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A few days ago, my three year old threw a 15 minute tantrum at the kitchen table. The reason for the unrest? A broken banana.
I wish I were joking. As I was peeling it for him, it broke in half. My attempts to explain that it would taste just the same fell on deaf ears.
Don’t even ask what happened when I cut his cinnamon toast the wrong way. (Drama.)
If you’ve had young children, you are well aware that most kids are very particular about their food. They can love something one day and consider it a crime that you would even consider putting that food on their plate again. Their fickleness about food can be maddening–especially if you’ve worked hard to make a homemade meal.
Because we are well acquainted with the struggle of finding meals that kids will like, we have done some digging and rounded up 30 kid-friendly meals. An added bonus is that all of these meals are freezer-friendly. This means if you are a wise mama, which I’m sure you are, you should probably double the recipe and freeze one for later.
Both Rachel and I have made doubling and freezing meals a lifestyle, and it has saved us tons of time and a lot of money over the years. Not to mention the added health benefits of eating at home more.
In fact, we have a cookbook that you might be interested in…
All the recipes in From Freezer to Table are:
- Kid tested and approved. We didn’t put them in the book if our own families didn’t like them.
- Make with mostly whole food ingredients. No processed junk!
- Can be made fresh OR frozen. Even better, double the recipe and make one fresh AND frozen!
- EASY. No complex instruction or unrecognizable ingredients. We are moms with busy kids and don’t have time to mess with tricky recipes. Our recipes are simple yet delicious.
Click here to learn more about our book! Or scroll to the bottom to get a sneak peek at some favorite recipes.
Now, it’s time to reveal our 30+ Kid-Friendly Freezer Meals that just might change your life (or at least your dinnertime). 🙂
1. Chicken Parmesan Casserole by Thriving Home
2. Oven Fried Parmesan Chicken Tenders by Thriving Home
3. Farm Fresh Breakfast Quesadillas by Thriving Home
4. Mini Turkey and Veggie Meatloaves by Thriving Home
5. Friendship Casserole by Happy Home Fairy
6. Honey Teriyaki Chicken by Plain Chicken
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7. Double Chocolate Zucchini Waffles by Thriving Home
8. Baked Italian Meatballs by Thriving Home
9. Cinnamon Whole Grain Power Pancakes by Pinch of Yum
10. Broiled Parmesan Tilapia by Thriving Home
11. Parmesan Garlic Pizza Pasta by Plain Chicken
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12. A Better Mac and Cheese by Thriving Home
13. Sweet Garlic Chicken by Plain Chicken
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14. Ham and Cheese Sliders by Thriving Home
15. Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole by Well Plated
16. Tomato Bisque by Thriving Home
17. Make Ahead Smoothies by Baked Bree
18. Slow Cooker Chicken and Cheese Taquitos by Thriving Home
19. Applesauce Oat Muffins by Tastes Better from Scratch
20. Fried Rice with Sweet Soy Sauce by Thriving Home
21. Peanut Butter Oatmeal Protein Bites by Is This Really My Life?
22. Baked Penne Pasta by Thriving Home
23. Mediterranean Shrimp Skewers by Thriving Home
24. Slow Cooker Parmesan Sliders by Thriving Home
25. Ham and Cheese Stromboli by Happy Money Saver
26. Mini Italian Burgers by Thriving Home
27. Cheesy Potatoes by Happy Money Saver
28. Peanut Butter and Banana Baked Oatmeal by Thriving Home
29. Homemade Hot Pockets by New Leaf Wellness
30. Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups by Thriving Home
31. Mini Chicken Burgers with Herbs by Thriving Home
32. Easy Breakfast Casserole Muffins by Thriving Home
33. Brownie Baked Oatmeal by Thriving Home
34. Beefy Baked Ravioli by Thriving Home
35. Herb Roasted Pork Tenderloin by Thriving Home
36. Make Ahead Lunch Wraps by Thriving Home
37. Whole Wheat Pumpkin Pancakes by Thriving Home
38. Slow Cooker Balsamic Shredded Beef by Thriving Home
39. Easy Slow Cooker Pulled Pork by Thriving Home
40. Sweet and Savory Salmon by Thriving Home
41. Cheesy Chicken Casserole
42. Chicken, Brown Rice, and Veggie Casserole
43. Oatmeal Pancake Mix
The Best Family-Friendly Freezer Meal Resource
Although we love the recipes above, we actually spent over a year painstakingly developing, testing, and retesting over 75 freezer-friendly recipes for our cookbook called From Freezer to Table (Rodale Books). Our kids request these recipes again and again!
All of the recipes in From Freezer to Table are delicious, made from whole foods, are easy to prepare, and can be made fresh or frozen for later. For only about $13, our cookbook is a beautiful resource you will pull out again and again! (Scroll below for a sneak peek of a few favorites from the book.)
Shrimp Curry Bowls might just be my (and my 8-year-old daughter’s) favorite recipe in the whole book. Get ready for a Thai party in your mouth…
Is breakfast your thang? We’ve got tasty whole foods breakfasts that will be waiting for your family on those hurried mornings. The Chocolate Zu-Nana Waffles are a guaranteed kid-favorite…
And Mixed Berry Scones, made with whole wheat and all good-for-you ingredients, will knock your socks off and start your day off right…
Last but not least, you’ll find family favorites that are quick and easy for weeknights but work just as well for dinner guests. Crispy Chicken with Lemony Butter Sauce is an elegant and mouth-watering meal you’ll make again and again…
In From Freezer to Table, we also teach you how to make freezer cooking a lifestyle either on your own or with friends, so that you can enjoy healthy, stress-free meals around the table with your loved ones. Order your copy today.
What to Store Your Freezer Meals In
If you want to make freezer cooking a way of life (which we are convinced saves time, money, sanity and helps you eat healthier!), then an investment in good quality freezer dishes is really worth it. Here are the ones that Polly and I have used and recommend for years.
Square Glass Cake Pan with TrueFit Lid: 
This dish is used all over my kitchen. It’s super functional and the fact that it can be used to bake in AND store in is a big win — especially when freezer cooking. I love that the top is clear for easy visibility of the food.
If I forget to put a freezer label on a dish, it is great to be able to see the food without opening the container. Here are some freezer meals that would be great to store in this dish:
- Whole Wheat Pumpkin Pancakes
- Chicken Nuggets
- Oven Omelette
- Oatmeal Peanut Butter Snack Bars (pictured above)
Glass Baking Dish and Storage with Trueseal Lid, 11 cup
This dish is deeper and larger than the one I just mentioned above. It can be used for baking larger dishes than the square can be used for.
Same idea though: bake and store in the same dish. Love it. Can’t get enough of these. I have found that these can also be a great way to freeze leftover muffins and baked goods. Just peek through the clear top to see what goods you’ve tucked away in the freezer! Here are some yummy ideas on how to put this dish to good use:
- Apple Cinnamon Baked French Toast
- Baked Oatmeal
- Breakfast Casserole Muffins
- Baked Cheesy Spinach Tortellini (Pictured above)
Glass Baking Dish with TrueFit Lid, 3 qt. (9×13 inches)
If you’re going to buy one freezer storage container, make it this one. You’ll find that a large amount of recipes you make will call for a 9×13 size pan. You’ll realize that having a lid to one of these dishes is a godsend.
Whether you slap the lid on to simply save leftovers in the fridge or your taking a dish to a tailgate, you’ll be so glad you have that lid. Here are a few of the many recipes I use this dish for:
- Chicken Spaghetti
- Chicken Parmesan Casserole
- Ham and Cheese Sliders
- Powerball Cookies
- Brownie Baked Oatmeal
Rectangular True Seal Food Storage, 1 7/8 cup
Having a variety of different sized dishes for freezing food in is SO helpful. Many leftovers simply won’t fill a big 11 cup dish. When food is exposed to too much air when freezing, the quality of it will diminish. You need some smaller sized options in your cabinet. I like this one because it’s perfect for leftovers, soups or chopped up fruits or veggies. Here are some ideas:
- Blueberries or other fruits (freeze like this on a cookie sheet first)
- Mexican soup (pictured above)
- Chicken noodle soup
- Storing leftover mini muffins
Glass Baking Dish and Storage with Trueseal Lid, 4 3/4 cup: 
Another great, versatile dish to have on hand. This could be great for freezing leftover meals in or even to store foods in the pantry.
- Leftover Slow Cooker Lasagna
- Shredded Cheese
- Frozen Fruit (How to prepare and freeze peaches)
- Veggies
- Soups
- Bread crumbs (How to make your own and store them in the freezer)
Round TrueSeal Food Storage with Green Lid (4 sizes):
I mean, what WOULDN’T you use these for? If you’ve been thinking about swapping out your plastic Tupperware for glass, buying a few sets of these would be a great start. These would be ideal for freezing leftovers in. You can re-heat leftovers in the microwave or oven with these storage containers.
Here are some recipe ideas that these would be great for:
- Hearty Vegetable Soup
- Italian Sausage and Tortellini Soup
- Salads
- Leftover Vegetables
- Crock Pot Cinnamon Apples
- Tomato Bisque
- Fresh fruits and veggies
Oven Basics Casserole Dish with TruefitLid and Glass Cover, 2 qt
OK, so I am LOVING this dish. I love that I can bake, serve and freeze in it. I has two lids: one for cooking in and one for taking food on the go or for freezing. It also would make a nice serving dish for vegetables, mashed potatoes, fruit salad and so much more.
It’s super versatile! I have no doubt I’ll get a lot of use out of this baby. Here are some recipe ideas that could be used in it:
- Peanut Butter and Banana Baked Oatmeal
- Baked Cheesey Spinach Tortellini
- Cheesy Chicken Casserole
- Lasagnas
- Mac & Cheese
- Mashed potatoes
Keep Your Freezer Meals Organized with Our Printable Labels!
We’ve got a quick (and cute) solution to keep track of recipe details for your freezer meals OR for meals to take to someone else—printable Freezer Meal Labels!
Find all of our Freezer Meals on the blog by category HERE.
I love all these ideas! Freezer meals are so nice to have on hand for when you know you will be out of town or gifting to friends who are going through something tough.
Planning next month’s menu, and I can not wait to make that brownie baked oatmeal. Looks so good!
This is seriously the best and most helpful recipe page I have ever found! Thank you so very much! I am a very busy mommy with kids who are 7, 3, 2, and due in May. It can be really hard to find just the right recipes to fit each of their tastes, my busy schedule, and my husband’s picky taste too! This is PERFECT! Now I can get started freezing some meals for when the baby arrives too!
**Can I ask you: Can these glass containers go straight from the freezer to the oven? Thank you so much for your time!!
It’s not recommended to place a dish from the freezer into a hot oven. The dramatic temperature change can cause the glass to crack or shatter. One way around this is to place the dish in the oven BEFORE preheating and letting it warm up with the oven as it comes to temperature. I’ve done this a few times!
The ideal way to cook most of these meals is to let them thaw in the fridge for 24-48 hours before cooking but I also know that not everyone is thinking that far in advance. 🙂
These all sound so good.. Unfortunately many have cheese, my picky eater won’t eat most cheesy foods there are a couple i will try though… Thank you!
I began following your blog when I was pregnant with my second child and decided I’d stock up on freezer meals for maternity leave/back-to-work (which, incidentally, was the BEST. IDEA. EVER.) That baby boy is now 2, and I’d wager about half of what makes it to my table each week is pulled from your blog – so thanks! Got (and love!) your cookbook and will host my first freezer party tomorrow night (eek, there’ll be 8 of us!).
Ok, done with sharing 😉 Question time – I’m interested in sharing other freezer meal ideas at the party and the Easy Stromboli sounds yum. But the partner blog’s freezer instructions aren’t listed/clear. Can you help? How best to thaw, and the cook time? Thanks!
Hi Tara. Thanks for your comment and kind words! About the stromboli…I’m sure Karrie over at Happy Money Saver can give you her exact instructions, since it was her recipe. But, from my experience from making stromboli, just make it all the way up until the baking step. Do not bake, but instead wrap tightly in plastic wrap and foil and freeze. When ready to eat, thaw completely in the fridge and bake according to instructions. I’ve tried baking from frozen and it took an eternity and was hard to get done in the middle. Again, I would double check with Karri, though.
Hi, I have a daycare of 98 pre school children…. Could you help me figure out the equivalent measurements/quaintly of the ingredients used in your freezer meals? I use the NC CACFP standards.
Thank you for your time,
Kim Noble
Hi Kim. What a smart idea to make freezer meals for your daycare! To figure out the amounts, look at the servings for each recipe. Divide 98 by the # of servings in that recipe. That will tell you how many batches of the recipe to make. For instance, if a recipe makes 6 servings, then you would need to make about 16 batches. That means just multiply all the ingredients in that recipe by 16 to make enough for all 98 kids. Does that help?
Great ideas, especially for hectic weeks!!!
Thanks for all the freezer meal ideas, recipes, how to’s on your blog! I’m loving your multi colored aluminum pans. Got a link for where to pick those up? Thanks so much!
I got the disposable pans at Party City. Make sure to check out the freezer containers that we both use and love here!
Thank You!!
Hey Polly. Awesome article. My sister’s fridge broke down and her kids have gone crazy over it, so I somewhat understand how you feel hehe. And the Frigidaire Gallery® 2-in-1 Freezer/Refrigerator actually fits the bill. I’ll be sure to show her this article so she can save money and eat more healthy. Thanks!
“…the unrest” made me LOL!
Hi! Thanks for all the freezer kid- friendly ideas! I was wondering about your freezer. Does the unit get warm on the outside? We are shopping for a freezer and I would like to put a freezer in our walk-in pantry off the kitchen. I have heard others say that freezers give off heat and they would be best in the basement or garage. Where do you keep your freezer & would you agree it’s best away from items in a pantry?