The best freezer-friendly dishes to make ahead
Ever wondered how the popular Master Chefs like Gordon Ramsay and Curtis Stone can still cook excellent meals for their families despite their busy schedules? It’s because they often make freezer-friendly meals ahead and reheat them later if they don’t have the time to cook. After all, they’re called masters for a reason.
So, you’re busy too, but you want to be a Master Chef of your own kitchen? No sweat! Here, we present to you the best freezer-friendly dishes to make ahead.
1. Chicken potpie
The most delicious chook recipe you’ll ever taste, freshly-cooked or reheated. This recipe is full of the sumptuous goodness of chicken, peas, and corn, and makes two golden pies, so you can serve one at dinner and freeze the other one for one of those busy nights. Just make sure you don’t bake the one you plan to freeze, otherwise the crust may burn when you do bake it. Get the full recipe here.
2. Slow-cooker pulled pork
Here's another freezer-friendly dish that’s easy and delicious. You can make it ahead and freeze it if you have an upcoming party or you can serve a portion of it freshly-cooked and freeze the rest of it. You can keep it in the freezer for up three months and reheat it for those busy times. Or you can make some yummy pork sliders with it. Don't forget; you'll need a slow cooker to achieve that melt-in-the-mouth goodness of the pulled pork. Here's the full recipe.
3. Beef and veggie soup
There’s nothing more comforting than a bowl of hot beef and veggie soup after a long day at work. This recipe is literally freezer-friendly because you can use up those frozen pre-cut veggies that are lurking in your freezer. In 40 minutes, you and your family can enjoy a hearty meal. Keep the extras in the freezer and reheat it for another tired and lazy night. The full recipe is right here.
4. Meatballs and red sauce
Get organised with this rich tomato and meatballs recipe by cooking a big batch. Add some extra meat and sauce and portion out for freezing. You can simply thaw and reheat it on busy nights and toss it with some pasta or even fried rice. You'll only need two minutes to reheat it in a microwave. Here's the recipe.
5. Asian chicken thighs
Are you craving for some Asian flavours but never seem to have the time or the inclination to cook? This recipe is quick and easy and what’s even better is that you can freeze it all – or just the leftovers – so you’ve got a delicious pre-made meal waiting for you in the freezer. Serve it with some rice and you're done! And don’t forget, you can also cook a big batch of rice and freeze in portion-sized containers (so all you need to do is pop it into the microwave to reheat). Cravings satisfied. Learn how to make it ahead here.
6. Lamb and lentil curry
If you want to delight your senses with the aroma and taste of different spices, not once, not twice, but many times, then you must try this lamb and lentil curry recipe. It’s excellent both when freshly-cooked or reheated. For faster tenderising of the lamb meat, it’s best to use a pressure cooker.
7. Salmon cakes
Fish lover or not, you’ll surely find this salmon cake recipe, which is not only healthy and delicious, but very convenient too. You can use canned salmon like the classic recipe, but this one uses a fresh salmon fillet for that beautiful and fresh twist. Don’t forget to wrap each of the patties individually before freezing them. Thaw them in the fridge overnight before putting in a skillet or popping in the oven. Serve with your favourite greens on one of those lazy nights when cooklng is not on your agenda.
8. Baked spaghetti, pepperoni, and lentils
We were amazed to find this three-in-one dish because of its complexity and freezer-friendliness. As the recipe's description says, "it's a cross between spaghetti bolognese, pizza, and lasagne." So, you're essentially having the best of three worlds in one dish! And the great thing about it is, you can freeze it and then give it a quick blast in the microwave - so you can enjoy a tasty meal even when you're too tired to do anything else in the kitchen.
Be the best Master Chef now!
So, there you have it! Being a Master Chef in your own kitchen doesn’t require any hard and fast skills. It’s your ability to make the most out of it that will make a difference. And don’t forget, if you need some extra funds to update your kitchen equipment (or your kitchen) - we’re here to help. Just take a look at our cash loans from $1K - $5K to find out how quick and easy it is to get your hands on some extra funds. Once a loan is approved, the cash is usually deposited into your bank account within a few hours - so you can start making those freezer friendly dishes this week!