Vegetarian Freezer Meals

The whole time I was pregnant with my youngest child I was eagerly anticipating having some freezer meals for when she arrived. I love cooking with fresh food, but I knew it would be difficult not only with a newborn but also with three other young kids running around and making demands on my time and energy.

I decided not to start freezer meal cooking until I was in the third trimester so things wouldn't be sitting around in the freezer so long (and so I wouldn't eat them before the baby arrived!). Once I compiled all the things I wanted to make I realized I was going to need some sort of schedule to spread it out over the weeks instead of saving it all for those last few uncomfortable days.

How I plan vegetarian freezer recipes

My philosophy on freezer meals is to make double of what I'm already making for dinner and stash the extra in the freezer. I find this much easier than doing a full day of cooking multiple kinds of meals.

I decided I could financially and physically handle doubling two meals a week with one or two treats or snacks thrown in there as well. Breastfeeding makes me SO hungry, and my kids are always asking for snacks, so I knew I would be happy to have these things on hand when the time came.

As the due date approached I tried to include the things I could live without if the baby came early (oh, to hope and dream!) or I didn't have the energy to get it done (it happened). I was also trying to plan ahead for easy Thanksgiving and Christmas foods and treats that I knew I would want to have around but may not have time to complete with a newborn.

apple spice muffins on white parchment with a bowl of applesauce

The best vegetarian freezer meals

Out of this meal plan, I had a few favorites. The muffins were probably the biggest winner for me. I could set a few out the night before, the kids would find them in the morning, and I would get a few extra hours in bed without needing to make breakfast.

Banana bread is also a great snack to have in the freezer (and doubles as breakfast when spread with peanut butter). The black bean patties were great for a quick individual lunch. I would thaw them out and wrap them in a tortilla with some cheese, avocado, and salsa.

What's in this vegetarian freezer meal plan

This make ahead meal schedule will give you nine breakfasts, fourteen main dishes, seven somewhat time consuming essentials that can be quickly worked into meals, six snacks, and five desserts. I've included links to the recipes I use, although there may be a few tweaks here or there for taste or better freezing.

Important vegetarian freezer meal details

For anything baked in a 9x13 pan I placed it in a disposable aluminum pan (<-- affiliate link), wrapped in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil. You can write the name of the dish, date, and baking instructions on the top of the aluminum foil in permanent marker.

Keep in mind that large casseroles may need longer in the oven than the recipe calls for if your refrigerator was too cold for it to thaw completely overnight (consider trying to move them from freezer to fridge 36 hours before baking).

Loaves of quick bread I find freeze best if you allow it to fully cool before slicing, then wrap the entire loaf in plastic wrap and place it in a freezer bag. Write the name and date on the outside of the bag, then when you're ready to eat, just break off the number of slices you want and microwave for 30-60 seconds to thaw.

FAQ

How long does food last in the freezer?

Frozen meals will last 3-4 months in the freezer before taste and quality starts to deteriorate. Please refer to the USDA Freezing and Food Safety guidelines for more information on safe freezing practices.

What shouldn't I freeze?

Most things do well in the freezer, but I like to keep dairy products like heavy cream and cream cheese out of the freezer and add them fresh if I can. It is also not recommended that you freeze raw eggs or lettuces because the texture will not survive the freezer.

What can I use instead of aluminum foil and plastic for freezing foods?

If you prefer not to use aluminum foil or plastics, I recommend trying Stasher bag s or mason jar s for freezer storage. You may need to adjust how you're packaging your portions to get them to fit in the bags.

two black bean patties on a white plate with rice, lime, and avocado

Vegetarian Freezer Meal Freeze Ahead Meal Plan

The list below is linked to each recipe in the meal plan. However, you can also receive a convenient PDF to save these recipes to your computer for future use.

Week 1

Stacked Veggie Enchiladas - Assemble and freeze prior to baking.

Baked Ziti - Assemble and freeze prior to baking.

Zucchini Bread - Allow to cool, slice, and double wrap as a loaf in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer bag. Remove by the slice and microwave for 30 seconds.

Vegan Pumpkin Muffins - Place in a freezer bag and allow to thaw at room temperature or in the microwave.

Vegan Zucchini Brownies - I enjoy eating these straight from the freezer!

Week 2

Vegetarian Lentil Meatloaf Muffins - Freeze after baking, microwave individual portions to thaw.

Roasted Vegetable Lasagna - Assemble and freeze prior to baking.

Pistachio Pesto - Freeze in small portions, microwave for 30 seconds to thaw.

Larabar Mini Brownie Bites - Let sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before enjoying.

Week 3

Tomato Soup -Leave out the cream and add in the final minutes of reheating.

Butternut Squash Sauce - Store in a plastic freezer bag, transfer to a microwave safe bowl and microwave until thawed.

Pizza Dough - I double this and use half white whole wheat flour, freeze balls of dough in individual freezer bags, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and let rise at room temperature 1-2 hours before using.

Apple Spice Muffins - Place in a freezer bag and allow to thaw at room temperature or in the microwave.

Week 4

Italian quinoa casserole being scooped from a pan

Italian Quinoa Casserole - Assemble and freeze prior to baking.

Penne alla vecchia Bettola sauce - Freeze prior to the final step of adding cream, seasoning, and cheese, do this in the final minutes of reheating.

Chocolate Chip Muffins - Place in a freezer bag and allow to thaw at room temperature or in the microwave.

Maple Nut Breakfast Cookies - Place in a freezer bag, thaw individual cookies in the microwave for 20-30 seconds.

Week 5

Vegetarian Baked Southwest Egg Rolls - Freeze fully baked and cooled, bake again from frozen until hot.

Beetroot Hummus - Freeze individual portions. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or in the microwave.

Five Minute Breakfast Burrito - Freeze burritos wrapped in aluminum foil or a double layer of plastic wrap in a freezer bag. Unwrap and microwave or bake until warm.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies - Place in a freezer bag and allow to thaw at room temperature or in the microwave.

Week 6

Easy Cheese Enchiladas - Assemble and freeze prior to baking.

Eggplant Parmesan - Assemble and freeze prior to baking.

Chewy Peanut Butter Bites - Enjoy from frozen or allow to thaw at room temperature for 10 minutes.

Chocolate Revel Bars - Freeze individual bars in a freezer bag, microwave one for 30 seconds before eating.

Week 7

a vegetarian calzone cut on a wood cutting board

Broccoli, Bean, and Cheese Calzones - Bake prior to freezing, cut into individual portions, thaw in the microwave or in the refrigerator overnight and bake again until hot and crisp.

Black Bean Patties - Freeze fully baked, thaw in the microwave and bake or broil until as crisp as you like.

Peanut Butter Breakfast Bars - Allow bars to cool completely, cut, and place in a freezer bag. Let thaw 10 minutes at room temperature.

Low Carb Breakfast Casserole - Freeze individual portions, reheat in the microwave until warm.

Week 8

Walnut Burgers - Freeze on a baking sheet before transferring to a freezer bag. Microwave or pan fry until warm.

Banana Walnut Pancakes - Freeze fully baked, thaw in the microwave.

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread - Allow to cool, slice, and double wrap as a loaf in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer bag. Remove by the slice and microwave for 30 seconds.

Pumpkin Seed Butter Cups - Place in a freezer bag and try not to eat too quickly!

Week 9

Vegan Carrot Ginger Soup - Freeze in individual portions (I like to use mason jars or freezer bags), microwave or rest in the refrigerator overnight to thaw.

Spinach Pesto - Freeze in small portions, microwave to thaw.

Vegan Chocolate Chip Granola Bars - Cut into individual portions and place in a freezer bag. Thaw 10 minutes at room temperature

Peanut Butter Larabars - Cut into individual portions and freeze, or refrigerate if they'll be eaten in a week or so. I definitely ate them all before the baby came!

Week 10

Mushroom Walnut Taco Meat - Place in a freezer bag and remove portions as needed. Microwave to thaw.

Moist and Fluffy Cornbread - Bake, cut, and freeze in the pan so you can take out individual servings or let the whole thing thaw at room temperature, microwave to warm.

Bran Granola - Place in a freezer bag and scoop out individual portions as needed.

Almond Butter Cups - Place in a freezer bag and try not to eat too quickly!

More freezable vegetarian meals

If you have the time and energy to prep more meals, here are a few more ideas to help you along.

Main dish

Butter Bean Soup
Vegan Pumpkin Soup
Easy Vegan Minestrone
Black Bean Burgers
Lentil Veggie Burgers
Eggplant Meatballs
Healthy Vegan Lettuce Wraps - Freeze the filling, add to lettuce after thawing.
Crispy Quinoa Bake

Side dish

Breakfast

Dessert

Snacks

Essentials

Homemade Pesto
Roasted Garlic
Butternut Squash Puree - Use to make quick black bean and butternut squash quesadillas!

I'm so glad I made these vegetarian freezer meals! Let me know if you give these make ahead meals a try. What would you add to the list?

Vegetarian Freezer Meals - Freeze Ahead Meal Plan