30 Make-Ahead Dinners for Quick Weeknight Meals

When I think of wintertime, I imagine months of cozy, cooked-from-scratch meals enjoyed by the fireside, and soups and homemade vegetable broth simmering on the stove alongside homemade teas.

But, let’s get real. Despite what Pinterest or Instagram leads us to believe, that’s not a reality for most people.

Many people (myself included) are often looking for quick meals to whip up for dinner and ready-to-go leftovers for lunch. So we’ve compiled some great make-ahead dinners for those weekdays when you don’t have time to simmer and stir and stoke the fire, but instead find yourself needing to quickly refuel after a long day.

All of these dinners can be made ahead of time, and kept in the fridge for a few days, or frozen for future use. Freezer-friendly foods are a life-saver when it comes to extra busy weeks and nights where you just don’t feel like cooking. My favorite freezer meals are hummus (yep, you can freeze hummus!), bean and lentil stews, and any creamy vegetable based soups, along with other helpful foods like homemade veggie burgers and fritters.

Always make sure to let foods cool completely before freezing, and store in airtight containers to keep the food fresh. You can freeze in solid Pyrex containers, in small glass jars (quart sized mason jars are not for freezing), or even in resealable (zippered) bags. Be sure to label your foods so that you don’t forget, and if you’re planning on really stocking up, adding a date can be helpful too. Most freezer foods should be eaten within six months for best flavor.