Pack individually-sized freezer meals for easy lunches to take to work. Not only will you save money and time, but you’ll eat the food you love with freezer lunch meal prep!
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My husband eats a homemade lunch at work almost every day. This is not because I am a perfect cook or a perfect wife. I am neither.
It started out mainly because I am cheap. I wanted to get us out of debt. So did he.
He was willing to forgo fast food if I was willing to pack something that worked. We experimented with lots of options, including but not limited to: packing leftovers, packing sandwiches, and a weekly meal prep of rice bowls.
Freezer Lunch Meal Prep for the Win!
What has worked the best for him in this season is to have a bag of Freezer Burritos to keep in the freezer at work. I make several dozen in one prep session so my time investment is easy and occasional. He has lunch for weeks, ready to go.
He microwaves them and tries to convince his co-workers that they should make freezer burritos as well.
This is one way that freezer lunch meal prep can work. But there are lots of other options.
With seven people in our family all doing some kind of freezer lunch meal prep, we use several strategies in our household to enjoy good food without paying the high price of fast food.
Tips for Success
When you pack up your lunchtime freezer meals, consider the following:
1. Package them in individual portions.
I used one-cup containers for soups, stews, and chilis. If I know someone will be able to reheat at home, then I often freeze portions in my Souper Cubes.
I wrap sandwiches and burritos individually and store in one larger bag in the freezer.
2. Label carefully.
Be sure to write the name of the dish across the packaging clearly so that there’s no confusion, especially in the early morning hours. Add the date if you’re not sure how quickly they meals will be eaten up.
3. Keep records of what works.
Since I vary the type of burritos or other foods for freezer lunch meal prep, I try to keep a record on my phone of what is a hit with my people. This way I can repeat those options and forget the ones that they didn’t love.
Freezer Lunch Meal Prep Recipes
The following are some of the tried and true recipes we’ve used for freezer lunch meal prep. In most instances, it’s handy to have a microwave or air fryer available for reheating. If not, then be sure to heat and store in a thermal container.
Hot Lunches
Make up a batch of these easy bean burritos for supper or to stash in the freezer at a later date. Either way, you’ll eat good and cheap.
Want something even easier than homemade pizza and just as fun? Make pizzawiches, hot sandwiches with a pizza filling!
Come home to an easy supper: hot Ham and Swiss Sliders! Not only do they taste fabulous, but they’re also freezer-friendly.
These Chicken Bacon Subs disappear lickety split at my house. They are the perfect hot chicken sandwich, so easy to assemble and very freezer-friendly.
This Easy Slow Cooker Chili really is easy. Cook up meat and onions, open some cans, dump some spices, and walk away. The slow cooker does all the work for you!
Want a dinner you can set and forget? Stir up a batch of this Mushroom Beef Stew with Kalamata Olives for a hearty, flavorful supper any night of the week.
Enjoy your favorite cafe-style Broccoli Cheese Soup at home for less money. I’ll show you how easy it is with both stovetop and Instant Pot directions!
You can use any kind of beans you like in this easy Instant Pot Bean Soup. It’s super cheap and versatile, allowing you to use what you have or find on sale for a delicious, hearty soup supper.
This Spicy Pork Chili with Pumpkin will wow everyone at your table. Tender chunks of pork simmer in a pumpkin-tomato sauce redolent with chile.
Chili Cheese Burritos are a quick and easy dinner that comes together effortlessly. Savory chili tucked in a tortilla wrapper and topped with your favorite goodies makes for a dinner you’ll want on repeat.
These Turkey Lettuce Wraps come together easily on the stovetop, are freezer friendly, and taste delicious, making for a refreshing yet filling meal anytime.
Enchiladas are a perfect meal. Don’t buy frozen and don’t go out. Make these at home and enjoy the savings and the amazing flavor.
Foods to Freeze and Serve Cold
These freezer lunch meal prep recipes can be cooked and frozen and later served cold, after thawing. Proteins and spreads listed can be served in sandwiches, in a snacky lunch, or on salads.
Homemade spice blends are a cheap and easy way to add flavor and texture to your favorite grilled meats. Try this grilled pork tenderloin with its warm, spicy rub.
Ready for a simple, make-ahead breakfast that’s great for on-the-go? These Easy Quinoa Egg Bites are just the ticket to fuel you for the morning.
Fire up the grill and get cooking! But first mix up some Greek marinade to prep this Grilled Sirloin Tip Steak. It’s perfect as a main dish protein or for folding into pitas.
You can buy frozen grilled chicken strips at the grocery store, or you can take a few minutes to cook and freeze your own. Save money and enjoy the convenience!
Jams, jellies, and other spreads offer great flavor to sandwiches, toast, and appetizers. This Small Batch English Pickle recipe is tangy and sweet, a welcome change to the preserves you usually serve. And it’s made with pantry staples, making it easy to whip up a batch anytime.
Enjoy spicy wings but prefer not to hassle with prepping them — or worse, pay 50 cents each at a restaurant? Get all the flavor you love with less work and expense in these tasty Buffalo Chicken Bites.
Freezer Smoothies provide for quick, on-the-go snacks and breakfasts. Blend up a bulk batch of this versatile smoothie recipe and divide into serving size containers.
Grilling chicken for the freezer is a great way to save money and time. It also allows you the luxury of tasty grilled meats at a moment’s notice.
This post was originally published on August 2, 2012. It has been updated for content and clarity.
