There are several things I am doing this time around as I prepare for my second baby that I wish I had done before my first was born. Aside from packing my hospital bag early, making freezer meals (and a lot of them!) is top of my list. I did take the time to make a few before baby #1, but to be honest they were gone within the first two weeks, and I wished desperately I had more.
And now as a soon to be mom of a toddler and a newborn, I know my time is going to be stretched even more thin! I thought life was busy working full time and pregnant, but boy was I wrong! Cooking is already hard with a two-year-old attached to my hip I don’t even want to think about how those first few weeks of newborn life will be.
And let me tell you, there’s nothing like a warm, home-cooked meal at the end of a long, hard day to make things feel a little better. Plus, one of the best parts of making meals ahead of time is using disposable containers. Fewer dishes after dinner? Yes, please! It’s a win-win.
So, with all that in mind, I’m sharing my top tips for prepping freezer meals, the supplies that will make your life easier, and a few of our family’s favorite recipes. Here’s everything you need to know to get ahead and keep the stress down when baby arrives!
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Easy Ways to Prep Freezer Meals
I know the idea of prepping a bunch of dinners ahead of time can sound daunting, but it really doesn’t have to! There are so many easy ways to prep freezer meals over the last month or so of your pregnancy that before you know it your freezer will be full. Here are some easy ways to get started:
1. Start Doubling Dinners Now
Truly doubling what you are already making for dinner is one of the easiest ways to stock your freezer. Making a pasta dish? Just make twice as much as you need and freeze the other half in a disposable pan to reheat later. It shouldn’t take you any more time than you are already spending, and you already are dirtying dishes.
This is also a great way to try out freezer meal recipes ahead of time to make sure you actually like them.
2. Freeze Meals In Smaller Portions
For just my husband, me, and my toddler we really don’t need a bunch of 9×13 size dinners in the freezer. That is honestly too much, and we probably will get sick of it before all the food is eaten.
Freeze your meals in smaller portions that are either enough for just one dinner (with very minimal if any leftovers) or even single portion sizes. I loved using 9×9 pans or even disposable loaf pans to make smaller meal sizes for my family.
And you can do that again by making more of the dinners you are already making now or even freezing leftovers.
This allows you to heat up just what your family (or even just you) need to make everyone happy for dinner that night. I can’t count how many times my toddler has refused to eat whatever I made for dinner, so I’d rather be fully prepared in case that situation happens.
3. Throw a Freezer Meal Baby Shower
This is a great option for an alternative baby shower if you already have one or more children. After your first baby there isn’t a ton of baby “stuff” that you need to justify a full baby shower. And some moms don’t want to have a party like that again.
A freezer meal baby shower is a great way for your friends and family to come together and help you stock that freezer with all sorts of goodies while taking that load off of you! If you want more tips on how to host a freezer meal baby shower, check out all the details here!
4. Don't Forget About Breakfast!
When you think of freezer meals, it is easy to focus on dinners that can also be used for leftover lunches, but breakfast is also important too! In fact after a long night of being up with the baby, a warm filling breakfast may be just what you need.
I love to freeze single servings of muffins, waffles, breakfast sandwiches, and even breakfast burritos that can all be heated up in a matter of minutes for a quick breakfast. These also make a great middle of the night snack when those breastfeeding munchies hit you!
Supplies for Freezer Meals
The key to these supplies is that they are freezer friendly and disposable! You want your meals to stay as fresh as possible and be easy to clean up when you are done. Here are some of my favorites I think you should have on hand:
Aluminum foil – perfect for wrapping individual size portions to then put in bags to keep food from getting freezer burnt. Also helpful for heating up food in the air fryer.
Aluminum Pans in various sizes with lids – if you have a large family the 9X13 will work great for just about anything, but for my smaller family I love these 9X9 pans as well as loaf pans for better portion sizes.
Sharpies – Make sure to label everything with what the meal is and clear instructions
Freezer Gallon Bags – Great for crockpot/instant pot meals and for storing individually wrapped meals
Bag Clips – These are definitely not a requirement but they sure do make it easier to hold your bags open while preparing several freezer meals at once.
Crockpot/Instant Pot – Not all freezer meals have to be baked in the oven. Especially if you are having a summer baby, crockpot or instant pot freezer meals are a great option that won’t heat your house up too much. Just remember these meals usually need to be defrosted in the fridge overnight before you can cook them.
Top Freezer Meal Tips
Before we get into the meals, here are a few more tips to remember when making your freezer meals
- Make meals your family will like – personal opinion, but now is not the time to try out a bunch of new foods you haven’t tried before. It’s ok to try new recipes but make sure they are similar to dishes you already like. The last thing you want (especially if you have other kids) is to spend the time making these meals that no one wants to eat.
- Label everything clearly – on each meal make sure to include what the meal is, if it needs to defrost first, clear instructions for cooking, and any sides that are needed to go with it.
- Only do “freezer friendly” meals –Not everything tastes great after being defrosted and reheated.
- Don’t freeze any meals while they are still hot – Make sure to cool your meals in the fridge before placing them in the freezer.
- Keep your meals organized and don’t forget about them – Most freezer meals are good for about 3 months in the freezer. Make sure to write the date you made it on the container so you can keep track of when to use the meal by.
- Make a variety of meals – from pastas to soups to casseroles so you can always make something that is appealing to you and your family. The last thing you want is to eat a different kind of pasta every night for a month!
Top Freezer Meals to Make Before Baby Comes
Breakfast
Looking for easy, make-ahead breakfast options? These freezer friendly breakfast recipes are perfect for those busy mornings—just reheat and enjoy! Click below for some of my favorite go-to breakfast ideas.
Get recipe from: Sense and Edibility
Get recipe from: Stefania’s Kitchenette
Apple Turnovers
Get recipe from: Bless This Meal
Get recipe from: Easy Budget Recipes
Lunch/Dinner
Need quick lunch or dinner freezer meal ideas that are perfect for busy postpartum days? These easy recipes make great meals and even better leftovers, so you can enjoy them later without the hassle! Check out the links below for some of my favorites.
Get recipe from: I Hate Meal Prep
Get recipe from: Easy Budget Recipes
Get recipe from: Chew Out Loud
Instant Pot Beef Barbacoa
Get recipe from: Chew Out Loud
Get recipe from: An Edible Mosaic
Cheesy Baked Pasta Al Forno
Get recipe from: Baking Beauty
Get recipe from: Budget Delicious
Ritz Cracker Chicken
Get recipe from: Baking Beauty
Get recipe from: Little Sunny Kitchen
Freezable Pizza Pockets
Get recipe from: Mommy Evolution
John Wayne Casserole
Get recipe from: Recipes from a Pantry
Get recipe from: Budget Delicious
Bringing a new baby into the world is such a whirlwind, and having those freezer meals ready to go is just one less thing to worry about. Trust me, when you’re in the thick of newborn life (and toddler life, if you’re in my shoes), being able to pull a home-cooked meal out of the freezer feels like a tiny victory. It’s all about making things just a little easier during a busy time.
So, whether you’re prepping solo or getting loved ones involved with a freezer meal baby shower, you’ll be so thankful for that stocked freezer once baby arrives. And while no amount of meal prep can fully prepare you for the sleepless nights and diaper changes, at least dinner won’t be on your list of worries! Enjoy this exciting time—and let those freezer meals take care of you when you need it most.
