Batch cooking, what can I make

[Buttonmoonb4tea]

So I recently returned to work. Have 2 DC 9 and nearly 1. Absolutely knackered on an evening so thought I'd batch cook and freeze in the hope I'll always remember to take something out the freezer night before/ in the morning. Any ideas of what I can make? So far I have lasagne, various pies, spaghetti bolognaise. All quite heavy though so what do you think?

I batch cook soups and freeze in individual portions. A basic tomato pasta sauce is quite handy too, as you can jazz it up with additional ingredients once defrosted - tuna and chillies, for example.

Cheese, Cauliflower and spinach bake
Chickpea burgers
Pasta bake
Cottage pie
Thai curry with noodles
Chickpea, sweet potatoe curry
Soup
Lentil and chorizo stew

Remember if short on time in the evenings things like jacket potatoes with beans/tuna/cheese and salad are filling and fairly healthy. Jacket pots in the microwave matter of minutes

Frittata is pretty quick too, and very flexible.

Ah thanks for the suggestions. I had thought of making a tomato sauce too. Never thought of Thai curry, that would be lovely after hard day. And yeah jacket potatoes, forgot how easy it is to make those with a filling and a bit of salad. I've just drawn a blank when it comes to food recently, no real time or passion for cooking! A shame really as I'm a real foodie at heart

burgers are great in the freezer...beef with added sundried tomatoes or mould them round a wodge of cheese. Use pork mince with a grated apple, or crumbled black pudding

chilli....bulk out the mince with different type of beans....you can do that with rice/jacket potatoes or a tray of nachos, or even make enchiladas

HUnters chicken... slice a chicken breast nearly open, wodge of cheese inside, wrap the whole lot around with bacon/parma ham and then freeze, when it comes to cook them, defrost and use either a bough sauce, or make up your own with whatever you fancy, cook them in the oven and then we have ours with mash

beef/pork olives...similar sort of thing...bash a cutlet of meat flat, roll it round some stuffing of your choice and then cook in oven in a tomato ish typ of sauce....frozen veg/mash to serve.

I have just done some of these for after I gave birth.
Burgers
Meatballs
Burritos
Fajita mix
Flavoured meat (Chinese chicken and garlic and herb)
Chicken soup
Homemade pizza

I make chilli, which we either have as is with rice or jacket potatoe, or as burritos.

Shepherd's pie filling, after we have had roast lamb, all it needs is the mash on top.

Soups, really good for lunches at work.

Tomato sauce, for pizza bases or with chicken breast.fish.
I also make pizza dough and freeze in 2 person portions.
I make a big batch of crumble mix too. Just need to cook the fruit and pop the topping on it.

These are great. Just to do a big shop now

A massive vat of tomato and vegetable sauce with onions, peppers, courgettes, mushrooms, garlic and herbs. Decant into several containers, and it can be turned into pasta pomodoro or the basis of spag bol, lasagne, chilli con carne, chicken burritos, sausage and bean casserole etc. Boring if you have it every day but two or three times a week it's surprisingly versatile.

Courgette/marrow soup is currently making its way into my freezer as they're in season so cheap. Add lentils, beans, mung beans or anything similar when cooking with whatever spice/herb you have to hand. If you're not veggie, then bacon is a tummy addition. Filling, nutritious & delicious....

Garlic lemon chicken - chicken breast (or thigh) chopped into 1 inch cubes. Juice of a lemon and minced clove of garlic per breast, big slug of olive oil and salt and pepper. Mix up in a big bowl then decant into freezer bags. I defrost and then fry in a dry pan and serve with pitta and hummus/rice and salad/bag of fancy Dan mixed grains/Greek salad/couscous or tabbuloeh. Much lighter than most freezer meals.

Sorry not sure if this is hijacking- I'm what type of container do you use when you freeze things? How long can you keep a tomato pasta sauce frozen - thanks

There is a stray "I'm" in my last post

Following for inspiration as in similar boat. We have chilli and spag bol in freezer so far. Would you mind sharing your lentil and chorizo recipe please op?
does anyone know is it ok to defrost frozen mince and make a chilli or cottage pie for example then freeze again? Does mash freeze ok or is it best to make mash fresh?

Hi Sweetpea it was Sparkles who suggested lentil and Chorizo stew. It's fine to defrost mince and then cook and refreezing as far as I know. Well I'm still alive after doing so . Not sure about mash on its own although I have frozen a cottage pie before and the mash was fine reheated in oven.

Right so big shop done! Stocked up on chicken breasts, mince, fish and tinned tomatoes for my Tomato sauce. Do I cook/steam veg and add to chopped tomatoes and then blend?

Sorry to hijack but thanks for all the ideas, I'm going to make some of these and freeze before our baby is born!

sweetpea lentil and chorizo stew

Chicken stock about 1/2 a pint from a cube is fine
As much chorizo as you like
Red onion
Garlic
Peppers
Add a chilli if you like
Season with black pepper ( I never add salt as I find with the chorizo you don't need it but you could if you wish)
Tablespoon of paprika
Tin of Chopped tomatoes
Put all of the above in a pan and simmer, meanwhile cook lentils ( as the packet says) then stir in! It is so simple but tastes really good and freezes well

Yes sweetpea mash freezes fine.

button if you want a completely smooth sauce steam the veg a little and blend. But I like veg chunks in my pasta sauce so I don't blend at all

Soup
Cottage pie
Chili
Lasagne
Fish pie
Red sauce for pasta

Cake!

Scones

Brownies

I marinate fish or meat and put in pieces on skewers and freeze. For example I might marinate salmon in teryiaki sauce, then freeze. Then can just take out freezer that morning and leave in fridge then out on a grilling machine to grill in 5 mins. Serve with some veg and rice

Thanks sparkles. It might encourage dh to eat lentils, I love them, dh not so much!

Artandco what a good idea. Keep them coming

Thanks for the suggestions michelle unfortunately I don't live in London