Freezer meal prep for lunches

[Icklepickle101]

Me and husband both work in emergency services and I’m going back in 2 weeks after a long time off work. I want to batch cook a load of meals we can freeze and get out the night/day before for lunches or if we can’t be bothered to cook dinner after a 12hour shift, bonus points if suitable for pre school aged children for my mum to feed them!

Have the usual lasagne, curry, soup etc. Looking for things I might not have thought could be frozen? Or a bit different?

Thanks 😊

things like sandwiches can be frozen (although I would avoid freezing cheese ones as it can taste a bit watery). just make as normal, wrap in cling film and put in an airtight box (you can put several in a large Tupperware and remove as needed, place in your lunchbox and they have defrosted by lunchtime)

I do this for harvest lunches. I've frozen:

Veggie fajita wraps
Ham rolls
Cheese rolls
Pasta salad (will add mayo after defrosting)
Roasted veg and noodles (will add sweet chilli sauce after defrosting)

Pulled pork slow cook a prok joint in bbq sauce freeze, reheat with tortilla wraps.

Cottage/shepherd's/fish pie
Jacket potatoes (cook then freeze and defrost when you need them)
Quiche or frittatas
Tagines
Make a batch of bolognaise type sauce then defrost and serve with pasta /jacket potato/rice/couscous/wraps/tacos/in a sandwich - you can add kidney beans to make it more chilli like if you want

Also macaroni cheese and cauliflower cheese are great ones to have in the freezer - as are sausage stew, moussaka and cannelloni

This book is really good if you want other ideas...

www.amazon.co.uk/Ice-Kitchen-Fresh-Family-Freezer-ebook/dp/B07YLBTQ2D?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Cornish pasties www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/ham-cheese-mushroom-turnovers and www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/leek-cheese-potato-pasties
Frittata muffins realfood.tesco.com/recipes/green-frittata-muffins.html
Puff pastry tart realfood.tesco.com/recipes/tomato-red-onion-and-halloumi-pizza-style-tart.html
Cheese scones www.bbcgoodfood.com/user/896076/recipe/classic-cheese-scones

I make little things like sausage rolls, but stuffed with feta mashed with onions, peppers, sweetcorn, herbs. Cook and freeze then just stick into lunchbox in the fridge the night before, to defrost overnight. I also prepare a load of croissants with jam and freeze them, so I've got easy breakfasts.

Agree with PP re cheese scones too.

For meals, dhal freezes really well - then you just have to cook some rice and maybe make a salad when you get home.

Have you looked at „The Batch Lady“ - she has online recipes for all sorts of freezable meals from fishcakes, over Hasselback Chicken or Fajitas. They are surprisingly good and very down to earth ingredients-wise, from a family point of view, and price-wise.