For as long as I can remember, I’ve been doubling meals and freezing them for nights when I don’t feel like cooking. I tuck leftovers into the freezer on a regular basis to see how they handle being reheated after freezing. If a meal reheats nicely and tastes as good as the day I first made it, it is on this list.

Soups are a staple in my freezer. I regularly keep at least a dozen portion-sized containers of soup in the freezer, so that I can toss one in my husband’s lunch on days when there aren’t enough leftovers from dinner the previous night.

One thing that I frequently receive requests for is for meals that can be made in advance. Whether the meal is for a special occasion, to take to a friend, for while you are under the weather or just to get everyone fed while you run kids all over town at night; having some meals stashed in the freezer for those busy nights helps keep dinner time easy and stress free.

I’ve added freezer tips to the bottom of every recipe in this list. Some of the meals below are cooked first and then frozen, some are frozen first and then cooked. However you make them, hopefully these recipes will make meal planning easier.

These are all meals that I’ve made repeatedly and they all qualify as kid-approved favorites in our house.

MAIN DISHES

SOUPS

BREAKFASTS

Biscoff Banana Bread Baked Oatmeal