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

Braised Coconut Spinach & Chickpeas with Lemon

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.

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 Rag
4 Borlotti Beans in Tomato Sauce
5 Baked Beans with Pineapple and Bacon
6 Mediterranean Chicken Stew with Cinnamon Couscous

HEARTY STEWS & SOUPS
7 Hearty Chicken Minestrone
8 Chicken Stew with Kale and Cannellini Beans
9 Zucchini Garlic Soup
10 Roasted Red Kuri Pumpkin & Coconut Soup
11 Lentil Soup with Lemon Yogurt Cream

BRAISED MEATS
12 Barbecue Shredded Chicken
13 Slow Cooker Barbacoa Beef
14 15 Veal Meatballs in Red Wine Sauce

Your turn! What's your favorite meal to make ahead and freeze?

(Images: See linked recipes for full image credits)

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