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Make-Ahead Recipes

These make-ahead recipes are total game-changers for busy weeks, meal prep Sundays, or any time you want to get a jump on dinner. Whether you’re feeding a family, planning for guests, or just making life easier for your future self, these recipes help you get ahead without sacrificing flavor.

Let’s start with the make-ahead dinner recipes — from casseroles to slow cooker favorites, these meals can be prepped in advance and either chilled, frozen, or popped right into the oven when you’re ready. They’re perfect for hectic weeknights, and trust me, you’ll thank yourself later.

Need something with chicken? The chicken make-ahead recipes are super versatile and packed with flavor. From freezer-friendly chicken bakes to marinades that get better with time, these dishes are made to be prepped early and enjoyed later.

I’ve tested every single recipe to make sure it holds up well.  So, no matter your schedule, you can count on these meals to come out delicious every time. They’re practical, reliable, and always a keeper.

Here are some of my favorites: Make-ahead crock pot mashed potatoes, Orange fluff salad, Cinnamon roll French toast bake with streusel topping

A glass jar filled with ground cinnamon and Apple Pie Spice, with a white spoon resting inside.

Apple Pie Spice

A top shot of the caprese balsamic pasta salad.

Caprese Balsamic Pasta Salad

The garlic and herb spread on a bagel.

Garlic and Herb Cheese Spread

A metal bowl filled with stewed tomatoes.

Stewed Tomatoes

Cherries on top of a fruit salad with cool whip.

Fruit Salad with Cool Whip

A tray of the finished meatballs.

Taco Stuffed Meatballs

A side view of the delicious side.

Cucumber Pepper Salad

Two homemade peanut butter cups are stacked on top of each other, with a swirl of chocolate on the top cup, set against a blurred background.

Homemade Peanut Butter Cups

A white dish with the loaded mashed potato casserole.

Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole

A white bowl of the best southwest spice blend.

Southwest Spice Blend

A white bowl of the breakfast fruit salad with honey lime dressing.

Berry Breakfast Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Dressing

A glass jar filled with vegetables in liquid, surrounded by whole and sliced red bell peppers.

Homemade Roasted Red Bell Peppers

A wooden spoon rests on a white surface beside a pile of reddish-brown Chicken Wing Seasoning Rub, spilled from a glass container.

Chicken Wing Seasoning Rub

A glass bowl filled with a light brown, finely ground carnitas seasoning, with a wooden spoon partially submerged in the mixture.

Carnitas Seasoning

A white plate with a serving of the tex mex casserole with ground beef.

Tex Mex Casserole with Ground Beef

A glass dish filled with dried tomatoes.

Dried Tomatoes in the Oven

A jar of homemade Spaghetti Seasoning.

Spaghetti Seasoning

Two small glass jars filled with smooth Mango Pudding sit beside gold-colored spoons on a dark surface.

Mango Pudding

A jar of Refrigerator Bread and Butter Pickles in brine, featuring sliced pickles with visible mustard seeds, spices, and onion slices.

Refrigerator Bread and Butter Pickles

A bowl of meatloaf seasoning rests on a striped kitchen towel, surrounded by fresh parsley and a spoon.

Meatloaf Seasoning

A white plate with the snack on it.

Ham and Cheese Appetizer Skewers

A bowl of with whipped topping and chocolate chips is surrounded by graham crackers on a wooden surface, with a red-checkered cloth in the background.

Fluffy Chocolate Dip

A plate of Cheesy Ham and Potato Casserole, featuring scalloped potatoes mixed with diced ham and garnished with chopped parsley.

Cheesy Ham and Potato Casserole

A spoon drips creamy, light orange In n Out sauce recipe into a bowl, with a blurred view of crispy fried food in the background.

In and Out Sauce (Copycat)

Plate of the side dish, garnished with herbs, next to cubes of cheddar and a whole potato, on a striped cloth.

Au Gratin Potatoes with Gruyere Cheese

A small glass bowl filled with zesty chicken wing sauce sits invitingly on a wooden surface.

Homemade Chicken Wing Sauce

Strawberry Pudding Parfaits

Strawberry Pudding Parfaits

A bowl of appetizer adorned with extra caramelized onions and a sprinkle of chives, rests on a wooden board. Slices of rustic bread beckon in the background.

Caramelized Onion Dip

A spoon of the condiment.

Homemade Big Mac Sauce

Copycat chick fil a sauce in a white bowl with waffle fries.

Copycat Chick Fil A Sauce

The Best Steak Rub

A garlic herb butter log with two slices cut, rests on a wooden board, garnished with fresh herbs. Garlic bulbs linger in the background.

Garlic Herb Butter

Close-up of a sliced Orange Jello Salad mold on a plate, with a mandarin orange slice elegantly garnishing the side.

Orange Jello Salad

Three steak street tacos with diced tomatoes, red onion, and cilantro in soft tortillas. Lime wedges are in the background.

Steak Street Tacos

A delicious dish of cranberry jello salad.

Cranberry Jello Salad

Frozen Pink Lemonade Pie on a white dish.

Lemonade Frozen Pie

A bowl of the finished substitute for poultry seasoning.

Substitute for Poultry Seasoning

A skewer featuring a stack of deli meats, cheese cubes, a mozzarella ball, and a small pickle on top sits proudly against a checkered cloth background, embodying the essence of Charcuterie Skewers.

Charcuterie Skewers

A glass jar brimming with moonshine cherries, immersed in a vibrant red liquid, sits against a light background.

Moonshine Cherries

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Christina Hitchcock NY Times Best Selling Author and recipe developer behind It Is a Keeper

Hi, I'm Christina!

I'm a New York Times bestselling author and recipe developer behind It Is a Keeper. I've been testing and keeping recipes since 2010 — so you don't have to wonder if it'll work. If it's on IAK, it made the cut.

MORE about CHRISTINA

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