Freezer Meals for New Moms: 19 Make-Ahead Dishes to Stock Before Baby Comes

Freezer meals for new moms might be the best baby gift there is. Those first weeks with a newborn are a blur of feedings, diapers and very little sleep, and cooking is usually the first thing to go. Whether you are expecting and stocking your own freezer, or you are the sister, friend or grandma signing up for a meal train, this list is for you. Freezer meal videos for new moms have pulled in millions of views, and it is easy to see why. Every slide is a dish that freezes well, reheats easily and can often be eaten with one hand. Grab some foil pans and let us fill that freezer..

Freezer Meals for New Moms Are the Gift That Keeps Giving

The best baby gift might not come in a box. It comes in a foil pan with reheating directions on top. Breastfeeding moms usually need more food too: the CDC says well nourished breastfeeding mothers need about 330 to 400 extra calories a day, and that dairy, eggs, meats, low mercury seafood, legumes and dark leafy greens supply key nutrients. Start with this easy freezer friendly breakfast bake..

You will need: 1 lb breakfast sausage cooked and crumbled, 10 eggs, 1 1/2 cups milk, 4 cups frozen hash browns thawed, 2 cups shredded cheddar, 1 cup chopped spinach, salt and pepper.

How to make it: 1. Grease a 9×13 foil pan. 2. Spread hash browns, sausage and spinach in the pan. 3. Whisk eggs, milk, salt and pepper and pour over. 4. Top with cheddar. 5. Cover tightly with foil, label and freeze. 6. Thaw overnight in the fridge and bake at 350 F for 55 to 60 minutes.

Breakfast Burritos, the Number One Freezer Meals for New Moms

Wrap them one by one in foil and a new mom can grab breakfast with one hand while holding the baby. Eggs, beans, cheese and spinach make them filling. Microwave from frozen or warm in the oven. Would you add salsa or keep them mild?

You will need: 10 eggs scrambled, 1 can (15 oz) black beans rinsed, 2 cups shredded cheddar, 2 cups chopped spinach, 1 cup cooked diced potatoes, 10 large flour tortillas, salt, pepper, salsa to serve.

How to make it: 1. Scramble the eggs softly and cool. 2. Mix with beans, spinach and potatoes. 3. Fill each tortilla and add cheese. 4. Roll tightly. 5. Wrap each in foil and freeze in a bag. 6. Reheat 2 to 3 minutes in the microwave (foil off) or 25 minutes in a 350 F oven.

Blueberry Banana Baked Oatmeal Squares

Bake one pan, cut it into squares and freeze them flat. They thaw overnight in the fridge or warm in 60 seconds. Oats, milk and fruit make a cozy, filling breakfast that tastes like a muffin. A quick favorite in freezer meals for new moms.

You will need: 3 cups rolled oats, 2 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp cinnamon, 2 eggs, 2 cups milk, 1/3 cup maple syrup, 1/4 cup melted butter, 2 ripe bananas, 1 cup blueberries.

How to make it: 1. Heat oven to 350 F and grease a 9×13 pan. 2. Mix oats, baking powder and cinnamon. 3. Whisk eggs, milk, syrup and butter. 4. Combine and fold in sliced banana and berries. 5. Bake 35 to 40 minutes. 6. Cool, cut and freeze squares.

Egg Muffin Cups With Spinach and Cheese

Egg cups are protein packed and easy to eat in a rocking chair at 3 in the morning. Make two dozen, freeze them on a sheet pan, then bag them for an easy start to your freezer meals for new moms. Eggs are one of the foods the CDC lists for key nutrients while breastfeeding.

You will need: 12 eggs, 1/2 cup milk, 1 cup chopped spinach, 1/2 red bell pepper diced, 1 cup diced ham or cooked sausage, 1 cup shredded cheddar, salt and pepper.

How to make it: 1. Heat oven to 350 F and grease a 12 cup muffin tin. 2. Divide spinach, pepper, ham and cheese among the cups. 3. Whisk eggs, milk, salt and pepper. 4. Pour into the cups. 5. Bake 20 to 22 minutes. 6. Cool, freeze on a tray, then bag.

Freezer Breakfast Sandwiches

English muffin or toast, egg, cheese and ham, wrapped and frozen. These are the sandwiches a tired family will thank you for. Bake the eggs in a sheet pan and cut them into squares so assembly is fast.

You will need: 12 eggs, 1/2 cup milk, 12 English muffins, 12 slices cheddar, 12 slices ham or cooked sausage patties, butter.

How to make it: 1. Heat oven to 350 F. 2. Whisk eggs and milk and bake in a greased sheet pan 15 minutes. 3. Cut into 12 squares. 4. Layer muffin, egg, cheese and ham. 5. Wrap each in parchment and foil and freeze. 6. Microwave 1 to 2 minutes from frozen, unwrapped and in a paper towel.

Chicken Pot Pie, Freezer Meals for New Moms That Feel Like a Hug

Nothing says we love you like a homemade chicken pot pie. Freeze it unbaked with the crust on top, and the family can bake it straight from the freezer. Creamy chicken and vegetables under flaky pastry is pure comfort.

You will need: 3 cups cooked chicken diced, 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables, 1/3 cup butter, 1/3 cup flour, 1 3/4 cups chicken broth, 2/3 cup milk, 1/2 tsp thyme, salt and pepper, 2 pie crusts.

How to make it: 1. Melt butter, stir in flour and cook 1 minute. 2. Whisk in broth and milk until thick. 3. Add chicken, vegetables and seasoning. 4. Fill a crust lined foil pie pan and top with crust. 5. Wrap and freeze up to 3 months. 6. Bake from frozen at 400 F for 60 to 70 minutes until bubbly.

Beef and Bean Chili, Freezer Meals for New Moms in Single Portions

Chili freezes beautifully and reheats in minutes. Ladle it into 2 cup containers so a new mom can warm just what she needs. Beans and beef bring protein and iron. Leave it mild, and pack cheese and sour cream on the side.

You will need: 2 lb lean ground beef, 1 onion diced, 1 bell pepper diced, 3 cloves garlic, 2 cans (15 oz) kidney beans, 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes, 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce, 2 tbsp chili powder, 1 tsp cumin.

How to make it: 1. Brown the beef with onion, pepper and garlic. 2. Stir in spices. 3. Add beans, tomatoes and sauce. 4. Simmer 40 minutes. 5. Cool quickly and portion into containers. 6. Freeze up to 3 months.

Red Lentil Soup in Mugs

A mug of soup can be sipped one handed. Red lentils cook quickly into a smooth, comforting soup, and legumes are one of the folate rich foods the CDC mentions for breastfeeding moms. Freeze in mug sized portions. Want more ideas for regular weeknights? See our make ahead freezer dinners.

You will need: 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 onion, 2 carrots, 2 cloves garlic, 1 1/2 cups red lentils rinsed, 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes, 6 cups low sodium broth, 1 tsp cumin, 1 tbsp lemon juice.

How to make it: 1. Cook onion and carrots in oil 6 minutes. 2. Add garlic and cumin. 3. Add lentils, tomatoes and broth. 4. Simmer 25 minutes. 5. Blend until smooth and add lemon. 6. Cool and freeze in 1 1/2 cup portions.

Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

This creamy soup is a Midwest favorite and a cozy one for cold months. For freezing, keep it a little thinner and stir in a splash of milk when you reheat. Pack it with a loaf of crusty bread for an easy dinner drop off. Soups are some of the easiest freezer meals for new moms to portion.

You will need: 1 cup wild rice blend, 3 cups cooked chicken shredded, 1 onion, 2 carrots, 2 celery ribs, 3 tbsp butter, 3 tbsp flour, 6 cups chicken broth, 1 cup milk, 1 tsp thyme.

How to make it: 1. Cook the rice in 3 cups of the broth. 2. Cook vegetables in butter 8 minutes. 3. Stir in flour, then the rest of the broth. 4. Add chicken, rice and thyme and simmer 10 minutes. 5. Stir in milk. 6. Cool and freeze in portions.

Slow Simmered Beef Stew

Beef stew is filling, rich in iron and protein, and even better after a night in the fridge. Freeze it without the potatoes if you can, or cut them small so they stay tender. It is the kind of dinner that makes a tired house smell like home, and one of the heartiest freezer meals for new moms.

You will need: 2 lb beef chuck in cubes, 2 tbsp flour, 2 tbsp oil, 1 onion, 4 carrots, 3 celery ribs, 1 lb small potatoes, 2 tbsp tomato paste, 4 cups beef broth, 1 tsp thyme, 1 cup frozen peas.

How to make it: 1. Toss beef in flour and brown in oil. 2. Add onion and tomato paste. 3. Add broth, thyme, carrots and celery. 4. Simmer 1 1/2 hours. 5. Add potatoes for 25 minutes, then peas. 6. Cool and freeze in containers.

Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie

A golden sweet potato topping makes this classic extra cozy and adds vitamin A, one of the nutrients the CDC highlights for breastfeeding moms. Assemble it in a foil pan, cover and freeze. Bake it straight from the freezer.

You will need: 2 lb sweet potatoes, 2 tbsp butter, 1 1/2 lb ground turkey or beef, 1 onion, 2 cups frozen peas and carrots, 2 tbsp tomato paste, 1 cup broth, 1 tbsp flour, 1 tsp thyme.

How to make it: 1. Boil and mash the sweet potatoes with butter. 2. Brown the meat and onion. 3. Stir in flour, tomato paste, broth, thyme and vegetables. 4. Spread in a foil pan and top with the mash. 5. Cover and freeze. 6. Bake from frozen at 375 F for 75 minutes.

Stuffed Shells, Freezer Meals for New Moms That Bake From Frozen

Stuffed shells freeze perfectly in a foil pan, and you can bake as many or as few as you need. Spinach adds folate and color. This is a dinner the whole family, including older siblings, will be happy to see.

You will need: 1 box (12 oz) jumbo pasta shells, 2 cups ricotta, 2 cups shredded mozzarella, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan, 1 egg, 2 cups chopped spinach, 3 cups marinara.

How to make it: 1. Cook the shells until just tender. 2. Mix ricotta, half the mozzarella, Parmesan, egg and spinach. 3. Spread sauce in a foil pan. 4. Fill the shells and line them up. 5. Top with sauce and cheese, cover and freeze. 6. Bake from frozen at 375 F for 60 minutes, covered then uncovered.

Baked Mac and Cheese, Freezer Meals for New Moms Kids Love Too

If there are big brothers or sisters at home, mac and cheese keeps everyone happy. Slightly undercook the pasta so it does not go soft after freezing. Add a little milk when reheating to keep it creamy.

You will need: 1 lb elbow pasta, 4 tbsp butter, 1/4 cup flour, 3 cups milk, 4 cups shredded cheddar, 1/2 tsp mustard powder, 1/2 cup breadcrumbs.

How to make it: 1. Cook pasta 2 minutes less than the box says. 2. Melt butter, add flour, then whisk in milk until thick. 3. Stir in cheese and mustard. 4. Combine with pasta in a foil pan. 5. Top with breadcrumbs, cover and freeze. 6. Bake from frozen at 375 F for 50 to 60 minutes.

Salmon Cakes for Low Mercury Fish

The CDC suggests breastfeeding moms choose fish from the lower mercury lists, and salmon is a great pick rich in DHA. Salmon cakes freeze well, cook from frozen and are easy to eat with a salad or on a bun.

You will need: 2 cans (14 oz) salmon drained or 1 lb cooked salmon, 2 eggs, 2/3 cup panko, 2 green onions, 2 tbsp mayonnaise, 1 tbsp Dijon mustard, 1 tbsp lemon juice, oil for the pan.

How to make it: 1. Flake the salmon and remove any bones. 2. Mix with eggs, panko, onions, mayo, mustard and lemon. 3. Shape 8 patties. 4. Freeze on a tray, then bag with parchment between them. 5. Cook from frozen in a little oil 5 to 6 minutes per side. 6. Serve with lemon.

Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Dump Bag

Here is a meal that is not even cooked yet. Put chicken, sauce and onion in a freezer bag, freeze it flat, and the family dumps it into the slow cooker in the morning. By dinner it shreds into sandwiches, sliders or rice bowls. Dump bags are the lowest effort freezer meals for new moms.

You will need: 2 lb boneless chicken thighs, 1 cup barbecue sauce, 1/2 onion sliced, 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tsp smoked paprika, slider buns and coleslaw to serve.

How to make it: 1. Add everything except buns and slaw to a gallon freezer bag. 2. Press out the air and freeze flat. 3. Thaw overnight in the fridge. 4. Cook in a slow cooker on LOW 6 to 7 hours. 5. Shred with two forks. 6. Serve on buns with slaw.

Whole Grain Banana Muffins, One Handed Freezer Meals for New Moms

Muffins are the ultimate one handed snack. Use whole wheat flour, ripe bananas and a little honey, then freeze them in a bag. Pull one out at night and it is ready by the morning feed. Snacks count as freezer meals for new moms too. Would you add chocolate chips?

You will need: 3 ripe bananas mashed, 2 eggs, 1/3 cup honey or maple syrup, 1/3 cup melted butter, 1/2 cup plain yogurt, 1 3/4 cups whole wheat flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp cinnamon, pinch of salt.

How to make it: 1. Heat oven to 350 F and line a muffin tin. 2. Mix bananas, eggs, honey, butter and yogurt. 3. Stir in flour, soda, cinnamon and salt. 4. Fill the cups. 5. Bake 20 to 22 minutes. 6. Cool and freeze in a bag.

No Bake Oat Energy Bites

These little bites take 10 minutes to roll and keep in the freezer for months. Oats, nut butter and a few chocolate chips make a snack that is easy to grab during a long nursing session. Swap in sunflower butter for nut free homes. Tuck a bag into any box of freezer meals for new moms.

You will need: 1 cup rolled oats, 1/2 cup peanut butter, 1/3 cup honey, 2 tbsp ground flaxseed, 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips, 1 tsp vanilla.

How to make it: 1. Stir everything together in a bowl. 2. Chill 20 minutes. 3. Roll into 1 inch balls. 4. Freeze on a tray for 1 hour. 5. Move to a freezer bag. 6. Eat straight from the freezer or after 5 minutes on the counter.

Smoothie Freezer Packs

Smoothie packs are a fresh, bright break from casseroles. Fill bags with fruit, spinach and oats, freeze them flat, and all she has to do is add milk or yogurt and blend. Dark leafy greens like spinach are on the CDC list of folate rich foods.

You will need: For each pack: 1 cup frozen strawberries, 1/2 banana sliced, 1/2 cup mango chunks, a handful of spinach, 2 tbsp oats. To blend: 1 cup milk or 1/2 cup yogurt and 1/2 cup milk.

How to make it: 1. Fill each freezer bag with fruit, spinach and oats. 2. Press flat and freeze. 3. Tip one pack into a blender. 4. Add milk or yogurt. 5. Blend until smooth. 6. Pour and enjoy right away.

Pizzelle Cookies and Freezer Tips

Every meal train needs a little sweet treat. These thin Italian waffle cookies freeze for months and taste like vanilla and anise. And now the freezer tips that make all of these freezer meals for new moms work: cool food fast, freeze it flat, label and date every pan, thaw in the fridge, and use within 2 to 3 months. Every new mom is different, so she can talk to her doctor or a lactation consultant about what she eats.

You will need: 3 eggs, 3/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup melted butter, 1 tsp vanilla, 1/2 tsp anise extract (optional), 1 3/4 cups flour, 2 tsp baking powder, a pizzelle iron.

How to make it: 1. Heat the pizzelle iron. 2. Beat eggs and sugar. 3. Add butter, vanilla and anise. 4. Stir in flour and baking powder. 5. Bake 1 tablespoon at a time for about 45 seconds. 6. Cool flat and freeze in a tin with parchment.