Freezer meal help

[Magenta82]

A friend's family are going through a tough time and I'm going to help them out by making some meals they can freeze and reheat easily.

I asked what they would like but it's easier if I can give them a list to pick from.

I'd really appreciate some help with suggestions for meals I can batch cook and freeze. Ideally these would be high calorie, energy and nutrionally dense, rather than low fat etc.

So far I have:

Macaroni cheese
Spaghetti bolognese
Chili con carne
Chicken soup (from bones with added chicken and vegetables)
Vegetable soup (e.g. tomato, spiced butternut squash and sweet potato, carrot and coriander, or anything else)
Curry (beef, chicken, lamb, optional hidden vegetables in sauce)
Shepherds/cottage pie (optional cheese on top, vegetables can be hidden or whole)
Fish pie (optional boiled eggs inside and/or cheese on top)

Stew?

Beef in red wine, cooked in slow cooker? And i've tried freezing mac and cheese before, it really didn't work.

Casseroles are always a good one for batch cooking, steak and ale, pork in cider with apples, chicken in honey and mustard with root veg, sausage and butter bean.

Does she had the freezer space? Frozen meals like that can take up a huge amount of space!

• Lasagne, but rather than freezing the entire tray, cut it into small portions to then freeze
• Chicken pasta bake, tuna bake, salmon bake
• Make the bolognese sauce and let them cook the pasta- to save space
• Pea/Ham soup. Mine turns into a stew though as very thick. 2 packets of quick cook split peas soaked as per instructions.Batchelors Quick Soak Dried Peas - ASDA Groceries A smoked ham hock/knuckle. Cut into smaller pieces. I take the skin off, but leave it on for added calories. I then add in any veg I have- carrots, celery, potatoes, swede, onions and leave in the slow cooker. I don't even need additional stock, because the ham hock has so much flavour. Delicious on a cold night with toast or crusty bread, and freezes very well.

Lasagne is a better bet than spaghetti bolognese, I think, as they can just put it in the oven. I splashed a bit of cream in the bechamel sauce too when I was trying to help get calories into my FiL.

Your ideas all sound great!

I bought those individual silver trays and wrote the cooking instructions and ingredients on the cardboard tops - I think individual portions are easier to fit in the freezer too.

Fish cakes
Cornish pasties
Chicken chasseur
Cumberland pie
Lancashire hot pot

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

My plan was to put the meals that need oven cooking like macaroni cheese, shepherd's pie, fish pie etc in the silver trays with instructions on the lids and put the things that can go in a saucepan like soup and chili in some good quality plastic freezer bags, again with instructions on the outside. I can then get them some microwave rice bags, part baked bread etc to go with it and make things easier. Pasta they can cook themselves.

I want to make things as easy as possible and remove the need to think about dinner. They can both cook, but their time and energy is limited at the moment.

When I lived alone I did the above as batch cooking is easier than making meals for one. I found that things that go in the oven work if you freeze before cooking and cook them before eating. With macaroni cheese I made the pasta a little firmer and the sauce a little thiner and it worked really well.

I froze pasta bake to avoid wasting portions and it didn't survive particularly well. For pasta I think you're better freezing the sauce which can be stirred to reheat it thoroughly and then cook the pasta fresh.

I have cancer and these were what I meal prepped when I was diagnosed, I did do it all based on nutrients and will try find those lists.

Firstly, the sachets of Miso Soup are wonderful with just some added seaweed, edamame beans and tofu to it as well.

Thai Green Curry
Tom Yam Soup
Brocoli and Cheese Soup
Spicy Pumpkin and Sweet Potato Soup

Breakfast Bagels
Ham Cheese and Egg
Sausage and Egg

Breakfast Pittas
Falafel and Humous
Beetroot walnuts and goats cheese

Breakfast Ciabatta
Olives tapenade , tomato sauce feta
Spinach and cheese and egg

<just realised I don't have the entire list with me, I'll be back with it>

I don't think pasta freezes well.

I'd focus more
On stew / curry etc

Here are some additional meal ideas that you can batch-cook and freeze:

1. Lasagna
2. Enchiladas
3. Beef Stew
4. Chicken and Rice Casserole
5. Meatballs in Tomato Sauce
6. Pulled Pork
7. Quiche (vegetable or meat)
8. Goulash
9. Chicken and Vegetable Stir-Fry
10. Stuffed Bell Peppers
11. Vegetarian or Meat-filled Pasta Shells
12. Minestrone Soup
13. Beef and Broccoli
14. Baked Ziti
15. Tuna Noodle Casserole

These meals can be made in larger quantities, portioned into containers, and frozen for later use. It's a great idea to focus on high-calorie, energy-dense, and nutritionally rich options to provide your friend's family with nourishing meals. Additionally, you can include simple instructions for reheating each meal to make it as convenient as possible for them.

Lentil Dahl with root veg of choice + spinach

Laksa or similar coconut-based soup/stew.

Great idea re the containers + instructions.

If you could be bothered to write out a list of everything you're giving them (including cooking time) so they can tick them off I imagine that might be helpful.