Small Plates

50 Kid-Friendly Make-Ahead Meals

Some dinners really can have it all.
Image may contain Plant Food and Vegetable
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
  • Image may contain Plant Food and Vegetable
    Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
    1/50

    Cauliflower "Mac 'n' Cheese" Casserole

    This gluten-free dish offers all the melty goodness of a mac 'n' cheese dinner, without the carb-heavy pasta. Pop it back in the oven as leftovers, just to heat it through.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, food styling by Rhoda Boone
    2/50

    Our Favorite Spaghetti and Meatballs

    Finding these in your freezer is like finding a $20 bill in the pocket of your jeans. Instant jackpot. Meatballs in sauce can be kept in the fridge for up to five days before eating, or frozen for up to three months.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Astrid Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson
    9/50

    Bacon and Egg Casserole

    Just look at those cute little hard-boiled eggs peeking through the puff-pastry windowpane! 🐣

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Anna Hampton
    10/50

    Lemony Chicken Soup With Farro, White Beans, and Kale

    For an extra burst of flavor after reheating, swirl some salsa verde into each serving of this hearty soup packed with farro, white beans, kale, and plenty of lemon.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson
    11/50

    Herby Chicken Kofta Meatballs

    Stash these meatballs in your freezer so you always have the building blocks of a great meal on hand. Simmer in tomato sauce, serve over grains or greens, or pack into pita sandwiches with cucumbers, red onion (if they'll eat it), and a tangy yogurt sauce.

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  • Photo by Claire Cottrell
    12/50

    Broccoli and Cheese Quiche

    Extra greens and extra cheese make this reheat-able breakfast-for-dinner classic extra-flavorful.

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  • Jonny Valiant
    13/50

    Chickpea Stew

    A couple of chicken thighs amount to a lot of flavor alongside the filling chickpeas and crusty bread in this hearty Lebanese-inspired stew that holds up well.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone
    14/50

    Grilled Cheese Tacos

    Salty, smoky grilled halloumi is the star of this tasty, satisfying vegetarian option for the grill—store the tortillas separately and assemble after reheating.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop and Food Styling by Ali Nardi
    17/50

    Matzo Ball Soup

    Store the matzo balls separately, then simmer them in soup to reheat. A classic is always a hit.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton
    18/50

    Big Red Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork

    The sweet, cult-favorite cream soda, originally from Texas, is combined with barbecue sauce as a cooking liquid for slow-cooked, spice-rubbed pork shoulder. Just add buns, slaw, and pickles.

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  • Copyright 2015 Alita Ong
    21/50

    Instant-Pot Vietnamese Chicken Noodle Soup (Pho Ga)

    Flavorful pho broth is traditionally cooked for hours to achieve a full-bodied flavor, but with a pressure cooker, you can enjoy this rich and complex soup in a fraction of the time—just add the noodles after you reheat so they don't get too soft.

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  • Photo by Linda Xiao
    22/50

    Double-Pork Carnitas

    Braise this classic Mexican pork dish on Sunday night. When you're ready to eat it, just crisp up the pork as directed while assembling the rest of your taco ingredients.

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  • Photo by Eva Kolenko
    23/50

    Tomato and Cannellini Bean Soup

    You're going to want to keep making (and saving, and reheating) this wholesome vegetarian soup all winter long.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova
    24/50

    Beef and Potato Pasties

    A long-standing tradition in Upper Michigan, meat hand pies are the ultimate portable comfort food. Reheat on a baking sheet so they're hot in the middle, and serve.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks
    27/50

    Wonton Soup With Mushroom-Zucchini "Meatballs"

    Unstuffed wonton wrappers take the place of the traditional dumplings in this simple and leftover-friendly vegetarian soup.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks
    28/50

    Slow-Cooker White Chicken Chili

    For easy, hands-off dinner prep, throw the ingredients for this hearty chili into your slow cooker. Keep it in the fridge at all times.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, food styling by Rhoda Boone
    31/50

    Quick Chicken Tikka Masala

    Aromatic spices and tangy yogurt give great flavor to this fast and healthy version of everyone's favorite weeknight Indian meal. Plus, it reheats beautifully.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Ali Nardi
    32/50

    Fresh Corn Quiche

    Sweet, creamy, and crispy on the edges, this corn casserole makes a killer reheat-able dinner.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Judy Haubert
    35/50

    Tuna Noodle Casserole

    Nothing beats the classics. Warm this in the oven before eating it as leftovers.

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  • 36/50

    Red-Lentil Soup

    Red lentils, faster-cooking than other varieties of the legume, are the foundation of this earthy, rustic soup that your kids will love.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Ali Nardi
    49/50

    Slow-Cooker Chicken Congee

    A slow cooker and boneless, skinless chicken thighs make easy work of comforting Chinese rice porridge that gets jazzed up with toppings post-reheating.

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  • 50/50

    Bolognese Sauce

    A bolognese sauce gets even more flavorful each day, so store it in the fridge for a week of pastas and lasagna.

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Becky Hughes is the social media editor for NYT Cooking where she's written about the New York City restaurant scene and the return of the espresso martini. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and food theory from the Gallatin School of Individualized Study at New York University. During college, ... Read More
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