Would you like to reduce the pre-dinner anxiety of wondering what to feed your family? Would you like to know that your family won’t starve if you have to go out one day for an appointment at 5pm? Would you like to know that some days you don’t actually have to cook dinner at all?
Well, you’re in luck. Because we are sharing the secret right here, right now.
Freezer meals. Two words that sound so simple, but can save you so much time and stress around dinner time.
Because kids keep demanding to be fed EVERY SINGLE every day, it can be hard for busy mums to get something on the table every night.
But with a little bit of preparation, you can enjoy the benefits of having meals in the freezer for your family to eat.
A great tip is just to cook double whenever you reasonably can. So if you are making Spaghetti Bolognese, it takes hardly any extra time to chop up double the veggies (especially if you use a food processor) and add double the mince and tomatoes.
Then you have a family sized spare portion that you can cool on the bench and then pop in the freezer for another night. If you want to mix things up you could serve the Bolognese on a wrap with salad, or as a filling for a jacket potato. Try this Super Saucy Bolognese recipe.
Making a lovely Shepherd’s Pie for Sunday lunch? Make two! This pie freezes beautifully and you can then just reheat in the oven for dinner another time, and serve with steamed veggies.
Have you made Pulled Pork? It’s really simple to do and the possibilities are endless here. Use it to make a burrito, a pie, as a sandwich filling, add to a jacket sweet potato, pop it on a pizza, or even serve it with roast veggies and gravy.
All you need to do is place a 2kg pork shoulder or leg in the slow cooker, sprinkle over a spice mix (1/2 tsp of each) pepper, salt, cumin, coriander, chilli, and ginger, then add ½ cup chicken stock or red wine, and a chopped onion. Cook on low in a slow cooker for 8 hours, then remove any bones and fat, and use two forks to pull the meat apart.
A warming curry is a great option for a busy night when everyone is home late from sports practice or dancing lessons. This Green Curry With Chicken is so easy to prepare and you can make it as spicy (or not) as your family likes.
For cool nights, you can’t beat this Beef and Mushroom Stroganoff. Cook double and defrost it overnight when you know you’ll be busy. Serve with steamed greens, pasta or brown rice.
Meatballs are a perfect meal to pull out for a child’s dinner when you’re heading out to eat without them – so why not freeze in kid sized portions? These Classic Meatballs defrost really well and still taste fantastic. Try serving with zucchini noodles instead of pasta for an extra dose of veggies.
As well as your main meal, why not get into the habit of freezing family sized portions of cooked brown rice or quinoa? This can save you time down the track – just cook double what you need and freeze the leftovers. Then when you want to use it, pop it in the microwave to defrost.
If you’re going to the trouble of making your own rissoles or Burger Patties, double the recipe. Then shape the patties and place on a chopping board lined with baking paper. Freeze and then store in a zip lock bag. Take them out of the freezer the night before you want to use them and place in the fridge to thaw.
Freezing single serve portions of soup is a great idea for those nights when someone just needs a single meal. It’s also a great option for your lunch, and you can get a stock pile going so that you can have all different soups to choose from. We love this hearty Roast Pumpkin and Apple Soup.
Want more freezing tips? Check out our article here on some great ideas for things you can freeze in an ice cube tray to help speed up your meal prep. Think pesto, pasta sauce, and chicken stock.
