17 Ina Garten Recipes You Can Make Now & Freeze for Later (2024)

There are so many reasons to love Ina Garten, that it’s hard to choose just one. Her recipes are always a win, and they’re practically foolproof. She also makes entertaining look easy and makes cooking look fun. But one of the lesser-known reasons that we love Ina is because so many of her recipes can be made ahead of time and frozen for later. You know, like those days when each kid has three after-school activities, you have a migraine, and the last thing you feel like doing is going home and making a meal? That’s when those make-ahead recipes from Ina really shine.

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The key to delicious frozen meals is to let them cool before you store them in an airtight container to freeze. That way, you won’t get any excess moisture gumming up your food, making it soggy on the reheat. Whether you’re looking for something to eat next week or next month, make one of these freezable Ina Garten meals. They’re guaranteed to impress.

  • Baked Rigatoni With Lamb Ragù

    17 Ina Garten Recipes You Can Make Now & Freeze for Later (2)

    Similar to lasagna, this baked rigatoni freezes well and can even be reheated in the microwave when you’re ready to dig in.

    Get the recipe from Barefoot Contessa

  • Penne Alla Vodka

    17 Ina Garten Recipes You Can Make Now & Freeze for Later (4)

    You can either make the entire dish and freeze it, or for optimal freshness, make the sauce ahead of time and freeze it, then just cook your pasta when you’re ready to serve it.

    Get the recipe from Barefoot Contessa

  • Zucchini Basil Soup

    17 Ina Garten Recipes You Can Make Now & Freeze for Later (5)

    Soup is one of the best make-ahead meals because it freezes so well. This zucchini basil soup from Ina Garten is simple, yet flavorful and it will last at least a couple months in your freezer.

    Get the recipe from What’s Margot Making

  • Mexican Chicken Soup

    17 Ina Garten Recipes You Can Make Now & Freeze for Later (6)

    How about the same old comforting chicken soup you love but with a Mexican twist? Even better, you can use your leftover Costco rotisserie chicken to make this recipe even easier.

    Get the recipe from Barefoot Contessa.

  • Ina Garten’s Unforgettable Beef Stew

    17 Ina Garten Recipes You Can Make Now & Freeze for Later (7)

    Winter might be long this year. Make a big batch of this beef stew for the freezer, so that cozy meals are easy and you can get back to hibernating as quickly as possible.

    Get the recipe from Veggies by Candlelight.

  • Barefoot Contessa Company Pot Roast

    17 Ina Garten Recipes You Can Make Now & Freeze for Later (8)

    If you’re in the mood for pot roast but only have a few mouths to feed, freeze the leftovers! Everyone knows leftovers taste better the second time anyway.

    Get the recipe from Leite’s Culinaria.

  • Ina Garten’s Easy Tomato Soup

    17 Ina Garten Recipes You Can Make Now & Freeze for Later (9)

    Ina would definitely want you to eat this soup with grilled cheese croutons. Or if you prefer a full-sized grilled cheese sandwich, you may want to try one of these recipes.

    Get the recipe at Leite’s Culinaria.

  • Ina Garten’s Roasted Tomato Basil Soup

    17 Ina Garten Recipes You Can Make Now & Freeze for Later (10)

    Make a big batch of this in the summer, and you can have peak-season tomato soup all year.

    Get the recipe from Little Broken.

  • Baked Pasta With Tomatoes and Eggplant

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    Need a veggie pasta that’s freezable and sure to satisfy? This cheesy tomato-eggplant dish is it.

    Get the recipe from Leite’s Culinaria.

  • Ina Garten’s Roast Chicken

    17 Ina Garten Recipes You Can Make Now & Freeze for Later (12)

    To keep this chicken moist in the freezer, cut it into quarters with the bone and skin still on. Then, seal it in a vacuum-packed bag and freeze.

    Get the recipe from The Cozy Cook.

  • Ina Garten’s Root Vegetable Gratin

    17 Ina Garten Recipes You Can Make Now & Freeze for Later (13)

    Whether you’re in need of a side dish or a vegetarian main, this root veggie gratin will satisfy. Make it ahead, and thaw the whole thing in the oven when you feel like something meatless and cozy.

    Get the recipe from Smitten Kitchen.

  • Ina Garten’s Outrageous Brownies

    17 Ina Garten Recipes You Can Make Now & Freeze for Later (14)

    What makes these brownies so outrageous? Besides walnuts, you’ll need to try them and see.

    Get the recipe from Brown Eyed Baker.

  • Ina Garten’s Pastit*io

    17 Ina Garten Recipes You Can Make Now & Freeze for Later (15)

    Never had pastit*io? It’s a little like baked ziti’s more mature older sibling. And trust us, that’s a good thing.

    Get the recipe from Vodka and Biscuits.

  • Ina Garten’s Fresh Salmon Cakes

    17 Ina Garten Recipes You Can Make Now & Freeze for Later (16)

    These freeze great cooked or raw, and make for an easy quick dinner over salad, in pasta, or on a sandwich.

    Get the recipe from Whisk it Real Gud.

  • Ina Garten’s Lemon Chicken

    17 Ina Garten Recipes You Can Make Now & Freeze for Later (17)

    The juice from this lemon chicken keeps everything tasting great, and also makes the dish perfect to make ahead and freeze.

    Get the recipe from The PKP Way.

  • Ina Garten’s Cioppino

    17 Ina Garten Recipes You Can Make Now & Freeze for Later (18)

    Think you’re not fancy enough to make seafood stew? Think again.

    Get the recipe from Foodie Crush.

  • 17 Ina Garten Recipes You Can Make Now & Freeze Later

    17 Ina Garten Recipes You Can Make Now & Freeze for Later (19)

    Don’t forget to pin these for later!

17 Ina Garten Recipes You Can Make Now & Freeze for Later (2024)

FAQs

What recipes are in make It Ahead by Ina Garten? ›

Make It Ahead
RecipeTypePage
Make-Ahead Zabaglione with AmarettiDessert225
Make-Ahead Salt & Pepper BiscuitsBreakfast255
Make-Ahead Goat Cheese Mashed PotatoesSides157
Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy with Onions and SageDinner103
2 more rows

What foods can you cook then freeze? ›

15 freezer friendly foods
  • 1) Cheese. Toggle accord. ...
  • 2) Milk and dairy free milk. Toggle accord. ...
  • 3) Eggs. Toggle accord. ...
  • 4) Mushrooms, broccoli and other vegetables. Toggle accord. ...
  • 5) Cooked rice. Toggle accord. ...
  • 6) Potatoes. Toggle accord. ...
  • 7) Cooked pasta. Toggle accord. ...
  • 8) Bananas. Toggle accord.

How do you freeze meals in advance? ›

Freeze in Airtight Bags or Containers. Using an airtight container or bag to freeze your food will help increase the quality of your frozen food for a longer period of time because it will limit the food's exposure to air.

What is Ina Garten most famous for? ›

She is host of the Food Network program Barefoot Contessa, and was a former staff member of the Office of Management and Budget. Among her dishes are Perfect Roast Chicken, Weeknight Bolognese, French Apple Tart, and a simplified version of beef bourguignon.

What does Ina Garten eat every day? ›

Ina Garten's Daily 2-Ingredient Breakfast

“I pretty much have toast and coffee for breakfast,” Garten told Julia Louis Dreyfus on an episode of “Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus” when asked what her typical “eating day” looks like. “And the toast has to have good French butter on it with shaved sea salt.”

What foods shouldn't be frozen? ›

14 Foods You Should Never Freeze
  • 01 of 14. Leafy Greens. Akepong Srichaichana / EyeEm/Getty Images. ...
  • 02 of 14. Raw Eggs. Mint Images/Getty Images. ...
  • 03 of 14. Cheese. Westend61/Getty Images. ...
  • 04 of 14. Avocado. Westend61/Getty Images. ...
  • 05 of 14. Sour Cream. ...
  • 06 of 14. Yogurt. ...
  • 07 of 14. Jell-O. ...
  • 08 of 14. Cream Cheese.
Aug 27, 2023

Which food is not okay to freeze? ›

Milk, yogurt, cream, sour cream, buttermilk, and soft cheeses all become inedible once frozen, since they separate and curdle upon defrosting, changing the texture and consistency entirely.

What are three foods that don't freeze well? ›

Foods That Do Not Freeze Well (SP 50-766)
FoodsUsual useCondition after thawing
Unbaked muffinsBaked productPoor texture
GelatinIn salads or dessertsWeeps
Fruit jellySandwichesMay soak bread, weeps
Chocolate-covered cherriesCandyExpands during freezing causing them to break
15 more rows

What foods can be prepared ahead of time? ›

18 Make-Ahead Main Courses
  • 01 of 18. Short Rib Chili. ...
  • 02 of 18. Kale-Artichoke Stuffed Shells. ...
  • 03 of 18. Garlic-Butter Rib Roast. ...
  • 04 of 18. Spinach Lasagna. ...
  • 05 of 18. Braised Lamb Shanks with Herb Salad. ...
  • 06 of 18. Seafood Gumbo. ...
  • 07 of 18. Miso-Red Bean Patties. ...
  • 08 of 18. Hanetsuki Gyoza (Dumplings with “Wings”)
Apr 12, 2024

How do you freeze meals in Ziploc bags? ›

Freeze Foods Flat for Smart Storage

Here's the scoop: freeze them flat. Get yourself some sturdy zip-top freezer bags and fill them up. Press out as much air as you can, place the bags on a baking sheet or the floor of your freezer, and freeze.

What is the new show on Food Network with Ina Garten? ›

In Be My Guest with Ina Garten, her new multi-platform series for Discovery Inc., the Barefoot Contessa invites friends old and new to her East Hampton home for a day of conversation, connection, food and fun visits to some of her favorite local spots.

Which Ina Garten cookbook should I buy first? ›

Garten answered her fan from Nebraska's pressing question by suggesting she start with "The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook." Garten wrote, "I always recommend that beginner cooks start with 'The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook,' which is filled with the easy recipes that I used to make at my specialty food store in East Hampton ...

What baking dishes does Ina Garten use? ›

You know those shiny, stainless-steel pans Ina Garten is often cooking with on any of her beloved shows? They're usually All-Clad. It's no surprise she loves them as much as she does. The cookware brand has been making high-quality, bonded stainless-steel cookware for decades.

What white dishes does Ina Garten use? ›

Another, pricier option is the White Dinnerware set from Pillivuyt, a French brand Ina recommends for serving ware as well. Aside from the simple, clean lines, both sets are dishwasher-, microwave-, and oven-safe, a must in Ina's—and our—book.

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