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Discover 50+ make-ahead meal recipes that are simple, flavorful, and perfect for meal prep, busy weeknights, and family dinners.
We LOVE Easy!
We, like most, have a busy family and often find dinner-time is stressful. We too, have had cereal for dinner on many occasions! That’s why we LOVE make ahead meals.
These favorites can be prepped in the morning (like slow cooker Fiesta Chicken and Chicken Corn Chowder) or are great for freezing (like Turkey Tetrazzini) for a stress-free evening that includes a delicious home-cooked meal!
We’ve included our go-to classics and a few extras, so there’s plenty to keep your family fed and make dinnertime a breeze.
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Our Top 10 Make Ahead Meals
1 Chicken Tetrazzini Recipe
Chicken Tetrazzini Recipe
Total Time: 55 minutes
Easy, creamy, and utterly delicious cheesy chicken tetrazzini is a family favorite that takes minutes to prep and makes a great freezer meal!
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2 Crock Pot Pot Roast Recipe
Crock Pot Pot Roast Recipe
Total Time: 7 hours 5 minutes
This melt-in-your-mouth crock pot pot roast is tender and flavorful. It takes just 5 minutes of prep before your slow cooker works its magic.
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3 Easy Lasagna Recipe
Easy Lasagna Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Our family's favorite lasagna recipe – not only because it's delicious but because it's so EASY! With beef, Italian sausage, three cheeses, and tons of seasonings, you know this recipe is going to be a hit!
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4 Cheese Enchiladas Recipe
Cheese Enchiladas Recipe
Total Time: 50 minutes
These authentic red cheese enchiladas are a family-favorite recipe and are cheesy, tasty and loved by all!
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5 Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe
Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe
Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes
Hearty slow cooker beef stew is a family favorite that we've enjoyed for years!! Your crock pot does all the work!
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6 Easy Baked Ziti Recipe
Easy Baked Ziti Recipe
Total Time: 55 minutes
Easy baked ziti recipe is a meaty baked pasta smothered in a cream cheese tomato sauce. It's ready in 30 minutes and feeds a crowd!
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7 Pulled Pork Recipe
Pulled Pork Recipe
Total Time: 8 hours 5 minutes
This deliciously easy pulled pork recipe is made in the slow cooker and takes just minutes to prep making it a go-to dinner idea!
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8 Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Total Time: 1 hour
A simplified version of a family favorite, this chicken enchilada casserole preps in 10 minutes for an easy crowd-pleaser!
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9 Green Chile Burritos Recipe
Green Chile Burritos Recipe
Total Time: 4 hours 5 minutes
The easiest Green Chile Burritos require just a few ingredients, including a seasoned chuck roast and 505 green chile sauce!
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10 Cafe Rio Pork Recipe
Cafe Rio Pork Recipe
Total Time: 6 hours 5 minutes
Our Cafe Rio sweet pork recipe tastes just like the restaurant version. With quick prep and sweet and savory flavor, it's a favorite copycat!
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More Make Ahead Meals
11 Turkey Tetrazzini
Turkey Tetrazzini
Total Time: 45 minutes
Simple turkey tetrazzini is a flavorful pasta casserole, perfect for using leftover holiday turkey, but tasty year round!
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12 Pasta Bake Recipe
Pasta Bake Recipe
Total Time: 35 minutes
Pasta Bake is a deliciously cheesy meal, perfect for any night, and one that the whole family will love and devour in no time!
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13 Chicken Alfredo Bake Recipe
Chicken Alfredo Bake Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Cheesy chicken alfredo bake is a simple twist on a family favorite! It's an easy dinner, perfect any night of the week.
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14 Crockpot Lasagna Recipe
Crockpot Lasagna Recipe
Total Time: 4 hours 55 minutes
This delicious crockpot lasagna recipe is just like the classic everyone loves, but made simpler in the slow cooker.
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15 Stuffed Shells Recipe
Stuffed Shells Recipe
Total Time: 45 minutes
Stuffed Shells is simple, cheesy and bakes in only 30 minutes. It's a perfect busy weeknight meal the entire family will love!
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16 Cheesy Tortellini Pasta Recipe
Cheesy Tortellini Pasta Recipe
Total Time: 20 minutes
Cheesy garlic tortellini pasta is covered in a delish homemade sauce, and is ready in 20 minutes! It is perfect for busy weeknights.
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17 Chicken Stroganoff Recipe
Chicken Stroganoff Recipe
Total Time: 30 minutes
Creamy chicken stroganoff is perfect for dinner any night of the week. It's full of flavor and is made, start to finish, in about 30 minutes!
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18 Baked Spaghetti Recipe
Baked Spaghetti Recipe
Total Time: 40 minutes
This cheesy baked spaghetti is filling and flavorful. It's a simple dinner recipe the entire family will love!
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19 Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
Total Time: 28 minutes
One-pot chicken bacon ranch pasta is a creamy and deliciously cheesy dish that is on the table in under 30 minutes!
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20 Crockpot Spaghetti Recipe
Crockpot Spaghetti Recipe
Total Time: 8 hours 10 minutes
Crockpot spaghetti is prepped in minutes and cooked low-and-slow for an easy homemade dinner any night of the week!
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21 Italian Sausage Pasta Recipe
Italian Sausage Pasta Recipe
Total Time: 20 minutes
Easy cheesy Italian sausage pasta is creamy, delicious, and perfectly spiced. It's a family favorite ready in only 20 minutes!
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22 Chicken Spaghetti Recipe
Chicken Spaghetti Recipe
Total Time: 40 minutes
Chicken Spaghetti is a new twist on your favorite pasta dinner! This dish is creamy + cheesy, making it the epitome of comfort food.
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23 Green Chili Chicken Enchiladas
Green Chili Chicken Enchiladas
Total Time: 40 minutes
Our Easy Chicken Enchiladas are creamy and melty with sour cream, green chiles, and corn tortillas, an easy family dinner with big flavor.
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24 Beef Enchilada Casserole
Beef Enchilada Casserole
Total Time: 50 minutes
A simple twist on a favorite, our layered beef enchilada casserole is prepped in 15 minutes for a comforting classic, perfect for weeknights!
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25 Beef Enchiladas
Beef Enchiladas
Total Time: 30 minutes
Quick and simple beef enchiladas are a family favorite dinner. This Mexican dish is delicious and on the table in only 30 minutes!
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26 Crockpot Chicken Enchiladas
Crockpot Chicken Enchiladas
Total Time: 4 hours 45 minutes
With just 5 minutes of prep, our hot and cheesy crock pot chicken enchiladas make dinner a breeze! Just let the crock pot do the work.
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27 Baked Chicken Chimichanga Recipe
Baked Chicken Chimichanga Recipe
Total Time: 25 minutes
Baked Chicken Chimichangas are like a crispy burrito, stuffed with chicken + cheese. Everyone will love this simple restaurant-style recipe!
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28 Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos Recipe
Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos Recipe
Total Time: 7 hours 5 minutes
Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos are flavored with salsa and prepped in minutes. You'll never find an easier way to enjoy tacos!
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29 Bean Burrito Recipe
Bean Burrito Recipe
Total Time: 30 minutes
This is Great Grandma's famous bean burrito recipe, filled with amped up creamy beans and on the table in 30 minutes!
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30 Carnitas Recipe
Carnitas Recipe
Total Time: 9 hours 10 minutes
This carnitas recipe takes minutes to prep and is great in tacos, bean burritos, quesadillas, chimichangas, and more!
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31 Cafe Rio Chicken Recipe
Cafe Rio Chicken Recipe
Total Time: 3 hours 5 minutes
Copycat Cafe Rio Shredded Chicken – a simple and delicious chicken recipe that is perfect for salads, burritos, quesadillas and tacos!
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32 Pork Tacos Recipe
Pork Tacos Recipe
Total Time: 6 hours 5 minutes
These simple pork tacos are flavorful, easy to make, and a big crowd-pleaser. Top with all of your favorite taco toppings!
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33 Slow Cooker Barbacoa
Slow Cooker Barbacoa
Total Time: 7 hours 5 minutes
With only 5 minutes of prep, this beef slow cooker barbacoa is tender, savory, and perfect for filling tacos or burritos!
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34 Carne Asada Recipe
Carne Asada Recipe
Total Time: 3 hours 20 minutes
Make an authentic carne asada recipe right at home! Easily create perfect Mexican-flavored meat to add to tacos, burritos, and more.
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35 Mexican Casserole Recipe
Mexican Casserole Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour
Cheesy Mexican casserole is flavorful and filling, packed with layers of chicken, Spanish rice, and a creamy sauce!
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36 Chicken Noodle Casserole Recipe
Chicken Noodle Casserole Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Chicken noodle casserole is filled with veggies and topped with a buttery cracker crust making it a flavorful family favorite.
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37 French Onion Chicken Casserole Recipe
French Onion Chicken Casserole Recipe
Total Time: 45 minutes
Just 10 minutes of prep time and you have a delicious creamy concoction of chicken, celery, and cheese topped with crispy fried onions!
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38 Chicken and Broccoli Casserole
Chicken and Broccoli Casserole
Total Time: 50 minutes
Chicken and broccoli casserole is loaded with veggies and cheesy flavor – a simple family favorite for generations!
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39 Hamburger Tater Tot Casserole Recipe
Hamburger Tater Tot Casserole Recipe
Total Time: 45 minutes
Homey & delicious hamburger tater tot casserole is layered with flavors everyone will love! It is kid-friendly, easy, and freezes perfectly!
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40 Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken recipe
Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken recipe
Total Time: 40 minutes
Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken is one of our family’s favorite Asian recipes! You can add pineapple and peppers and serve with rice or noodles to complete this flavorful dish!
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41 Italian Meatball Recipe
Italian Meatball Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 48 minutes
This homemade Italian meatball recipe is sure to rival your favorite Italian restaurant. They are juicy, soft, and full of flavor!
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42 Easy Swedish Meatballs Recipe
Easy Swedish Meatballs Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour
Easy Swedish meatballs made from both pork and beef are smothered in a creamy gravy. It's the perfect dish for holiday entertaining!
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43 Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken Recipe
Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken Recipe
Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken is juicy, flavorful. and preps in minutes! This simple dish is great for holidays, parties and potlucks!
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44 Crack Chicken Recipe
Crack Chicken Recipe
Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes
Crack chicken in a crock pot is simple and tasty. Everyone is sure to love this creamy, cheesy chicken dish.
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45 Sloppy Joe Recipe
Sloppy Joe Recipe
Total Time: 30 minutes
This sloppy joe recipe is quick and easy, perfect for feeding a crowd! You'll make these meaty sandwiches from scratch every time.
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46 French Dip Sandwich Recipe
French Dip Sandwich Recipe
Total Time: 6 hours 45 minutes
This low-maintenance French dip sandwich is made with hearty beef and melted provolone cheese on a buttery toasted bun, and dipped in au jus!
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47 Kalua Pork Recipe
Kalua Pork Recipe
Total Time: 9 hours 5 minutes
Our 3-ingredient homemade Kalua pork recipe is tender, smoky, and slow-cooked to Hawaiian-style perfection!
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48 Crock Pot Brisket Recipe
Crock Pot Brisket Recipe
Total Time: 8 hours 5 minutes
Try this effortless crock pot brisket recipe for delectably juicy and tender meat that will melt in your mouth.
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49 Chicken Taco Soup Recipe
Chicken Taco Soup Recipe
Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
Our favorite chicken taco soup is a dump-and-go slow cooker favorite, it's perfectly spiced and easily doubled!
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50 Ham and Potato Soup
Ham and Potato Soup
Total Time: 30 minutes
Try this creamy, comforting ham and potato soup for a quick and easy soup that's on the table in only 30 minutes!
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51 Chili’s Chicken Enchilada Soup
Chili’s Chicken Enchilada Soup
Total Time: 40 minutes
Thick and cheesy Chili's chicken enchilada soup tastes just the original! With mostly shelf-stable ingredients it's our favorite go-to soup.
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52 Broccoli Cheddar Potato Soup Recipe
Broccoli Cheddar Potato Soup Recipe
Total Time: 45 minutes
Thick and creamy broccoli cheddar potato soup is packed with veggies and flavor for a hearty favorite in under an hour!
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53 Chicken Chowder Recipe
Chicken Chowder Recipe
Total Time: 25 minutes
Creamy chicken corn chowder hits the spot, brimming with tender chicken, sweet corn, and a rich broth – all in under 30 minutes.
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54 Easy Chili Recipe
Easy Chili Recipe
Total Time: 35 minutes
You're going to fall hard for this spicy, hearty homemade beef chili. This best chili recipe is not only simple, but delicious!!
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