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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 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 decadent Butterfinger Pie slice topped with chocolate drizzle and cookie pieces on a decorative plate.

Butterfinger Pie (No Bake)

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

A baked apple oatmeal square on a plate.

Baked Apple Oatmeal

A bowl of delicious Greek Chickpea Salad featuring chickpeas, sliced onions, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, olives, and a large piece of feta cheese, all garnished with herbs.

Greek Chickpea 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 slice of creamy caramel pie topped with crumbled chocolate pieces on a white plate.

No Bake Caramel Pie

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

Pickle Roll Ups feature ham rolled with creamy cheese and tangy pickles, all neatly secured with toothpicks on a pristine white plate.

Ham and Pickle Roll Ups

A bowl of homemade butter sits on a wooden board next to a buttered slice of bread and a wooden knife.

Homemade Butter

A slice of creamy old-fashioned coconut cream pie topped with chocolate shavings, with the remainder of the pie in the background.

Old Fashioned Coconut Cream Pie

A baby carrot stands upright in a bowl of everything bagel dip, garnished with a mix of black and white sesame seeds. Blurred carrots are in the background.

Everything Bagel Dip

Chocolate frozen banana on a stick with sprinkles.

Frozen Bananas in Chocolate

Texas bbq sauce on a spoon.

Texas BBQ Sauce

Chicken Rub on a spoon

Barbecue Chicken Rub

A slice of strawberry pie with graham cracker crust, topped with red crumbled pieces and set in a crumbly crust on a white plate.

Strawberry Pie with Graham Cracker Crust

A jar of Korean bbq sauce.

Korean BBQ Sauce

A creamy garlic aioli in a clear dish.

Garlic Aioli

A clear bowl of lemon orzo pasta salad.

Lemon Orzo Salad

Oreo ice cream cake on a white plate.

Oreo Ice Cream Cake

Peach bars with crumb topping.

Peach Bars with Crumb Topping

Side view of a glass of pineapple lemonade with a piece of pineapple on the glass.

Pineapple Lemonade

A chips scooping out the taco dip.

Layered Taco Dip

A plate of succulent, prosciutto-wrapped asparagus spears, neatly arranged on a white surface with a vibrant cloth in the background.

Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus

A close-up of a bowl filled with reddish-brown chili lime seasoning. A gold-colored scoop is lifting some of the spice out of the bowl.

Chili Lime Seasoning (Copycat Tajin)

Five orange creamsicle popsicles are arranged on a light-colored surface. Some popsicles are partially eaten, revealing their creamy texture.

Creamsicle Orange Popsicles

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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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