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Make Ahead Recipes

Make Ahead Recipes

Have you ever started cooking something and wished you had prepared some of it in advance to save time? Or, have you gone to grab something out of the pantry only to realize you're out of it? Frustrating, right?

That's where these "make ahead" recipes come in handy!

Maybe you like the convenience of having baking or biscuit mix on hand so you can whip up a batch of something quick? The mixes in the store can get expensive and often contain extra ingredients you don't need or want. You can make your own at home for pennies compared to what the commercial versions cost.

Not only are homemade mixes healthier since they don't contain preservatives and the additives manufacturers put in to maintain shelf life, but they'll usually taste a heck of a lot better too.



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Enter a word or two in the box to find recipes within the make ahead section. You can search the title, ingredients, or entire recipe by selecting the appropriate option.

Recipes  /   make ahead
recipe for cherry hot chocolate mix

Cherry Hot Chocolate Mix

Made with cherry flavored licorice, hot cocoa powder, cherry flavored Kool-Aid powder, water


Time:   under 30 minutes

recipe for minestrone soup mix

Minestrone Soup Mix

Made with bouillon granules, dried onion, dried garlic, dried navy beans, dried oregano, bay leaves, peppercorns, dried tomatoes, dried celery slices, dried carrot slices


Time:   under 30 minutes

recipe for white bean chowder mix

White Bean Chowder Mix

Made with sage, dried great northern beans, instant potato flakes, bacon bits, chicken bouillon granules, dried minced onion, black pepper, celery powder


Time:   under 30 minutes


recipe for white hot chocolate mix

White Hot Chocolate Mix

Made with vanilla powder, dried orange peel, white chocolate chips


Time:   under 30 minutes

recipe for hootycreek cookies

Hootycreek Cookies

Made with pecans, white chocolate chips, rolled oats, all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, brown sugar, sugar, dried cranberries


Time:   under 30 minutes

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recipe for 20 cup dry bread mix

20 Cup Dry Bread Mix

Made with dry milk, bread flour, sugar, salt


Time:   under 30 minutes

recipe for creamy hot buttered rum mix

Creamy Hot Buttered Rum Mix

Made with water, rum, butter, brown sugar, fruit sugar, ground nutmeg, ground cinnamon, vanilla ice cream


Time:   1-2 hours

recipe for make-ahead french bread pizza

Make-Ahead French Bread Pizza

Made with pepperoni, French bread, spaghetti sauce, Parmesan cheese, Mozzarella cheese

Method:   oven
Time:   under 30 minutes


recipe for pasta fagioli soup mix

Pasta Fagioli Soup Mix

Made with dried parsley, sugar, celery salt, sweet pepper flakes, chicken bouillon granules, dried Italian seasoning, salt, paprika, garlic powder, black pepper


Time:   under 30 minutes

recipe for freezer to oven chicken supreme with mushrooms

Freezer To Oven Chicken Supreme With Mushrooms

Made with boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, chicken stock, butter, onions, mushrooms, salt and pepper, white wine, tomato puree

Method:   oven, stovetop
Time:   over 5 hours

recipe for nine bean soup in a jar

Nine Bean Soup In A Jar

Made with black-eyed peas, black beans, green split peas, red kidney beans, pearl barley, pinto beans, great northern beans, navy beans, lentils, yellow split peas


Time:   under 30 minutes


recipe for basic pudding mixes

Basic Pudding Mixes

Made with salt, sugar, cornstarch


Time:   under 30 minutes

recipe for freezer biscuits

Freezer Biscuits

Made with milk, eggs, flour, baking powder, cream of tartar, salt, sugar, shortening

Method:   oven
Time:   under 30 minutes

recipe for easy-bake oven kira jeweled tea cakes

Easy-Bake Oven Kira Jeweled Tea Cakes

Made with all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, margarine, multi-colored cookie decorations, milk


Time:   under 30 minutes


recipe for chocolate mint coffee mix

Chocolate Mint Coffee Mix

Made with powdered coffee creamer, instant coffee, sugar, cocoa powder, peppermint candies


Time:   under 30 minutes

recipe for cherry tea mix

Cherry Tea Mix

Made with instant tea mix, cherry-flavored soft drink mix


Time:   under 30 minutes

recipe for friendship soup mix in a jar

Friendship Soup Mix in a Jar

Made with ground beef, dry split peas, beef bouillon powder, pearl barley, dry lentils, dried minced onion, italian seasoning, brown rice, alphabet macaroni


Time:   under 30 minutes


recipe for spice bags

Spice Bags

Made with orange slice, cinnamon sticks, cinnamon, whole nutmeg, whole cloves, dried orange peel, orange peel, allspice berries


Time:   under 30 minutes

recipe for snickerdoodle instant coffee

Snickerdoodle Instant Coffee

Relive the flavors of your favorite cookie in this snickerdoodle-flavored instant coffee mix. Just add the coffee mix to hot water and enjoy.


Time:   under 30 minutes

recipe for spiced cranberry cider mix in a jar

Spiced Cranberry Cider Mix in a Jar

Made with allspice, dried cranberries, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves


Time:   under 30 minutes


recipe for texas hot chocolate mix

Texas Hot Chocolate Mix

Made with salt, ground allspice, ground cloves, ground cinnamon, cocoa powder, flour, sugar


Time:   under 30 minutes

recipe for homemade  cream  soup

Homemade Cream Soup

Made with black pepper, powdered nonfat milk, cornstarch, instant chicken bouillon, dried onion flakes, basil, thyme


Time:   under 30 minutes

recipe for curry soup mix

Curry Soup Mix

Made with rice, raisins, walnuts, dried, minced onion, salt, curry powder, sugar, paprika, dill weed, dry mustard


Time:   under 30 minutes


recipe for all-purpose cake mix

All-Purpose Cake Mix

Made with shortening, salt, all-purpose flour, sugar, cornstarch, baking powder


Time:   under 30 minutes

recipe for freeze ahead cinnamon rolls

Freeze Ahead Cinnamon Rolls

Made with salt, butter or margarine, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, pecans, raisins, powdered sugar, milk, water

Method:   microwave, oven
Time:   2-5 hours

recipe for french market soup mix

French Market Soup Mix

Made with dried soybeans, dried navy beans, dried pinto beans, dried great northern beans, split peas, yellow split peas, dried black eyed peas, dried baby lima beans, lentils...


Time:   under 30 minutes


recipe for mochaccino mix

Mochaccino Mix

Made with powdered chocolate milk mix, powdered creamer, instant coffee granules, ground cinnamon


Time:   under 30 minutes

recipe for barbecue chicken pasta (freeze ahead)

Barbecue Chicken Pasta (Freeze Ahead)

Made with celery, water, boneless chicken breast without skins, onion, vinegar, brown sugar, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, mustard

Method:   oven
Time:   1-2 hours

recipe for white chocolate brownie mix in a jar

White Chocolate Brownie Mix In A Jar

Made with eggs, all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, cocoa powder, sugar, pecans, white chocolate chips, butter


Time:   under 30 minutes


recipe for homestyle chicken soup mix in a jar

Homestyle Chicken Soup Mix In A Jar

Made with dried oregano, black pepper, garlic powder, chicken bouillon granules, dried minced onion, shell macaroni pasta, barley, spinach pasta, rice


Time:   under 30 minutes

recipe for make-ahead smoky red beans and rice

Make-Ahead Smoky Red Beans And Rice

Made with red pepper flakes, dried red beans, water, onion, celery, green bell pepper, garlic, parsley, bay leaf, salt

Method:   stovetop
Time:   2-5 hours

recipe for alphabet soup in minutes mix

Alphabet Soup In Minutes Mix

Made with alphabet pasta, dried vegetable flakes, chicken bouillon granules, black pepper, fish-shaped crackers


Time:   under 30 minutes


recipe for pina colada mix

Pina Colada Mix

Made with cream of coconut, pineapple juice


Time:   under 30 minutes

recipe for making cream cheese

Making Cream Cheese

Made with salt, milk, butter, liquid lecithin, mesophilic cheese culture, rennet

Method:   stovetop
Time:   over 5 hours

recipe for muffin mix

Muffin Mix

Made with shortening, muffin mix, lemon pudding mix, poppy seeds, lemon peel, milk, egg, vegetable oil, powdered sugar

Method:   oven
Time:   under 30 minutes


recipe for rice pilaf mix

Rice Pilaf Mix

Made with allspice, garlic powder, curry powder, long grain white rice, dried apples, currants, instant chicken bouillon


Time:   under 30 minutes

recipe for homemade buttermilk substitute

Homemade Buttermilk Substitute

Made with lemon juice, whole milk, cream of tartar, white vinegar


Time:   under 30 minutes

recipe for cafe vienna beverage mix

Cafe Vienna Beverage Mix

Made with cinnamon, nonfat dry milk, sugar, instant coffee


Time:   under 30 minutes


recipe for cream of tomato soup mix

Cream of Tomato Soup Mix

Made with ground cinnamon, dried tomato slices, dried milk powder, sugar, salt


Time:   under 30 minutes

recipe for fat-free cream soup mix

Fat-free Cream Soup Mix

Made with nonfat dry powdered milk, dried onion flakes, cornstarch, chicken bouillon granules, dried basil, dried thyme, dried bell peppers


Time:   under 30 minutes

recipe for jambalaya mix

Jambalaya Mix

Made with crushed red pepper, thyme, black pepper, garlic powder, long-grain rice, onion, green bell pepper flakes, parsley, bay leaf, beef bouillon granules


Time:   under 30 minutes


recipe for mexican hot chocolate mix

Mexican Hot Chocolate Mix

Made with powdered milk, light brown sugar, ground cinnamon, powdered vanilla, cocoa powder


Time:   under 30 minutes

recipe for navy bean and ham soup in a pint jar

Navy Bean and Ham Soup in a Pint Jar

Made with dried navy beans, ham, pork gravy mix, Knorr Vegetable Soup Mix, bacon bits, brown sugar, dried oregano, dried basil, nutmeg


Time:   under 30 minutes

recipe for toffee mocha beverage mix

Toffee Mocha Beverage Mix

Made with brown sugar, instant coffee, powdered nondairy creamer, nonfat dry milk, cocoa powder


Time:   under 30 minutes


recipe for vegetable broth mix

Vegetable Broth Mix

Made with sage, turmeric, celery salt, dried parsley, garlic powder, salt, ground savory, dried marjoram, dried thyme, black pepper


Time:   under 30 minutes

recipe for vegetable rice soup in a cup

Vegetable Rice Soup in a Cup

Made with onion powder, vegetable soup mix, instant white rice, chicken bouillon granules

Method:   microwave
Time:   under 30 minutes

recipe for tortellini and sun-dried tomato soup mix

Tortellini And Sun-Dried Tomato Soup Mix

Made with sun-dried tomato pesto sauce mix, chicken bouillon granules, sugar, salt, dry tortellini


Time:   under 30 minutes


recipe for herb dip mix

Herb Dip Mix

Made with dried parsley, dried thyme, dried tarragon, onion, garlic powder, salt, black pepper


Time:   under 30 minutes

recipe for country soup in a jar

Country Soup in a Jar

Made with alphabet pasta, barley, dried split peas, rice, dry lentils, dried minced onion, parsley, salt, lemon pepper, beef bouillon granules


Time:   under 30 minutes

recipe for chewy coconut-almond cookies in a jar

Chewy Coconut-Almond Cookies in a Jar

Made with vanilla extract, egg, coconut, sliced almonds, brown sugar, biscuit baking mix, butter or margarine


Time:   under 30 minutes





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