Looking for postpartum freezer meals to prepare before your baby arrives? This guide walks you through prepping four main meals, a snack, and a dessert in one afternoon so you can focus on recovery and your newborn.
Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Instacart. We were compensated and all opinions are our own. Thank you for supporting Fit Foodie Finds!
Having make-ahead meals in the freezer was one of the most helpful supports I received after having my baby. Not having to plan or prepare nourishing meals while caring for a newborn felt like a true gift. Postpartum freezer meals are now my go-to gift for new parents, and this streamlined plan will help you prep everything quickly and confidently.
This guide shows how to prepare 4 main meals, 1 snack, and 1 dessert in one afternoon, with clear freezer and reheating instructions so meals are ready when you need them.
Prepping for Postpartum Meals with Instacart
This plan was made possible with the help of Instacart. If you prefer grocery delivery, using a service like Instacart can save hours of shopping time and make it easy to gather everything on your prep list without extra errands. Consider arranging grocery delivery as part of your postpartum prep—it’s a time-saver.
Don’t have a grill? Oven directions
Preheat the oven to 425ºF. Place a grill pan or cast-iron skillet in the oven and add 1 tablespoon olive oil. Heat the pan for 5 minutes.
Add chicken to the hot skillet and cook for 8 minutes on the first side. Flip, add 2–3 slices of tomato and mozzarella on top, then cook 6–8 more minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165ºF. Let rest 5 minutes. Top with fresh avocado, basil, and microgreens and serve.
Freezer Meals for Postpartum — Menu
This plan includes recipes and instructions for four main dishes, one snack, and one dessert, along with freezer and reheating guidance. Here’s what we recommend prepping:
- Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup: A hearty, fiber-rich soup that freezes beautifully in single-serve cubes for quick meals.
- Pesto Cubes: Homemade pesto frozen in small portions so you can melt the exact amount you need to make a fast pasta sauce.
- Lactation Cookies: A postpartum-friendly cookie made with oats, brewer’s yeast, flax, and other nourishing ingredients.
- Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas: Prep ingredients in a freezer bag and transfer to the slow cooker for an easy hands-off dinner.
- Breakfast Quesadillas: Single-serve quesadillas freeze well and reheat quickly for breakfast or a snack.
- Collagen Cookie Dough: Ready-to-eat cookie dough balls that are perfect for a quick, protein-boosting snack while nursing.
Downloads — Shopping List & Printables
Use the included shopping list and freezer guide to streamline your prep. You can pick and choose recipes or follow the full plan to build a well-stocked postpartum freezer.
- Shopping List
- Freezer Guide (recipe + freezer instructions)
The Investment
Estimated Cost: $80
Total Time: About 3 hours
The Reward
- 4 complete meals
- 1 snack
- 1 dessert
- Roughly 30 snack/dessert servings
- Roughly 30 lunch/dinner servings
- More time to spend with your baby and recover
Storage Containers for Freezer Meals
Choose containers that withstand freezing and are easy to label. Recommended options include:
- Freezer-safe gallon-size bags
- Silicone freezer trays for soups
- Small silicone molds or ice cube trays for pesto
- Reusable silicone storage bags
Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup
- Cost: $11
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Servings: 6
Freezer Instructions
- Prepare the butternut squash soup according to the recipe.
- Cool for about 20 minutes, then spoon into a silicone freezing tray in single-serve portions (4–6 portions).
- Cover and freeze for at least 12 hours.
- Remove frozen cubes and store in a freezer-safe gallon bag for up to 3 months.
Reheating Instructions
The easiest reheating method:
- Remove one soup cube from the mold.
- Place in a saucepan and heat over medium, stirring until fully thawed and warm.
- If too thick, thin with broth or water to reach desired consistency.
Silicone
Freezing Tray
A silicone freezing tray is ideal for portioning soups or chilis into single servings.
Pesto Cubes
- Cost: $10 (or free if you grow basil!)
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Servings: 12–15
Freezer Instructions
- Make a triple batch of homemade pesto.
- Portion the pesto by tablespoon into a small silicone mold or ice cube tray.
- Cover and freeze for at least 12 hours.
- Transfer frozen pesto cubes into a freezer-safe bag and store up to 3 months.
Serving Suggestions — Pesto Pasta
To make pesto pasta, melt about 6 pesto cubes in a saucepan, add 1/2 cup reserved pasta water, and toss with 8 ounces of cooked pasta for a quick, flavorful meal.
Silicone
Ice Cube Tray
A reusable silicone ice cube tray is a tidy way to portion pesto for the freezer.
Lactation Cookies
- Cost: $12
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Servings: 12
Freezer Instructions
- Prepare lactation cookies as directed.
- Cool cookies on a wire rack for at least an hour.
- Place them on a parchment-lined sheet and freeze for 2 hours to prevent sticking.
- Transfer partially frozen cookies into a freezer-safe bag; store up to 3 months.
Serving tip
To serve, remove a cookie and let it sit at room temperature for 5 minutes before enjoying.
Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas
- Cost: $19
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Servings: 6
Freezer Instructions
Combine fajita seasoning, salsa, and oil. Slice bell peppers and onion. Place chicken, peppers, onion, and sauce into a freezer-safe gallon bag, remove excess air, flatten, and freeze up to 3 months.
Cooking Instructions
- Thaw the bag in the refrigerator overnight.
- Transfer contents to the slow cooker and cook 2 hours on high or 4–6 hours on low, stirring if possible.
- When chicken reaches 165ºF, slice if desired, return to the cooker, and let warm for 10–15 minutes to soak up the sauce.
Breakfast Quesadillas
- Cost: $15
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Servings: 6
Freezer Instructions
- Assemble breakfast quesadillas per the recipe directions.
- Cool for 10 minutes, wrap tightly in foil, and freeze up to 3 months.
Reheating Instructions
Microwave: Unwrap foil, defrost briefly, then heat on high 1–2 minutes.
Oven: Preheat to 350ºF. Keep quesadilla wrapped in foil and bake 30–40 minutes until heated through.
Collagen Cookie Dough
- Cost: $10
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Servings: 18
Freezer Instructions
- Form collagen cookie dough balls according to the recipe.
- Place on a parchment-lined sheet and freeze 2 hours.
- Transfer to a freezer-safe bag and store up to 3 months.
Serving tip
Let a few cookie dough balls sit at room temperature for a short while before enjoying as a quick snack.