Opinion Best frozen meals to save time & money on a plant-based diet

Fill your meal prep containers (and your freezer) with these hearty, budget-friendly frozen meals that are easy to cook in bulk and reheat like a dream. Deliciously plant-based, time-saving, and perfect for busy weeks!

Frozen meals can be a great way to save both time and money on a plant-based diet. But, if your freezer currently contains a lonely bag of peas, a few vegan nuggets, and an Unidentified Frozen Artifact™ from 2019 that you know deep in your heart is never coming out of cryosleep – this one’s for you.

Zero judgment for these archaeological finds, by the way! We’ve all been there, and it can be great to have some cheap bags of frozen veg or heat-and-eat convenience items to reach for on busy nights, so don’t chuck these out.

However, we’re here to help add to the picture. By doubling recipes as you cook them throughout the week and freezing the extra portions, you can effortlessly transform your freezer from a frostbitten lucky dip into a neatly stacked treasure trove of nourishing, budget-friendly frozen meals.

Here’s why freezer-friendly meal prep is worth doing:

💰 It saves you money: Cooking frozen meals in bulk can help you make the most of produce that’s in-season or on special, stretch every ingredient as far as possible, and prevent leftovers from going to waste. It also reduces the likelihood of ever feeling like you need to make an eye-wateringly expensive takeaway order out of desperation!

🕙 It frees up precious time: Fewer cooking sessions per week means more time to relax overall. It’s the forward-thinking gift that keeps on giving, since just a little extra cooking today becomes multiple nights off in the future.

😌 It reduces food stress: Always having tasty ‘emergency reserves’ on ice means you’ll never be stuck wondering what to eat – no more 6pm scrambles to the shops or having to rally yourself to cook (unless you actually want to).

Imagine getting to the end of a long day and remembering that a delicious plant-based dinner has already been taken care of by your past self, with nothing to do but reheat! That’s the magic of a well-stocked freezer ✨

How to store & reheat plant-based frozen meals like a pro

Proper food storage can make the difference between tucking into a deliciously reheated meal or chipping away at a sad, freezer-burned brick. Here’s how to do it right:

• Freeze in individual portions so you can thaw out only what you need.
• Let your portions cool before freezing. Putting hot food straight into the freezer can cause ice crystals, the sworn enemy of good texture.
• Use freezer-safe meal prep containers with airtight lids or BPA-free freezer bags to store individual meal portions.
• Use heavy-duty foil to cover oven trays and larger ready-to-bake dishes.
• Label and date everything so you don’t have to play freezer roulette later. 
• Defrost meals overnight in the fridge before reheating slowly on the stove, in the oven, or in the microwave – depending on the dish.
• Add fresh ingredients & toppings after reheating. Just-cooked rice, scattered herbs, and condiments can all work wonders to revive a frozen meal.

Best vegan & vegetarian frozen meals

The trick is to choose simple, nourishing recipes that are easy to batch-cook, hold up well in the freezer, and can be reheated without losing any flavour or texture. Thankfully, plenty of cheap and cheerful plant-based meals tick all those boxes!

Hearty, satisfying, and made with wholesome ingredients that defrost like a dream, you can trust these vegan and vegetarian freezer meals to stay delicious from freezer to fork:

Freezable tray-based dishes like quiches, tarts & oven-bakes

Oven bakes are your secret weapon for low-effort vegan meal prep. They’re probably not the first thing you’d think of freezing – but they should be! These sorts of meals are super simple to assemble and can be frozen either uncooked or partially cooked (covered in foil), then finished in the oven whenever needed. 

So the next time you’re making a potato bake, egg-free quiche, ratatouille, or casserole, why not prepare two while you’re at it? One for now, and one for next month!

Hot tip: Bring your reheated oven-bakes back to life with a sprinkle of vegan cheese, fresh herbs, and cracked pepper for that just-made feel. 

• Herbed Truss Tomato Tofu Quiche
• Kon’s Eggplant Moussaka
• Mushroom Moussaka
• Easy Cheesy Cauliflower Bake
• Mushroom & Leek Potato Pie with Mushy Peas
• Classic Ratatouille
• Spanakopita

 

Freezer-friendly vegan soup recipes

A steaming bowl of homemade soup is the ultimate comfort meal, and dairy-free versions made with plenty of veggies – sometimes vegan cream or plant milk for richness – are especially forgiving when it comes to freezing and reheating.

Soup portions are best stored level in meal prep containers or freezer bags. To avoid ending up with bubbling edges or randomly ice-cold spoonfuls when defrosting, make sure you reheat your soup slowly on the stove or in the microwave, stirring frequently to ensure it’s heated through evenly.

Hot tip: Serve piping-hot with crusty bread and vegan butter for dipping! 

• French Onion Soup
• Hearty Corn & Potato Chowder
• Creamy Mushroom, Leek & Potato Soup
• Tortilla Soup
• Nanna’s Pumpkin Soup
• Curried Cauliflower Soup with Caramelised Onions
• Pea & Zucchini Soup
• Creamy Tomato & Basil Soup 
• Kale & White Bean Soup
• Roast Tomato & Capsicum Soup
• Nonna’s Italian Chickpea Soup
• Swiss Chard, Fennel and Risoni Soup
• Middle Eastern Spiced Root Veg Soup
• Nanna’s Pasta Fagioli

 

Satisfying stews to freeze & save for later

Ultra-filling, nutrient-dense, and easy to prepare without making too much mess, one-pot dishes like stews are meal prep gold for many reasons. Plus, they freeze like champs and often taste even better after a freeze-thaw cycle – by some miracle of culinary magic, it actually helps deepen the flavours!

Hot tip: Savour reheated stew with freshly cooked rice, quinoa, or a side of crunchy sourdough to make your pre-prepared meal feel brand new.

• Eggplant & Chickpea Tagine with Herbed Couscous
• Sweet Potato & Black Bean Chilli
• Spinach & Peanut Stew
• White Bean Stew with Crispy Roast Carrots
• Potato & Bean Stew with Spiced Almonds
• African Peanut Stew
• Rich Butter Bean Stew with Saffron Rice & Toasted Almonds
• Moroccan Lentil & Veggie Stew
• Spanish Style White Bean Stew with Potatoes & Spinach
• Easy Mushroom Bourguignon
• Mushroom Stroganoff

 

Freezer-friendly burritos, meatballs, burgers & bites

Whether you’re in need of a low-prep lunch or a lazy dinner, you can’t beat the convenience of having a stash of pre-made burritos, burger patties, and other plant-based protein options in the freezer.

You can stock up on plenty of delicious heat-and-eat vegan foods like these at the shops, but making a few batches yourself at home, if you have the time, is a great way to keep costs down.

Hot tip: Wrap burritos in foil before freezing, and store burger patties, sausages, meatballs, koftas, and rissoles between layers of baking paper in tupperware containers to prevent them from sticking to each other. 

• Spiced Tofu Kofta with Minted Yoghurt
• Mexican Black Bean Burrito
• Chipotle Breakfast Burrito
• Mushroom ‘Meatballs’ in Napolitana Sauce
• Lentil Almond Meatballs with Spaghetti & Napoli Sauce
• Mushroom & Kidney Bean Veggie Burger
• Mexican Chickpea Burger
• Spicy Italian Sausages
• Beetroot Burgers with Roasted Capsicum & Tzatziki
• Red Lentil Koftas
• Sage & Onion Rissoles
• Oven-Baked Stuffed Capsicums
• Sweet & Sour Tofu Balls
• Veggie Loaf with Tomato Chilli Glaze

 

Plant-based pies & pastries that can be finished easily from frozen

Oven-ready plant-based pies and pastries are unbeatable options for busy weeknights, so it’s always smart to have a few in the freezer! For the tastiest, flakiest results, always brush your pastries with oil or plant milk before baking. (Soy milk tends to give the best colour and sheen, but oat milk also works a treat.)

Individual pastries like sausage rolls and pasties are best stored between layers of baking paper in airtight containers, whereas unbaked pies should be wrapped tightly in foil and cling film. Pre-baked pies should be cooled completely and covered in cling film before freezing. 

Hot tip: Ideally, consume them within two months, as even the best-wrapped pastry will eventually dry out in the freezer!

• • Creamy Chickpea Vegetable Pie
  • French Lentil Pot Pie
  • Double Potato, Mushroom & Lentil Pot Pies
  • Spinach & Feta Rolls
  • Baked Thai Curry Puffs
  • Mushroom & Leek Pie
  • Roast Vegetable Pasties
  • Herbed Mushroom & Lentil Sausage Rolls
  • Lentil Shepherd’s Pie

 

Vegan pasta recipes that freeze & reheat beautifully

Cosy, carby, and endlessly customisable, many baked pasta dishes hold up wonderfully in the freezer. And why not stock up on some vegan garlic bread while you’re at it? 

From creamy pesto to rich tomatoey layers, and even ‘meaty’ fillings like TVP Bolognese, anything goes – the only rule for freezing pasta dishes is the saucier the better. 

Hot tip: To perk up your pasta dish after reheating in the oven, add a brightening squeeze of lemon, a drizzle of olive oil, some fresh herbs, or vegan cheese on top. Instant freshness!

• Spinach & Ricotta Cannelloni
• Nanna’s Lasagne
• Moussaka-inspired Eggplant Lasagne
• Mushroom & Kale Lasagne
• Creamy Mushroom Pasta Bake
• Baked Macaroni & Cauliflower Cheese
• ‘Ricotta’ & Spinach Pasta Shells Baked in Tomato Sauce
• Creamy Roast Pumpkin Pasta Bake
• TVP Spaghetti Bolognese

 

Flavoursome, freezer-friendly curries & lentil dahls

Plant-based curries and lentil dahls are absolute meal prep gold! These protein-rich powerhouses are practically designed for freezing. They are full of tender veggies, rich sauces, and aromatic spices that mellow over time and often even taste better after they’ve had some time to mingle. 

Hot tip: Spice up your reheated curries with fresh rice, coriander, a squeeze of lime, or some vegan-friendly garlic naan and pappadums on the side.

• Ethiopian Red Lentil Stew
• Aloo Curry
• Yellow Split Pea Dal with Garlic Naan 
• Pumpkin, Chickpea & Spinach Curry
• Chickpea Massaman Curry
• Tomato & Eggplant Curry with Black Mustard
• Superfood Green Curry
• Cauliflower & Turmeric Curry
• Classic Tofu Curry
• Homestyle Eggplant & Chickpea Curry
• Simplest Weeknight Pumpkin Curry Ever
• Easy Thai Red Curry
• Vegan Butter ‘Chicken’
• Tofu Palak ‘Paneer’
• Dal with Tempered Spices

 

Delicious, stress-free frozen meals ready whenever you are ❄️

Gradually filling up your freezer with wholesome, plant-based meals is the ultimate life hack – it hardly takes any extra effort to double a recipe you’re already making anyway. Yet, the payoff is huge: More time, money, energy, and delicious ready-to-go options in the weeks ahead!

So next time you’re cooking up a veggie-packed storm, why not make a little extra? Label it, store it, and forget it… until that magical night when you pull open the freezer drawer, spot your handiwork, and think: Wow, past me really had it together.

Cook once, eat many times, and thank yourself later!