Delicious Postpartum Freezer Meals to Prepare You for Baby
Postpartum recovery is no walk in the park. Amidst newborn feedings and sleepless nights, there’s not much time for mama to nourish herself! That’s where this list of delicious postpartum freezer meals comes in.
You’re a few short weeks away from meeting your bundle of joy and everything is ready. All baby registry products have arrived, the nursery is set, diaper station is stocked and feeding supplies are organized, but wait.. what about momma?
It’s important to make sure you are well nourished and have meals ready to go with minimal effort because let’s face it. There’s no time to spend planning, food shopping, cooking, and serving ourselves when we’ve got a screaming newborn on our hands! Stocking the freezer with nutritious meals that are ready to eat can make life as a new mom just a little easier.
When should you prep postpartum freezer meals?
Since most postpartum freezer meals will last 4-5 months on average, I would recommend prepping 4 weeks in advance. This is because baby may surprise you by coming early and we want to make sure those meals are prepared.
Also, let’s get realistic. It’s going to take more than a day to prepare months worth of freezer meals (especially if you want a large variety). Let’s stay on the safe side and knock this task out of the park ahead of time.
Supplies for Making Postpartum Freezer Meals in Bulk
Ok – so we are preparing to go to the grocery store to get everything we need to make postpartum freezer meals. While you’re out, don’t forget about storage!
I am a diehard fan of vacuum sealing food before it goes in the freezer because I always find that it never gets freezer burned and always tastes more fresh. It also is a HUGE space saver when you avoid bulky packaging.
I use the FoodSaver Vacuum Sealer because for 1, it’s one of the most purchased food vacuum sealer on the internet. 2, because it’s compact which makes it so easy to store in my already overpacked kitchen. Not to mention – she’s kinda pretty.
No vacuum sealer and on a budget? No problem. You can get a large set of plastic containers for cheap on Amazon here. These are also convenient because you can microwave them right in the container and don’t need to pour into a bowl or on a plate as you would need to due with vacuum sealed meals.
Postpartum Freezer Meal Ideas
In this list, we’ll get into the most convenient postpartum freezer meals. We need to focus on our nutrition of course (especially us breastfeeding mamas) but there are days where we want something to really hit the spot. Something that fulfills that cheesy craving, ya know? So let’s sprinkle a few of those recipes in there too!
Chicken Freezer Meals
Butter Chicken: I absolutely LOVE Indian food! It’s so warm and comforting with excellent aromas that make you want to snuggle up on the couch. Butter chicken is a mild, curry based sauce over chicken. The key players to this curry is tomato sauce and heavy cream. This is best served with rice and broccoli which can all be stored together.
Note: I know many Indian curries require lots of ingredients and prep. You can save a ton of time by purchasing the curry pre-made. Patak’s Butter Chicken Curry sauce is the best tasting in my opinion.
White Chicken Chili: The perfect meal to warm you up on a cold night when you’re running on fumes. What I love most about this meal are the ingredients which are perfect for breastfeeding moms who need iron, protein and calcium. You’ve got iron from the beans, protein from the chicken, and calcium from the blend of veggies and dairy.
Mississippi Pulled Chicken Sliders: These chicken sliders are cooked with pepperoncini which are packed with antioxidants, fiber, vitamin C, potassium and calcium. They also are high in capsaicin (which is what makes it spicy) which means has anti-inflammatory benefits! Sliders are also super easy to store and reheat. Perfect for a quick but filling snack.
Chicken and Dumpling Soup: ..because you’re going to need a quick and easy chicken soup recipe that warms the soul. The soft and chewy dumplings soak up the creamy, herbed broth so well! It’s also packed with veggies and potatoes to hit every nutritional checkmark.
Creamy Chicken Florentine: Chicken and spinach in a buttery cream sauce served with green beans is great for satisfying your creamy chicken cravings! Serve with green beans to squeeze in a little more nutrition. It pairs so well!
Beef Freezer Meals
Chinese Beef and Broccoli: I looooove Chinese Beef and Broccoli! One, because I am a broccoli addict. Two, because velveted beef is so soft with just the right amount of chew and is packed with beefy flavor. This can also be a very healthy meal as long as you avoid using too much oil. Make sure you have this with a little bit of rice because it’s low in carbohydrates .. something you’ll need a lot of if you’re breastfeeding.
Barbacoa Tacos: Barbacoa is such a versatile meat that can be used for anything, really. My favorite way to eat barbacoa is in a taco or burrito. To give you the nutrients you need to recover, opt for a corn tortilla and fill it with seasoned barbacoa, vegetables of your choice, a little bit of Monterey jack cheese, and hot sauce!
Pot Roast: The way the fat from the beef melts down and thickens up the soup is unmatched. This is the ultimate cold-weather soup when you’re wrapped in a robe with your little one at your side. It’s filled with tender veggies, savory beef, and baby potatoes all simmered in a beefy sauce with a hint of tomato.
Beef Stroganoff: I just made this recipe for dinner tonight and it was excellent. I couldn’t help but realize what an excellent freezer meal this would be! Healthy? No, not really, but it’s one of those filling and delicious meals you need once in a while to help you get through the rest of the day! It’s super creamy, high in protein, and packed with flavor.
Vegetable Beef Ragu: This ragu recipe is perfect for pasta lovers like myself, but this one’s perfect for getting in those needed nutrients. It is PACKED with vegetables and when you add in lean beef for protein, you’ve got yourself an energy loaded meal!
Pork Freezer Meals
Jambalaya: This dish combines sliced pork sausage, shrimp, and chicken with plenty of vegetables and rice. I always like to make mine extra spicy to put a little pep in my step when I’ve got a newborn, but spice level can easily be changed!
Rosemary Garlic Pork Roast: This pork roast dish is amazing! The meat is melt-in-your-mouth tender and so savory. My favorite way to eat this is with mashed potatoes and carrots using leftover juices as gravy.
Pork Ramen: This pork ramen noodle soup is great. It has pork for protein, noodles for carbs, and vegetables for nutrients. It’s also packed with herbs and unique flavors that make the broth so unique! However, let’s leave out the hardboiled egg on this one as the whites becomes rubbery and inedible when reheated.
Pork Tenderloin in Mushroom Sauce: I normally don’t think of pasta when I think of pork, but this pairs so well! The mushroom sauce does an excellent job smothering the pork and pasta giving it a beautiful, warm flavor. Also, mushrooms are great for healing, digestion, and increasing energy levels.
Pulled Pork: Well known for a reason, pulled pork is EXTREMELY versatile! It can be turned into sliders, sandwiches, tacos, burritos, rice bowls, and even used in macaroni and cheese. This is my go-to freezer meal that can fill a variety of cravings.
Seafood Freezer Meals
Chinese Shrimp and Chicken Fried Rice: Every nutrient you need for your postpartum recovery is right here in this dish. You’ve got plenty of nutrients from the vegetables, fat from the sesame oil, carbs from rice, and protein from the eggs, shrimp and chicken. Oh, and did I mention how delicious this is?!
Seafood Rice Skillet: This one is budget friendly and highly variable when it comes to what type of seafood you use. I always prefer shrimp when it comes to freezer meals because, as I’m sure you’ve probably seen, cooked shrimp freezes well. It’s also super healthy. This skillet is great as it includes rice for carbohydrates, peas and bell pepper for nutrients, and PLENTY of seasonings to give a savory flavor.
Ravioli with Pink Lobster Sauce: I prefer to freeze the lobster sauce separately from the ravioli, but you can do it either way! You can also save time by purchasing lobster ravioli (Trader Joe’s sells a good one) ahead of time so you don’t need to worry about including it in the sauce. Admittedly, this is not a super healthy meal. It’s a cravings meal!
Greek Lemon Garlic Salmon: Salmon is amazing for breastfeeding moms as it provides DHA and EPA (omega-3 fatty acids) which are crucial to babies development. It is also so good for us and tastes absolutely amazing, no matter how you cook it! It pairs well with roasted, herbed baby potatoes and veggies when spruced up with a little zest from lemons.
Crab Cakes with Tartar Sauce: Crab contains many vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids -all excellent for breastfeeding moms. Serve these with fresh vegetables and rice for a complete meal, guaranteed to power you through the rest of the day (and night)!
Vegetarian Freezer Meals
Red Lentil Dal: A lentil dish in a seasoned tomato sauce that will overtake your tastebuds with Indian seasonings. I absolutely love Indian food, and this is just so comforting. Beans are an excellent source of iron – a mineral necessary for healing. Serve with rice and vegetables for a complete meal.
Vegetarian Chili: Cold weather and chili go together like two peas in a pod. This recipe certainly hits the spot! Packed with flavor, bean chili incorporates beans, onions, bell peppers, celery, carrot, tomatoes and a blend of spices and herbs. This dish is a nutrient dense powerhouse!
White Bean Gnocchi Soup: Gnocchi has an excellent melt-in-your-mouth that is absolutely perfect for this soup. Served together in a broth with carrots, celery, onions and spinach simmered with herbs and seasonings, this is an excellent postpartum meal if you are craving something light that will provide you with the healing ingredients you need.
Vegetarian Lasagna: When we think of lasagna, we often are reminded of the meat marinara sauce that pairs so nicely with ricotta cheese.. but have you tried swapping the meat for veggies? This vegetarian lasagna recipe has so much character and flavor. It combines traditional lasagna but instead of meat, uses spinach, bell pepper, onions, zucchini, and mushrooms. Cheesy. Nutrient dense. Delicious.
Vegan Burrito Bowl: Your traditional burrito bowl that uses sofritas or beans instead of meat. I prefer sofritas (heavily seasoned tofu crumbles) for the added flavor. This meal is quick and easy to make yet packed with flavors and nutrient rich foods that will aid you on your healing journey!
Breakfast Freezer Meals
Breakfast Quiche: Ok, so not super healthy, but loaded with mushrooms and eggs which are a nutrient powerhouse! It’s also got plenty of bacon and mushrooms included which give SO much flavor. Perfect for starting your super-early morning routine (unless you have a unicorn baby who loves to sleep in, that is)!
Chicken Breakfast Burritos: Who doesn’t love a fat breakfast burrito in the morning to get your day going?! Choose ground meat of your choice (I go with chicken to avoid the high sodium of other breakfast meats), bell peppers, onions, eggs, potatoes, and eggs. Wrap in a flour tortilla and drizzle with your favorite burrito sauce before closing. If you’re a hot sauce nerd like myself, any scotch bonnet based hot sauce works wonders. May I suggest Queen Majesty Ginger and Scotch Bonnet hot sauce? It’s eggs-cellent.
Lactation Smoothie: If you are a breastfeeding mother like myself, you’re going to want a milk production boosting smoothie. Good ingredients for a lactation boost are bananas, oats, flaxseed, and brewer’s yeast. I always add blueberries to this recipe because I love the added flavor, but you do you!
Sausage Croissant Casserole: I’m going to be honest. Nothing about this is healthy.. but it’s SO GOOD and my picky eating toddler loves it! I made it for Easter breakfast and it was gone in a few minutes. Great for a cheat meal to fill your cravings.
Frittata: For those who haven’t heard of it before, a frittata is like an omelet had a baby with a quiche. It’s a lot of eggs that engulf meats and different veggies with cheese. My go to veggies are always chopped tomatoes and spinach. I prefer ham for saltiness and feta cheese as it’s light and airy texture balances out the rest of the meal.
With every freezer meal comes the reheating process. I always had the best luck with taking the meals I intend to eat the following day out of the freezer and placing in the fridge overnight. The next day, I will either bake at 350°F until warmed through or throw it in the microwave. Either way, it will get eaten and it will taste great!
Remember, postpartum healing means nourishing your body and plenty of rest (although rest seems like a distant cousin in the newborn days).
Fueling your body with essential nutrients that can heal your body is so important to both your physical and mental health. This means not spending hours in the kitchen while your body craves rest, and instead, preparing freezer meals BEFORE baby arrives. You got this, mama!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links for products I love and have personally tried myself. I may earn a small commission off of the sale of these items. I hope you love them as much as I do!