15 Best Freezer Meals to Prep Before Your New Baby Arrives
Simply defrost and reheat to keep yourself nourished.
Congrats, your new bundle of joy is on the way! If this is your first baby, you might be wondering what to expect in the first few days, weeks, and months. If this isn’t your first, you already know: It’s a lot to say the least. As that final nesting stage approaches, don’t forget to take care of yourself, too. Make some freezer meals before the baby arrives so you always have something nourishing to eat.
Your friends might set up a meal train, or maybe you’re lucky to have a family member stay with you to help. But there may also be times that you have to fend for yourself, and you’ll be happy to have these meals to simply defrost and reheat. And take a cue from a mother in the know. Ree Drummond uses disposable pans and zip-top bags for freezer cooking. Bonus: “If you’re not in the mood to wash anything, you can just toss them once the food is gone.” Smart!
You’ll find cozy, freezer-friendly soups that are a cinch to reheat, along with lots of casserole recipes that are a meal all in one. None are overly complicated to make, either. You have enough to deal with as is! Go ahead and use rotisserie chicken or other store-bought hacks to make life easier. Then, before you stash it, label everything with what it is and when you made it. Freezer food usually lasts about three months when properly stored, so you’ll at least have a few meals on hand during the challenging (but rewarding!) time.
Slow-Cooker Bolognese
Talk about way less work. Just let your slow cooker do all the work to create this hearty meat sauce. Plus, this recipe makes an extra big batch, so you’ll have enough for up to two pounds of pasta.
Get Ree’s Slow-Cooker Bolognese recipe.
Chicken Spaghetti
This is a Drummond family favorite that Ree’s kids consider pure comfort food. It’s full of chicken, pasta, cheese, and even veggies all in one pan. You can totally skip part of the prep and use rotisserie chicken, too.
Get Ree’s Chicken Spaghetti recipe.
Hamburger Soup
Not only is this soup hearty and comforting, but the recipe is also very forgiving. So, you can use what’s available in your fridge in terms of veggies and ground meat, so you don’t have to take an extra trip to the store.
Get Ree's Hamburger Soup recipe.
Chicken Pot Pie
Here’s Ree’s secret to making this in advance: “I freeze it in the unbaked state, then stick it in the oven straight out of the freezer.” Oh, and use store-bought pie dough for easier prep.
Get Ree’s Chicken Pot Pie recipe.
Sour Cream Noodle Bake
Ree says this retro classic is “luscious and ooey gooey.” It’s filled with cheese, beef, and pasta. The trick is to cook the pasta until just al dente so it doesn’t get mushy when it’s reheated.
Get Ree’s Sour Cream Noodle Bake recipe.
Slow Cooker Taco Soup
Thanks to the slow cooker, your time is cut down to just 20 minutes of prep. This cozy soup is loaded with seasoned ground beef, beans, corn, diced tomatoes, and just the right amount of spice to make it Tex-Mex.
Get Ree’s Slow Cooker Taco Soup recipe.
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
Think beyond sandwiches here! There are at least 30 ways to use pulled pork mentioned on this site, so it’s worth making a big batch, packing it with the juices, and freezing for future meals.
Get the Slow Cooker Pulled Pork recipe.
Beef-and-Bean Chili
Almost every chili recipe will be freezer friendly, thankfully. They are so hearty and comforting that you’ll thank yourself for making a batch in advance. Then just reheat and top ‘til your heart’s content.
Get Ree’s Beef-and-Bean Chili recipe.
Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Do yourself a favor and make this casserole version that skips the rolling in favor of layering like lasagna instead. Use rotisserie chicken and canned enchilada sauce for even easier prep.
Get Ree’s Chicken Enchilada Casserole recipe.
7-Can Soup
This soup comes together in just 30 minutes. And as the name suggests, it is made almost entirely out of cans of beans, chili, and veggies from your pantry. It only takes five minutes to throw together.
Get Ree's 7-Can Soup recipe.
Sheet Pan Biscuit Breakfast Sandwiches
Don’t forget about breakfast! You can assemble and bake these all on a sheet pan. Then wrap them individually and stash them in the freezer. Just pop one in the microwave to reheat.
Baked Spaghetti
Think of this as lasagna but way easier to assemble because you just toss everything in a pan instead of layering. Oh, and use jarred marinara sauce and it will come together in no time.
Get Ree’s Baked Spaghetti recipe.
Sloppy Joes
Babies are messy, so why can’t dinner be, too? These will take you back to your own childhood in the best way possible. Freeze in zip-top bags to save space. Then reheat low and slow on the stove.
Get Ree’s Sloppy Joes recipe.
Lentil Soup
Lentil soup is one of those miracle meals that’s both comforting and super healthy at the same time. You don't have to presoak the lentils, and it freezes and reheats beautifully. Just add a little water if it's too thick.
Get Ree's Lentil Soup recipe.
Hamburger Casserole
Another beefy, cheesy casserole, comin’ your way! The secret to freezing this is to undercook the pasta slightly and wait to put on the crispy onion topping until you’re ready to reheat.
Get Ree’s Hamburger Casserole recipe.
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