90 Cheap and Healthy Freezer Meal Recipes That Save Time and Money (2024)

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90 Cheap and Healthy Freezer Meal Recipes That Save Time and Money (14)

Curious about freezer meals? You’re in luck! Today’s post is all about cheap and healthy freezer meal recipes that will make your busy life so much easier. Freezer meals are ideal for anyone who’s juggling a million different things. They take the guesswork out of meal time, allowing you to feel prepared and not get overwhelmed. You’ll save time and money, and can rest assured your family’s getting healthy home cooked meals throughout the week. Whether you’re looking for vegetarian dishes, meaty meals, low carb dinners or gluten free eats, take a look at our round up of healthy freezer meal recipes!

What are Freezer Meals?

Freezer meal cooking is planning and prepping meals that you can put in the freezer to be eaten later. This saves you from having to prep and cook everything the day or night of. You can batch make freezer meals on the weekend, or you can double or triple a recipe you’re using and freeze the leftover portions for another night. Not only do freezer meals save you time, they also save you money since you’ll be buying food in bulk. Plus, when you have a stash of meals in the freezer, you’re less likely to spend money on take out!

15 Kid-Friendly Healthy Freezer Meal Recipes

1. Freezer Breakfast Burritos | Thriving Home Blog
2. Oven Baked Chicken Strips | Happy Money Saver
3. Whole Wheat Waffles | A Mind Full Mom
4. Blueberry French Toast Casserole | Super Healthy Kids
5. Chicken and Vegetable Hand Pies | Cooking Light
6. Blueberry Power Muffins | Thriving Home Blog
7. Freezer Breakfast Sandwiches | Damn Delicious
8. Classic Dinner Pancakes | Pinch of Yum
9. Green Burgers | BBC Good Food
10. Butternut Squash Lasagne Roll Ups | Jillian Harris
11. Breakfast Casserole Muffins | Thriving Home Blog
12. Cottage Pie | BBC Good Food
13. Taco Soup | Good Cheap Eats
14. Sloppy Joes | The Family Freezer
15. Peanut Butter Chicken | BBC Good Food

15 Single Serving Healthy Freezer Meal Recipes

1. Spinach Feta Breakfast Wraps | Kitchn
2. Chicken Wonton Soup | My Recipes
3. Paleo Turkey Stuffed Peppers | Food Network
4. Broccoli Parmesan Meatballs | Oh My Veggies
5. Freezer Breakfast Sandwiches | Damn Delicious
6. Turkey Tetrazzini | My Recipes
7. Chicken and Veggie Freezer Packs | Gimme Delicious
8. Vegetable Beef and Rice Soup | Pressure Cooking
9. Shrimp, Cabbage and Carrot Pot Stickers | My Recipes
10. Mini Chicken Pot Pies | The Family Freezer
11. Freezer Friendly Taquitos | Sew You Think You Can Cook
12. Curried Coconut Carrot Soup | Kitchn
13. Individual Mini Meat Lasagnas | Money Saving Mom
14. Shrimp Stir Fry Freezer Pack | Damn Delicious
15. Zucchini and Bean Burritos | My Recipes

15 Meat Lovers Healthy Freezer Meal Recipes

1. Alton Brown’s Shepherd’s Pie | Food Network
2. Instant Pot Butter Chicken | iFood Real
3. Homemade Easy Lasagna | Happy Money Saver
4. Easy Chicken Lo Mein | Once a Month Meals
5. Garlic Pork Stir Fry | Fabulously Frugal
6. Amish Country Casserole | Plain Chicken
7. Mini Whole Wheat Chicken Pot Pies | Food Network
8. Chicken Enchiladas | Happy Money Saver
9. Sweet and Spicy Paleo Meatballs | Cotter Crunch
10. Muffin Tin Meatloaf | Some the Wiser
11. Creamy Cilantro Chicken Taquitos | Happy Money Saver
12. Big Batch Meatballs and Red Sauce | Food Network
13. Thai Chicken Soup | iFood Real
14. 20 Minute Tuscan Pasta | Six Sisters’ Stuff
15. Chicken Parmesan Stuffed Shells | Food Network

15 Vegetarian Healthy Freezer Meal Recipes

1. Slow Cooker Freezer-Pack Cauliflower and Chickpea Curry | Food Network
2. White Bean Vegetable Soup | Hello Glow
3. Green Lentil Curry | iFood Real
4. Black Bean Burgers | Dr. Axe
5. Quinoa Enchilada Skillet | Jessica in the Kitchen
6. Lemon Chickpea Shallot Casserole | Bunsen Burner Bakery
7. Sweet Potato Black Bean Quesadillas | Well Plated
8. Curried Cauliflower Chickpea Wraps | Hey Nutrition Lady
9. Vegan Crabless Cakes | Food Network
10. Curried Vegetable and Chickpea Stew | Kitchn
11. Vegetarian Quesadillas | iFood Real
12. Detox Lentil Soup | Pinch of Yum
13. Roasted Veggie Burritos | Skinny Ms.
14. Chipotle Pumpkin Veggie Burgers | Peas and Crayons
15. Quinoa Chickpea Meatballs | Oh My Veggies

15 Gluten Free Healthy Freezer Meal Recipes

1. Chicken Enchilada Bake | Taste of Home
2. Egg Roll in a Bowl | Whole New Mom
3. Make Ahead Breakfast Egg Muffins | 9 on a Dime
4. Chilli with Butternut Squash | Whip and Wander
5. Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken | What the Fork
6. Oven Baked Chicken Fajitas | This Farm Girl Cooks
7. Chunky Chipotle Pork Chilli | Taste of Home
8. Chicken Enchilada Soup | Jasper and Willow
9. Lemon Garlic Chicken Dump | Freezer Meals 101
10. Spicy Coconut Red Lentil Dal | Moon and Spoon and Yum
11. Shrimp and Broccoli Brown Rice Paella | Taste of Home
12. Curry Chicken Nuggets | Go Dairy Free
13. Freezer Beef Enchiladas | Jasper and Willow
14. Turkey Sausage Soup with Fresh Vegetables | Taste of Home
15. Chicken Empanadas | Forest and Fauna

15 Low Carb Healthy Freezer Meal Recipes

1. Keto Taco Casserole | Whole Lotta Yum
2. Meatballs with Bacon Tomato Sauce | Low Carb with Jennifer
3. Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole | Low Carb Yum
4. Easy Keto Meatballs | Make Ahead Meal Mom
5. Creamy Ranch Chicken Freezer Meals | Real Balanced
6. Crustless Pizza Casserole | Dr. Davinah’s Eats
7. Coconut Curry Chicken | Homemade Heather
8. Low Carb Breakfast Freezer Burritos | Recipes That Crock
9. Low Carb Chicken Mozzarella Bake | Large Family Table
10. Turkey Swedish Meatballs | Jar of Lemons
11. Kale and Mushroom Sausage Patties | Paleo Hacks
12. Fire Roasted Bacon Meatloaf | Civilized Caveman
13. Malaysian Beef Curry | Ditch the Carbs
14. Paleo Pork Burgers | Pure and Simple Nourishment
15. Creamy Chicken Zoodle Casserole | Paleo Hacks

Freezer meals are the perfect solution for busy lifestyles. Try out these recipes and you won’t be disappointed!

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90 Cheap and Healthy Freezer Meal Recipes That Save Time and Money (15)

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90 Cheap and Healthy Freezer Meal Recipes That Save Time and Money (16)

Kate

Kate is a freelance writer with a background in fashion, beauty and wellness. When she’s not trying out new recipes, taking a hot yoga class, or curled up with a good book, you can find her blogging about lifestyle tips and entrepreneurialism at Layered Indulgence.

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90 Cheap and Healthy Freezer Meal Recipes That Save Time and Money (2024)

FAQs

Does making freezer meals save money? ›

I have found that eating home-cooked vegetable-filled meals is not only healthier for me and my family, but also cheaper. Having a well-stocked freezer saves even more money by removing the temptation of takeout. It also saves prep, cooking, and cleanup time during the week so you can enjoy time with your family.

What are good meals for freezing? ›

Tofu gets weird when it's frozen.
  • Guiness stew.
  • Caldo verde.
  • Channa masala.
  • Lasagna.
  • Roast pork shoulder ragu.
  • Red beans and rice (I don't freeze the rice since it's trivial to cook fresh rice in a rice cooker, but you could)
  • Braised chicken with white beans and chile verde.
  • Coca-cola chicken.
Jun 5, 2023

How long do homemade freezer meals last? ›

Cold Food Storage Chart
FoodTypeFreezer [0°F (-18°C) or below]
Soups and stewsVegetable or meat added2 to 3 months
LeftoversCooked meat or poultry2 to 6 months
Chicken nuggets or patties1 to 3 months
Pizza1 to 2 months
49 more rows
Sep 19, 2023

Can freezer meals be healthy? ›

“While frozen meals as a category are not inherently healthy or unhealthy, some frozen meals are more health-promoting than others,” says Kate Killion, a registered dietitian nutritionist based in Massachusetts.

Is it cheaper to cook or eat frozen meals? ›

While some frozen meals can be very cost-effective, others may be more expensive than cooking the same meal from scratch. If you're cooking a meal for multiple people, you may find it's cheaper to buy the ingredients separately than to purchase enough frozen meals for everyone.

What meals can I batch cook and freeze? ›

Freezable family recipes
  • Sausage pasta bake. A star rating of 4.4 out of 5. ...
  • Meatballs in tomato, cardamom & lime sauce. A star rating of 3.8 out of 5. ...
  • Chicken & chorizo ragu. ...
  • Broccoli stem falafel bowl. ...
  • Creamy halloumi & tomato curry. ...
  • Chicken & bacon pie. ...
  • App onlyCheesy potato patchwork pie. ...
  • Peanut butter chicken.

What are three foods that don't freeze well? ›

Foods That Do Not Freeze Well (SP 50-766)
FoodsUsual use
Sour creamAs topping, in salads
Cheese or crumb toppingsOn casseroles
Cooked macaroni, spaghetti or riceWhen frozen alone for later use
Mayonnaise or salad dressingOn sandwiches (not in salads)
15 more rows

How to make meals ahead of time and freeze? ›

Best Choices for Make-Ahead Freezer Meals

Tops on the easy-to-freeze list are all kinds of casseroles, meatballs, meatloaf, pasta sauces, and soup, stew, and chili recipes. A smart way to stock your freezer with make-ahead meals is to double a recipe to make a big batch and freeze half for later.

Is 2 year old frozen chicken still good? ›

How long can you store chicken in your freezer? According to the USDA, frozen chicken will be "safe indefinitely" as long as you keep it continuously frozen (i.e., you're not unfreezing it and then re-freezing it because you didn't have a chance to cook or eat it).

What meat dishes freeze well? ›

15 Best Freezer Friendly Meals with Beef
  • Beef Sausage & Egg Muffin Cups. A breakfast with protein can be so quick and easy with make-ahead egg muffin cups. ...
  • Lean Mean Cheeseburger. Prep ground beef into patties ahead of time and freeze for any day of the week. ...
  • Barbacoa Empanadas.

How long do frozen hot dogs last? ›

After opening a package of hot dogs you can keep them for a week in the refrigerator (40 °F/4.4 °C or less). These meats can also be frozen for 1 to 2 months for best quality. Frozen foods are safe indefinitely.

What are the healthiest frozen dinners to eat? ›

A quick look at the best low sodium frozen meals
  • Best overall: Magic Kitchen.
  • Best organic: Amy's Kitchen.
  • Best budget: Healthy Choice.
  • Best low calorie: Lean Cuisine.
  • Best gluten-free: Saffron Road.
  • Best vegan: Tattooed Chef.
  • Best vegetarian: Sweet Earth.
Mar 8, 2023

Is it okay to eat frozen dinners every day? ›

On most days of the week, you'll want to rely on fresh meals — or tasty leftovers. “At the end of the day, I would limit frozen meals to no more than twice a week,” notes Taylor. But when you need the convenience of a frozen entrée, these tips can guide your choices.

How to choose healthy frozen meals? ›

• Check the servings per package and serving size per package.
  1. • 250-500 Calories per serving.
  2. • Less than 18 g (grams) Total Fat.
  3. • Less than 7 g Saturated Fat, ideally a DV under 20%.
  4. • Zero Trans Fat.
  5. • Less than 600 mg Sodium which is still high at 25% DV.
  6. • At least 3 g Dietary Fiber.

Do meal services actually save you money? ›

While grocery shopping turned out to be a hair cheaper than even the cheapest meal kits, it's nearly even. If you consider the time and energy you save by forgoing long trips to the supermarket, meal kits might present the better value.

Do meal plans really save money? ›

One of the big advantages of meal planning, they explained, is you don't end up overbuying or purchasing too many of some ingredients and having to throw them all away a few months later. They say planning each meal in advance can save a hundred dollars or more on groceries each month.

Does cooking your own meals save money? ›

Eating out is almost always more expensive than cooking at home, so cutting back on restaurant meals can help you save a significant amount of money over time. Better health outcomes: Cooking at home can also lead to better health outcomes, which can save you money on healthcare costs in the long run.

Is it cheaper to run a full freezer? ›

This is because it doesn't have to work as hard to cool down the internal temperature. It is therefore cheaper to run a freezer that is full.

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