The Best Make Ahead Freezer Recipes to Feed a Crowd | Perfect for Family Reunions & Camps

Have you been asked to help prepare food for a large group this summer? Family Reunions, Youth Camps, Retreats of all kinds? If this is you, I’ve got you! For details on “how” to go about tackling this kind of project, click HERE. Keep scrolling for the freezer safe recipes.

There are tons of ideas in the post above that will help you know what kind of meals work well, the quantity of things to prepare, how to store the food, etc.

The post I have for you today will highlight recipes that can be made in advance and frozen. These are all recipes that double or triple nicely, keep well in the freezer and are easy to transport.

I’ve also included a few ideas of what can be served alongside these “freezer friendly” recipes, that will help you round out the meal. There are also a handful of dessert recipes that can be made in bulk and frozen as well.

Let’s do it!

MEATS FOR HEARTY SANDWICHES
(All can be doubled, or tripled and freeze well)

TIPS FOR FREEZING

• Allow the meat to cool, after it’s been cooked.
• Scoop the meat into gallon sized zip loc bags and press them out flat, making sure they are tightly sealed. It’s a good idea to be sure there is plenty of sauce in the bag, along with the meat. This will keep it flavorful and moist.
• Stack them in the freezer until ready to use.
• To thaw, remove from the freezer and allow them to defrost for 10-12 hours. Reheat on the stove top or in a crock pot, making sure to leave plenty of time for the meat to reheat.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH HEARTY SANDWICHES
All of these double and triple well, but should not be frozen. 😉

MEATS and BEANS THAT FREEZE WELL FOR A TACO/NACHO BAR (All of these can be doubled or tripled and freeze well) See tips for freezing above.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH A TACO/NACHO BAR
All of these double and triple well, but should not be frozen.

The above recipes are all fantastic additions. You would also want to be sure to have tortilla chips, or tortilla shells, shredded lettuce, tomatoes, shredded cheese, sour cream and maybe even a little bit of guacamole.

RECIPES FOR A PASTA BAR (These can be doubled or tripled and freeze well)

TIPS FOR FREEZING and SERVING:

• To freeze the Hearty Spaghetti Sauce, allow it to cool, then carefully spoon into freezer safe gallon sized zip loc bags. Lay them out flat, making sure they are tightly sealed. Stack them in your freezer until ready to use. The bags will need to defrost on the counter for about 6 hours. Then reheat the sauce on the stove top, or in a crock pot. Be sure to leave yourself enough time to reheat if you are using the crock pot.
• The freeze the Breadsticks take two large strips of foil. Lay one down horizontally and the other vertically over the top of the first. Place about 16 breadsticks together (stacked, 2 layers deep) over the foil. Wrap them securely. Place each foil package in a gallon sized ziploc bag. The bag will keep the breadsticks from getting freezer burn. The foil makes the breadsticks perfect for re-heating in the oven (or in a dutch ovens if you are camping). Allow the packages to thaw, then remove the ziploc bag (but not the foil) and place in the oven at 325 degrees for about 10 minutes, or until heated through. The breadsticks will come out toasty and warm. Brush with a bit more garlic butter and you are set to serve!

DESSERTS THAT FREEZE WELL:

COOKIES!

TIPS FOR FREEZING COOKIES

• Allow them to come to room temperature, making sure any chocolate has set.
• There are two options I’ve found to be successful. Stack them carefully in freezer safe gallon sized ziploc bags and then stack those bags carefully in a disposable aluminum tins. The tins help make sure they don’t get bumped around in the freezer. Alternately, you could skip the ziploc bags, and stack them in disposable 9×13 plastic containers with lids.

BIG BATCH BROWNIES and BARS that FREEZE WELL

TIPS FOR FREEZING BROWNIES and COOKIE BARS

• Allow to cool completely.
• Leave them in the pan, cover tightly with plastic wrap and then foil.
• They will thaw pretty quickly, you only need about 2 hours and they are ready to serve.

SHEET CAKES that FREEZE WELL

TIPS FOR FREEZING SHEET CAKE:

• Allow the cake to cool completely, making sure the frosting has set up (if applicable).
• Leave the cake in the pan and wrap tightly with plastic wrap, and then foil.
• Cake will defrost fairly quickly. You only need to leave it out on the counter for about 2 hours, and you’ll be ready to go.

I hope this post has been helpful to you! Best of luck! 🙂