Make Ahead Dinners: Save Time, Money, and Stress
When life gets busy—whether it’s juggling work, kids, or endless to-dos—the dinner hour can quickly become the most stressful part of the day. While there are plenty of ways to make dinnertime easier (and The Dinner Daily is here to help with all of them!), make-ahead dinners are a fantastic option when you know your week is going to be extra hectic.
Whether it’s prepping meals before a busy stretch at work, having something ready for the kids while you’re traveling, or simply cutting down on the chaos of dinnertime, make-ahead meals can help you de-stress and stay on track with healthy, budget-friendly eating.
Picture this: It’s 6 PM, and the day has completely gotten away from you. The kids are hungry, you’re exhausted, and the thought of starting dinner from scratch feels impossible. Cue the stress and crankiness.
Now imagine a different scenario. Instead of scrambling, you open the fridge to find a delicious, hearty meal you prepared ahead of time. It’s ready to heat up in minutes. Suddenly, you’re not just surviving dinner—you’re rocking it. One scenario leaves you feeling frazzled and frustrated; the other has you feeling like a domestic goddess (or god!).
Below, you’ll find our best tips for making make-ahead dinners work in your life, along with a link to 5 of our members’ favorite make-ahead dinners at The Dinner Daily.
First, How Do We Define Make-Ahead Dinners?
Make-ahead dinners are meals that can be prepared in advance—either partially or completely—so all that’s left is a quick reheat or final assembly when you’re ready to eat. Think slow cooker meals, baked casseroles, or pre-assembled burritos. These meals simplify weeknight cooking, keep you organized, and reduce stress.
That said, not all foods are well-suited for make-ahead prep. Seafood, for example, can lose its freshness and texture if stored for too long. Fried foods may lose their crispiness, and certain vegetables, like cucumbers or lettuce, can become soggy. The key is choosing recipes and ingredients that hold up well in the fridge or freezer, so your meal is just as delicious when it’s time to serve.
5 Easy Make Ahead Dinners and Sides: Free Menu is Below
Our menu includes five of our members’ favorite recipes, complete with side dish suggestions. These recipes are easy to prepare, most take 30–40 minutes, and can be made ahead for maximum convenience.
Here’s a sneak peek at what’s on the menu:
- Upside Down Pizza Bake
A family favorite with a flavorful filling of seasoned ground beef, veggies, and pasta sauce, topped with golden pizza dough. Perfect for making ahead and baking when ready! - Slow Cooker Chicken Tarragon
Tender chicken thighs cooked with carrots, leeks, and asparagus in a light tarragon sauce. Just set it in the slow cooker for a stress-free make ahead dinner. - Parmesan Chicken Meatball Subs
Juicy chicken meatballs baked to perfection, served on sub rolls with parmesan cheese and a garden salad. Prep the meatballs in advance for a quick and satisfying make ahead dinner. - Shrimp Ambrosia with Roasted Veggie Couscous
A delicious skillet shrimp dish with a tomato-basil sauce, paired with roasted veggies and couscous for a complete meal. - Bean & Cheese Burritos
These hearty vegetarian burritos are packed with refried beans, cheese, and veggies. Assemble ahead and bake when you’re ready for a simple, delicious make ahead dinner.
Get The Make Ahead Recipes Here!
Tips for Making the Most of Make-Ahead Dinners
Plan Once, Cook Once:
We talk about this all the time, but if you want to make dinner easier—whether you’re preparing make-ahead dinners or something else—you need a plan. Dedicate a little time at the start of the week to plan your meals. This not only cuts down on grocery trips but also keeps you organized, saving time and mental energy during busy evenings. With a clear plan, you’ll know exactly what’s on the menu and can prep accordingly as your schedule allows. Plus, those multiple trips to the grocery store during the week? They’re a major budget killer.
Double Up:
When making meals like soups, casseroles, or ground beef dishes, cook double the portion. Enjoy one batch for dinner and freeze the other for an easy make-ahead meal later. Since you’re already doing the work, making a bit more is hardly any extra effort. And trust me—you’ll thank yourself on a future busy night! This simple strategy keeps you stocked with ready-to-go dinners and saves you from overpriced, often unhealthy takeout.
Prep in the Morning:
If evenings are hectic, take advantage of the quieter morning hours to prepare dinner. When my kids were little, I often cooked in the morning before the day got busy. It might seem strange to be sautéing pork chops at 8 AM, but once you experience how calm the dinner hour can be when all you need to do is warm something up, you might get hooked! Even if you can’t cook the entire meal, you can chop veggies, marinate proteins, or assemble a dish. A little morning prep goes a long way toward making dinnertime stress-free.
Batch Your Sides:
Another favorite tip is to batch cook or prep your sides in advance. Roast a tray of veggies, cook a pot of rice, quinoa, or lentils, or toss together a big bowl of chopped veggies and salad greens. Having sides ready to go is a game-changer for make-ahead dinners and will take a huge amount of stress out of the dinner hour. It’s one more way to make your evenings smoother and more enjoyable.
Why Dinners Matter
Why does all this matter? Because when you take the time to ensure there’s a healthy and easy meal on the table, wonderful things happen. Your family gets the gift of quality time together, even if it’s just for 20 minutes a few nights a week. Instead of mom or dad stressing about what to make—or rushing through the grocery store at 6 PM on the way home—you all get to enjoy that precious time at the end of the day.
Yes, dinner is about food, and it involves prep and cooking. But it’s also so much more. You’re not just feeding your family; you’re creating traditions, memories, and connections that can last a lifetime.
Tired of Stressing About Dinner Each Night?
If you are tired of the daily “what’s for dinner?” dilemma, or just want to make your weeknight dinner routine easier, we’re here to help.
Join the thousands of busy families who have embraced healthier eating habits, cut grocery costs, and enjoyed more family time around the dinner table with The Dinner Daily.
Every week, we create personalized menus based on your dietary and food preferences, and what’s on special at your grocery store, helping you eat better while saving money.
With just a few clicks, your personalized dinner plan—tailored to your grocery store specials—is ready to go. Curious?You can try it out for free for 14 days and have a customized plan created just for you in minutes.
