Since cooking already takes a lot of time & energy, here are 9 batch cooking hacks to cut straight to eating. Batch cooking isn’t just about making meals in bulk; it’s about creating a system that works for you. And when done right, it allows you to enjoy home-cooked meals nearly-effortlessly without spending even one hour in the kitchen every day. Here’s ___ tips that’ll save both time & energy whether you’re batching meals for a week, month or even boldly – for a whole quarter.
Need a recap? Here’s the essential tools & ingredients of batch cooking.
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Time-Saving Batch Cooking Hacks
1. Plan Your Meals in Advance
One of the biggest time-wasters in the kitchen is trying to figure out what to cook last minute.
I’m talkin’, got that “What’s for dinner tonight?” text at 4:30pm & it’s the last thing on your mind. Oops.
Plus, after all the decisions we make as busy women all day long, decision-fatigue is real. Dinner is the last thing anyone wants to think about, especially if that means it’s followed by a load of energy to produce it too.

Falling back on your family fave meal bank, should enable you to pick a handful of meals (batchable meals) quickly so this is never a problem. Knowing exactly what you wanna eat leads to knowing what you need to cook. Then all you need to do is set aside some time for the prep.
Need meal inspiration? Get it here.
Here’s how to plan efficiently:
- Set a Menu: Whether weekly or bi-weekly, whatever – choose 2-3 main meals you can cook in large batches. This is a some for now, some for later approach. Focus on recipes that share common ingredients to save time on prep.
- Prep in Bulk-A (a daily “cooking” style): Prepping ingredients in bulk at the beginning of the week is a major time-saver if you’re in the mood & habit of cooking pretty much everyday. Chop veggies, cook grains like white or brown rice & marinate proteins in advance, so everything is ready to go when it’s time to cook.
- Prep in Bulk-B (longer term cooking style): Use prepped ingredients to create the majority of the meals chosen. These will then be ready-to-go, pull-heat-&-eat meals you can use month to month.
- Create a Grocery List: Anything missing on your grocery list? Review it through the lens of substituting what you already have on hand so you have to buy even less. Then review it again this time, making sure everything for the selected meals is accounted for. Nothing worse than being in the act of batching & you realize you don’t have something! (Or a proper sub). Caution: be sure that any ingredients you plan to buy are in the right amount. It’s easy to look at the recipe & write the missing item without remembering you were going to multiply that recipe by 3 or 4 so really you need 3 or 4 times that missing item.
2. Use Multi-Functional Appliances
Alright, so one thing women raise when it comes to batching is all the cooking. But girl. If you don’t whip out some of those small appliances you got & make it less “cooking”! Come on now. It’s times like these when your kitchen tools can handle multiple tasks:
- Instant Pot & Slow Cooker: While I don’t personally have/use an IP, these two appliances are known for hands-free cooking. You can make large meals like soups, stews & even grains without having to babysit the stove. Bonus: They cook in large batches, which means less time spent cooking during the week if you’re a “semi-daily” sort of cook.
- Food Processor: Save time chopping & shredding by using a food processor. It’s great for slicing vegetables, pureeing sauces, or even making some dough if you’re not going by hand but also don’t have a bread machine or Kitchen Aid.
- Rice Cooker: The hidden gem of kitchens. A rice cooker isn’t just for rice hello—it can also be used to steam vegetables or cook quinoa. I’ve even used it to make whole meals! This makes it a versatile tool in your batch cooking toolkit.
3. Multiply the Recipes – (My Batch Cooking Hack #1 actually)
One of the best batch cooking hacks for efficient batch cooking is to multiply your recipes by as much as you can. Like 3-5 times or even more. Remember, no one said you have to eat that food all this month. You can make 5 whole meals worth & then eat it once a month. Thinking that way, that’s one guaranteed meal a night (or 2-3 if you have leftovers) for the next 5 months. Using a rotation system, you can have a several new meals a week for variety following this simple hack.
If you’re making a soup, stew, or casserole, consider making extra & freezing the rest for future meals. Portion some for lunch servings for quick wins (or Husbo’s lunchbox) & portion some as family meals. This way, you’ll have a ready-made meal for busy moments when you don’t have time or energy to cook.
4. Cook Multiple Dishes at Once
When batch cooking, maximize your time by cooking multiple dishes simultaneously. For example:
- Roast vegetables on a sheet pan while your chicken also bakes in the oven.
- Cook a pot of soup on the stovetop while your Instant Pot or rice cooker handles grains like wild rice or quinoa.
- Use your slow cooker to prepare a chili or stew while you make the stir-fry.
- Cooking everything at once not only saves time but also reduces the overall cooking time spent in the kitchen.
And if you’re not cooking everything, or cooking it all the way, use an assembly line method to fill casserole dishes, pie pans & freezer bags or jars.
5. Freeze in Portions

Instead of freezing entire meals in one big container, portion out individual servings into freezer-safe bags or containers. Cooking for one? This is perfect! Just wanna stash away some of Momma’s faves? Bingo. This way, you can easily defrost only what you need, minimizing food waste & making reheating much quicker.
Waffles is a prime example of both multiplying a recipe (I 4x my homemade waffle mix) & freezing in portions. I froze 4 waffles per vacuum sealed bag – just enough for one breakfast for my family.
Energy-Efficient Batch Cooking Hacks
1. Optimize Oven Use
If you’re gonna fire up the ole’ oven (especially in summer time), make the most of it by cooking multiple dishes at once. The oven takes a lot of energy to heat up, so it’s much more efficient to use it for roasting vegetables, baking casseroles, or cooking proteins simultaneously. Just be sure to monitor your items since some things may have different cook times.
2. Cool Foods Before Freezing
On the opposite hand, before you freeze anything, allow it to cool to room temperature. Freezing hot food increases the amount of energy your freezer uses & can cause ice crystals to form, affecting the quality of your food. Besides, if there’s any moisture when frozen, it could lead to soggy dishes when defrosted & I’m sure no one wants that.
3. Store Food in Airtight Containers
Use airtight containers or freezer-safe bags to store your meals. Removing as much air as possible before sealing helps your food stay fresh longer & reduces the risk of freezer burn, which can ruin your hard work. I highly recommend using a vacuum sealer like the Food Saver for tasks like these because they will remove more air than you ever can squeezing or even sucking in on a straw.
4. Include your family in all aspects
I wasn’t sure if this would be considered time-saving or energy saving but considering I still have littles, it’s definitely energy saving for me.
When you plan to have a marathon of this sort to provide delicious, comforting, wholesome home cooked meals for your family I assume everyone plans to eat, yeah? (They probably assume the same thing.) So don’t be shy about including them in the responsibility of making the food. This is probably the second best of my batch cooking hacks.
Simply pair ages & skills with the various tasks that need to be done so that everyone can contribute in a meaningful way. Besides the forethought this will require, it might also require a little extra patience on your part bc…yes, it might take longer than solo-working. The beauty is that this time is an opportunity to make memories, tell stories, work with your hands & maybe even create a new family tradition.
Related Blog Post: Lookin’ for meals that will include them? Gotcha – 130 Interactive Meal Ideas for the Fam.
Quick & Easy Batch Cooking Recipes
Alright, so now before you leave the online kitchen, here’s a few mini-recps to help you get started. I think they’re perfect for batch cooking:
- Chili: So versatile. So customizable. Make a large batch of chili in the slow cooker & portion it out for meals throughout the week. Serve with rice, cornbread, or over baked potatoes. (Don’t hesitate to use sweet potatoes! They’re incredible here!!)
- Roasted Vegetables: Roast a variety of vegetables like sweet potatoes, carrots & broccoli in large batches. Use them as sides, add them to salads, or toss them into grain bowls.
- Stir-Fry: A stir-fry is a quick & customizable meal that can be made with a variety of vegetables & proteins. Make a large batch & serve with rice or noodles for quick midweek meals.
Key Take-Aways
With these batch cooking hacks, this method is more efficient; a true time-saving tool that will help you get meals on the table with less effort. The key is to plan ahead, include your family, make the most of the kitchen tools you have & cook in large batches to enjoy nutritious, home-cooked meals any time.

🌱 Start Small. Start Now. Start where you are with what you have. The rest will follow. 🌱

I make batching food easy, girl. Even for you.
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