Weekend Batch Cooking: Prepare Now, Relax Later
Streamline Your Week with Easy Batch-Cooking Recipes for Busy Days Ahead
Midweek chaos often leaves little time or energy to cook. Between work, school runs, and whatever else you’re having yourself, a stash of pre-prepped meals ready to go can be a lifesaver. Spending an hour or so on a Sunday can arm you with hearty, homemade meals ready to go for the week ahead. Whether it’s slow cookers bubbling away, the badly named “dump bags” (those magical freezer bags where you just toss in ingredients) ready to defrost, or a pot of something delicious simmering on the stove, doing a spot of batch cooking is like a nice little gift to your future self. This week I have three recipes, which will have your fridge and freezer stocked with meals that make life so much easier.
A classic for a reason, this version of Chicken Tikka Masala is perfect for batch cooking because it freezes like a dream. You can cook it in one big pot and divide it into portions, or prepare it as a dump bag with the chicken and marinade in one bag and the sauce ingredients in another. Come dinnertime, just pop it in a pan or slow cooker, and dinner’s sorted. Serve it with rice or naan, and you’ve got a meal that tastes like a takeaway but feels far more satisfying, knowing you made it yourself.
Next up, Thai Green Chicken Curry. Thai curries are one of my go-to batch-cooking options. They’re quick to make, packed with flavour, and endlessly adaptable. This Thai Green Chicken Curry is no exception. Make a big pot on Sunday, portion it out, and freeze it for a rainy day. It reheats beautifully and is perfect over jasmine rice. Add whatever veggies you’ve got in the bottom of the fridge, and you’ve got a balanced, comforting dinner.
Lastly, give these Freezer-Friendly Meatballs a go. If there’s one thing you’ll always find in my freezer, it’s meatballs. They’re the MVP of batch cooking—great with pasta, stuffed into sandwiches, or even thrown into a soup. These ones are easy to make in bulk. Roll them up, cook them, and freeze in portions with your favourite marinara or tomato sauce. Then, when you need a quick dinner, just defrost, heat, and serve.
Whether you’re using your slow cooker, prepping dump bags, or simmering away on the stove, a little time spent on the weekend planning ahead will ultimately make life easier when dinner time rolls around midweek.
Made the Tikka Masala! Perfect!!!
These all look so fabulous! Meatballs for pasta and sandwiches is a great idea.