5 things to keep in your freezer - part 2

If you want to stop spending money on takeout, don't start with a stricter budget or more willpower.

Start with your freezer.

I mean it. A well-stocked freezer is one of the most underrated tools for keeping your food budget in check and it doesn't have to be complicated or overwhelming. It's not about filling every shelf with elaborate freezer meals. It's about having a handful of reliable, family-approved staples ready to go for the nights when everyone is hungry, the day got away from you, and takeout starts sounding really convenient.

These are the five things I always try to keep on hand, because they have saved us from the drive-thru more times than I can count.

1. Breakfast Burritos

These might be the hardest-working thing in my freezer. I make a big batch on a slow morning, wrap them up individually, and stash them away for the mornings when everyone needs to eat and nobody has time to cook. The kids can grab one and warm it up themselves, and just like that breakfast is handled. They cost a fraction of anything you'd grab on the way out the door, and you know exactly what's going into them.

2. Muffins

Grab-and-go breakfasts that actually taste good. I make a big batch of muffins, let them cool, and freeze them so the kids can pull one out on a busy morning. A quick warm-up and they taste just as good as the day I baked them. They cost pennies compared to anything from a box or a bakery, and I love knowing exactly what's in them.

3. Dinner Rolls

There's something about warm homemade rolls that makes even a simple dinner feel like a real meal. I bake up a big batch, freeze them, and pull out just what we need. A few minutes to warm through and they taste like they came straight from the oven. It's such a small thing, but it turns an ordinary weeknight into something that feels a little more special, and it saves us from buying pricey rolls at the store.

4. Meatloaf

This one is a lifesaver on the busiest nights. I press meatloaf into stainless pans, freeze it, and then I have a hearty, done-for-me dinner waiting whenever I need it. Add a side or two while it bakes and you've got a full meal on the table with hardly any work. I love that it goes from freezer to oven without me having to think about it.

5. Chicken tortilla soup

The ultimate freezer meal, and my favorite way to store soup. I make a big pot, freeze it in cubes, and then I can pull out exactly the amount I need, whether that's a single lunch or dinner for the whole family. It reheats perfectly every time, no weird texture, just warm, cozy soup that tastes like it simmered all day. Having those little cubes tucked away means dinner is already halfway done before I've even started.

Start Small, Friend

You don't have to stock all five of these. Pick one and watch It change your life! Double a batch of something you're already making this week, tuck the extra in the freezer, and just like that, you're building your stash. Future you will be so thankful.

Here are the recipes for the burritos, muffins, and soup!

(TKC members- your exclusive meatloaf recipe and dinner roll recipe can be found below! )

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