Super Meals for Big Batch Cooking

Cooking in batches is one of the best kept secrets for saving time and money, while promoting good health at the same time. With three school age kids, time is a rare commodity. Instead of turning to processed and packaged foods, I take advantage of the days I can cook and select healthy recipes that I can easily double or triple the batch. We enjoy these meals the next night as leftovers or we take them to work or school the next day in a thermos or Tupperware. Here are my favorite batch cooking recipes and resources.

Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

Pasta Primavera Alfredo - BIG BATCH

Double Batch Basic Meatloaf

Batch cooking - Mexican Chicken

Salmon Patties (Big Batch)

High Fiber Beef & Bean Burritos - Big Batch

Slow Cooker Kentucky Burgoo

Chef Meg's Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Soup

White Chicken Chili

Chicken Breasts with Red Wine Sauce (Chef Meg's Makeover)

Chicken Enchilada Stacker

Trim Tamale Pie

Creamy Green Enchiladas

More Batch Cooking Resources from SparkPeople:

What recipes do you prepare to enjoy throughout the week?

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Comments

EVILCECIL 2/7/2018

Great ideas. Report

JANIEWWJD 2/3/2018

Love all the ideas!!! Report

KATHYJO56 6/7/2017

These are great to have on hand when there isn't time to cook Report

FISHGUT3

thanks for the ideas Report

KALISBACK

When I make soup, it is always a big pot. We have it for that meal that I'm cooking it for, save enough for another meal then freeze the rest in containers that would make another meal or two. Report

AZURE-SKY

I've been batch cooking since we first got married over 35 years ago. We both worked 50-60 hours a week, so getting a good cooked dinner after work was a challenge. We would do a lot of cooking on the weekends and freeze foods in meal-sized packages.

Now, we're retired, and I still batch-cook. I make marinara sauce, soups, chili, stew, in the slow cooker and freeze them. I cook ground beef and freeze for tacos, spaghetti sauce, etc. I do the same with good Italian sausage - crumble it up and cook it. It's a great way to add spice but not too many calories.

I always have the prepared ingredients ready to throw into a quick meal, and batch cooking saves cleanup time, too. Report

DXTR76

Great blog. We are going to try batch cooking this weekend for the coming week! Report

JIBBIE49

I use to cook like this when my five children were small. I had a SUNSET BOOK called "Once A Month Cookery" and they had recipes for making enough food for a month. I didn't make that much, but it had a lot of helpful ideas.
Report

SANDRAPSKI

While there are only two of us at home, "big batch" may refer to just a normal size recipe now. We love pasta dishes and have found that if we mix a sauce (such as bolognese or light fettacine) with pasta and then vacuum seal in plastic bags, we can have dinner on the table in 15 to 20 minutes. While the vacuum-sealed bag is heating up in boiling water, we prep and nuke prewashed veggies and throw a frozen whole-wheat or grain roll in the toaster oven. By combining the pasta and sauce we save a step and a dish (clean up is something else we keep in mind when planning weeknight dishes). If you cut the plastic bags a couple of inches long you can reuse them a couple of times (after washing of course!). Report

DG230850

I go to my favourite farm shop (which is some way away) and get enough high quality meat to last for 3 months. I then have a marathon session of cooking and freezing in individual meal sized, portion controlled tubs. Then my OH and I can have different things for dinner - he likes spicy, I like herby. It also saves money in the end because nothing is wasted because I forgot to use it up - it's all in the freezer! Report

RUTHEY01

I am from a big family and learned to cook for a lot of hungry growing bodies. I am pushing 60 now but never got out of the habit of cooking a lot of food. Thank goodness for canning jars and pots and a good vacuum sealer - I've gone through several of all over the past 30 years. ;-) These are good tips for people who can't devote a lot of time to cooking every day - like single mom's or families with both parents working. Report

NAOLEE

We do that. You save time, too. Report

FAVALL

Thanks for the idea and recipes. I'm going to give this a try. Report

DRAMAGIRL32

This is my weekly cooking strategy. On Saturday or Sunday I make an entree that I can eat for dinner during the upcoming week.

That way during the week, I can get home from work, grab a quick dinner, do my workout and still have a little time to relax before bed. It's much less stressful this way and I have no excuse not to eat a healthy dinner. (night time is where I struggle if I'm not prepared) Report

HELENA8664

I like doing the big meals...that's not really new to me, but some of the recipes featured here are, and I can't WAIT to try them! :) Report

RD03875

I do this all the time, it's not new to me. Report

CIERAPOET

Black Bean chili is one of my favorite meals to batch cook. I also like preparing whole wheat pasta dishes that last the entire week or a healthy remake of tuna casserolle. I too like to batch cook my Salmon Croquettes. Thanks for sharing. Report

LMW71282

This is a smart idea. With four childrend, homeschool, work and my college as well, I tend to run out of time! I will have to try this a least a couple of days a week. Report

JULIA1154

I've been doing this for years - having a small household with very erratic schedules it's the easiest way to manage. Report

2BEHEALTHYRME

This blog has inspired me to get in the kitchen and make the time to do this, thank you! I will likely start with the Pasta Primavera :) Report

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Super Meals for Big Batch Cooking

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