Food and Recipes Recipes 35 Recipes Using Frozen Vegetables That Make Dinner So Much Easier Using frozen vegetables is budget-friendly, reduces stress, and saves prep time. By Kaitlyn Yarborough Kaitlyn Yarborough Part of the Southern Living team since 2017, Kaitlyn Yarborough is a Georgia native living in Austin, Texas, who covers a wide variety of topics for both the magazine and website, focusing on culture and lifestyle content, as well as travel in the South. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on November 30, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Diana Rattray We prefer our vegetables to be farmers' market fresh all the time, but it's not always in the cards. Be it a busy weekday, a hectic holiday, or merely off-season, we know how to harness the power of a bag of frozen broccoli, peas, corn, or carrots when needed. Not to forget, our favorite comforting casserole base is shredded potatoes. And what's not love? Frozen vegetables are budget-friendly, save on prep time, and—when used correctly—taste just as good in a casserole or stew as the fresh stuff. These frozen vegetable recipes will save you time when making dinner. 01 of 35 Cheesy Chili Hash Brown Bake Jennifer Davick If you've never made this five-ingredient dinner in a pinch, let us introduce you to your new favorite dish. The cheesy chili goodness, made in individual ramekins or a handy baking dish, is easy to enjoy. When almost completely cooked, sprinkle with extra cheese and cook for five more minutes. 02 of 35 Skillet-Toasted Gnocchi with Peas Victor Protasio When dinner needs to be prep-to-table in 30 minutes, it's a job for this skillet gnocchi with frozen peas. Usually just boiled, gnocchi tastes even better when toasting the pillowy bites in a skillet for a little outer crisp. For even more Southern flavoring, use sweet potato dumplings. 03 of 35 Classic Hoppin' John Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Mary-Claire Britton Hoppin' John doesn't only belong at the start of the new year, in our opinion. This traditional dish with rice and peas is budget-friendly, uses frozen veggies, and tastes even better (if possible) the next day. Use thick-cut bacon for the perfect amount of smokiness in this recipe. 04 of 35 Skillet Chicken Pot Pie Becky Luigart Stayner Refrigerated pie crust shortens the prep time for this recipe. Still, the filling incorporates frozen peas, hashbrowns, and carrots for even more time-saving tricks. Shredded rotisserie chicken pairs well with this simple recipe, giving you the ultimate leg up. 05 of 35 Bacon-Brussels Sprout-Green Bean Casserole Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Why not combine two favorite green veggies in a single side dish? This dish is a family favorite, with large chunks of bacon, browned Brussels sprouts, and water chestnuts. Use frozen green beans and Brussels sprouts (if desired) for stress-free cooking. 06 of 35 Chicken Stir-Fry Greg Dupree Have this stir-fry ready quicker than you can call up the local Chinese restaurant. In just ten minutes, serve a delicious one-dish meal full of tangy Asian flavor, easy rotisserie chicken, and frozen stir-fried veggies. Serve with steamed rice for the complete dinner. 07 of 35 Spinach-and-Broccoli Breakfast Bread Pudding Southern Living Let the slow cooker do the work. Frozen broccoli, along with fresh or frozen spinach, gives the healthy green factor, while eggs, cheese, and Dijon mustard pack the dish with flavor. This recipe makes enough for a crowd—or plenty of leftovers. 08 of 35 Hearty Beef and Freezer Veggie Soup Greg DuPree Make this soup on Sunday. It'll set you up for a few days of leftovers. The best part is the easy ingredient list of frozen vegetables. Switch up the ingredients according to what you prefer or have in your freezer, and add stew meat and a few spices in your pantry. 09 of 35 Cheesy Broccoli-and-Rice Casserole Hector Sanchez When the freezer aisle calls you, feel free to swap out the fresh broccoli for frozen in this recipe. There's no canned soup used, so you deserve the break anyway. Topping broccoli with cheese makes this a dish everyone will love. 10 of 35 Slow-Cooker Green Bean Casserole Beth Dreiling Hontzas This slow-cooker recipe adds a twist to your traditional casserole. It uses Alfredo sauce (instead of cream of mushroom soup), water chestnuts, Parmesan cheese, and toasted pecans for a unique take on this green bean classic. Grate your own Parmesean cheese to help it melt properly. 11 of 35 Hashbrown Casserole Southern Living It's incredible what Southerners can do with a bag of frozen potatoes. This cornflake-topped casserole has become a classic of many names, coming together with just a few staple ingredients. Garnish with fresh curly-leaf parsley sprigs for a beautiful presentation. 12 of 35 Creamy Tex-Mex Cornbread Bake Hector Sanchez This recipe uses buttermilk cornbread—a Southern staple—to make this casserole dish. Ground turkey, low-fat soup, and milk make this casserole a lightened version. This Tex-Mex dish is full of hearty flavors. 13 of 35 Ham-and-Vegetable Cobbler Iain Bagwell This cobbler is one of our all-time best weeknight warriors. The savory latticed casserole uses frozen vegetables, diced cooked ham, and store-bought pie crusts. These time-saving tricks make it—without a doubt—the easiest recipe ever. 14 of 35 Okra Creole Southern Living Dress up a humble but oh-so-beloved vegetable—okra—with a spicy Creole flavor. Time-saving frozen and canned veggies, paired with a few other hard-working ingredients, ensure an easy dish. Serve over rice. 15 of 35 Chicken-and-Brisket Brunswick Stew Iain Bagwell This smoky stew, made with chicken and brisket, cuts down on the prep time by throwing in canned tomatoes, frozen corn, and frozen lima beans. The hearty dish is perfect for filling up your family on a hectic weeknight and can be made even easier with rotisserie chicken. Hot sauce adds some heat if desired. 16 of 35 Spinach-and-Herb Pastatta Melina Hammer Is it a casserole? Frittata? Don't question it—go ahead and make this perfect pasta dish (that uses frozen spinach for heartiness) as soon as possible. After removing it from the oven and letting it stand for 10 minutes, sprinkle it with Asiago cheese and garnish with parsley leaves. 17 of 35 Slow-Cooker Turkey Chili Melissa Goff Slow cookers make even the quickest recipes even simpler. Combine lean ground turkey, black beans, onion, corn, and fresh bell peppers for home-cooked comfort food. Serve with shredded cheese, red onion, and a dollop of sour cream. 18 of 35 Potato-Crusted Pizza Photo: Hector Sanchez Five ingredients, no sticky pizza dough, and fun kid-friendly prep? This frozen potato-crusted pizza is a no-brainer. Use a wooden spoon to flatten the potatoes until it covers the entire pan. 19 of 35 Shepherd's Pie William Dickey This recipe takes a classic and comforting ground beef dish and simplifies it. The crust calls for frozen mashed potatoes, which saves you precious time. To save even more time, make this dish ahead of time and freeze it until you're ready to serve. 20 of 35 Home-Style Butterbeans William Dickey This veggie side dish uses the three B's—butter, brown sugar, and bacon—to make frozen butterbeans taste Thanksgiving-worthy. Use the same recipe for home-style lima beans. 21 of 35 Corn and Jalapeño Dip Hector Manuel Sanchez We call in this slow-cooker dip when we need a dinner party starter, game day snack, or holiday appetizer. It takes eight ingredients, including frozen corn and two types of cheeses, and just 15 minutes of prep time. When ready to serve, stir in crumbled bacon and garnish with extra scallions. 22 of 35 Warm Spinach-Sweet Onion Dip with Country Ham Warm Spinach-Sweet Onion Dip with Country Ham There are few snacks more versatile than a gooey skillet dip. This recipe starts with a base of frozen chopped spinach and can be made one day in advance. Just reheat in the oven or on the grill. 23 of 35 Parmesan Corn Pudding Jennifer Davick You'd never know frozen corn is the base of this savory, cheesy casserole. Corn pudding is a Southern holiday staple, but this recipe ensures that stress is kept low during the busy season. Using a food processor to purée the corn helps to create a creamy texture. 24 of 35 Chicken 'n' Spinach Pasta Bake Photo Ralph Anderson / Styling Lisa Powell Bailey / Food Styling Pam Lolley This Italian-inspired pasta bake cuts some corners, from the frozen spinach to the pre-cooked chicken to the canned tomatoes. It's perfect for company and quick enough for a weeknight dinner. If not preparing for a crowd, this dish provides plenty of leftovers. 25 of 35 Taco Soup Photo: Jennifer Davick Ready in just 55 minutes, this soup is our go-to for a leisurely night of entertaining. A few pantry and freezer staples later, and it's on the table, ready for tasty garnishes like shredded cheese, avocado, and corn chips. Serve with cheesy quesadillas if desired. 26 of 35 Funeral Potatoes The Washington Post/Getty Images It's the dish of many names, but this take might be the most faithful attendee at Southern funeral spreads. The frozen hashbrown-based casserole usually boasts plenty of cheese, a cream-based soup, onions, butter, and a flaky, crunchy topping. 27 of 35 Easy Brunswick Stew Easy Brunswick Stew with Pork and Chicken. Photo Credit: Diana Rattray This stew has all the makings of a family favorite: okra, pork, lima beans, corn, and a bevy of other canned and frozen veggies. The simple ingredients can be thrown in a slow cooker and left alone for hours, giving you a chance to tackle different tasks. 28 of 35 Chubba Bubba's Broccoli Salad Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas Perfectly crunchy and colorful, this simple version of broccoli salad features frozen broccoli and cauliflower for ease, bacon for flavor, and chopped carrots for color. You probably have most of these nine ingredients on hand. 29 of 35 Vegetable Beef Soup Diana Rattray There's nothing quite as comforting as a warm bowl full of soup on a busy, wintery weeknight. Frozen mixed vegetables and a can of tomato sauce help this dish assemble in 15 minutes. This recipe also works well in a slow cooker, keeping your soup warm until you are ready to serve. 30 of 35 Heavenly Chicken Lasagna Lee Harrelson; Styling: Mindi Shapiro Layer your ingredients, including frozen spinach, a day in advance and keep it covered and chilled until the following night. This ready-to-bake lasagna is ideal for freezing ahead of time but comes together just as quickly when preparing it on a busy weeknight. Chicken, cheese, and Alfredo sauce make this an easy way to want to eat your vegetables. 31 of 35 Winter Vegetables and Gnocchi Greg DuPree Frozen pearl onions give this winter vegetable dish a sweet flavoring. In addition to store-bought gnocchi, this pasta dish is a hearty way to enjoy squash during the wintertime. The best part is it assembles and is ready to serve in 30 minutes. 32 of 35 Sheet Pan Vegetable Lasagna Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner Lighten up your traditional lasagna with this thin spinach and zucchini version. This recipe adds flavors throughout, including sun-dried tomatoes, basil, Parmesan cheese, and red pepper flakes in the ricotta cheese. A sheet pan helps keep this lasagna thinner than a traditional baking pan. 33 of 35 Any-Season Succotash Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Enjoy succotash year-round by using frozen vegetables to replace the traditional farmers' market fresh selection. This colorful dish pairs perfectly with any main meal. Choose fresh or frozen corn and okra, depending on availability. 34 of 35 Zucchini-and-Spinach Lasagna Jennifer Davick Frozen spinach makes this vegetarian lasagna simple to assemble without sacrificing flavor. The unique addition of flavored cream cheese helps to enhance this dish's flavoring. Use no-boil noodles for even easier preparations. 35 of 35 Pimiento Cheese Creamed Spinach Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller Pimiento cheese adds an extra Southern twist to this creamed spinach recipe. Make sure to pat dry the spinach with paper towels to help remove the excess moisture. Finish this dish by topping it with breadcrumbs and Cheddar cheese. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit