Postpartum freezer meals are a lifesaver especially for the first days home with a brand new baby. If you are pregnant and nesting, this post is for you.
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The postpartum period can feel like a whirlwind of emotions, sleepless nights, and endless diaper changes. The last thing any new mother wants to worry about is preparing nutritious meals while caring for a newborn. Enter postpartum freezer meals: your secret weapon for maintaining family nutrition during those precious and challenging first weeks after birth.
By dedicating a few hours before baby’s arrival to meal preparation (during your Nesting Party perhaps?), you can create a stockpile of delicious, hearty meals that require minimal effort to heat and serve, allowing you to focus on recovery, bonding, and enjoying your newest family member.
You might also like to read our post about Nesting Party: A Joyful Way to Prepare for Your New Baby.
Postpartum Freezer Meals (with meat and dairy):
Here are 5 freezer-ready meat and dairy Postpartum freezer meals with list of ingredients, kitchen items needed, and a consolidated shopping list:
Postpartum Freezer Meals (with meat and dairy) Shopping List:
- Meat: ground beef, chicken breasts, turkey breast, ground pork
- Dairy: ricotta, mozzarella, parmesan, cheddar, heavy cream, butter
- Produce: garlic, onions, mushrooms
- Pantry: ziti, fettuccine, spaghetti, marinara sauce, enchilada sauce, breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, cream of mushroom soup
- Frozen: peas
- Other: tortillas, black olives, eggs
Kitchen items needed to make these Postpartum freezer meals:
- Mixing Bowls
- 9×3 baking dish
- Knives for dicing
- Cutting board
- Spatula
- Large pot
- Strainer
- measuring cups and spoons
- Large frying pan
- Cheese grater
1. Baked Ziti
Ingredients: Ground beef, ziti pasta, ricotta, mozzarella, parmesan, marinara sauce, and Italian seasoning
How to make Baked Ziti:
- Brown ground beef, drain
- Cook ziti al dente
- Mix beef, pasta, marinara, and Italian seasoning
- Layer in 9×3 baking dish: pasta mixture, ricotta, mozzarella, parmesan
- Cover and Freeze.
- Bake at 375°F for 45 mins when ready
2. Chicken Alfredo Casserole
Ingredients: Chicken breasts, fettuccine, heavy cream, parmesan, mozzarella, garlic, and butter.
How to make Chicken Alfredo Casserole:
- Cook chicken, slice
- Boil fettuccine
- Make sauce: melt butter, add garlic, cream, parmesan
- Layer in 9×3 baking dish: pasta, chicken, sauce, cheese
- Cover and Freeze.
- Bake 375°F for 30 mins
3. Beef & Cheddar Enchiladas
Ingredients: Ground beef, tortillas, enchilada sauce, cheddar cheese, onions, black olives.
How to make Beef & Cheddar Enchiladas:
- Brown beef with onions
- Fill tortillas with beef, cheese
- Roll, place in 9×3 baking dish
- Cover with sauce and cheese
- Cover and Freeze.
- Bake 350°F for 40 mins
4. Turkey Tetrazzini
Ingredients: Turkey breast, spaghetti, cream of mushroom soup, parmesan, mozzarella, mushrooms, peas
How to make Turkey Tetrazzini:
- Cook turkey and pasta
- Mix with soup, mushrooms, peas
- Add cheese, transfer to 9×3 baking dish
- Top with remaining cheese
- Freeze.
- Bake 350°F for 35 mins
5. Italian Meatballs
Ingredients: Ground beef, ground pork, eggs, breadcrumbs, parmesan, marinara sauce.
How to make Italian Meatballs:
- Mix meats, eggs, breadcrumbs, parmesan
- Form 1-inch balls
- Brown in skillet
- Add marinara
- Freeze.
- Reheat in sauce
Freezing instructions:
- Cool completely
- Wrap tightly in foil
- Label with date and cooking instructions
- Use within 3 months
Postpartum Freezer Meals (vegetarian or vegan):
Here are 5 freezer-ready vegetarian or vegan Postpartum freezer meals with ingredients and a consolidated shopping list:
Postpartum Freezer Meals (vegetarian or vegan) Shopping List:
- Produce: onions, garlic, carrots, celery, bell peppers, mushrooms, spinach, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, ginger
- Pantry: lentils, black beans, chickpeas, quinoa, tomato paste, enchilada sauce, curry paste, marinara sauce, salsa, nutritional yeast, vegetable broth, coconut milk
- Frozen: peas, corn
- Dairy/Alt: vegan cheese, plant milk, vegan butter, tofu
- Other: potatoes, corn tortillas, large tortillas, lasagna noodles, lemon
1. Lentil Shepherd’s Pie
Ingredients:
- Filling: lentils, carrots, celery, onions, peas, vegetable broth, tomato paste, garlic
- Topping: potatoes, plant milk, vegan butter
How to make Lentil Shepherd’s Pie:
- Simmer lentils in broth until tender
- Sauté onions, carrots, celery, add peas
- Season with herbs, add tomato paste
- Boil and mash potatoes with plant milk and vegan butter
- Layer vegetables, then potato topping
- Freeze.
- Bake 375°F for 45 mins
2. Black Bean Enchiladas
Ingredients: Black beans, corn tortillas, enchilada sauce, onions, bell peppers, spinach, vegan cheese
How to make Black Bean Enchiladas:
- Sauté onions, peppers
- Mix with black beans, spinach
- Fill tortillas, roll
- Cover with sauce, vegan cheese
- Freeze.
- Bake 350°F for 35 mins
3. Vegetable Curry
Ingredients: Chickpeas, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, coconut milk, curry paste, onions, garlic, ginger
How to make Vegetable Curry:
- Sauté onions, garlic, ginger
- Add curry paste, coconut milk
- Add chickpeas, cauliflower, sweet potatoes
- Simmer until vegetables tender
- Freeze.
- Reheat on stovetop or microwave
4. Mushroom & Spinach Lasagna
Ingredients: Lasagna noodles, mushrooms, spinach, tofu ricotta (tofu, nutritional yeast, lemon), marinara sauce
How to make Mushroom & Spinach Lasagna:
- Make tofu ricotta: blend tofu, nutritional yeast, lemon
- Layer in baking dish: sauce, noodles, mushrooms, spinach, ricotta
- Repeat layers
- Freeze.
- Bake 375°F for 1 hour
5. Quinoa & Bean Burritos
Ingredients: Quinoa, black beans, corn, bell peppers, onions, salsa, large tortillas
How to make Quinoa & Bean Burritos:
- Cook quinoa using an Instant Pot
- Mix with beans, corn, peppers, salsa
- Roll in tortillas
- Wrap individually in foil
- Freeze.
- Microwave 2-3 mins
Freezing instructions:
- Cool completely
- Wrap tightly
- Label with date and instructions
- Use within 3 months
Conclusion
This post was all about postpartum freezer meals. As you prepare for your postpartum journey, having nutritious freezer meals ready can be a game-changer for those early weeks with your newborn. Whether you prefer meat-based dishes or plant-based options, these ten versatile recipes provide the sustenance needed during your recovery.
The beauty of these meals lies in their simplicity – they can be prepared in advance, stored for months, and easily reheated when needed. Remember to label each meal clearly with cooking instructions and involve your support system in the meal prep process.
Taking time before baby arrives to stock your freezer isn’t just about convenience; it’s an act of self-care that will allow you to focus on bonding with your little one and healing your body, rather than worrying about what’s for dinner.
Whether you’re enjoying a comforting plate of Lentil Shepherd’s Pie or savoring some homemade Italian Meatballs, you’ll be thankful for these ready-to-go meals during those precious early days of parenthood. Don’t forget to accept help from friends and family who offer to cook – your freezer can never be too full during this special time! 🙂
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