12 Summer Freezer Meals to Make Ahead for Lunch Time

Add a few of these summer freezer meals to your meal planning routine for an easy homemade lunch that kids can reheat on their own.

Summertime is supposed to be simple – a vacation from the daily hustle and bustle of the school year. Save time in the kitchen by preparing summer freezer meals in big batches. These ideas are perfect for big kids to heat up on their own for a quick and easy lunch or snack.

Somehow during the summer, my kids need twice as much food as they do during the school year. I think it probably has something to do with how busy they are at school vs how much free time they have in the summer. Still, I feel like I could cook a big meal three times a day from June to August and they would still be asking for snacks!

Instead of telling my kids to make PBJ sandwiches for the 100th time, this summer I’m planning to make some summer freezer meals that they can heat up in the microwave or toaster oven.

Making things in big batches saves time and cooking from scratch saves money over buying convenience foods. Since summer is about 12 weeks long, I’ve rounded up a dozen summer lunch ideas that are delicious and kid-approved.

I plan to make as many recipes as I can before school gets out. I’ll make big batches on the weekends and freeze them in individual portions. That way, the kids can choose what they’re eating and heat it up on their own.

Freezer meal recipes

1. Bean and cheese burritos | Graceful Little Honeybee

Bean and cheese burritos are easy and you can customize them to include what your kids like to eat. Leave out vegetables (or add more), add cooked rice, or use a different type of bean. Make up a big batch of ingredients and enlist the kids to help you put them together in an assembly line.

2. Pepperoni pizza muffins | In the Kids Kitchen

I’ve made these pepperoni pizza muffins a few times without the sauce. You can add in a few vegetables too, such as green bell peppers or olives. If you’ve got teens that can wipe out a dozen muffins in one sitting, chop up ingredients to make a salad to serve on the side.

3. Pasta and sauce | Frugality Gal

Did you know that you can freeze cooked pasta? Use these tips to freeze any type of pasta and sauce. This is a great lunch idea to meal prep into single-serving containers.

4. Pretzel pocket sandwiches | One Mama’s Daily Drama

Pretzel pocket sandwiches and a homemade variation on Hot Pockets. Making the dough is a bit time-consuming, but you can skip the boiling part if you just want regular sandwiches instead of pretzel dough. These are filled with ham and cheese, but pizza toppings would also be good.

5. Invidivual chicken pot pie | Ree Drummond

Chicken pot pie is a favorite at my house, but it’s too much work to bake one up for lunch. Make these mini pies in bulk for a microwave-friendly version. Using a store-bought refrigerated pie crust instead of making one from scratch will save you some prep time.

6. Ham and cheese lunchbox muffins | I Should be Mopping the Floor

Ham and cheese lunchbox muffins and perfect for the school year or the summertime. This is a freezer-friendly macaroni and cheese recipe with a few extra ingredients to make it more filling.

7. Mini corn dogs | Moms Need to Know

For some reason foods like these mini corn dogs are always more fun than the full-sized version. You can skip the sticks and cook them using tongs. My kids won’t complain about eating them with their fingers and it makes them easier to freeze.

8. Whole-grain waffles | One Mama’s Daily Drama

There is nothing wrong with breakfast for lunch and whole-grain waffles reheat nicely in the toaster. Mix in a half-cup of one of your favorite extras before baking. Some options my family loves are chocolate chips, raisins, bacon bits, cheese, or berries.

9. Frozen fruit cups | Once a Month Meals

Of course, you can stock the refrigerator with fresh fruit, but this frozen twist feels like a fun treat. Make frozen fruit cups with your kids’ favorite fruit for a cool summer treat that feels a bit like eating a popsicle!

10. Banana berry yogurt pops | Blogging with Apples

Make a few batches of Banana berry yogurt pops for a healthier alternative to popsicles. It would be easy to swap out the yogurt flavor or the fruit.

11. Peanut butter jelly bars | Budget Bytes

These peanut butter jelly bars are a fun twist on a classic PBJ sandwich. This recipe is more on the dessert side, but it makes a delicious homemade alternative to granola bars.

12. Peach cobbler muffins | One Mama’s Daily Drama

These peach cobbler muffins would be yummy with any similar fruit – apples, blueberries, strawberries, etc. Make a batch for breakfast, lunch, or snacktime.

Tips for freezing food

• Make sure the food is completely cool before you wrap it up to freeze.
• If the food will be reheated in the microwave, make sure you use microwave-safe containers.
• Wrap individual items in multiple layers of plastic wrap and then put those inside a freezer bag to avoid frost.
• Label everything with a name and date.
• Make a freezer inventory so that you and the kids know exactly what is in the freezer.

While these recipes are all kid-approved at my house, they’re also something that adults can enjoy too. These would be great to make and take to work for a budget-friendly office lunch or to eat at home on busy days when you don’t have time to cook.

What’s next? Try these other fun and creative ideas on One Mama’s Daily Drama:

• 84 Kids Activities for Summer Fun Every Day
• Our Favorite Summer Activity Books for Kids
• How to Organize Your Refrigerator and Freezer