Good dinners/sauces etc to batch freeze?

[Methenyouplus4]

I'm expecting twins and already have 2 little ones. I'm going to invest in a second hand chest freezer to go in the garage so I can start cooking meals in batches to get through those first few weeks /months.

My issue is, I almost always cook fresh and from scratch so feel a bit clueless about easy dinners that freeze well. I don't eat red meat but other than that we like most things.

So far I could think of: fish pie, vegetable lasagne, soup, er... That's it!

Please feel free to link recipes you've tried and tested as I don't want to batch cook something that's awful!

Bolognese, chilli, curry, cottage pie, any pasta dish? I don't eat meat so mine all vegetable/quorn/ lentil or bean based.

Ah good, I forgot about some of the classics!

Roasy meats. I cook joints of meat and have a meat slicer and I slice and freeze in batches either for sandwiches/salads or reheat in gravy for quick roast dinners. I also make batches of yorkshire pudding and again freeze separately then store in bags.

enchiladas
fry a finely chopped red onion and pepper in some oil until beginning to soften, add in turkey mince
(approximately 100g per person) and cook until done (around 8-10minutes). Add some frozen peas or
sweetcorn and cook for 2 minutes more. Spoon in 2 heaped tbsp red pesto and 1tbsp tomato puree. You
can add 25g grated cheese if liked here (we don't as DH hates cheese). Spoon into tortillas and roll up.
Slice in half and put into baking tin. Top with HM tomato sauce and/or grated cheese. Bake until golden
on top at 180degrees (approx 10-15mins).

Macaroni cheese, curries, ratatouille, pasta bakes, cauli cheese. Have you got a Cook! near you you could walk round for inspiration?

Love the idea for Yorkshire pub's, do you just defrost then heat in microwave?

Sharond-i'm sold on that recipe, we love things like that. How do you make your tomato sauce? Would passata do instead?

Cauliflower cheese another winner and great idea, I used to cook one with pasta baked in but forgot all about that.

Thank you everyone, I feel a bit more inspired now.

We love it methenyouplus4 it's our favourite. I do a small finely chopped onion cooked until soft in a deep pan then add tin chopped tomatoes, 1 tbsp worcestershire sauce, 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar and 1 tbsp red or green pesto. Simmer for 15-20 minutes.

We make two or three batches at a time and freeze. The mince mixture is also great served on top of nachos or in pitta breads.

I just bung the yorkshire puddings in the oven for about 5/10mins at the end of cooking dinner, depending if I've remembered to defrost first.

I've made a list of dishes I will be batch cooking and freezing for same reason (Though only expecting 1 DC )

I know all of these freeze well:
Chilli
Lasagne
Meatballs & sauce
Shepherds Pie
Chicken Casserole
Beef Stroganoff
Chicken, sweet potato Chickpea & spinach curry
Chicken & Chorizo traybake
Fajita/enchilada mix (The chicken/veg only, not wraps etc!)
Mince in gravy with dumplings
Ratatouille
Sweet Potato & Chickpea stew
Sausage casserole
Ham, cheese, leek & potato bake
Corned beef hash
Macaroni cheese
Cauliflower & Broccoli Cheese bake with bacon/pasta
Quiche
Pasta sauces
Soup
Scones/muffins etc (breastfeeding snacks!)
Simple Brownies/Traybake type cakes for visitors etc

I also plan to have a stock of frozen microwavable rice & mashed potato, cous cous, part baked bread and fresh pasta, all of which take about 5 mins to cook - to go with most of the above things!

I'm planning to cook most of these and will be freezing all in single/double portion foil trays that can go straight in the oven from frozen, or the plastic tubs you get from the chinese takeaway. Some things I will just prep all the meat & veg rather than cook it and chuck in large freezer bags with spices, liquids etc so they can be chucked in the slow cooker in the morning and ready for dinner in the evening.

Also planning to get a stash of paper plates and plastic cutlery for when things are too hectic to even worry about washing up! (At least they can go in the recycling along with the foil and plastic containers)

Will be watching this with interest for more ideas to add to my list!

Keep the change, thanks for all the inspiration!

I know you were probably hankering after main courses- but I also freeze mini meringues- just a spoon full of mixture each on a baking tray- which are fab for puddings with some frozen berries and a splash of cream. Popular with little ones.

Also meatballs are always handy to have frozen. There are some good asian inspired pork ones online. Nice with rice (the microwave package ones can be a life saver) or noodles.