By Arielle Weg-Zager
The transition from long summer nights of family dinners with endless cooking inspiration from fresh produce to chilly fall evenings of rushed dinners between soccer practice and piano lessons is challenging. But leaning into your freezer to have frozen meal starters at all times can help make weeknight cooking faster—and may even help you stay excited to cook through autumn.
No, I’m not just talking about a bag of frozen broccoli or rice (though these are excellent items I recommend having, too), but freezer staples that can truly start and make a meal. These ingredients bring heft to dinner and can inspire you to add just a couple of things for a wow-worthy dinner in minutes. You’ll open the freezer, see a bag of one of these, and instantly know exactly what’s on the menu. Plus, they lighten the load of your regular shopping, so you only need a few additional ingredients each week.
I keep these frozen meal starters on hand at all times because each one is incredibly versatile, often more affordable compared to the fresh versions, and kid-friendly, so everyone will love dinner. This back-to-school season, stock up on my favorite freezer items and lean on them when weeknights get a little too busy.
Gnocchi
I almost always have a bag of shelf-stable or frozen gnocchi and a jar of tomato sauce. You can boil them, sauté them, or bake them. They’re delicious and are a great blank canvas to work with any meal. At least once a week, I’ll serve them alongside salmon and veggies, like this Miso-Honey Salmon with Green Beans and Gnocchi, enjoy them in a Gnocchi and Mushroom Sheet Pan Dinner, or sauté them with whatever I have in the fridge, like this Gnocchi with Brussels Sprouts and Bacon. They’re also exceptional in soups and get extra pillowy, like this Thai Chicken Soup with Gnocchi Dumplings.
Pierogies
A bag of pierogies warmed in a skillet brings back memories of my mom making a bag of the potato and cheese variety with a big scoop of sour cream for dinner as a kid. While there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that (in fact, it’s encouraged), pierogies are an easy freezer staple that can quickly become the base of a well-rounded dish. Try our Kielbasa and Sauerkraut Skillet, Pierogi and Cabbage Stir-Fry, Pierogi and Kielbasa Casserole, or Pierogi Bake to sneak in some extra protein and veggies in each bite with little extra effort.
Meatballs
While meatballs, spaghetti, and a jar of sauce are a picture-perfect dinner, you can get really creative with some simple frozen meatballs. Changing up the sauce can really transform them into something new and exciting, like this Thai Red Curry Turkey Meatballs with Rice, Tomatoes, and Broccoli. They’re also delicious in quick skillet dinners, like these French Onion Meatballs or Coconut Curry Meatballs with Rice. Pro tip: For more money-saving or to customize the recipe to your family’s preferences, you can make your favorite meatball recipe and freeze them once cooked for easy reheating.
Chicken Strips
Chicken strips aren’t just for kids (though they do always love them). Grab your frozen chicken fingers, strips, or nuggets and treat them like you would any other piece of breaded chicken, but with a fraction of the effort. They’re perfect as the protein on a salad for lunch, like this Crispy Chicken Salad with Honey-Mustard Dressing. You can also skip the dredging and breading process of your favorite recipes and skip right to the crispy chicken, like this Chicken Finger Parm Casserole or Chicken and Pancakes. My favorite way, though, is adding them into wraps, like these Thai Chicken Burritos.
Fish
I eat fish at least twice a week at home, so having some frozen fillets of salmon and cod on hand is key to easy and cost-effective dinners. I’ll often defrost the fillets overnight in the fridge and simply bake, braise, air fry, or pan-fry when dinnertime rolls around. Try this Easy Braised Cod with Vegetables, Baked Cod with Cracker Crumb Topping, or Air Fryer Salmon Bowls with Avocado Cucumber Salad. Pro tip: If your family doesn’t love fish, try easing them in with frozen fish sticks and using them in dishes, like these Air Fryer Fish Stick Tacos with Crema.
Stuffed Pasta
Similar to pierogies, ravioli, and tortellini are great to keep on hand to act as the base of a dish. I love dressing them up with simple sauces, proteins, or veggies, like this Ravioli with Peas and Mint or Ravioli with Quick Turkey Bolognese. For something a little more out-of-the-box (or bag), this Enchilada Ravioli Skillet takes Mexican night to the next level and this Sausage Tortellini Soup with Kale is outstanding. Pro tip: Buy a variety filled with cheese and veggies for an extra boost of nutrients.
Dumplings
Dumplings are my go-to quick dinner, simply pan-fried and topped with soy sauce, chili crunch, and scallions. But a bag of frozen dumplings or wontons is also an exceptional meal starter. If I want something a little more, I’ll serve them alongside some quick fried rice, like this Wonton “Grain” Bowl, which gives the feeling of takeout. They’re also perfect floating in broth like this classic Wonton Soup with Spinach, in this Potsticker Vegetable Stir Fry, or with a DIY approach like this Potsticker Grazing Board.
Stock Up Your Freezer
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Arielle Weg-Zager is the digital editor of SavoryOnline and has been writing about food, nutrition, and health for over 8 years. She collects cookbooks and loves nothing more than cooking elaborate meals for her friends or exploring the local restaurant scene.
