12 HOMEMADE FREEZER STAPLES FOR QUICK AND EASY WEEKDAY MEALS

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We all have those days. The kind where you walk through the door, completely drained, only to realize there's nothing in the fridge for dinner. Maybe you forgot to defrost the chicken, maybe you're just too tired to cook (this is normally where I'm at), or maybe the idea of chopping and prepping feels like a task better suited for another day, just not that day.

In moments like these, takeout sounds so good, but deep down, you do know that it's not the healthiest or the most budget-friendly option especially if you have little ones you're responsible for.

This is where your freezer can be your best friend. Not just for storing pizzas or bags and bags of store-bought veggies, but also for stocking up on homemade essentials that can prove to be a lifesaver, especially on busy weeknights. Having homemade freezer staples means you can take any one of them out and whip up something quick, delicious, and nutritious without too much stress.

Think about it, a batch of homemade broth turns into a comforting soup in minutes, frozen pasta sauce transforms plain noodles into a nice hearty meal, and pizza dough waiting in your freezer means homemade pizza night is always an option.

These aren't just time savers, they're your secret weapon for making sure you always have a healthier, homemade alternative ready.

So, if you're tired of the dinner-time panic or if you're constantly resorting to store-bought shortcuts and want to change that, these 12 homemade freezer staples will change how you approach your weeknight dinners.

12 Homemade Freezer Staples For You To Try

You might have to spend some time over the weekend preparing these homemade freezer staples, but they are definitely worth your while when you realize you have them in your freezer waiting for you during those exhausting weekdays. You don't have to do them all at once, but try a few and see how they work for you.

Homemade Broth or Stock (Chicken, Beef, or Vegetable)

A good broth is not only extremely helpful to have on hand, but it's very versatile. You can use it as a base for soups, sauces, pho, noodle soup, stews, and risotto, or to add flavor when you're cooking grains like rice and quinoa. Make a big batch and freeze it in ice cube trays or small containers for easy use when you need it.

Homemade Pasta Sauce

Skip the store-bought jars and make your own marinara, Alfredo, or pesto sauce. Freeze in small portions, and you’ll always have a ready-to-go sauce for pasta, pizza, or even a quick-baked chicken dish.

Homemade Soups & Stews

Make a batch of your favorite soup—chicken noodle, minestrone, or chili—and freeze them in portions. When you need a warm, comforting, and quick meal, just thaw and heat.

Pizza Dough

Homemade pizza dough is super easy to make and freezes well. And anytime you fancy pizza for dinner, half the work is already done, so all you just need to do is to thaw, roll it out, and top it with whatever you have on hand for an instant homemade pizza night.

Cooked Shredded Chicken

Freezing cooked shredded chicken will save you so much time. Use it for tacos, soups, stir-fries, casseroles, salads, wraps, pasta, or even quick sandwiches. They are a great thing to always have on hand because the options of what you can do with shredded chicken are endless.

Homemade Meatballs

Prepare a batch of meatballs, and freeze them raw or cooked. Anytime you feel like having spaghetti meatballs, or meatball subs, or want to include them in soups, curries, or even Swedish meatballs with gravy, they are right there for you.

Cooked Rice & Grains

Cooking rice, quinoa, or farro in advance and freezing it means you can have a meal-ready grain in minutes. Just heat and serve with stir-fries, curries, or grain bowls.

Homemade Bread & Tortillas

Bake your own bread or make tortillas, then freeze them. You’ll have fresh, homemade carbs ready to go for sandwiches, wraps, or side dishes.

Marinated Proteins (Chicken, Beef, Tofu, or Fish)

Marinate your proteins before freezing them. That way, when you thaw them, they’re already packed with flavor and ready to cook.

Homemade Casseroles & Lasagnas

Assemble a lasagna or casserole, then freeze it before baking. On one of those busy nights you're having, just pop it in the oven and dinner is served.

Curries

Curries are great options to have on hand for a super quick meal. There are so many types of curries you can prepare depending on what you fancy. The best thing is they taste even better after a couple of days. So cook your curries and freeze them for a quick dinner during the week. You can serve them with rice, bread, tortilla or even flatbread.

Onion, Ginger and Garlic

Chopping these three aromatics is the part of cooking I personally hate the most. It's downright annoying to me. But every time I remember to prepare these beforehand and freeze them, cooking is so much easier! So do that. It's one step you won't have to worry about. You can portion them out into cubes so every time you need to use them, you just pop one cube out.

With these homemade freezer staples, you’ll always have the foundation for a quick, homemade meal—no last-minute grocery runs needed. Just mix and match these ingredients to create delicious, stress-free dinners any night of the week!

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