13 Popular Freezer-Friendly Recipes Under 400 Calories (2024)

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You are Superwoman. You're a working woman or stay at home mom, run countless errands, clean up thousands of toys, stay fit and try to feed your family tasty and nutritious meals. Between your chores and child-rearing, there just aren't enough hours in the day. Luckily, we have whipped up some great dishes the whole family can enjoy. The best part? These meals are completely freezer-friendly. So, the next time you have dance rehearsals and soccer practice with only an hour in between, pull one of these dishes out of the freezer instead of hitting the drive-thru.

1. Skinny Tex Mex Casserole:

After throwing in some extra ingredients we had laying around – green peppers, onions and a box of whole wheat pasta – we came up with this delicious Skinny Tex-Mex Casserole. The spicy flavors of the cumin and chili powder pair perfectly with the sweet corn. Get the full recipe by clicking here.

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2. Skinny Mac and Alfredo:

Our families can never get enough mac and cheese, so this makes for the perfect frozen dish. There is something about a big bowl that just warms you up and makes everyone in the house happy! Our skinny version of Mac and Alfredo is a huge winner for families. The cottage cheese and mozzarella blend into a delicious sauce that gives us all the cheesy flavor we're looking for, with less than 300 calories per serving! Click here for the full nutrition information.

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3. Skinny Cheeseburger Casserole:

This recipe will take you back to childhood! While some versions of Cheeseburger Casserole have always come from a box of Hamburger Helper, our version is lighter and so much yummier! The dish is really perfect for the whole family. To learn how to make this recipe, click here.

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4. Skinny Beef Casserole:

We love the combination of sweet that the corn and onions add to the spicy flavors of the red pepper and chili powder. Feel free to add in other vegetables, and you could easily substitute chicken for beef as well. This is a Skinny Mom fan favorite for good reason. Trust us, you'll love it so much that the leftovers might not even make it into the freezer! Click here to be taken to the full recipe.

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5. Skinny Tuna Casserole:

We took Grandma's classic tuna casserole recipe and made it skinny! This recipe for skinny tuna casserole is a simple, inexpensive and healthy twist on the staple dish. It seriously only takes a few short minutes to put together. Stick it in the freezer and it's perfect for the entire family on your busiest evenings! Even cleanup is super easy. Feel free to add extra veggies like peas or carrots to the casserole as well. Get our recipe here.

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6. Skinny 3-Cheese Penne:

This freezer-friendly dinner far exceeded our expectations! Adding cheese to any dinner is great; adding three cheeses is amazing! We've adapted this from a skinny slow cooker recipe and it was divine. To get the Skinny 3-Cheese Penne recipe, click here.

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7. Spinach-Stuffed Shells with Meat Sauce:

This recipe has become one of our favorite Italian dinner recipes. Big jumbo pasta shells filled with spinach and creamy ricotta cheese make the base for the recipe. We like to finish this recipe with skinny meat pasta sauce, but you could easily top this recipe with a homemade sauce or a store-bought reduced-sugar spaghetti sauce. Have leftovers? No worries! This dish is great to freeze and eat again later, so click here and get the recipe.

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8. Skinny Hawaiian Pizza Pasta:

Sweet and salty team up like only they know how in our Skinny Hawaiian Pizza Pasta! This one is just too fun to pass up! Sweet, mouth-watering pineapple chunks are perfect with smokey, savory cuts of ham. Mix the two with a little tomato sauce and whole wheat pasta, and it tastes just like a Hawaiian Pizza, even after freezing. Get our recipe here.

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» For a more traditional pizza-turned-casserole, try our Supreme Pizza Pasta Casserole!

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9. Slow Cooker Beer Chicken:

Get ready for your hubby's new favorite dish. This chicken is slow cooked with beer for hours, and when it's done, the moist and full flavor meat is out of this world good. We love to freeze this chicken for a busy school night served with our skinny slaw, green beans or Skinny Chipotle Mashed Potates. Learn to make our beer chicken by clicking here.

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10. Slow Cooker Chicken Provencal:

If you're anything like us, you're always looking for more time during the day! It's one of the many reasons we love our slow cookers, and more specifically, this slow cooker chicken provencal recipe. This dinner only takes 10 minutes of prep time, and after 7 hours in the slow cooker, it comes out looking (and tasting) like a dish you took a lot of time with! Click here to make this recipe.

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11. Skinny Taco Chicken Chili:

This is super easy and makes great leftovers to freeze, too! (It's a great fix for busy days, cold days, really any day.) The flavors in this are absolutely delicious! Click here to get this slow cooker recipe.

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12. Skinny Italian Beef Peppers:

This dinner is our answer to the challenge of cooking low-carb, Italian meals and the result couldn't be more delicious! Peppers, onions, celery and a little surprise (garbanzo beans!) balance out the hearty ground beef in this perfect weeknight meal! This dish keeps well in the freezer, making it a great make-ahead meal, and the leftovers are easy to reheat and still taste fantastic for a small lunch! Click here to get the entire recipe.

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13. Skinny Baked Burritos:

Ready to feel like you're cheating for less than 300 calories? Us too! (Like every day!) This burrito brings it... low carb, low fat and with tons of delish Mexican flavors. This one is almost too good to be true! Skinny Swaps like ground turkey and reduced-fat cheese and sour cream keep the nutrition calculations in check, while some taco seasonings and sauce make this dinner full-flavored. Get the full recipe here and then check out 50 of our fave Mexican dishes!

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» Finish off your freezer-friendly meal with a freezer-friendly dessert like these Berries and Cream Popsicles!

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13 Popular Freezer-Friendly Recipes Under 400 Calories (2024)

FAQs

Is freezer meals healthy? ›

Julie Howard, M.D., a family physician at Mayo Clinic Health System in Tomah, says, "Freezer cooking can be an effective means of creating quick, easy, healthy meals down the road. However, it's important to make sure you're well aware of the health risks involved with improper food storage."

How do you freezer meals? ›

Using bags is one of the easiest ways to freeze meals. To get them to keep in your freezer just right, place them flat on a baking sheet and allow them to freeze completely. Then, remove the pan, stack them up, or place them sideways to fit in your freezer. Cool to room temperature before placing in the freezer.

What snacks can I eat for 400 calories? ›

The following 400-calorie snacks are options you can enjoy wherever you are, from the vending machine to happy hour, and everywhere in between.
  • Popcorn Party Trail Mix. ...
  • Chocolate-Vanilla Twist Ice Cream.
  • Mediterranean Munchies. ...
  • Brownie Bites + Milk. ...
  • Peanut Butter Break.
  • Cheese Lover's Snack. ...
  • Beer + Nuts At The Bar.
Jan 29, 2015

What happens if I eat 400 calories a day for 2 weeks? ›

If you only have 400 calories a day, this may not be sufficient and you could feel dizzy or light headed and have other complications such as vitamin and mineral deficiencies. 400 calories a day is not sufficient regardless of whether they come from protein, carbs or fat.

Are Marie Callender frozen meals healthy? ›

Of those tested, the Marie Callender's meals were highest in calories and fat. Roasted garlic chicken weighs in with 17 grams of fat per serving! Product a lower-fat option is the garlic chicken from lean cuisine -- which stood out for its flavorful veggies and large white chicken pieces.

What should you avoid in frozen meals? ›

Quickly scan the nutritional content to avoid frozen meals filled with sodium, added sugar, and saturated fat, and make the best choice that aligns with your family's dietary preferences and health goals.

Can I eat frozen dinners everyday? ›

On most days of the week, you'll want to rely on fresh meals — or tasty leftovers. “At the end of the day, I would limit frozen meals to no more than twice a week,” notes Taylor. But when you need the convenience of a frozen entrée, these tips can guide your choices.

What dinners freeze well? ›

Choose from dozens of delicious freezer meals including casseroles, baked pasta dishes, gumbo, pot roast, slow-cooker soups and stews, and more. You guests will never guess that you just popped that Turkey-Noodle-Poppy Seed Casserole out of the freezer.

Do healthy frozen meals exist? ›

Frozen diet meals like Lean Cuisine, Weight Watchers and Healthy Choice offer a wide range of options – you can find everything from breakfast sandwiches to pizza to Chinese noodle dishes. Those in favor of these packaged meals are all about the ease of use.

What is best to freeze prepared meals in? ›

Freeze in Airtight Bags or Containers. Using an airtight container or bag to freeze your food will help increase the quality of your frozen food for a longer period of time because it will limit the food's exposure to air.

What are the best containers to freeze food in? ›

Rigid containers and flexible bags or wrapping are two general types of packaging materials that are safe for freezing. Rigid containers made of plastic or glass are suitable for all packs and are especially good for liquid packs. Straight sides on rigid containers make the frozen food much easier to remove.

What pans are best to freeze casseroles? ›

Oven-to-Freezer Dishes: Aluminum pans are ideal for dishes requiring baking before freezing. Bake, let the dish cool, then directly transfer it to the freezer.

What do 400 calories of chicken look like? ›

And 1.3 cups of chopped chicken would equal about 400 calories. What is “calorie density”? Calorie density is defined as the concentration of calories in a given weight of food. Comparing calories per pound, ounce, or gram provides a useful way to compare foods for weight loss purposes.

How many calories are in one egg? ›

How many calories are there in an egg? The calories in an egg will vary depending on the size and how it is prepared. However, on average a single medium-sized egg will contain around 66 calories, an average small egg will contain around 55 calories and an average large egg around 80 calories.

Is 400 calories a lot for one meal? ›

Although every person's daily caloric intake is individual, based on their personal goals and needs, nutrition experts estimate that average daily consumption at each meal should be broken down as follows: 300 to 400 calories for breakfast, and 500 to 700 calories each for lunch and dinner.

Is 400 calories per serving of any food considered high? ›

In general, as you think about the amount of calories in a food per serving, remember that for a 2,000-calorie diet: 40 calories per serving is considered low; 100 calories per serving is considered moderate; and 400 calories or more per serving is considered high.

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