Cheap family meals that can be frozen

[BabyKeith]

My DSis is about to have her second baby, and I want to help by making some meals that can be frozen.

I’ve bought a load of foil takeaway containers - they can go from the freezer to the oven.

Please can I have any recommendations for cheap tasty meals? There are no dietary requirements. Thanks.

I freeze in plastic containers and then microwave defrost. I’ll freeze most things, eg bolognaise, chicken stew, beef stew, tagine etc. Then just cook pasta, potatoes, cous cous fresh. I’ve not done much straight to oven stuff though sorry.

Do a batch of mince with grated veg and put together a shepherds pie, a bolognese and chilli con carne. They’ll just need to do the pasta and rice.
Chicken and veg curries and pies.
Fish cakes.

Shepherds pie is a good one as it’s a complete meal and can be eaten with one hand- v useful with Velcro babies
Likewise fish pie with mash
Chicken and leek pie with mash
Or pie fillings that just need pastry putting on the top, or pasta adding - I don’t think cooked pasta freezes that well.
Pasta sauces
Sausage casserole

Shepherd's/cottage pie
stew with dumplings. Probably cheapest made with shoulder of pork- add paprika and a tsp caraway seeds plus red or green peppers for a vaguely Eastern European variation
chicken curry- you can do rice in a separate container
lasagne
meatballs in tomato sauce-just needs some pasta and packet salad to accompany
vegetable curry
dhal
lancashire hotpot
apple crumble
macaroni cheese

What a kind sister you are!

Another vote for Shepherds pie as the winner. Also lasagna, pasta bake, spag bol.

Fish pie. Lasagna. Shep pie.

Thanks so much for the replies, some great ideas.

Can I hijack your thread?

I have a load of those foil containers too, but I never use them for bolognese or lasagna because the packaging says tomato/citrus based things can react with the foil.

Are plastic tubs better for tomato based stuff? Or is it only raw tomato that's an issue?

Clueless.

mac&cheese
I usually make enough for 2 meals and freeze one before putting it into oven.
soup takes ages to defrost, so would avoid that

Hi Green I use the foil containers for all sorts, including tomato based meals like bolognese and chilli. I’ve never noticed that the foil reacts with the tomato, or that the flavour is tainted.

I use glass containers like this:
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00ELM2D1W/ref=psdcmw_3313552031_t1_B005006WGG?tag=mumsnetforum-21

they can go in the oven or microwave. and stack nicely in the cupboard

I'd put the pasta in with the bolognese and make a bake. Likewise rice with the curry, spuds in the casserole. Much easier than faffing around with sides.