Cook Once, Eat Twice! 15 Dinner Recipes to Double and Freeze

Faith Durand

updated May 2, 2019

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Repeat after me: The freezer is my friend. That’s right — the freezer can be like the best friend of all, one who drops off a pot of soup on an evening you’re not feeling well, or a dish of pasta after a busy day of work, when you really don’t feel like cooking. Of course, that friend is really you, doing a little extra work now so you can have an easy meal later. There are so many recipes that can make a little extra to be squirreled away in the freezer for a later time. These little packages from the past are a huge gift to your future self, setting a nourishing table before you at times when you are busy, stressed, and in need of a quick fix.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Veal Meatballs in Red Wine Sauce

I experienced this recently myself, in a very busy week when dinner was the last thing on my mind, I remembered a container of chicken stew in the freezer. Defrost, heat, plate up with a quick salad and presto! Happiness all round. Be a good friend to yourself and create that kind of happiness with one of these 15 recipes this week — good recipes to cook, double, and freeze.

Of course, the freezer’s doesn’t end with full meals. I also like to freeze meal building blocks, like pesto, chicken stock, and vegetable broth.

But there’s really nothing to beat your very own frozen meal — hearty, homemade, and happy-making.

SAUCES FOR PASTA & RICE
• 1 Braised Coconut Spinach & Chickpeas with Lemon
• 2 African Beef and Peanut Stew
• 3 Sausage & Fennel Ragù
• 4 Borlotti Beans in Tomato Sauce
• 5 Baked Beans with Pineapple and Bacon
• 6 Mediterranean Chicken Stew with Cinnamon Couscous