What to cook and freeze when having a baby?
One of my biggest regrets during my pregnancy was not making postpartum freezer meals before my baby was born.
Between caring for a newborn and caring for yourself, there is not much time for anything else, and the last thing I wanted to think about was what I was going to cook for dinner.
At the time, I didn’t even know where to look for freezer-friendly recipes or how easy it could be to stock your freezer with delicious postpartum meals.
But this is truly one of the easiest things you can do in your third trimester that will remove so much stress during your postpartum period.
Finding this list of freezer meals when I was pregnant the first time would have been such a lifesaver, and checking out some of these yummy recipes makes me want to start stocking my freezer for next time.
“This post may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link. Please see my disclosure for more details.”
“As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.”
When should you starting freezing meals for postpartum?
You should start preparing your postpartum freezer meals no earlier than 1 to 2 months prior to your due date, as some meals need to be used within 3 months or less of freezing.
This also allows enough time before your baby comes that standing for a couple of hours while cooking shouldn’t tire you out too much.
When storing your meals or ingredients, it’s a good idea to write the date you prepared it, the date it needs to be used by, and any reheating instructions on the freezer bag, aluminum foil or parchment paper.
In this case, it may also be helpful to include the website where you got the recipe, in case you want to make it again.
You could even go one step further and make a meal plan of all your frozen meals, so you know what date you’ll be having which meal.
This way you’ll know when it needs to be thawed or how long it needs to cook, and you won’t be scrambling at dinner time on what to pull out of the freezer.
What do I need to store my postpartum freezer meals?
The most important thing when preparing postpartum freezer meals is making sure you have the necessary items to properly freeze your meals. If you don’t store your food in airtight containers, then all this work you did will be ruined.
Here’s a list of items you may need, but each recipe details exactly how the meal should be stored and what items to use.
- Aluminum foil
- Plastic wrap
- Parchment paper
- Freezer bags
- Airtight containers – specifically for use in the freezer
- Disposable aluminum pans – to bake casseroles and pasta dishes with no cleanup
- Freezing trays – for storing individual servings of soups
- Paper plates – to cut down on washing dishes after baby is born
What are some easy postpartum freezer meals to make before baby comes?
There are ideas here for breakfast and dinner, vegan and meat lovers, soups and stews, spicy recipes and comfort foods. There’s sure to be something that will satisfy your palate and keep your energy levels up once your baby is here.
Postpartum Freezer Meals: Breakfast Ideas
For quick ideas on the go once you’re back to work or for a relaxing meal on Saturday mornings, these breakfast postpartum freezer meals are mouthwatering and easy to make.
Breakfast Burritos
Source: Eating on a Dime
Try this easy breakfast burrito recipe for a quick meal on busy mornings that the whole family will enjoy. Loaded with eggs, sausage and cheese, this is the perfect breakfast on the go or at home. And in just under an hour, you can have 20 burritos in your freezer ready for after your baby arrives.
Chicken-Apple Sausage Breakfast Burritos
Source: Two Healthy Kitchens
These freezable breakfast burritos are so nourishing and so satisfying. Wrap each burrito in parchment paper, then store in a freezer bag for the perfect healthy breakfast or quick, on-the-go snack!
English Muffin Breakfast Sandwich
Source: Chef Savvy
Homemade English muffins topped with eggs and either bacon, ham or sausage make a tasty treat during your postpartum recovery period. Place each sandwich in a piece of aluminum foil and store in a freezer bag for up to 3 months!
Croissant Breakfast Sandwich
Source: The Forked Spoon
Experience the joy of a gourmet breakfast at your fingertips with this freezer-friendly breakfast sandwich. With fluffy eggs, melty cheese and savory meat nestled in a buttery croissant, this make-ahead meal is perfect for new moms with no time to cook.
Oat Milk Pancakes
Source: Savor the Spoonful
These fluffy and buttery pancakes are made with oat milk, making them dairy-free, yet super delicious! They freeze easily and are safe to eat while breastfeeding. Place pancakes in an airtight container with parchment paper between each one to keep them from sticking together.
Banana Pikelets
Source: Aussie Home Cook
These healthy banana pikelets are an easy meal to make with just four ingredients. They freeze well and are a family favorite for breakfast, lunch or a snack.
Protein Waffles
Source: Fit Mama Real Food
For a protein-packed breakfast, try this easy protein waffle recipe that you mix up in a blender. Once cooked, line a baking sheet with parchment paper to freeze the waffles without sticking. Place them in a freezer bag once they are fully frozen to enjoy after baby arrives.
Overnight Blueberry Baked French Toast
Source: Home Sweet Farm Home
This overnight blueberry baked French toast is easy to make, tastes delicious and will easily become a dish the whole family will love! When freezing, use a disposable aluminum pan for easier cleanup.
Zucchini Slice
Source: Maple and Mango
This classic Aussie dish is easy to make, incredibly yummy and super versatile too! Perfect for breakfast, popped into a lunchbox, or served alongside a salad for a simple dinner.
Crustless Quiche Cups with Sausage and Cheese
Source: Two Healthy Kitchens
These mini quiche cups freeze easily and are so wonderful because you can pull them out one or two for a quick bite or pull out several for a meal for the whole family. Make a big batch of these to enjoy throughout your postpartum period.
Sun-Dried Tomato Quiche
Source: The Littlest Crumb
This creamy sun-dried tomato quiche is easy to make for healthy meals to enjoy after baby comes. It’s made with sun-dried tomatoes, feta, mozzarella, spinach and black olives for a tasty and unique quiche recipe.
Sausage Breakfast Casserole
Source: Mary’s Whole Life
This easy, gluten-free and Whole30 breakfast casserole is loaded with sausage, green onions, eggs, spices and a crispy hash brown crust. Skip the hash browns for a tasty keto option. Stays fresh in the freezer for 2 months!
Postpartum Freezer Meals: Instant Pot and Slow Cooker Meals
These instant pot and slow cooker meals are perfect for prepping your freezer meals, as it leaves you with time to do other things while stocking your freezer. And although some of the recipes suggest just freezing the ingredients, then cooking after baby arrives, these meals can be ready in just 30 minutes.
Green Lentil Soup
Source: Earth to Veg
This nourishing, filling soup is high in fiber and protein, perfect for your postpartum period. It’s a great way to get the nutrients you need!
Vegetable Beef Soup
Source: Aubrey’s Kitchen
This instant pot vegetable beef soup is the perfect healthy soup recipe. This easy meal is packed with savory flavor and is ready in just 30 minutes! Keep in the freezer for up to 2 months and thaw in the microwave for a good postpartum freezer meal.
Walt’s Chili
Source: Magically Allergy Friendly
Are you a pregnant momma who loves all things Disney? Then you have to add Walt’s chili (yes, Walt Disney) to your list of freezer meals for when you can’t get to the parks for the original recipe. (And check out this site for all kinds of Disney Park copycat recipes.)
Buffalo Chicken Chili
Source: i Food Real
This buffalo chicken chili is packed with buffalo chicken wing flavor, adjustable spiciness, and topped with creamy crumbled blue cheese. Freeze the ingredients for up to 3 months, then have a tasty postpartum meal ready in just 30 minutes in your instant pot!
Chicken Cacciatore
Source: Vibrantly G-Free
This really easy chicken cacciatore is loaded with healthy ingredients and is a low maintenance instant pot recipe. Swap the cooked chicken for beef for two easy postpartum meals with one simple recipe!
Lemon Pesto Chicken
Source: The Magical Slow Cooker
Chicken breasts are cooked in a creamy lemon pesto sauce in your slow cooker. The result is a tender and flavorful chicken dish that pairs perfectly with a side of pasta or vegetables. Place in a freezer bag and store up to a month for some easy freezer meals after baby is born.
Taco Casserole
Source: Eating in an Instant
This taco casserole is an easy freezer meal and cooks in less than 45 minutes in the instant pot. Cook and cool before freezing and enjoy a tasty dinner after baby arrives.
Salsa Verde Beef
Source: I Heart Eating
This salsa verde beef is an easy, 5-ingredient slow cooker recipe that makes tender, flavorful beef. Freeze before cooking to use in tacos, burritos, salads and more.
Pork Shoulder
Source: The Dizzy Cook
Perfect for tacos, salads and sandwiches, this slow cooked pork shoulder is perfect for make-ahead meals and easy to switch up to make different kinds of meals. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 4 months and defrosts beautifully, with tons of flavor.
Sweet Pork
Source: Begin with Balance
This sweet pork is the perfect postpartum freezer meal recipe. Simply cook it in the crockpot and pop it in the freezer. You’ll have the best pork ready for tacos, burritos and salads.
Pork Chile Verde
Source: Eating in an Instant
This easy instant pot recipe lets you make flavorful chile verde with just a few ingredients! Freeze the ingredients then cook in your instant pot for some tasty postpartum freezer meals.
BBQ Style Country Ribs
Source: From Valerie’s Kitchen
These incredibly tender, melt in your mouth BBQ country style ribs take just minutes of prep and freeze beautifully. Thaw overnight in the fridge and cook them in your slow cooker or instant pot for delicious freezer meals during your postpartum period.
Chicken Enchiladas
Source: Two Cloves Kitchen
These slow cooker chicken enchiladas are perfect for postpartum freezer meals. Just reheat them when you’re ready to eat and add plenty of cheese on top!
Black Pepper Chicken
Source: The Magical Slow Cooker
Chicken thighs are cooked with a blend of black pepper, soy sauce, garlic and ginger, resulting in tender and juicy meat with a kick of spice. Serve this delicious chicken over rice or noodles for a satisfying postpartum meal.
Butter Chicken
Source: i Food Real
Make this butter chicken in just 30 minutes in your instant pot! This Indian restaurant classic makes a delicious freezer meal with tender chicken cooked in a fragrant, savory sauce.
Postpartum Freezer Meals: Soups and Stews
These soups and stews are great for winter births when you need something warm and comforting. But they are also hearty enough to be full meals, no matter the weather.
Chicken Soup
Source: The Soccer Mom Blog
This hearty and healthy chicken soup is an easy dinner recipe to make ahead in bulk. Freeze the ingredients in a freezer bag, then cook in just 30 minutes when ready.
Chicken and Cabbage Soup
Source: Two Cloves Kitchen
This chicken and cabbage soup is packed with flavor and full of healthy vegetables and protein to keep you going after baby is born! It freezes very well and is super easy to reheat on the stove.
Pumpkin and Sweet Potato Soup
Source: Aussie Home Cook
This hearty pumpkin and sweet potato soup is comforting and packed with flavor. With roast pumpkin and sweet potatoes, it’s budget friendly and an easy meal to make ahead of time.
Creamy White Bean Soup with Kale
Source: Rainbow Plant Life
Make this creamy white bean soup with kale for a good postpartum freezer meal that can be reheated in the microwave. It has a super creamy texture without any dairy or nuts and features wholesome and comforting gourmet flavor boosters.
Quinoa Vegetable Soup
Source: Through the Fibro Fog
With fresh produce and plant-based protein, this quinoa vegetable soup makes some healthy freezer meals for new parents. Quick and easy to make, it’s full of flavor with a hint of spice!
Spicy Roasted Tomato White Bean Stew
Source: Sunglow Kitchen
This roasted tomato white bean stew is spicy, hearty and comforting! It’s made with healthy ingredients and is perfect for meal prep before the new baby comes.
Savory Pumpkin Stew
Source: Vibrantly G-Free
This pumpkin stew is easy to make with minimal ingredients and is the perfect frozen meal. It’s a great recipe if you’re looking for something easy as part of a meal train for new parents.
Garam Masala Curry
Source: Sunglow Kitchen
You’ll love this garam masala curry recipe because it’s rich, saucy and infused with fragrant Indian spices. It’s the best choice if you’re looking for something healthy that is easy to make that has some spice to it.
Southwest Chicken Chili
Source: Clean Plate Mama
This creamy, flavorful, southwest chicken chili is loaded with veggies and protein, a great thing to keep your energy levels up after baby comes. Place in an airtight container after cooking and freeze for up to 3 months.
Postpartum Freezer Meals: Vegetarian and Vegan Ideas
These vegetarian and vegan recipes are too good to pass up. They are the perfect option for some more healthy freezer meals.
Sweet Potato Burritos
Source: Lane Bakery
Sweet potato burritos are filled with shredded sweet potatoes, caramelized onions and cheddar cheese. They’re a delicious and comforting vegetarian freezer meal, baked to bubbly cheese perfection.
Vegetable Lasagna
Source: Foxes Love Lemons
This great vegetable lasagna is flavorful, cheesy, well-cooked and not watery. Learn the secret ingredient to perfect this classic dish! Freeze in a disposable pan, or chill in the fridge and freeze in individual sections for reheating in your first weeks postpartum.
Vegan Spinach Pasta
Source: Get Set Vegan
This vegan spinach pasta has plenty of protein and is a dish the whole family will love! Keep in the freezer for up to 4 months. It’s a good idea to freeze in individual portions to enjoy these delicious postpartum freezer meals in the first weeks after bringing baby home.
Vegetarian Quiche
Source: Foxes Love Lemons
This easy vegetarian quiche recipe is a simple and customizable addition to your favorite freezer meals. Veggies and cheese are folded into a silky egg custard and baked in a flaky pastry shell. A grocery store pie shell is one of the easiest ways to make this recipe before baby comes.
Mexican Beans
Source: Earth to Veg
These Mexican-style stewed beans freeze wonderfully and are a great way to use up any beans you may have in your pantry. Store in an airtight container for up to 6 months in the freezer!
Vegan Chili
Source: Happy Kitchen
This slow cooker vegan chili recipe will delight your taste buds. A vegan twist on this classic comfort food makes for healthy freezer meals packed with nutrients and brimming with flavor!
Vegan Red Lentil Curry
Source: Rainbow Plant Life
Add some spice to your postpartum freezer meals with this vegan red lentil curry. It’s a quick and easy recipe made with wholesome vegan ingredients. Use this freezing tray to store individual portions for each family member.
Vegan Sweet Potato Lentil Soup
Source: Happy Kitchen
Gluten free, vegan sweet potato and lentil soup is a healthy and tasty meal that will satisfy both your hunger and your taste buds. This delicious freezer meal is easy to make and fills all your nutrient needs.
Potato and Rice
Source: Get Set Vegan
Try this delicious potato and rice recipe that is lightly spiced with cumin and turmeric. Easy to make in just 30 minutes, store this postpartum freezer meal in an airtight container and reheat in the microwave.
Postpartum Freezer Meals: Pasta Dishes
These pasta dishes are the ultimate comfort food. Bake and store in disposable pans for less clean up while you’re recovering.
Orzo Mac and Cheese
Source: Sunglow Kitchen
This creamy orzo mac and cheese packs a ton of flavor in every bite! It’s savory, comforting and so easy to make. Save it in your freezer for up to 3 months and enjoy during your postpartum period.
Three-Cheese Baked Ziti
Source: Lane Bakery
This quick three-cheese baked ziti recipe is easy enough to throw together and is a family favorite freezer meal. Store it in the freezer for 2 months, thaw overnight and cook!
Baked Rigatoni
Source: Dinner at the Zoo
This baked rigatoni recipe is pasta tossed in a flavorful meat sauce, then topped with plenty of cheese and baked until golden brown. A super easy dinner option that can be stored in the freezer for up to 2 months!
Manicotti
Source: Simply Scrumptious Eats
This homemade manicotti recipe is easy to make and a tasty freezer-friendly meal. Bake it in a disposable pan for zero cleanup.
Postpartum Freezer Meals: Casseroles
There’s more than lasagna when it comes to casserole (although I found you an easy lasagna recipe as well). Try these recipes to stock up on a bunch of freezer meals. Cut and store them as individual servings so you don’t have to thaw the entire dish.
Funeral Potatoes
Source: Dash for Dinner
One of the smartest things you can do before baby comes is make a whole bunch of freezer meals. And this cheesy funeral potato recipe is going to save you from cooking for a while after baby is born, as it is meant to feed a large crowd of people.
Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole
Source: Nest and Nosh
Poppy seed chicken casserole is a comfort food classic! Tender chicken, creamy and tangy sauce, and crunchy, buttery cracker and poppy seed topping make every bite perfect. Store in the freezer and serve over rice.
Stuffed Pepper Casserole
Source: Brooklyn Farm Girl
This easy stuffed pepper casserole is made with green bell peppers, ground beef, diced tomatoes and rice smothered in mozzarella cheese. This is one of the best freezer meals to have on hand when your baby arrives!
Lasagna
Source: Fluxing Well
We can’t have a list of postpartum freezer meals and not include a lasagna. Fortunately, this lasagna recipe is super simple, using just basic ingredients.
Postpartum Freezer Meals: Meat Lover Recipes
To make sure you’re getting enough protein during your postpartum period, try these meat lover recipes. From mini pizzas to pot pies, there are great ideas here the whole family will love.
English Muffin Pizzas
Source: Dash for Dinner
This quick and easy recipe for English muffin pizzas is ready in less than 20 minutes and freezes well for up to 2 months. Have one as a snack or pair them with a salad for some healthy and yummy postpartum freezer meals.
Chicken Enchiladas
Source: Chef Savvy
This easy chicken enchilada recipe is loaded with shredded chicken, black beans, enchilada sauce and shredded Mexican cheese. Freeze the enchiladas before cooking, thaw and cook as normal in the early days of parenting.
Buffalo Turkey Meatballs
Source: Begin with Balance
These buffalo turkey meatballs are the best freezer meal for new parents. Simply prep them before baby comes, store them in the freezer, and thaw them when you’re ready to eat!
Healthy Cottage Pie
Source: Cinnamon and Kale
This healthy cottage pie is hearty and wholesome. It’s packed with veggies and perfect for freezer cooking!
Mediterranean Shepherd’s Pie
Source: Rainy Day Mum
Ground lamb is cooked with Mediterranean-inspired flavors creating a delicious filling. Topped with a layer of creamy mashed potatoes, this shepherd’s pie can easily be frozen for make-ahead meals before baby comes.
Healthy Meat Sauce
Source: Pure and Simple Nourishment
This meat sauce has the most incredible Italian flavor and is easy to make with ground beef, jarred tomato sauce, vegetables and olives. Freeze it flat in a large freezer bag. Thaw and pair it with your favorite pasta for a delicious meal!
Chicken Pot Pie
Source: Butter Your Biscuit
Mini freezer chicken pot pies are loaded with chicken, veggies, a creamy sauce and a flaky crust. They’re a great idea when you’re looking for some comfort food after baby has arrived.
Conclusion
There you have it: the best postpartum freezer meals you can put together before baby comes.
With ideas for breakfast, instant pot and slow cooker recipes, soups and stews, vegan meals, pastas and casseroles, and meat lover recipes, you’re sure to have found some delicious freezer meals to enjoy during your postpartum recovery period, so you can spend time getting to know your new baby.
Have you decided to make any of these delicious freezer meals for your family ahead of time? Let us know in the comments what yummy recipe is your favorite. And don’t forget to save this page for some easy recipes even after baby is born!
Related Articles for Postpartum Freezer Meals:
- Everything You Need to Do Before Baby Comes
- What to Pack for the Hospital for Mom, Dad and Baby
- Everything You Must Do on Maternity Leave
60 Yummy Postpartum Freezer Meals to Make New Mom Life Easy
Table of Contents
