51 Easy Freezer Recipes That Reheat Beautifully

You can never have enough suggestions for recipes that are easy to freeze, and these are some of our favorites.

By

Updated on March 14, 2024

Beef Enchiladas — Photo:
Stacy Allen; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood

Your freezer isn't just for ice cream—it's an extension of your pantry. Make the most of this precious space and get a head start on weeknight dinners by stocking it with our best freezer meals. We've gathered our favorite fix-and-freeze dishes to help you get dinner on the table in no time (along with helpful tips and tricks from our Test Kitchen on the best way to freeze food).

Cook today and have dinner ready to go all month long. Last-minute hosting? Fool your crowd into thinking you spent all day at the stove with these easy, freezer-friendly dishes. Not all recipes are freezer-friendly, but these dishes—from chicken noodle soup to classic lasagna—are sure to reheat beautifully and taste as good as new. Choose from dozens of delicious freezer meals including casseroles, baked pasta dishes, gumbo, pot roast, slow-cooker soups and stews, and more. You guests will never guess that you just popped that Turkey-Noodle-Poppy Seed Casserole out of the freezer.

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Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole

Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole - Southern Living — Photographer: Jen Causey, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely, Food Stylist: Ana Kelly

There are two options for freezing this delicious tater tot casserole. Option one: bake it, cut it into individual portions, wrap each serving separately and freeze for a grab-and-go option that heats up easily! Option two: assemble the entire casserole and freeze before baking to take out and bake for overnight guests or brunch!

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Hearty Beef And Freezer Veggie Soup

Hearty Beef and Freezer Veggie Soup — Greg DuPree

Ingredients from the frozen food aisle make this delicious soup recipe incredibly easy to prepare. Serve it in a bread bowl for an extra touch. No one at the dinner table will ever suspect you were thawing this out just hours beforehand.

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Chicken And Sausage Jambalaya

Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya — Greg DuPree

This Cajun-inspired dish is sure to be a hit with everyone in your family. It's hearty, flavorful, and oh-so comforting. The Creole seasoning isn't terribly spicy, and you have room to take it up a notch by adding your favorite pepper.

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Beef Enchiladas

Beef Enchiladas — Stacy Allen; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood

Beefy, cheesy, and comforting, these Beef Enchiladas are one of the ultimate freezer meals. Even better? If you line your baking dish with parchment paper before freezing, you can easily lift the enchiladas out of the baking dish when frozen solid. Take them out of the dish so you don't have to be without your beloved 9x13, wrap the enchiladas tightly, and stick them back in the freezer until ready to use!

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Cheesy Sausage-And-Croissant Casserole

sausage and croissant breakfast casserole - southern living — Alison Miksch

This cheesy, gooey casserole is always a hit. It's sort of like a savory breakfast bread pudding made with croissants and sausage. If your crew isn't fond of hot sausage, feel free to use a milder variety!

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Curried Chicken Pot Pie

Curried Chicken Pot Pie — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Chicken pot pie is a Southern favorite. You will win dinner with this curry-flavored version. Let the dish thaw in the refrigerator before baking.

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Green Chile Chicken Soup

Green Chile-Chicken Stew — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Packed with tasty ingredients like ground cumin, dried thyme, and poblano chiles, this soup is sure to keep you coming back for more. When you make and freeze this, be sure to break it into portions so you don't run out too soon.

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Eggplant Rollups

Eggplant Rollups — Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele

This tasty lasagna-like dish is an excellent low-carb option for satisfying your Italian food craving. This dish is not quite as heavy as moussaka, the eggplant takes center stage and is accentuated nicely by the marinara, ricotta and basil.

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Southern Pimiento Mac and Cheese

Southern Pimiento Mac and Cheese — Hector Sanchez

Pimiento cheese takes this Southern mac and cheese recipe to the next level. It's easy to fix and perfect for a make-ahead meal. If you are a pimiento cheese fan like so many of us are, we cannot think of a better way to enjoy mac-n-cheese.

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Slow Cooker Corn Chowder

Slow-Cooker Corn Chowder — Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Let the slow cooker do the work. Freezing creamy corn chowder is a great way to preserve summer's fresh corn. Make sure you freeze this properly so you don't sacrifice any flavor.

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Easy Chicken and Dumplings

Kid-Friendly Chicken: Easy Chicken and Dumplings — Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Chicken and dumplings are a Southern classic. Make an extra batch and freeze it for a ready-to-eat weeknight meal. On your busiest day of work, you will be so happy you thought ahead.

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Deb Wise's Tamale Pie Mix-Up

Deb Wise's Tamale Pie Mix-up — Hector Sanchez

This recipe takes a modern twist on a classic tamale pie. Have it ready to go in your freezer for an impromptu fiesta night. All you need to figure out is which margarita to pair it with.

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Tomato, Cheddar, And Bacon Pie

Tomato Pie Recipe: Tomato, Cheddar, and Bacon Pie — Hector Sanchez

The bacon-filled crust on this Southern tomato pie makes it a mouthwateringly delicious dish. The flavor trifecta of bacon, tomato and cheddar will have you making this again and again. And when someone requests a special occasion pie, will you surprise them with this savory treat?

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Slow Cooker Pork Tacos With Fresh Tomato Salsa

Slow-Cooker Pork Tacos with Fresh Tomato Salsa — Greg Dupree

Taco Tuesday just got an upgrade with this pork-filled Mexican dish. Freeze just the filling and add your tomato salsa and tortillas at the end of preparing to ensure the freshest of presentations. We recommend serving them with fresh avocado and a margarita.

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Greek Baked Ziti

Greek Baked Ziti — Greg Dupree

This classic pasta dish creates one well-rounded meal complete with two cheeses, flavorful seasoning, and grocery-store favorite ground beef. So many pasta dishes can be frozen for later enjoyment, and this is one of those that never fails.

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Smoked Pork Stuffed Pasta Shells

Smoked-Pork-Stuffed Pasta Shells — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

This hearty recipe calls for a pound of flavorful smoked pork, making the freezer-friendly pasta dish incredibly filling. Not only will you be ready just in case the unexpected guest arrives, you will impress them with your cooking prowess.

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Classic Chicken Tetrazzini

Classic Chicken Tetrazzini — Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

This praiseworthy casserole has some of our favorite Southern ingredients: pasta, chicken, and Parmesan cheese. It doesn't get better than that. Once thawed for a delicious dinner, you will be so pleased with how your effort satisfies.

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New Tuna Casserole

New Tuna Casserole — Greg Dupree

Tuna noodle casserole has been a Southern favorite for years. This "new" take features ziti pasta, panko breadcrumbs, sharp white cheddar cheese, and fresh herbs. This is tuna casserole, reinvented and it deserves a place on your table.

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Old Fashioned Meatloaf

Old-Fashioned Meatloaf — Will Dickey; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless; Food Stylist: Ali Ramee

Double this recipe so your family can enjoy one loaf now and one later with little additional effort. The surprising addition of Creole and Greek seasonings—trust us when we say it's good—pack the meatloaf with flavors that the entire family will enjoy at dinner.

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Slow Cooker Brisket Chili

Slow-Cooker Brisket Chili — Hector M. Sanchez

The brisket paired with the ancho chili powder packs this chili with a flavor punch. It's one of those things you always hope to find in your freezer, grateful that it wasn't completely wiped out because it is so tasty. Leftovers don't really exist when this dish is made available.

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Lasagna Roll Ups

Tomato-Basil Lasagna Rolls — Hector Sanchez

These lasagna rolls are the perfect meal to freeze individually and thaw according to your dinnertime head count. A trio of cheese ensures there will be more than enough melted comfort in every bite of this casserole. Your friends and family will truly enjoy the thought you put into making this lovely entree.

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Sausage And Grits Quiche

Sausage-and-Grits Quiche — Photo: Melina Hammer

Thaw food in the refrigerator. The science behind a slow, even thaw preserves flavor and texture. You'll be impressed by this clever, simple spin on a traditional quiche.

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Meatball Pasta Bake

Meatball Pasta Bake — Hector Sanchez

Orange juice is the surprising ingredient that gives this pasta dish a bright flavor. Not only that, but orange zest is also used. Instead of coming across as an unusual choice of flavors, it absolutely works.

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Extra Easy Lasagna

Extra Easy Lasagna — Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Freeze the whole pan or just the leftovers for a hearty meal straight from your freezer. If you want to break up the lasagna prior to freezing, you will then have multiple portions that can be thawed individually. When dinner hasn't been planned, pull out as many servings as you need.

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Tangy Slow Cooker Pork Shoulder

Tangy Slow-Cooker Pork Shoulder — Hector Manuel Sanchez

Keep this pork shoulder in the freezer so you'll be ready for an impromptu backyard BBQ at any time. A sweet and tangy soy and vinegar balance makes this dish impossible to resist. You will be asked many times over how you achieved such deliciousness.

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Baked Ziti With Sausage

Baked Ziti with Sausage — Southern Living

Combine homemade meat sauce with ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan for the cheesy casserole of your dreams. The homemade sausage meat sauce will take your taste buds to new heights, and the hearty servings will ensure everyone at the table is full.

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Bacon And Cheddar Grits Quiche

Bacon-and-Cheddar Grits Quiche — Alison Miksch

Keep this quiche in the freezer for an easy breakfast or dinner in the future. All you'll have to do is thaw it in the fridge and reheat before serving. This becomes easier to execute the more you make it. What are you waiting for?

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Quick Beef Chili

Quick Beef Chili — Becky Luigart Stayner

You will have this bean-free chili made and in the freezer in no time. This chili uses the shoulder tender beef cut, and the results are terrific. Once thawed and reheated, we recommend serving with green onions, sour cream, and cheddar cheese.

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Pasta Chicken Broccoli Bake

Pasta-Chicken-Broccoli Bake — Iain Bagwell

This casserole has all of the components of a full meal—protein, veggies, and carbs—all in one freezable dish. The cheese-filled tortellini that is at the heart of this meal makes it one of our best casseroles. Reserve the cheese, crackers, and pecans until just before serving.

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Heavenly Chicken Lasagna

Heavenly Chicken Lasagna — Photo: Lee Harrelson

Swap it up from the usual ground beef lasagna with this cheesy, chicken version.Do we exaggerate when using the word "heavenly" to describe this lasagna? Not at all! You are about to find out just how accurate that description is.

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Chili Cheese Enchiladas

Chili Cheese Enchiladas — Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Although the original recipe doesn't call for meat, you can easily add ground beef or shredded chicken to the cheese filling to make a heartier meal. Once finished, pop the whole pan into the freezer or break it into servings so members of your family can easily serve themselves.

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Vegetable Beef Soup

Chunky Vegetable Beef Soup — Southern Living

Comforting, hearty soup can get an entire family through chilly weather. Be sure you have plenty of saltines on hand to pair with your bowl. Freeze meal-size portions of any soup in zip-top freezer bags and you'll thank yourself later.

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Buffalo Chicken Casserole

Buffalo Chicken Casserole — Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Prepare this casserole for your freezer so you can instantly enjoy the flavor of buffalo wings when you're craving them. This dish is not just a taste treat, it's a versatile dish that is perfect for a game day appetizer, weekend lunch, or weeknight supper.

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Creamy Chicken Alfredo Casserole

Creamy Chicken Alfredo Casserole — Greg DuPree

Chicken Alfredo is loved by many for a reason. To make your Alfredo easy to achieve, this recipe uses jarred Alfredo sauce and pesto sauce, as well as a rotisserie chicken. After reheating this creamy casserole, top with paprika and basil for a comforting dish the whole family will love.

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Chicken And Wild Rice Casserole

Chicken-and-Wild Rice Casserole — Becky Luigart-Stayner

A mix of long grain and wild rice, this casserole is a little more dressed up than average. Morph it into a Cajun meal by reducing the amount of chicken and adding andouille sausage, Save time (and dirty dishes) with lidded bakeware that goes from oven to freezer to fridge with ease.

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King Ranch Chicken Mac And Cheese

King Ranch Chicken Mac and Cheese — Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Who doesn't want a batch of mac and cheese waiting in their freezer? All the flavors of a favorite casserole come together with the comfort of mac and cheese. And your unplanned dinner night just got a lot easier.

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Chicken Andouille Gumbo

Chicken Soups Chicken-Andouille Gumbo with Roasted Red Potatoes — Iain Bagwell

Stock your freezer with this classic Southern dish. Use empty cereal boxes to save space. Line an upright box with a zip-top bag (like lining a trash can). Fill, then seal the bag and freeze flat while still in the box. Once frozen, remove the bag from the box and stack.

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Chicken Casserole D'Iberville

Chicken Casserole D'Iberville — Southern Living

This old-school casserole recipe has everything you crave in a comforting casserole—hearty chicken, wild rice, creamy soup, and a crunchy, buttery topping. Cover casseroles tightly with foil, and freeze unbaked up to one month. Thaw overnight in refrigerator. Bake as directed. (Casserole may also be baked frozen. Plan to double the baking times.)

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Southern Wedding Soup

Southern Wedding Soup — Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

These flavorful meatballs come together with a combination of ground beef and ground pork for flavor. You can make and freeze the meatballs in advance. If you want to freeze the soup as well, just leave out the pasta. You can prepare that when you're ready to serve the soup.

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Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole

Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole — Southern Living

This filling casserole will be your new favorite way to use that ground beef from the freezer. Freeze assembled, unbaked casserole up to one month. Thaw in fridge overnight. Let stand 30 minutes; bake as directed.

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Chicken Tamales With Roasted Tomato And Dried Chile Sauce

Chicken Tamales with Roasted Tomato-and-Dried Chile Sauce — Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

Tamales are a holiday tradition for many Southerners with Latin backgrounds. Gathering to make tamales en masse is a holiday tradition. Start your own tradition this holiday season with this recipe, which comes with a make-ahead freezer option.

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Cajun Shrimp Casserole

Cajun Shrimp Casserole

This easy casserole is an old-fashioned, cozy way to get a seafood supper on the table. To freeze unbaked casserole, prepare as directed, omitting Parmesan cheese. Cover tightly, and freeze. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes before baking. Bake, covered, at 350° for 50 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle evenly with Parmesan cheese and bake 10 more minutes or until cheese is lightly browned.

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Cottage Pie With Potato Crust

Shepherd's Pie with Mashed Potato Crust Image — Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr

Store-bought, prepared mashed potatoes are the secret to making this classic comfort food in a snap. Prepare through Step 3, then wrap the top of the casserole dish in aluminum foil before storing in the freezer. Thaw completely in the fridge overnight before you plan to serve it.

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Pizza Spaghetti Casserole

Pizza Spaghetti Casserole — Beth Dreiling; Styling: Lisa Powell Bailey

Can't decide between pizza night and pasta night? Have the best of both worlds with this kid-friendly supper! Freeze the unbaked casserole up to one month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator; let stand 30 minutes at room temperature and bake as directed.

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Hamburger Steak With Sweet Onion Mushroom Gravy

Ground Beef Recipes: Hamburger Steak With Sweet Onion-Mushroom Gravy — Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Hamburger steak is the ultimate ground beef Sunday supper. This simple, easy dish brings us right back to Grandma's table. To make ahead, proceed with Step 1 as directed. Wrap each patty individually in plastic wrap, and place in a large zip-top plastic freezer bag. Freeze up to 3 months. Thaw frozen patties in refrigerator 8 hours; proceed with Steps 2 and 3.

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Ham And Noodle Casserole

Ham and Noodle Casserole — Jen Causey

This recipe, published more than two decades ago in our March 2001 issue, still holds up today. Especially convenient to bake when you have leftover ham to throw in a casserole, this dish is easy and delicious. Thaw the frozen casserole in the refrigerator overnight, then bake at 400° for 35 to 40 minutes.

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Rotisserie Chicken Noodle Soup

Rotisserie Chicken Noodle Soup — Photography and Styling: Caitlin Bensel

Put that rotisserie chicken from the grocery store to good use with a big batch of comforting chicken noodle soup. To freeze, simply divide it up into individual portions in zip-top bags and pull them out for quick lunches and dinners on the fly.

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Spaghetti with Meatless Ragù

Herbed Beef Ragu — Southern Living

This slow cooker pasta sauce is just what the doctor ordered for a cold winter night. Simply freeze in zip-top bags and reheat on the stovetop when you're ready to serve. You will be thanking yourself for creating a satisfying meal that everyone enjoys.

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Turkey Noodle Poppy Seed Casserole

Turkey-Noodle-Poppyseed Casserole Recipe — Hector Manuel Sanchez

This recipe graced the pages of Southern Living's November 1990 issue, and we're still making it, especially during the busy holiday season, when leftovers are abundant and need a little reinventing. Assemble the casserole and freeze it before baking. Thaw it in the refrigerator for 24 hours, let it stand at room temperature 30 minutes, and continue with the baking instructions in the recipe.

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Greek Meatballs with Cucumber-Yogurt Sauce and Rice

Greek Meatballs with Cucumber-Yogurt Sauce and Rice — Greg DuPree

This recipe yields plenty of meatballs to enjoy over rice or in a pita for an easy grab-and-go lunch. You can freeze the meatballs before or after cooking them, too. The cucumber yogurt sauce should not be ignored, as it rounds out the flavor profile for the entire dish.

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Butternut Squash Lasagna

Butternut Squash Lasagna — Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

When the autumn air starts to cool off, your family is going to love this seasonal twist on classic lasagna. No one will even realize a dish this hearty is meatless. Cover and freeze before baking and, if are giving it as a food gift, include a note to add 10-15 minutes to the covered cook time.

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