14 Easy And Healthy Frozen Meals

In terms of food, frozen sometimes gets a foul rap. But healthy frozen meals usually are not only achievable, they’re easy to make! Actually, they supply a convenient and reasonably priced way for families to have a greater food regimen quality. 

Don’t worry, you don’t should compromise taste. There are such a lot of decisions for easy freezer meals, you’ll have many opportunities to seek out something you want. Let’s get to it. 

14 Healthy frozen meals to try

On this list, we’ll provide you with some easy recipes to try because making your individual food remains to be the very best strategy to meet your dietary needs and taste preferences, whether you propose to freeze them or not. But since we recognize that not everyone has the skill, or possibly you even think, “I hate cooking!” we have now some ready-to-heat options as well.

1. Freezer bag chicken fajita stir-fry

Get the chicken fajita stir-fry recipe courtesy of the Food Network Kitchen. It’s easy to arrange. You could also add other ingredients, like chili flakes or mushrooms, in keeping with your taste. 

It makes for a simple weeknight meal as well. To have enough for simple freezer meals, simply double the recipe. Freeze the leftovers, and voila, you’ve made dinner for 2 nights.

2. Stamp-of-approval spaghetti sauce

This spaghetti sauce recipe from Taste of Home is easy to make and has received a number of praise for its flavor. It’s truly one in every of those classic freezer meals. This recipe will be frozen for up to a few months. But surely you’d have eaten it by then. 

As all the time, add ingredients as you want and tweak the recipe to your taste. You can too try swapping the bottom beef with other proteins, similar to ground turkey. Serve it with spaghetti, as a sauce for lasagna, or eat it with salad.

3. Freezer bag chicken primavera

With little prep time, this chicken primavera recipe from the Food Network kitchen gives you a flavorful chicken and vegetable meal. It’s one other easy freeze recipe you’ll be able to check out without spending a ton of time cooking.

Simply follow the directions for prep, freezing, and thawing. Even though it calls to pair it with a baguette, you can too serve it with pasta or rice. 

4. Golden butternut squash and chickpea curry

For those who’re searching for a sweet and savory flavor, do this butternut squash and chickpea curry from the Full Helping. It’s the most effective healthy frozen meals that is straightforward to make ahead.

The instructions say it may well be frozen for as much as six weeks. The recipe also offers many ideas to play with the ingredients. So you’ll be able to substitute, swap, or add in several vegetables. Go try it, it’s the most effective frugal meals.

5. Easy homemade lasagna

Do that freezable and easy-to-make homemade lasagna for the final word comfort food anytime you wish it. A mix of pasta, cheese, bubbly tomato sauce, what else are you able to ask for?

You’ll love this recipe from the Happy Money Saver. Visit her website for the step-by-step process with photos.

6. Freezer meatballs recipe

Meatballs are all the time a favourite with kids and adults alike. You possibly can eat them on a sandwich, serve them with pasta sauce, or simply by themselves.

For an alternative choice to store-bought, do this easy freezer meatballs recipe from The Forked Spoon. It’s one other delicious recipe and you’ll be able to make the meatballs and freeze them raw until you’re able to eat them. Or cook them first after which freeze them. 

7. Darn good chili recipe

I’m all the time searching for a good chili recipe, so I’m excited for this one from Tasty. More so because I can just toss all of the ingredients within the crock pot. Who doesn’t love crock pot cooking with only quarter-hour of prep time! 

Like all of the recipes mentioned in this text, you’ll be able to freeze this recipe either cooked or raw. Mix all raw ingredients in a freezer-safe bag. Freeze. Then, thaw and cook the meal in a crock pot. Be certain to label the bag with the suitable cooking time. 

8. Life-changing Quick Pot beef stew

Do you want having a comforting and hearty stew on chilly fall and winter days? Then, you’ll love this beef stew recipe from Pinch of Yum.

Plus, you’ll be able to make the stew in an Quick Pot or slow cooker. It doesn’t get any higher than that. 

You might freeze this stew before or after it cooks. Follow the instructions for the freezer meal version. For those who’re freezing leftovers, store them in a freezer-safe container or bag, and it should keep for as much as six months. 

9. Creamy homemade chicken noodle soup

Soups are versatile meals you’ll be able to have as a snack, lunch, or light dinner. You can too pair it with a sandwich or a salad for a hearty meal. With this homemade chicken noodle soup recipe courtesy of Tastes Better From Scratch, you’ll be able to have tasty and filling healthy frozen meals in a pinch. 

Be certain to make use of full-fat ingredients in the event you’re making the recipe to freeze so your soup retains its consistency. You possibly can leave the noodles out or cook them a little bit firmer.

When stored in an airtight container, the meal should keep for as much as six months.

10. Amy’s Kitchen Pad Thai

Pad Thai is one in every of those meals which can be easy to make but, at the identical time, easy to mess up. Boil the noodles too long, and also you’ll find yourself with a mushy pad thai. You’ve gotten to watch out to not overcook the veggies as well. 

That’s why Amy’s Kitchen Pad Thai is an ideal alternative when you’ve a craving for the dish but don’t have the time to cook. Amy’s Kitchen offers over 250 vegetarian-friendly frozen meals, a lot of that are gluten-free and constructed from organic ingredients.

11. Tortilla crusted fish

For those who love an excellent seafood dish but don’t have the kitchen skills to aim making frozen meals using fish, try the Tortilla Crusted Fish by Lean Cuisine.

The package incorporates tortilla-crusted Alaskan Pollock with a mixture of corn, poblano peppers, and rice in sour cream sauce. The product has received many great reviews, and it’s a simple, reasonably priced strategy to add fish to your food regimen. 

12. Chicken tikka masala with basmati rice

Saffron Road is an organization known for making tasty and healthy frozen meals freed from GMOs, artificial ingredients, and hormones. Lots of their frozen products are also vegan, vegetarian, and authorized halal.

So the subsequent time you’re out frugal grocery shopping, pick up a Chicken Tikka Masala With Basmati Rice and take a look at it for yourself.

13. Korean-inspired beef

Healthy Choice is probably the most reasonably priced brands producing healthy frozen meals. Though prices can vary depending on where you reside, most of their items cost between $3 to $5 per serving. 

The corporate also focuses on making frozen products which can be freed from artificial ingredients. One in every of their best-reviewed items is that this spicy treat, the Korean-Inspired Beef bowl. 

14. Evenly breaded chicken breast chunks

Having kids in your own home means having chicken nuggets in your freezer. Because regardless of what healthy, elaborate meals you set in front of your kids, they’ll ask for chicken nuggets at the very least one night per week.

Anyway, serve them the Just Bare Lightly Breaded Chicken Nuggets with a side of carrots, celery, or steamed broccoli and call it a day. You possibly can get this brand from Costco, and so they’re known for making frozen products with no preservatives and no artificial ingredients. 

Expert tip: Start small when making frozen meals

In your first try to make frozen healthy meals, start small. Your first try might be doubling your loved ones’s favorite pasta sauce or soup recipe for dinner and freezing half for one more night. 

Learn what works best in your family lifestyle and taste preferences. Possibly you want having pasta meals once per week, so that you’ll know to all the time have sauces within the freezer.

When you get the hang of putting together easy freezer meals, you could work as much as batch cooking several recipes in a single afternoon.

Advantages of shopping for or making easy freezer meals

There are a lot of advantages to creating healthy frozen meals at home, including easier prep time for busy days and an extended shelf life by putting food within the freezer.

It’s also a simple and reasonably priced strategy to include items from every food group in your cooking. Frozen meals are an ideal alternative to fast food for busy families and recent mothers.

Moreover, frozen food also helps reduce waste and helps you in the event you’re trying out a money saving challenge. For those who’re throwing out uneaten vegetables and fruit frequently, consider buying frozen vegetables and fruit.

At times, they’ve more vitamins and minerals because freezing preserves nutrients, and so they’re picked and frozen inside hours to lock in all of the nutrients and flavor. 

Easy methods to make healthy frozen meals at home

Below are some tips about making and preparing easy freezer meals for those busy days once you don’t have the time or the energy to cook. 

Include healthy frozen meals in your meal plan

It’s easier to make frozen healthy meals at home in the event that they’re already a part of your budget meal planning. This manner, you’ll be able to get your grocery shopping on a budget done in a single go. Meal planning also permits you to schedule batch cooking or meal prepping. 

Following a meal plan also makes it easier so that you can make your favorite healthy frozen meals. Simply double or triple the recipe, eat a portion for dinner that day and store the remaining.

Lastly, check your freezer before you create a monthly meal planner to make certain you eat what you’ve. The Food and Drug Administration says food is safe to keep indefinitely at 0℉, but quality decreases the longer it’s within the freezer.

Pick the correct recipe

Unfortunately, some recipes can’t withstand freezing and defrosting and retain their flavor.

As an example, pastries or creamy sauces don’t make easy freezer meals. 

So, try lasagna, hearty soups, stews, casseroles, chilis, sauces, and burgers as a substitute. Cookies, muffins, and slices of bread will be easily frozen as well. The recipes don’t should be complicated either, select ones with little prep time. 

Store frozen healthy meals using the correct supplies

When making freezer meals at home, it’s essential that you’ve the correct supplies to store them. Otherwise, it might be a waste if the food gets freezer burnt and doesn’t retain its flavor and nutrients. 

For this, you’ll need heavy-duty aluminum foil, thick freezer bags, and foil baking pans. You can too search for freezer-safe metal or glass baking pans and reusable freezer bags in the event you’re desirous about find out how to live sustainably and wish to create less waste. 

As well as, get masking tape and a marker or pen to label your jars and freezer bags. Don’t depend on your memory, it could and can fail you. Write the name of the dish, the date of preparation, and any reheating instructions if needed.

Schedule meal prepping

Meal prepping means organizing your food to make it easier so that you can have food at home, available. It could involve chopping vegetables, batch cooking, or putting together easy freezer meals.

Scheduling meal prepping on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon can prevent time on busy weeknights. Not to say that it helps you lower your expenses in your grocery bill.

With a little bit little bit of time, planning, and preparing your menu for the week, you minimize waste and eat healthier too. Make meal prepping a part of your every day routine schedule!

Be certain you’ve all of the ingredients

Whether you’re batch cooking or putting together raw ingredients for healthy frozen meals, make certain you’ve all the things you would like before you begin. You furthermore may don’t wish to freeze recipes with missing ingredients.

It won’t really make it easier to in the longer term to be running to the food market to be able to make your freezer meal. That’s why it’s best to create a meal plan before you go grocery shopping.

What to search for when buying ready-made frozen healthy meals

Not all frozen foods are created equal, but there are quite a lot of healthy options available now. So, listed below are some guidelines you should use when shopping within the frozen food aisle.

Select nutritious packaged meals

When buying frozen meals, check the nutrition facts labels. Preferably, search for healthy frozen meals which have adequate dietary value.

Select meals with lower saturated fat and better fiber, vitamin, and mineral content. Avoid people who have added sugars, sauces, and salt. 

Remember to think about the serving size as well. If the complete package is the same as two servings, it means you’re actually eating double the salt, sugar, and saturated fats listed.

Go along with less sodium

Sodium generally adds flavor and improves the feel of our foods. It’s also used as a preservative. That’s why it’s present in packaged and ready foods like canned soups and frozen meals. 

But most individuals can profit from less sodium of their diets. The American Heart Association states reducing sodium intake by just 1,000 mg per day can significantly improve blood pressure and heart health. Hence, it’s best to decide on products with the bottom amount of sodium you could find.

Check the ingredients list

Most of us have jam-packed schedules that don’t leave much time for cooking. But we also want the most affordable meals which can be also healthy. The excellent news is there are various food firms stepping as much as the plate. 

Many are coming up with frozen healthy meals with fresh ingredients and fewer sodium. So, make certain to match the Nutrition Facts label and check the ingredients list of the products you purchase.

What are the healthiest frozen dinners to eat?

The healthiest frozen dinners to eat are those you make at home. If you make your individual food, you’ve complete control over what goes into it.

You need to use fresh ingredients and put less sugar or salt than what the recipe calls for. You can too add more veggies and even substitute rice and pasta with whole wheat options.

Nevertheless, as mentioned there are frozen meal products prepared with organic ingredients and fewer sodium. You can too find meals specifically for individuals with diabetes or additional dietary needs, like vegan or gluten-free. 

So, you’ll be able to still find healthy alternatives to cooking at home. Just make certain you read the ingredients list and understand the nutrition label.

Is there such a thing as healthy frozen food?

Yes, fortunately, there’s such a thing as healthy frozen food, as many food firms are responding to consumer preferences. You will discover frozen products on the food market made with organic ingredients and fewer saturated fats and sodium. 

Not to say, you’ll be able to make sure you’re living a healthy lifestyle with what you eat by making your individual at home with the ingredients that you simply select.

What foods are easiest to freeze?

The foods which can be easiest to freeze include meats, seafood, fruits, and vegetables, which might all be kept within the freezer for long periods. You can too freeze cooked rice, corn, quinoa, and beans.

Moreover, you’ll be able to preserve fresh herbs by putting them in ice cube trays with some water. Once frozen, store the herbs in a freezer-safe bag, and so they’ll be good to make use of for a yr. 

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Simplify your dinners with healthy frozen meals!

Deciding what to make for dinner each day will be tiresome, let alone making meals after a full day of labor and wrangling kids.

But a little bit little bit of meal planning and prepping means you’ll be able to still eat affordably and healthily even once you don’t have the time and energy to cook. Start living consciously and saving more, and improve your dinner options with easy freezer meals!