Putting aside some time to get batch cooking and filling your freezer is a perfect future time-and-sanity saver when it comes to feeding your family.
This collection of batch cooking ideas is filled with recipes that are ideal for busy weeks, if you’re a new parent or just someone who is juggling. You will thank your future self for a little dedicated time in the kitchen when you’re reaping the rewards on a hectic weeknight!
Struggling to find the brain space and time to think of dinner during the week?
Me too!
Over the years I’ve realised that if I can keep even just a handful of precooked homemade meals ready (either in the freezer or the fridge), it makes my week so much calmer.
Why batch cook?
Batch cooking is actually a form of self care in these busy times we live it!
I mostly do this by doubling up a recipe a couple of times a week when I cook dinner, or putting aside a quiet day when I can load up on ingredients and spend a blissful few hours in the kitchen.
Want to get ideas for dinner next week? Try out my Weekly Meal Plans, which come with a free detailed shopping list.
Batch cooking tips
➡️ FREEZER SPACE: Try to clear some space in your freezer before you cook to make sure there’s room for everything as you don’t want anything going to waste.
That said, if you don’t have freezer space, it’s still worth batch cooking for later in the week, as long as you store things well in the fridge. You can always eat a different version of the same meal, for example.
➡️ FOOD HYGIENE: Read this advice from the Food Standards Agency about freezing food if you’re unsure. Basically, if you have defrosted meat or fish, then cooked it, it’s fine to refreeze again once. However, you shouldn’t refreeze it again raw.
➡️ STORAGE: Which container you should use depends on the size and style of your batch cook. I try to stay away from single use plastic where possible but it can be very tricky!
You will find that almost all of my recipes are made with budget and convenience in mind. I don’t focus too much on authenticity or the long way around a recipe. It’s all about what tastes good, what is healthy, what is quick and how can we keep costs down.
Batch cooking ideas for beginners
Don’t worry if you’re not an accomplished cook! My recipes are easy-to-follow and are not overly complicated.
Below you will find a huge variety of dishes, from curries to soups, stews to pies, breakfast muffins to gravy and much more! There is a good selection of vegetarian options too.
Notes on these batch cooking recipe
⭐️ All of the recipes below link to the respective recipe pages, which include portion sizes, nutrition and information for each meal.
⭐️ I always like to include some soup recipes in my freezer filling as these make a really quick shortcut meal when we are late home.
⭐️All of the portion sizes are for adult portions. If you’re feeding children they will obviously make even more.
⭐️ If you’d like to get ahead but don’t have the time to batch cook, you could try using my Dump Bag method instead. This is when you put the ingredients into a food bag and freeze them, meaning all you have to do is defrost it and add everything to your slow cooker on the day!
Here are the batch cooking recipes:
4.88 from 8 votes
Cottage Pie {Easy Recipe}
This classic Cottage Pie recipe is comforting and indulgent in a way that only British understated and humble dishes can be. Full of richness, goodness, and mightily satisfying, it’s always a big hit with family members big and small.
This Slow Cooked Pulled Pork can be made in the oven or slow cooker, resulting in deliciously tender, shredded meat with a delicate BBQ sauce. It’s an easy but impressive crowd pleaser of a dish.
This is a delicious, healthy and easy Chicken Curry recipe for those days without much time or energy. You'll have a tasty, satisfying meal on the table in about 30 minutes.
This easy, comforting Simple Shepherd's Pie recipe is the perfect antidote to a cold winter's day. It is also ideal for batch cooking and freezing ahead of time. It's hearty, delicious and perfect for the whole family.
This simple recipe for Chicken Pie has everything you need in a comfort food pie. With its tasty meat, extra veggies, creamy sauce and light fluffy pastry topping, it's an ideal and simple homemade pie.
Make a batch of these delicious Bacon and Egg Breakfast Muffins ahead of time, then all you have to do is heat them up for those mornings in a hurry. Comfort food to get your day going!
Slow Cooker Beef Stew or Slow Cooker Beef Casserole? Whatever you call it, it’s comfort food at its very best. A hearty meal packed with flavour, vegetables and rich gravy for the whole family.
This Keema Curry is a really simple mince beef recipe. Cooked in under 30 minutes, it's delicious enough for a weekend fakeaway and easy enough for a midweek meal too.
This Easy Fish Pie recipe with delicious cheesy mash topping is the ultimate comfort food. It has a really simple sauce, involves no pre-cooking the fish, just assemble for a delicious, hearty favourite.
This recipe for Honey Garlic Chicken is cooked in the slow cooker with just 5 minutes preparation needed. It cooks up a sticky, Asian-style sauce and super tender meat.
This Slow Cooker Chicken Casserole recipe is so quick to prepare. The stew is packed with vegetables and in a delicious creamy sauce with crispy bacon bits. Cosiness in a bowl!
This Teriyaki Chicken recipe with a delicious sticky sauce makes a brilliant, quick, healthy, midweek meal. No need to marinate, just stir fry and serve.
This healthy Slow Cooker Chicken Curry is SO incredibly easy. No browning, no preparation. Just leave it to bubble away and come home to the most delicious, creamy but light, coconut milk curry.
This traditional Irish Beef and Guinness Stew is the most delicious and hearty comfort food for the whole family. Slow cooked for meltingly soft and tender beef and ale flavours.
This rich, flavour-filled and aromatic Chicken Cacciatore (a hearty, rustic Italian-style stew) is a perfect slow cooker recipe for a midweek dinner that the whole family will love.
This healthy, hearty Sweet Potato Cottage Pie recipe makes the perfect comforting family dinner. Make a double batch of this British classic for the double win – one for now, one for the freezer!
A delicious, quick and easy, family-friendly Lamb Keema Curry recipe. Perfect for a midweek dinner or weekend fakeaway. Here's how to make one of the tastiest and easiest curry recipes.
This is the ultimate gravy recipe for convenience and flavour. It's roasted then slow cooked for depth of flavour, making it perfect to make ahead for a special meal.
These Easy Courgette and Feta Fritters are as simple as they are delicious. Oven-bake for a healthy, golden finish and enjoy as finger food or as part of a meal. Packed with flavour and mouth-wateringly good.
This easy Vegetarian Cottage Pie recipe is filled with goodness, is wonderfully hearty and totally delicious. Comfort food that’s so good and full of flavour and texture, even meat eaters will love this dish.
Broccoli and Cauliflower Soup {Easy 20 Minute Recipe}
This easy Broccoli and Cauliflower Soup recipe makes a quick family lunch or no-fuss dinner. Full of nutrients and flavour, you can batch cook for convenience and use frozen veg for a super quick method!
This Slow Cooker Vegetable Soup is a fantastic ‘dump recipe’ – one of those favourites where you can stick all the ingredients in together and let the slow cooker do the rest. Out comes delicious, hearty, healthy soup after just a few hours!
This Sweet Potato & Peanut Butter Vegan Stew is comforting, creamy and totally delicious. Perfect for vegetarians, vegans or if you just want to reduce your meat intake.
This simple Vegetarian Moussaka is made with aubergines, potatoes and courgettes, topped with a creamy cheese sauce. It's a delicious family-friendly recipe that makes a great midweek meal, and is also perfect to batch cook and freeze for later.
This simple and tasty Courgette Soup recipe makes an easy lunch or simple dinner in less than half an hour. It's gluten free, easily made dairy free and vegetarian – perfect for the whole family.
This vegan Butternut Squash Curry recipe is a deliciously comforting and nourishing dish. It’s also easy, ready in 30 minutes, is full of flavour and the whole family will love it.
Featuring 100 delicious recipes that can be cooked in one pot, you can open any page in this book and find something that will give you not only a meal that the whole family will eat and enjoy, but also one that makes your life a little simpler in the process.
Hi, I'm Sarah. I help busy people decide 'What's for Dinner?' Find hundreds of recipes here, and also in my bestselling recipe book. Hope my recipes make your life easier ❤️
Hi I’m
Looking for the breakfast burrito recipe that I’ve used a few times and can’t find it now!! Can you help please