166 ahead recipes

Cheese onion morsels with sharp cheddar, butter, and parsley baked into savory bite-sized drop biscuits. A make-ahead appetizer that freezes well and reheats in minutes.

Curried shrimp toasts top toasted baguette with chopped shrimp in curry, mango chutney, and a soy-spiked mayo. Make-ahead-friendly cocktail party hors d'oeuvres.

Chilled ginger shrimp marinated in a reduced teriyaki, rice vinegar, and sherry sauce. A light, make-ahead appetizer served cold with cucumber sticks and dipping sauce.

Old-fashioned chicken loaf made from stewed chicken, vegetables, and toast, pressed firm and sliced cold. Vintage make-ahead protein.

Sharp cheddar and crab English muffin bites you can freeze and bake straight from the freezer in 10 minutes. The ultimate make-ahead appetizer for effortless hosting.

Homemade apple pie filling for freezing or canning combines sliced apples with cinnamon, nutmeg, and a clear cornstarch syrup. Make-ahead pantry filling for instant pies all year.

Whole pears poached in spiced white wine with cinnamon, cloves, ginger, vanilla bean, and citrus zest, served warm with burnt sugar ice cream. An elegant make-ahead dessert.

Vegetable lasagna layered with zucchini, spinach, mushrooms, and a red wine tomato sauce. Make-ahead and lighter than meat lasagna, with cottage cheese standing in for ricotta.

Colorful rotini tossed with black-eyed peas, sweet corn, crisp bell peppers, and zesty salsa-lime vinaigrette. Perfect make-ahead potluck side.

Overnight soaked bulgur breakfast with dried apples and fromage frais for a make-ahead healthy porridge alternative that's diabetic-friendly and customizable.

Freezer-friendly lasagna layered with spaghetti sauce, ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan in a disposable pan. Assemble ahead, freeze, and bake when needed.

Vanilla buttermilk panna cotta with fresh strawberry jam on top. A make-ahead individual dessert that sets in small glasses and feeds six for dinner parties or date nights.

USDA-style jellied cottage cheese and fruit salad with lime gelatin, crushed pineapple, and sliced peaches. A retro make-ahead gelatin salad that freezes well for up to 6 months.

Roasted garlic whole grain mustard steeps yellow and black mustard seeds in apple cider vinegar overnight, then blends with a head of mellow roasted garlic and maple syrup. A homemade condiment worth jarring as a gift.

Crispy golden phyllo cups filled with a creamy smoked trout, horseradish and scallion mixture, topped with cool shredded cucumber. An elegant make-ahead appetizer that yields 48 bite-sized pieces.

Sparkling wine fruit gelées with strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and banana suspended in Champagne jelly. A make-ahead no-bake brunch dessert served in flutes for eight.