Some of the best meal prep doesn’t come from making complete freezer meals—it comes from stocking your freezer with versatile ingredients that can become dinner in minutes.
Two things I always try to keep on hand are homemade meatballs and shredded chicken.
They’re inexpensive, easy to make in large batches, and can be transformed into dozens of different meals throughout the month. On busy evenings, having these already cooked can be the difference between ordering takeout and getting dinner on the table in 20 minutes.
Homemade Freezer Meatballs
As someone that buys a quarter cow, I use up my ground beef making these amazing meatballs.
I bake them all at once, let them cool completely, then freeze them on a baking sheet before transferring them to freezer bags. Freezing them individually first keeps them from sticking together, so I can grab exactly the number I need for a meal.
Our Favorite Ways to Use Frozen Meatballs
- Spaghetti and meatballs
- Meatball subs
- Swedish meatballs over mashed potatoes or egg noodles
- BBQ meatballs
- Teriyaki meatballs with rice
- Italian wedding soup
- Meatball casseroles
- Pizza topped with sliced meatballs
- Slow cooker grape jelly meatballs for parties
- Vegetable and meatball soup
Because they’re already cooked, they simply need to be reheated in sauce, soup, or the oven.
Batch Cook Shredded Chicken
Shredded chicken may be the most versatile ingredient in my freezer.
I’ll cook several pounds of chicken breasts or thighs in the slow cooker or Instant Pot, shred everything at once, and portion it into meal-sized freezer bags.
I flatten each bag before freezing so it stores efficiently and thaws quickly.
Having cooked chicken ready to go makes homemade meals feel just as convenient as grabbing something frozen from the store.
Easy Meals Using Shredded Chicken
- Chicken tacos
- Chicken enchiladas
- BBQ chicken sandwiches
- Chicken salad
- Chicken noodle soup
- Buffalo chicken dip
- Chicken quesadillas
- Chicken Alfredo
- Chicken pot pie
- White chicken chili
- Chicken fried rice
- Burrito bowls
- Caesar wraps
- Pasta casseroles
- Chicken and stuffing bake
The possibilities are almost endless.
Freeze in Meal-Sized Portions
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is to freeze food the way you’ll actually use it.
Instead of freezing one giant bag, divide your meatballs and shredded chicken into portions your family typically eats in one meal.
Label each bag with:
- What’s inside
- The date it was frozen
- Approximately how much is in the bag
This makes meal planning much easier and helps prevent food waste.
Build Meals Around Your Freezer
When I have meatballs and shredded chicken already prepared, dinner starts with asking, “What do I already have?” instead of “What should I cook?”
I can add a bag of frozen vegetables, pasta, rice, potatoes, or a salad, and dinner comes together quickly without much planning.
These simple freezer staples save time, reduce food waste, and make busy weeks so much less stressful.
If you’re just beginning freezer meal prep, don’t feel like you need to fill your freezer with dozens of complete meals. Start by stocking ingredients you’ll use over and over again. A few bags of homemade meatballs and shredded chicken can become weeks’ worth of quick, delicious dinners. Check out my Freezer meal prep guide for more ideas of what to make!
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