Freezer Meals 101

Less time cooking, more time living

Easy Freezer Taco Cups

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Tacos are a great choice for a quick weeknight dinner. But eating plain tacos every week can get pretty boring! Why not change things up by preparing some taco cups, instead? These freezer-friendly individual taco pies are a simple meal idea that everyone in the family is sure to love!mini meat pies topped with cheese. Text reads "Make ahead taco cups"

These are great for kids’ lunches or snacks. They are so easy to make. I like to always have make ahead snacks in the freezer such as corn dog mini muffins, English muffin pizzas, or ham and cheese roll-ups.

How to Make Taco Cups:

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 2 Tablespoons taco seasoning
  • ¼ cup water
  • mini tart shells
  • shredded cheddar cheese

Assembly Instructions:

  1. Cook the mini tart shells according to the package instructions.
  2. While the shells are cooking, brown the ground beef. When the beef is cooked through, stir in the taco seasoning and water. Continue to simmer until the sauce is thickened. Remove the pan from heat and allow to cool.
  3. Fill each tart shell with taco meat and top with shredded cheese.
  4. Return the shells to the oven to cook until the cheese is melted, around five minutes.
  5. Allow the taco pies to cool completely, then transfer them to a freezer bag.
  6. Remove excess air from the bag and seal, then place them in the freezer.

* Note: If you have any of the taco meat mixture leftover, place it in a medium size freezer bag, seal, and freeze. You can then use it to add to eggs or hash browns, on top of nachos, or for tacos. empty tart shells, ground beef, tarts filled with the beef and topped with cheese

Oven Cooking Instructions:

  1. Allow the taco cups to thaw completely.
  2. Place the cups in the oven to bake at 350° for 10 to 15 minutes, until the meat is warm and the cheese is melted.

Microwave Cooking Instructions:

  1. Take as many cups as you want out of the freezer.
  2. Remove the foil and reheat in the microwave.

I recently made these in a day of make ahead snacks to ensure my kids always had something to snack on or bring for lunches. You can check out all that I made in the video below:

Taco Pie Serving Ideas:

Once you have the basic taco cups prepared, you can dress them up according to your family’s tastes! There are a variety of fun ways to serve your mini taco cups. One simple way to change up the taste of this taco pie recipe is to use a different meat. Instead of ground beef, you could also try ground turkey or chicken. Shredded chicken or pork are more great options for creating different flavour taco cups.

But if you would prefer to stick to the recipe, you could also add more flavour to your taco cups with the help of fresh toppings. Try these topping ideas to give your family members a chance to prepare their own individual taco pies for dinner:

  • diced tomatoes
  • salsa
  • chopped lettuce
  • sliced avocado
  • sour cream
  • hot sauce
  • jalapeño slices
  • crushed tortilla chips or taco shells
  • chopped green onion
  • extra cheese
  • guacamole
  • pico de gallo
  • chopped cilantro

small meat tarts topped with melted cheeseIn addition to sprinkling toppings over your baked taco pies, you could also make additions to the recipe itself. Simply mix any of these easy add-ins into your ground beef mixture to give your taco cups even more flavour:

  • refried beans
  • diced tomatoes with green chilies
  • kidney or chili beans
  • black beans
  • Mexican rice
  • quinoa
  • salsa
  • chopped onions
  • diced tomatoes
  • queso cheese
  • chopped bell peppers
  • chopped jalapeño peppers
  • corn

These are such a fun food with so many variations possible. 

small meat tarts topped with melted cheese
Print
Taco Cups
Course: Lunch, Snack
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: taco cups
Ingredients
  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 2 Tbsp. taco seasoning
  • ¼ cup water
  • mini tart shells
  • shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
Assembly Instructions:
  1. Cook the mini tart shells according to the package instructions.
  2. While the shells are cooking, brown the ground beef. When the beef is cooked through, stir in the taco seasoning and water. Continue to simmer until the sauce is thickened. Remove the pan from heat and allow to cool.
  3. Fill each tart shell with taco meat and top with shredded cheese.
  4. Return the shells to the oven to cook until the cheese is melted, around five minutes.
  5. Allow the taco pies to cool completely, then transfer them to a freezer bag.
  6. Remove excess air from the bag and seal, then place them in the freezer.
Microwave Cooking Instructions:

  1. Take as many as you want out of the freezer. Remove the foil and reheat in the microwave.

Oven Cooking Instructions:

  1. Allow the taco cups to thaw completely.

  2. Place the cups in the oven to bake at 350° for 10 to 15 minutes, until the meat is warm and the cheese is melted.

Recipe Notes

If there is any of the taco meat mixture leftover, place it in a medium size freezer bag, seal, and freeze. It can then be used to add to eggs or hash browns, on top of nachos, or for tacos. 

Homemade Freezer Italian Meatballs (Keto, Low Carb)

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Homemade meatballs really do beat the taste of store bought every time. It’s worth the time to make your own and it’s easier than you might think. Using this recipe allows you to make Italian meatballs ahead and have them in the freezer to use in recipes or serve for dinner. raw meatballs in a bag on top. bowl of meatball mixture on bottom. Text reads "freezer meal Italian meatballs"This Italian meatball recipe is also Keto. If you’re following a low carb diet, these are a great option.

Mixing this with your hands works best. I like to wear gloves so that my hands don’t get icky.

For rolling, I use a cookie scoop or an ice cream scoop so that they are all uniform in size. I scoop the mixture onto the tray and then once all of them are on the tray, shape them a bit more by hand. You can see the process of this in this video of us making 150 freezer meals including meatballs.

Homemade Italian Meatballs Recipe:

Ingredients:

  • 3/4 lb. ground beef
  • 3/4 lb. ground pork
  • 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 2 Tbsp. whipping cream (30% m.f.)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 Tbsp. tomato paste
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 Tbsp. onion, finely chopped
  • 2 tsp. dried parsley
  • 2 tsp. dried basil
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. pepper

Assembly instructions:

  1. Place the raw meats and other ingredients in a mixing bowl.
  2. Mix with your hands. Wear gloves if desired.
  3. Form into meatballs.
  4. Lay out on a cookie sheet.
  5. Freeze (raw).
  6. Once frozen, transfer to a large freezer bag.
  7. Remove excess air, seal, and freeze.

mixture for making meatballs in a bowl, then the meatballs on a cookie sheet, then in a clear plastic bag

Cooking instructions:

  1. Take out as many meatballs as you need.
  2. Meatballs can be baked and/or fried from frozen. Ensure an internal cooking temperature of 160° F is reached.
  3. Serve (see suggestions below).

raw meatballs on a cookie sheet

Suggestions for how to serve meatballs:

raw meatballs in clear plastic bag

raw meatballs on a cookie sheet
Print
Homemade Italian Meatballs
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: meatballs
Ingredients
  • 3/4 lb. ground beef
  • 3/4 lb. ground pork
  • 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese grated
  • 2 Tbsp. whipping cream
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 Tbsp. tomato paste
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 Tbsp. onion finely chopped
  • 2 tsp. dried parsley
  • 2 tsp. dried basil
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. pepper
Instructions
Assembly instructions:
  1. Place the raw meats and other ingredients in a mixing bowl.
  2. Mix with your hands.
  3. Form into meatballs.
  4. Lay out on a cookie sheet.
  5. Freeze (raw).
  6. Once frozen, transfer to a large freezer bag.
  7. Remove excess air, seal, and freeze.
Cooking instructions:
  1. Take out as many meatballs as you need.
  2. Meatballs can be baked and/or fried from frozen. Ensure an internal cooking temperature of 160° F is reached.
  3. Serve.

Salsa Verde Fish Tacos (Freezer Meal)

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If you’re looking for a fresh tasting recipe that is super easy to make, these salsa verde fish tacos certainly fit the bill. These are great for summer. Bright tasting and not too spicy, unless of course you want to add some jalapeños or serrano peppers on top!
bowls of taco toppings, fillings and two filled tacos at the bottom. Text reads "Salsa Verde Fish Tacos"When I first tried fish tacos at a restaurant, I was hooked. But I assumed that it would have to be one of those “only eat at restaurants” dishes because I had no idea how to make them myself. two fish tacos with shredded carrots and lettuceOnce I realized how easy they were to make at home, I devised a few freezer friendly recipes so that I could make them ahead of time and pull them out when the craving struck rather than parting with my money at a restaurant.

The fish tacos with mango salsa are amazing, but require a bit more chopping and time. So I also devised this easy salsa verde recipe that literally takes just minutes to assemble and get in the freezer. It’s also so fast to fry up on the day you serve it.

Can this recipe be made with fish other than tilapia?

Yes! We have made this with cod, snapper, and tilapia. All are delicious. I usually decide which fish to use based on what’s on sale or what is the freshest. fish filets topped with green salsa on a frying pan

Salsa Verde Fish Tacos Recipe:

Ingredients:

  • 3-4 tilapia filets
  • salt and pepper
  • 1 1/4 cup salsa verde
  • 1/2 cup crushed pineapple
  • 1-2 cloves garlic, minced

For serving:

  • hard or soft taco shells
  • taco toppings (see list of suggestions below)collage of photos of making fish tacos

Assembly instructions: 

  1. Place the fish in a large resealable freezer bag.
  2. In a small mixing bowl, stir together the salsa verde, crushed pineapple, minced garlic, and seasonings.
  3. Pour over the fish.
  4. Remove the excess air from the bag, seal, and freeze.

Cooking instructions:

  1. Thaw. Bake in a 350° oven for 10-12 minutes or fry in a skillet on the stovetop until it easily flakes.
  2. Serve in taco shells with other toppings.

Fish taco topping suggestions:

  • lettuce
  • cabbage or coleslaw
  • diced tomatoes
  • sliced green onions or purple onions
  • mango or pineapple salsa
  • shredded carrots
  • salsa
  • pico de gallo
  • jalapeños or serrano peppers
  • cilantro
  • avocados or guacamole
  • Cotija cheese
  • black beans
  • corn
  • hot sauce
  • chipotle mayo
  • fresh lime wedges

plate of fish, cooked corn, flour tortillas, shredded carrots, refried beans, lettuce

two fish tacos with shredded carrots and lettuce
Print
Salsa Verde Fish Tacos
Prep Time
5 mins
 
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: fish tacos, make ahead fish tacos
Ingredients
  • 3-4 tilapia filets
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 1/4 cup salsa verde
  • 1/2 cup crushed pineapple
  • 1-2 cloves garlic minced
For serving:
  • hard or soft taco shells
  • taco toppings see list of suggestions in notes
Instructions
Assembly instructions:
  1. Place the fish in a large resealable freezer bag.
  2. In a small mixing bowl, stir together the salsa verde, crushed pineapple, minced garlic, and seasonings.
  3. Pour over the fish.
  4. Remove the excess air from the bag, seal, and freeze.
Cooking instructions:

  1. Thaw. Bake in a 350° oven for 10-12 minutes or fry in a skillet until it flakes easily.

  2. Serve in taco shells with other toppings.
Recipe Notes

Fish taco topping suggestions:

lettuce, cabbage or coleslaw, diced tomatoes, sliced green onions or purple onions, mango or pineapple salsa, shredded carrots, salsa, pico de gallo, jalapeños or serrano, peppers, cilantro, avocados or guacamole, Cotija cheese, black beans, corn, hot sauce, chipotle mayo, fresh lime wedges

Other make ahead seafood recipes you might enjoy:

Freezer Friendly Johnny Marzetti Casserole Recipe

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When it comes to freezer cooking, pasta dishes are always a great choice. In addition to being simple to prepare and reheat, noodle dishes are also filling and popular with everyone in the family. But the next time you’re planning your meals and looking for a simple pasta recipe to add the rotation, skip the plain spaghetti and try something new! This easy Johnny Marzetti casserole recipe is the perfect simple dinner idea that is sure to satisfy everyone in the family.square of pasta casserole on a white plate with the casserole dish in the background. Text reads "Johnny Marzetti casserole"

What is Johnny Marzetti Casserole?

This delicious dish is an Ohio recipe that was originally created in a Columbus restaurant owned by Italian immigrant Teresa Marzetti. The baked pasta dish, which was made with ground beef, cheese, tomato sauce, and noodles, is named after her brother-in-law, Johnny. The Marzetti Restaurant opened in the city, near The Ohio State University, in 1919 and by the 1940s, the namesake dish was a popular dinner option across the Midwest. In addition to ordering the classic pasta dish at restaurants around Ohio, many Midwesterners started whipping up this simple dish at home for their families.square pasta bake piece on a white plate with full dish in the background

Is Johnny Marzetti the Same as Goulash?

This casserole recipe has similar ingredients as goulash, which is why many people wonder if the two recipes are the same. Although the original Johnny Marzetti casserole is sometimes called American goulash, it isn’t the same as the traditional Hungarian dish.

The recipe that originated in Hungary is typically made with elbow macaroni and seasoned with paprika and other spices. Another notable difference between the two dishes is how they’re cooked. While goulash is usually prepared in a big pan on the stovetop, Johnny Marzetti is a baked casserole that is typically cooked in the oven.

Can You Freeze Johnny Marzetti Casserole?

This quick and easy recipe is so simple to freeze and reheat. All you need to do is prepare the casserole according to the recipe instructions, cover it with aluminum foil, and freeze it until you’re ready to eat. Before you start cooking, make sure to thaw the casserole, then bake it until it’s cooked through and enjoy. white casserole dish with pasta baked in it

How to Make Johnny Marzetti Casserole:

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups dry penne pasta
  • 1 lb. lean ground beef
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced
  • 1 lb. white mushrooms, sliced
  • 15 oz. can diced tomatoes
  • 15 oz. can tomato sauce 
  • 1 Tbsp. Italian seasoning
  • salt and black pepper to taste
  • 3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated

Assembly instructions:

  1. Cook the pasta according to package directions. It’s important not to overcook as the pasta will continue cooking through in the oven. Drain well and return to the pasta pot.
  2. While the pasta cooks, brown the ground beef in a large skillet. Add the onions, minced garlic, and chopped green pepper. 
  3. Toss in the mushrooms and cook until the mushrooms begin to soften. 
  4. Drain the beef mixture and return to the skillet.
  5. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato sauce, and seasonings. 
  6. Cook over medium heat for 10 minutes.
  7. Pour the meat sauce over the pasta in the pasta pot and give it a stir.
  8. Stir in half of the cheese.
  9. Transfer to a greased 9×13 baking dish or aluminum foil tray. Cover tightly with 2 layers of aluminum foil. 
  10. Put the rest of the cheese in a medium size freezer bag. Seal and set on top of the tray and place the tray and bag in the freezer.

process of making a pasta bake casseroleCooking instructions:

  1. Thaw. Set the bag of cheese to the side.
  2. Preheat the oven to 350°. 
  3. Bake the casserole for 30 minutes if thawed or one hour if frozen. Remove the aluminum foil and top with the cheese from the bag. Continue baking for 10 minutes or until the cheese has melted.

square piece of pasta bake on a white plate next to a fork

Recipe Substitutions and Ideas

This delicious recipe is perfect for a weeknight dinner. But that doesn’t mean you have to follow the recipe exactly! There are a few simple substitutions you can make to adjust your recipe to suit your tastes and dietary restrictions. Try making these recipe swaps to allow you to work with ingredients you already have on hand:

  • Use different pasta. You can easily swap out the penne pasta for a different noodle variety. Elbow macaroni noodles, rotini pasta, or egg noodles are simple substitutions you can make that won’t affect the taste or cook time of the dish.
  • Make it gluten free. Since this recipe uses pasta, you’ll need to make a substitution if you’re looking for a gluten free dinner idea. Use gluten free penne pasta (or any other gluten free noodle variety) instead of traditional pasta for a quick fix. Or try substituting rice for pasta for a different take on the recipe.
  • Use ground turkey. Lighten up the dish by swapping the ground beef with ground turkey. You’ll be able to significantly reduce the fat content of your dish without sacrificing the flavour.
  • Serve with a salad. Add some freshness to your freezer dinner by tossing together a quick salad while your casserole is cooking. A fresh salad is the perfect healthy side dish to go along with this hearty pasta dish.
square pasta bake piece on a white plate with full dish in the background
Print
Freezer Friendly Johnny Marzetti Casserole
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: casserole, pasta
Ingredients
  • 2 cups penne pasta dry
  • 1 lb. lean ground beef
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 green bell pepper seeded and diced
  • 1 lb. white mushrooms sliced
  • 15 oz. can diced tomatoes
  • 15 oz. can tomato sauce
  • 1 Tbsp. Italian seasoning
  • salt and black pepper to taste
  • 3 cups sharp cheddar cheese grated
Instructions
Assembly instructions:

  1. Cook the pasta according to package directions. Do not overcook. Drain well and return to pasta pot.

  2. While the pasta cooks, brown the ground beef in a large skillet. Add the onions, minced garlic, and chopped green pepper.

  3. Toss in the mushrooms and cook until the mushrooms begin to soften.
  4. Drain the beef mixture and return to the skillet.
  5. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato sauce, and seasonings.
  6. Cook over medium heat for 10 minutes.
  7. Pour the meat sauce over the pasta in the pasta pot and give it a stir.
  8. Stir in half of the cheese.
  9. Transfer to a greased 9x13 baking dish or aluminum foil tray. Cover tightly with 2 layers of aluminum foil.
  10. Put the rest of the cheese in a medium size freezer bag. Seal and set on top of the tray and place the tray and bag in the freezer.
Cooking instructions:
  1. Thaw. Set the bag of cheese to the side.
  2. Preheat the oven to 350°.
  3. Bake the casserole for 30 minutes if thawed or one hour if frozen. Remove the aluminum foil and top with the cheese from the bag. Continue baking for 10 minutes or until the cheese has melted.

Check out some of our other make ahead pastas:

Freezer Meals for One

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Freezer cooking is a great solution for those who live alone or even for those in families who just want individual meals to take to work for lunches. One of the most common things I get asked about is how to make freezer meals for just one or two people.counter covered in individual meals. Text reads "Freezer Meals for one"There are many of my readers who are interested in making freezer meals for seniors who live alone or for young adults just moving out on their own. Whether you’re wanting to make meals for yourself, a friend, your parent, or your child, I’ve got all the tips you need to make single serving freezer meals.

These ideas also work well for weekly or monthly meal prep for singles or couples.

I recently put together meals for my mother-in-law and for my dad. They were simple, easy to reheat, and perfect for one person. You can see how I made them step by step in the video below:

Containers for individual freezer meals:

Individual plastic containers – These containers are great for meal prep because they are freezable, microwaveable, and dishwasher safe. 

Medium sized (quart size) freezer bags – Plastic freezer bags or reusable silicone bags are a versatile option for freezing meals in smaller portions. 

Souper Cubes – These containers are designed for freezer cooking. They are particularly good for soups and stews. You can get them in 1/2 cup, 1 cup, and 2 cup sizes. The 2 cup trays are perfect for things such as individual lasagnas. 

Mason Jars – If you use mason jars for soups or stews, be sure to leave space at the top because the liquid will expand as it freezes. 

Small foil containers – Foil containers with lids are particularly handy for dishes that need to be cooked in the oven such as pasta bakes, enchiladas, or casseroles.

When it comes to containers, the important thing to remember is to ensure to get out all the extra air that you can. In freezer cooking, air is what causes freezer burn. 

Freezer Meal Recipes for One or Two:

These are some of the best make ahead recipes I’ve found that adapt well to being made into individual dinners.  

Beef and Bean Burritos – These are all individually wrapped so they can be pulled out one at a time. 

Chicken Fried Rice – Make the full recipe and divide into individual containers. Since everything has already been cooked ahead, these dishes will only need to be reheated making them ideal for taking as a work lunch or for dinner.

Chili – I recently made individual keto meals for my husband and I used Souper Cubes to take his keto chili recipe and make 1 cup portions for him to take out as needed. 

Simplest Butter Chicken – When I “make” this in single portions, I precook the chicken and I also cook up some basmati or jasmine rice. I then put the butter chicken on on side of the container, the cooked rice on the other, and some frozen peas in the middle. This creates a full balanced meal. 

Black Bean and Corn Enchiladas – When I make these for my mother-in-law, I place three enchiladas in a small foil container and then pour the enchilada sauce and shredded cheese on top before adding the lid and freezing.

Mini Meatloaves – These meatloaf muffins are ideal for single servings!

Blue Cheese Hamburgers – Take out one patty at a time to cook up for a great summer meal.

Chicken Asparagus Bake – This is another recipe where all the ingredients are cooked ahead of time. Once you spoon this into individual containers and freeze, each will only need to be reheated.

Hamburger Soup – Simmer the soup on the stove before transferring cooled soup into mason jars or medium sized freezer bags. Pull out and reheat on a chilly day.

Make Ahead Mac and Cheese – Put in smaller containers that can be baked. 

Stir Fry Packs – Simply pack these in several quart sized bags instead of one gallon one and then take out and fry up to serve with rice. Such an easy meal!individual dinners in black containers

More freezer meals for one (or two):

Freezer Breakfast Recipes for One or Two People:

How to make single serving freezer meals:

  1. Sit down and plan out which recipes you want to make.
  2. Make a grocery list with the ingredients you’ll need.
  3. Ensure that you have the containers you’ll need.
  4. Make space in your freezer. 
  5. Shop for the ingredients (and containers if you don’t already have them).
  6. Prep all similar ingredients together (brown the ground beef, cook and cube the chicken, cut the onions and other vegetables, shred the cheese, cook the rice, etc.)
  7. Set aside a few hours or an entire day to assemble the meals. The time needed will depend on how many recipes you’re making and how involved the recipes are. 
  8. Clean up.
  9. Enjoy not having to cook again for a long time!

It’s always more fun to do this with a friend or family member. Get some music playing to keep your energy up, drink plenty of water, and wear good running shoes to protect your feet and back from getting sore. It will be worth it!

With these tips, you will fill your freezer with meals to last you several weeks or even months.

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