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

Table of Contents
FAQs

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.

13 Popular Freezer-Friendly Recipes Under 400 Calories (1)

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.

13 Popular Freezer-Friendly Recipes Under 400 Calories (2)

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.

13 Popular Freezer-Friendly Recipes Under 400 Calories (3)

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.

13 Popular Freezer-Friendly Recipes Under 400 Calories (4)

prevnext

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.

13 Popular Freezer-Friendly Recipes Under 400 Calories (5)

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.

13 Popular Freezer-Friendly Recipes Under 400 Calories (6)

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.

13 Popular Freezer-Friendly Recipes Under 400 Calories (7)

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.

13 Popular Freezer-Friendly Recipes Under 400 Calories (8)

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

prevnext

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.

13 Popular Freezer-Friendly Recipes Under 400 Calories (9)

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.

13 Popular Freezer-Friendly Recipes Under 400 Calories (10)

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.

13 Popular Freezer-Friendly Recipes Under 400 Calories (11)

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.

13 Popular Freezer-Friendly Recipes Under 400 Calories (12)

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!

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

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

prev

0comments

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

FAQs

What are some foods you can eat for 400 calories? ›

400 calorie meal recipes
  • Meatballs with fennel & balsamic beans & courgette noodles. ...
  • Bean & feta spread with Greek salad salsa & oatcakes. ...
  • Mexican bean soup with guacamole. ...
  • Poached eggs with smashed avocado & tomatoes. ...
  • Turkey piccata. ...
  • Egg Niçoise salad. ...
  • Slow-cooker chicken casserole. ...
  • Wild salmon veggie bowl.

How many freezer meals should you make? ›

If your maternity leave is short or you plan to eat out regularly, then 10-20 freezer meals should do the trick. But if you have more time before the baby comes or if you plan on eating at home most of the time, then 30-50 freezer meals might be more suitable for your family.

Can freezer meals be healthy? ›

Myth 2: Frozen meals lose their nutritional value in freezing. Truth: In most cases, nutritional content is often preserved by freezing, especially in the case of fruits and vegetables. Several studies have found that frozen fruits and veggies are higher in certain nutrients, like vitamins A and C.

What happens if I eat 400 calories in one day? ›

Eating only 400 calories a day is a very low calorie diet and would likely lead to significant weight loss. However, it is not a sustainable or healthy way to lose weight. Such a low calorie intake can cause fatigue, irritability, and weakness.

Is it cheaper to cook or eat frozen meals? ›

While some frozen meals can be very cost-effective, others may be more expensive than cooking the same meal from scratch. If you're cooking a meal for multiple people, you may find it's cheaper to buy the ingredients separately than to purchase enough frozen meals for everyone.

Is it okay to eat frozen meals 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 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.

Are Marie Callender frozen dinners 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.

How to create your own frozen meals? ›

Tips for DIY Frozen Meals: Double or triple recipes you were going to cook anyway, such as a casserole. Let the extra portion cook while you eat and then simply portion and store it during clean up. Once you have prepared and cooked your meal, let it cool to room temperature before freezing it.

What meals are good to freeze and reheat? ›

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.

How do you keep freezer burn off frozen meals? ›

How can I prevent freezer burn?
  1. Step 1: Prepare your food for freezing. ...
  2. Step 2: Use airtight storage containers. ...
  3. Step 3: Set freezers to the proper temperature. ...
  4. Step 4: Limit the amount of time your freezer is open. ...
  5. Step 5: Rotate your foods to help prevent freezer burn. ...
  6. Step 6: Avoid thawing and refreezing food.

What snack is 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

How to eat 400 calories a day? ›

7-Day Meal Plan: 400-Calorie Dinners
  1. Day 1: Chicken Tacos with Tangerine-Lime Crema.
  2. Day 2: Curried Cauliflower Steaks with Red Rice & Tzatziki.
  3. Day 3: Ancho Chicken Breasts with Black Beans, Bell Peppers & Scallions.
  4. Day 4: Orange-Sesame Salmon with Quinoa & Broccolini.
  5. Day 5: Vegetarian Taco Salad.
Dec 27, 2019

Is 400 calories a big meal? ›

A 400 calorie meal may seem restrictive or unfulfilling, but according to experts in the dietetic field, it's actually quite the opposite. In this guide you'll learn why eating three to five small, nutritious meals will help you reach your goals and maintain overall wellness.

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.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Catherine Tremblay

Last Updated:

Views: 6209

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (67 voted)

Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Catherine Tremblay

Birthday: 1999-09-23

Address: Suite 461 73643 Sherril Loaf, Dickinsonland, AZ 47941-2379

Phone: +2678139151039

Job: International Administration Supervisor

Hobby: Dowsing, Snowboarding, Rowing, Beekeeping, Calligraphy, Shooting, Air sports

Introduction: My name is Catherine Tremblay, I am a precious, perfect, tasty, enthusiastic, inexpensive, vast, kind person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.