Does anyone make pies ahead of time to freeze?

[chuggabo]

Got more freezer space than I've ever had in my life and I want to make some for easy school night dinners. Got any family favorites and tips?

Sweet or savory. Thanks.

Not a pie but Burnt aubergine veggie chilli is really good. I freeze it in 5cm ice cube trays so it's easy to defrost and serve with wraps or rice. Tomato sauce (for pizza and pasta) is another staple. I also do various curries/dal which are super easy to defrost and serve.

My main tip would be don't do special batch cooking, just make double of anything freezable you cook.

Minced beef and onions
Steak pie
Various chicken pies
Corned beef, onions and potato (I don’t like but it’s DH’s favourite that his mum used to make)

I make small quiches for lunches with various fillings and individual pasties too. Like a PP I make batches of sauce, chilli, bolognese, curries etc. Most soups freeze well too.

You can always get ahead for Christmas if you have the freezer space with mince pies/veg etc.

I’m filling the freezers for winter at the moment as we live in the sticks and I’m always prepared for being snowed in. It’s rumoured to be a bad winter this year.

I make chicken and mushroom pies for my dad in individual foil trays. I use leftover roast chicken, lightly cooked mushrooms and make a veloute as the sauce and then lazily just bung it in the tray and use ready made pastry for a top only.

@UnaOfStormhold I've never done the chilli before - do you do the aubergine in the gas hob and if so, does it make a dreadful mess?

These are freezer staples in my house:

Fish pie https://www.justinepattison.com/recipe/fabulous-freezer-fish-pie/

Chilli bean pie https://www.sainsburysmagazine.co.uk/recipes/mains/chilli-bean-pie

I have done it a few times, it doesn't make a mess of the hob in my experience though the chopping board can get a bit covered! Smoking it does add a nice flavour but it's still very good if you slice the aubergine, roast it it the oven and use smoked paprika instead of normal in the chilli!

I had a cheese and onion pasty from the freezer tonight. I freeze them uncooked, individually wrapped in parchment.