Preparing freezer-friendly meals in advance can be a lifesaver for busy weeknights when you don't have much time to cook. Here are three delicious and easy-to-make freezer-friendly meals:
Vegetable Lasagna Roll-Ups:
- Cook lasagna noodles according to package instructions, drain, and lay them flat on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
- In a bowl, mix together ricotta cheese, cooked spinach (squeezed to remove excess water), grated mozzarella, grated Parmesan, minced garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Spread the cheese and spinach mixture over each lasagna noodle and roll them up.
- Place the roll-ups in a baking dish, cover with your favorite marinara sauce, and sprinkle with additional mozzarella cheese.
- Freeze the dish, and once frozen, transfer the roll-ups to a ziplock bag.
- To cook, bake the desired number of roll-ups in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for about 25-30 minutes or until heated through and bubbly.
Chicken and Vegetable Stir-Fry:
- Cut boneless, skinless chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and season with salt and pepper.
- In a large skillet or wok, stir-fry the chicken in a bit of oil until cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
- Stir-fry a mix of your favorite vegetables (e.g., broccoli, bell peppers, snap peas, carrots) until tender-crisp.
- Add the cooked chicken back to the pan, and season with a sauce made of soy sauce, garlic, ginger, honey, and a splash of sesame oil.
- Let the mixture cool down before transferring it into a freezer-safe container or ziplock bag.
- To serve, simply reheat the frozen stir-fry in a skillet until heated through and serve over rice or noodles.
Black Bean and Sweet Potato Enchiladas:
- Cook and mash sweet potatoes until smooth. Mix in canned black beans, diced onions, minced garlic, cumin, chili powder, and salt.
- Warm corn tortillas slightly to make them more pliable, then fill each tortilla with the sweet potato and black bean mixture, roll them up, and place them seam side down in a baking dish.
- Cover the enchiladas with your favorite enchilada sauce and sprinkle shredded cheese on top.
- Freeze the dish, and once frozen, cover it with foil or transfer the enchiladas to a ziplock bag.
- To cook, bake the frozen enchiladas in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for about 30-35 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
These freezer-friendly meals can be made in larger batches, and you can portion them out for easy reheating on busy weeknights. They are not only convenient but also a tasty and wholesome option for a quick and satisfying dinner.