yum. But the partner blog’s freezer instructions aren’t listed/clear. Can you help? How best to thaw, and the cook time? Thanks!Reply
- Rachel says
Hi Tara. Thanks for your comment and kind words! About the stromboli…I’m sure Karrie over at Happy Money Saver can give you her exact instructions, since it was her recipe. But, from my experience from making stromboli, just make it all the way up until the baking step. Do not bake, but instead wrap tightly in plastic wrap and foil and freeze. When ready to eat, thaw completely in the fridge and bake according to instructions. I’ve tried baking from frozen and it took an eternity and was hard to get done in the middle. Again, I would double check with Karri, though.
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- Kim Noble says
Hi, I have a daycare of 98 pre school children…. Could you help me figure out the equivalent measurements/quaintly of the ingredients used in your freezer meals? I use the NC CACFP standards.
Thank you for your time,
Kim NobleReply
- Rachel says
Hi Kim. What a smart idea to make freezer meals for your daycare! To figure out the amounts, look at the servings for each recipe. Divide 98 by the # of servings in that recipe. That will tell you how many batches of the recipe to make. For instance, if a recipe makes 6 servings, then you would need to make about 16 batches. That means just multiply all the ingredients in that recipe by 16 to make enough for all 98 kids. Does that help?
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- Chris says
Great ideas, especially for hectic weeks!!!
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- Lisa S. says
Thanks for all the freezer meal ideas, recipes, how to’s on your blog! I’m loving your multi colored aluminum pans. Got a link for where to pick those up? Thanks so much!
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- Polly says
I got the disposable pans at Party City. Make sure to check out the freezer containers that we both use and love here!
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- Lisa S. says
Thank You!!
- Steve says
Hey Polly. Awesome article. My sister’s fridge broke down and her kids have gone crazy over it, so I somewhat understand how you feel hehe. And the Frigidaire Gallery® 2-in-1 Freezer/Refrigerator actually fits the bill. I’ll be sure to show her this article so she can save money and eat more healthy. Thanks!
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- Liz says
“…the unrest” made me LOL!
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- christina says
Hi! Thanks for all the freezer kid- friendly ideas! I was wondering about your freezer. Does the unit get warm on the outside? We are shopping for a freezer and I would like to put a freezer in our walk-in pantry off the kitchen. I have heard others say that freezers give off heat and they would be best in the basem*nt or garage. Where do you keep your freezer & would you agree it’s best away from items in a pantry?
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