385 ahead recipes

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.

Make-ahead brunch egg casserole with sourdough bread, cheddar, Swiss cheese, and green chilies baked in an egg custard. Assembled the night before and baked the next morning.

Marinated olives steeped with lemon, fresh thyme, rosemary and slivered garlic in good olive oil. A no-cook, make-ahead appetizer that gets better as it sits. Serve with warm crusty bread.

Antipasto pasta salad with salami, provolone, garbanzo beans, olives, and mushrooms in a lemon-garlic-basil dressing. A make-ahead party dish that gets better as it chills.

Refrigerator bran muffins with two kinds of bran cereal, buttermilk, and egg whites. Make-ahead batter keeps for weeks in the fridge for fresh-baked muffins on demand.

Cold poached salmon fillets in white wine, served chilled with a Dijon mustard, lime, and honey sour cream sauce. An elegant make-ahead main course for summer entertaining.

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.

Baked penne casserole layered with stir-fried vegetables, spicy pasta sauce, and mozzarella cheese. Fennel seeds and red pepper flakes add warmth to this make-ahead vegetarian bake.

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.

White bean soup with rosemary, country ham, and mirepoix simmered in chicken stock then pureed smooth. Make up to three days ahead.

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

Shrimp and spicy black bean spread on crackers with jalapeño, lime, garlic, and cilantro. Easy make-ahead party appetizer from the pantry.

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.