Make-Ahead Freezer Meals
Freezer friendly recipes for those busy weeknights! Simply prep, freeze and cook for the best home cooked meal. SO EASY!!!
Ingredients
- 1 lb rigatoni pasta
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ lb chicken breasts, diced into 1-inch pieces
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 red onion, sliced
- ½ tsp each salt & pepper
- ½ tsp red chili flakes
- 1 650 mL jar marinara sauce
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 cup spinach, chopped
- 1 453g log fresh mozzarella
- 10 basil leaves, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 F. Cook pasta to just before al dente, about 6-8 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large saucepan over med-high heat. Add chicken and cook for 3-4 minutes until lightly browned. Add onions and garlic, sauteeing another 1-2 minutes or so until fragrant. Add in marinara sauce, sour cream, salt and pepper and chili flakes, then bring just to a boil, stirring well.
- Stir in red pepper and spinach, and then toss pasta in sauce mixture and remove from heat. Add pasta to a large greased 9×13 dish and then top with mozzarella cheese. Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes until cheese is melted and starts to brown.
- Remove from oven, garnish with basil leaves then serve and enjoy! You can freeze individual portions up to 3 months. To reheat, defrost in the microwave for 6-7 minutes or reheat in a 350 F oven for 20-30 minutes.
Notes
Store the leftovers in the fridge for 2-3 days. Sprinkle some water over top then reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes. Freeze this recipe for up to 3 months in individual serving sizes. Reheat in the oven for 20 minutes at 350 F. This is a basic template of a freezer meal and is based on this Chicken Pasta Bake. Check out the links in this blog post for more individual freezer-friendly recipes.