10 Easy Make-Ahead Dinners to Fill Your Fridge and Freezer
Some days you don't have the time or energy to be standing in the kitchen cooking away, and that's where make-ahead meals come in handy.
Here, we've compiled a list of the best meals you can make and save for later that are not only incredibly tasty, but are also satisfying and easy to pull together.
Simply make and refrigerate any leftovers, or pop it in a covered airtight container or heavy-duty freezer bag once it's cooked and cooled down to room temperature.
Whether it's a busy weeknight or a lazy weekend, these meals are perfect for any day.
For more delicious recipes, check out our recipe series Put on a Spread.
10 Easy Make-Ahead Dinners to Fill Up Your Fridge and Freezer
1. Vegetarian Dumplings
Apart from bread and pasta, we couldn't possibly live without dumplings.
Not only are these vegetarian ones incredibly easy to prepare and cook but they can be made ahead of time, frozen and then cooked when needed (that is if you can resist from eating them all in one go).
The filling is well balanced with a variety of textures, and then seasoned to perfection with ginger, soy sauce and spring onions.
Head here for the full recipe.
2. 7-Ingredient Zucchini Quiche
Picture this: it's a warm, summer's day in France, there's a beautiful dressed dining table in the backyard, glasses of wine are at the ready and the aroma of a home-cooked quiche wafts through the house.
While we'd love to be wining and dining in France right now, this is still a scenario you can re-create without having to leave your home, thanks to this delectable zucchini quiche recipe.
Requiring only seven ingredients (most of which you'll already have on hand), each mouthful you're delighted with a creamy filling and a buttery crust.
Bake, slice, eat and freeze the remaining slices. You can also put together this quiche in advance and bake it when you're ready to serve it — simply store it in the fridge until it's ready to go in the oven (just make sure it's not kept uncooked for longer than 24 hours).
Head here for the full recipe.
3. Focaccia With Leeks, Ricotta and Honey
While the end result of this recipe may look seriously impressive, we promise it’s actually super simple (something even the most novice of cooks - or nervous of entertainers - will be able to execute with ease).
And a little tip from us to you: if you happen to have any leftovers of this seriously impressive focaccia, it makes for some of the best toast you'll have in your life.
Head here for the full recipe.
4. Vegetarian Egg Fried Rice
This recipe makes enough to feed a feast of four (as a main) or six (as a starter), which means one batch will leave a single person satisfied for a solid few days.
If you're carb-conscious, you can also swap out the white rice for cauliflower rice, which will triple the veg content of the dish, or use brown rice for a dose of wholegrains.
Head here for the full recipe.
5. Spinach, Haloumi and Feta Pie
This hearty and filling recipe takes inspiration from a traditional Greek Spanakopita. It's packed with handfuls of dill and parsley for a pop of herby flavour and coupled with a buttery pastry that flakes off on your fork. And last but definitely not least, with each mouthful you get a decadent ooze of the cheesy filling. The key with this recipe is to be patient — especially when cooking the onions and garlic as they really create a sweetness and richness that elevates the filling tenfold.
Head here for the full recipe.
6. Baked Eggplant With Chickpea Puree and Tomato Salad
You only need 15 minutes to prep this dish, and then the eggplant needs just 30 minutes in the oven for it to get nice and charred.
If you're cooking it in advance, bake the eggplant, blend the chickpea puree and make the herb dressing, then keep all the ingredients in separate containers in the fridge. When you're ready to eat it, simply pull all the ingredients together.
Head here for the full recipe.
7. Prawn and Ginger Wontons
While we love the vegetarian dumplings above, sometimes we crave for a little seafood.
Double this recipe and freeze half for those days when you really can’t be bothered to cook.
Head here for the full recipe.
8. Tomato and Ricotta Galette
The humble galette should be a recipe every home chef has up their sleeve. Not only do they look incredible, but they taste insanely good and they're one of the most simple dishes to make. In fact, this recipe only calls for eight ingredients you probably already have in your pantry.
What sets this galette apart from others is the fail-proof moist pastry, which is made with the secret addition of sour cream.
If tomatoes aren’t in season, get creative and swap them out for literally any vegetables you have on hand - the possibilities are endless.
Head here for the full recipe.
9. Baked Rigatoni With Broccoli and Zucchini Pesto
An Italian kitchen classic, this easy-to-make but ridiculously good, baked rigatoni, is not only the solution to your weeknight dinner juggle, but will soothe your soul in the way that only carbs can.
This recipe is a one-pan wonder that makes enough for lunch and dinner the next day. Serve it alongside a fresh salad and you've got yourself a balanced meal.
Head here for the full recipe.
10. Vegetarian Spring Rolls
Just like the dumpling recipes above, these can either be frozen uncooked or cooked. And while the recipe calls for deep-frying them, we can't help but think they'd be just as nice cooked in an air fryer.
Head here for the full recipe.
For more delicious recipes, check out our recipe series Put on a Spread.
