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6 Big-Batch Make-Ahead Dinners That Are Perfect for Fall

September 10, 2018
Greg DuPree
This is smart meal planning at its best. Two birds—or one big beef roast—power a great meal tonight, plus two more easy, family-friendly dinners later in the week.
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French Onion Roast Chicken

Greg DuPree
View Recipe: French Onion Roast Chicken

Batch cooking brings to mind stews and casseroles, big pans full of several portions. But the batch strategy works even better with roasts and braises: Popping extra meat in the oven when making a delicious roast the first night will save you time and effort later; making a few tweaks yields simple and completely different meals the next two nights. Our juicy roast chicken on a bed of caramelized onions becomes Thai chicken pizza with zesty peanut sauce another night and savory crêpes after that. And extra servings of classic beef pot roast—gently braised until fork-tender and succulent—become herb-sauced tacos and comforting egg-and-potato hash. So crank up the oven, and set yourself up for the week. 

Make a big batch of this juicy roast chicken and caramelized onions and you've got enough for three meals. Save the leftovers to make Thai Chicken Pizza the next night, and Chicken and Herb Crêpes the night after! 

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Thai Chicken Pizza

Greg DuPree
View Recipe: Thai Chicken Pizza

Part of the joy of this easy-to-make weeknight meal is that you get to repurpose leftovers—make the French Onion Roast Chicken the night before, and you'll have enough delicious meat to make both this, and Chicken and Herb Crêpes the night after.

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Chicken and Herb Crêpes

Greg DuPree
View Recipe: Chicken and Herb Crêpes

This is the perfect finale to a three-meal big-batch feast. Making French Onion Roast Chicken on one night will give you plenty of leftovers for Thai Chicken Pizza the night after, and this recipe the night after that. And the dishes are so varied in flavor your family won't get tired of them!

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Oven-Braised Pot Roast

Kelsey Hansen
View Recipe: Oven-Braised Pot Roast

Make this meal on a Sunday and you'll have three dinners taken care of! The recipe yields enough for both Roast Beef Hash on Monday, and Pot Roast Tacos With Chimichurri on Tuesday. That it's just 284 calories per serving doesn't hurt either.

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Pot Roast Tacos with Chimichurri

Greg DuPree
View Recipe: Pot Roast Tacos with Chimichurri

Want to make Taco Tuesday a breeze? This recipe gets its protein from a Sunday night Big Batch Oven-Braised Pot Roast, which is big enough for both dinners, plus a Monday night Roast Beef Hash in the interim.

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Roast Beef Hash

Greg DuPree
View Recipe: Roast Beef Hash

This super filling hash is an ideal Monday night breakfast-for-dinner, using leftovers from a Sunday night Oven-Braised Pot Roast. Be sure to leave some pot roast for Tuesday's Pot Roast Tacos with Chimichurri.

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