The Case for Keeping Frozen Veggies on Hand


The Case for Keeping Frozen Veggies on Hand

A serving of shepherd's pie on a plate with lettuce

Frozen vegetables don’t get much attention, but they’re one of the most useful ingredients you can keep in your kitchen! They streamline your prep and minimize food waste, plus they’re frozen at the peak of freshness for maximum flavor.

A serving of shepherd's pie on a plate with lettuce

Frozen veggies for the win!

cookbook author erin clarke of well plated

When Ben and I first got married, I always kept bags of Trader Joe’s frozen veggies in the freezer as a quick side. Steam ‘em in a pan with a bit of water and you’ve got a serviceable, but not very exciting, side to round out your meal.

But then I started intentionally cooking with them, not just as a low-effort side, but as an actual part of our dinner.

  • They don’t go bad halfway through the week, ruining your dinner plans. (Or if you change your dinner plans, you don’t have to feel bad about that head of broccoli sitting sadly in your fridge.)
  • There’s no washing, chopping, or mincing required.
  • While it’s true that the texture isn’t as good as fresh, the flavor and nutrition is still there. In fact, sometimes the nutrition is better because they’re frozen at their peak.

Below, I share some Well Plated recipes that incorporate frozen veggies to give you some inspiration!

A white plate with roasted frozen broccoli and lemon slices

Roasted Frozen Broccoli

Roasting frozen broccoli brings out crisp edges and deep flavor, proving you don’t need fresh to get a great result.

Check out this recipe

A bowl of steak fried rice with beef, peas, carrots, scrambled egg, and chopped green onions.

Steak Fried Rice

A perfect example of how frozen vegetables make quick meals possible. They add color, texture, and balance without any extra prep.

Check out this recipe

Cowboy stew in pot

Cowboy Stew

Hearty and flexible, this stew uses frozen vegetables to build a meal that’s filling and easy to throw together.

Check out this recipe

Corn Chicken Chowder in a white bowl with peppers

Corn Chicken Chowder

Frozen corn adds natural sweetness and texture, without the fuss (and mess!) of slicing it fresh from the cob.

Check out this recipe

easy shepherds pie topped with mashed potatoes in a bowl with a spoon

Easy Shepherd’s Pie

A classic comfort dish where frozen vegetables fit seamlessly into the filling, adding both flavor and convenience.

Check out this recipe

Overhead view of baked chicken and rice in skillet

Baked Chicken and Rice

Everything cooks together, and frozen vegetables make it easy to round out the dish without extra steps.

Check out this recipe

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