Pregnancy is exciting, overwhelming… and honestly, a little exhausting at times. Between nursery prep, prenatal appointments, and nesting mode kicking in, the last thing you want to worry about is “what’s for dinner?” That’s where batch cooking comes in—a lifesaver for busy mamas-to-be!
Discover 8 hearty recipes to batch cook before your baby arrives, including cottage pie, spaghetti bolognese, pasta bakes, chilli, lasagna, beef stew, and chicken fajitas. Perfect for expectant moms, these freezer-friendly meals save time, reduce stress, and ensure nourishing dinners during the newborn phase. As I am currently pregnant with baby #2, I will be making these around my 8th month of pregnancy.
Batch Cooking Tips for New Mamas
- Label everything: Include the date and contents for easy freezer organization.
- Use portioned containers: Perfect for solo dinners or sharing with your partner.
- Use disposable containers: Although reusable containers are great for the environment, in those first few weeks/months, the less washing up you can do, the more time you have to spend soaking up those newborn cuddles.
- Double recipes: If one batch feeds four, double it and freeze half—you’ll have dinner for tonight and will have batch cooked for the babys arrival too.
Batch cooking before your baby arrives is all about creating a stress-free, nourishing home environment. These 8 hearty recipes will make sure you and your family are well-fed, even during sleepless nights.
1. Cottage pie
2. Chicken, spinach and sundried tomato Pasta Bake
3. Vegan spaghetti bolognase
4. One Pot Beef Stew
5. Meatball pasta bake
6. Crock pot chicken fajitas
7. Creamy Vegetarian Lentil Lasagna
8. Kidney Bean Chilli
Did you try any of these batch-cooking recipes?
Drop a comment below and let us know your favorites—or share your own freezer-friendly go-to meals for new moms!
