One of the greatest gifts you can give yourself is a well-stocked freezer, full of homemade dinners that you do not have to think about. As the fall season brings in the crisper air and grants permission to light the fireplace, you may begin to crave the warmth and comfort of heartier dishes.

If you happen to be pregnant, freezer meals will simplify your life. You can make sure you are eating well without worrying about having the energy to prepare and pull off a meal every evening. You can also make them in bulk and save your favorites for after you have the baby! One more thing you can check off your list.

Freezer meals are also budget-friendly. You can choose what to make based on your budget, of course, but preparing them in bulk for the month means that after the upfront cost, you will not be spending money on dinners. If you plan well, you may even have leftovers to eat for lunches, too.

These five recipes have been loved by adults and toddlers, and each one will warm you up from the inside out! Remember to label your meals well, including how to cook them and what other items you need to complete the meal.

Fall Freezer Meals

Chicken Pot Pie

Who doesn’t love a thick, creamy, pot pie with a crispy, doughy top? The best part of this recipe is that you can include your favorite vegetables. You can’t go wrong! Mushrooms, green beans, and cauliflower? Sure. Peas, carrots, potatoes, and corn? Absolutely. You can also prepare only the filling and freeze it to be thawed and added to fresh crust, or you can create the entire pot pie to be frozen. While you can cook your chicken and make your cream of potato soup homemade, you can also just shred a rotisserie chicken and mix in the Pacific brand (high-quality) box of soup. 

Lasagna 

Lasagna is such a delicious dinner, and being able to pull out a freshly made version from your freezer will make your tummy rumble until the cheese is bubbling and the sauce is perfect.

Chili 

You may love beans in your chili. You may only love stew meat and not ground meat in your chili. You may want to keep it healthy with turkey. The beauty with chili is that you can make it your own without worrying about ruining it. Use this recipe as a starting point, and then alter it to meet your cravings.

Meatballs 

Meatballs can be made into a variety of meals, from pasta to sandwiches, or served with rice or on salads. You can use any ground meat you’d like, even combining meats for extra flavor. You can add breadcrumbs or leave them out. Meatballs are a bit labor-intensive to prepare, but the end result is well worth the mess.

Creamy Italian Chicken

While this isn’t the most healthy meal, it’s not awful either. If you choose your ingredients well, you can increase the nutritional value and keep it tasty as creamy as ever! You can dump this directly into your crockpot or cook it thawed in a casserole dish while adding rice. (This can be served with rice, pasta, mashed potatoes, or any other side you can think of.)