1,078 ahead recipes

Southern-style marinated vegetable salad with green beans, shoe peg corn, peas, pimentos, and onion rings in a sweet red wine vinegar dressing. A classic make-ahead side dish for potlucks.

Orange coconut refrigerator cookies with fresh orange zest and flaked coconut, sliced thin from a chilled log and baked crisp. Make the dough ahead and freeze for up to 3 months.

Lemon pucker-up slice-and-bake cookies with fresh lemon zest and juice, a hint of nutmeg, and a crisp, buttery edge. Make the dough ahead and freeze for baking anytime.

Roasted garlic and almond spread with cream cheese, sour cream, and whipped cream folded in for a light, airy texture. A make-ahead dip or topping for crackers, potatoes, or sandwiches.

Enchilada casserole layered with corn tortillas, a prepped beef-tomato freezer mix, olives, and two cheeses. A make-ahead Mexican-style casserole that pulls dinner from the freezer to the table.

Marinated asparagus steams fresh spears, then chills them in a bright orange and lemon vinaigrette with cayenne. A make-ahead spring side dish with citrusy tang and a hint of warmth.

Easy marinated asparagus blanches fresh spears and soaks them overnight in Italian dressing for a tangy, make-ahead side dish. Cool, crisp-tender, and ready to plate on a lettuce leaf.

Mexican cheese torta: a no-cook chilled cheese ball-style mold of cream cheese, Colby, Monterey Jack, red pepper, scallions, and jalapeño. A make-ahead party centerpiece served with tortilla chips.

Savory bacon cheddar muffins with oats, a pinch of chili powder, and skim milk. A hearty, grab-and-go breakfast muffin for the brunch crowd or a make-ahead school morning.

Russian pastries (pirozhki) with a tender cream cheese dough wrapped around savory ground beef, sour cream, dill, and chopped egg. Make-ahead friendly and freezer-stable for up to a month.

Curry garlic dip whisks mayonnaise with chili sauce, curry powder, garlic, grated onion, and Worcestershire for a make-ahead party dip. Doubles as a sauce for cold shrimp, steak, or lamb.

Marinated mushrooms simmer briefly in a tart bath of white wine, lemon juice, vinegar, and olive oil with shallots, garlic, and coriander. A chilled make-ahead appetizer ready in 40 minutes.

Sweet and sour pasta salad with kamut spirals, kidney and black beans, red pepper, scallions, and basil. A protein-packed vegan picnic salad that holds up beautifully for make-ahead lunches.

Soy marinated mushrooms, a make-ahead appetizer of fresh mushrooms steeped overnight in a hot brine of soy sauce, red wine vinegar, sherry, sugar, and minced onion. Tangy, savory, deeply umami.

Pate Diana, a silky French-style chicken liver pate with sauteed apples, shallots, and apple wine or brandy, sealed in clarified butter. Elegant make-ahead appetizer that keeps a week chilled.

Chocolate toffee icebox cake layers crisp chocolate wafers with vanilla pudding cream and crunchy Heath bar bits. A no-bake make-ahead dessert that slices into striking dark and creamy ribbons.