You're going to love the convenience of these make ahead dinners, recommended by parents who rely on them for getting a healthy meal on the table on extra-busy nights.
The prep work for these make ahead meal ideas is done in advance, so you'll just need to heat them through (at the most) when your family is ready to eat. The bonus is that many easy reheatable meals taste even better a day or two after they're made...we're looking at you, soup!
Share your family's favorite make ahead meals below. We'd love to include your picks for prep-ahead casseroles, baked pastas, recipes that reheat really well, and any other go-to meals to make in advance when you want to make your evenings a little bit easier.
Want to really plan ahead? Check out our collection of freezer meals, too.
Bonus!! If you add a new review or recommendation between 1/9/25 and 1/31/25, you'll automatically be entered in our Parent Reviews Sweepstakes (Jan 2025) for a chance to win a $100 gift card to Amazon or Target! See official rules for details.
Homemade Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo Stuffed Shells
This comforting and decadent casserole fills jumbo pasta shells with a creamy chicken and broccoli mixture, and can be prepped up to a full day in advance. For a make ahead dinner, store the fully assembled dish in the fridge until you're ready to bake it and increase the cook time by 10-15 minutes.
Cheesy Zucchini Chicken and Rice Bake
This delicious kid-friendly casserole has a crispy cheese topping that gives a nice change of texture. To prepare this recipe as a make ahead meal, complete all of the steps except for the final bake. It'll keep in the fridge for 2 days, and you can finish it in the oven when you're ready to eat. If you have picky eaters, try shredding the zucchini to help it blend in and go easy on the cayenne.
Butternut Squash Enchiladas
These hearty vegetarian enchiladas can be prepped ahead of time and baked when you're ready to enjoy them. They also happen to freeze really well, so consider doubling the recipe and stashing a second pan in the freezer for a future meal.
Ramen Noodle Salad
Salads that use hearty greens like cabbage or kale can be made ahead and stored in the fridge. This kid-friendly ramen salad with shredded chicken is a budget-friendly dinner that will stay good for 3-4 days.
Primary photo:
Upparent collects community-submitted recommendations and reviews, and any ideas that are shared reflect the opinions of individual contributors.
