Make Ahead Meals for the Sabbath

Sharing some ideas for make ahead meals for the Sabbath today! Especially when it's chilly (and it is here!), nothing beats a warm homemade meal, don't you think? All of these meal ideas are made ahead and then simply reheated when you're ready to serve. You could microwave them if you wish, but if you're feeding several people it's easier to just place your dish in the warm oven.

How long it will take to reheat them will vary, but probably 30 minutes for most of the casseroles would be a good starting point. Less time for the meals where you are just heating up an element or two, like the falafel. If your dish is glass or ceramic, most manufacturers recommend letting the oven preheat before putting in the dish, as there is less chance it would crack that way. Shabbat friendly accompaniments would be green salad, bread, raw veggies, and relishes like olives and pickles.

If slow cooker meal ideas or cold lunches would be a better fit for you, here are some ideas.

Vegetarian Cajun Spiced Shepherd's Pie from Healthy Nibbles and Bits

Butternut Squash Falafel from Snixy Kitchen

Mexican Rice Stuffed Peppers from Healthy Nibbles and Bits

Broccoli, Cheddar, and Spinach Frittata from Cookie and Kate

Rutabaga Baked Ziti from A Beautiful Plate

Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes with Broccoli from Love and Lemons

Lentil Baked Ziti from Cookie and Kate

Moroccan Lentil Stuffed Eggplant from Minimalist Baker

Harissa Roasted Cauliflower with Delicata Squash from Healthy Nibbles and Bits

Broccoli Cheddar Quinoa Gratin from Cookie and Kate

Butternut Squash Baked Mac and Cheese from Healthy Nibbles and Bits

Zaatar Grilled Chicken Bulgar Bowls from A Beautiful Plate

Easy Cinnamon Baked Apples from Minimalist Baker

Baked Pear, Chocolate, and Hazelnut Oatmeal from Top With Cinnamon

More Sabbath meal ideas:

The No Stress Guide to Sabbath Meal Prep

Slow Cooker Meals for the Sabbath

Biblically Clean Salads to Make Ahead

14 Make Ahead Meals for Shabbat

"Tomorrow is Shabbat to YHWH; bake what you'd like today, and cook what you'd like to cook; and what is leftover save for tomorrow." -Exodus 16:23

This verse has really inspired me to stop cooking on Shabbat. Even those of us who enjoy kitchen work need a break so that we can rest and enjoy YHWH's set apart day. This is a clear instruction that we should plan to have food leftover that we can eat on Shabbat. 

I've put together a few recipes that you can make ahead of time and then eat on the Sabbath. Many of them actually recommend making a day or two prior to let the flavors come together more. All of these recipes can be served cold or at room temperature. This isn't because I think it's wrong to reheat a casserole in the oven or run a slow cooker on Shabbat (though some believe it is). With the warmer days at this time of year the cool food is welcome, at least for me! Plus your kitchen doesn't need to be heated up.

These meals start with fresh veggies, beans, quick cooking grains like lentils and quinoa, and pasta so they come together quickly - perfect for hectic Fridays! You can save yourself even more time by doubling the recipe and enjoying it for Friday (or Thursday) dinner and then again on Shabbat. The recipes are each pretty well rounded in my opinion so they really don't need any accompaniments, but if one dish dinners aren't your thing you could serve any of these with bread, sliced cheese, salad greens with vinaigrette, and fresh or frozen fruit for dessert.

14 Make Ahead Meals for Shabbat:

Summer Green Bean Salad from Making Thyme for Health
This is great cold or at room temperature. In lieu of the chickpeas, I like to eat this with hummus.

Greek Lentil Salad from Cookie and Kate
Go ahead and dress the lentils and veggies the day before but leave out the spinach until just before serving so it doesn't wilt.

Farro Tabbouleh with Burrata and Hummus from Half Baked Harvest
If you don't have burrata this will still make for a filling meal served with pita bread and lots of fresh veggies.

Broccoli Tahini Pasta Salad from Love and Lemons
This salad stores really well for a few days in the fridge. Add a green at the last minute for even more veggies.

Quinoa Gado Gado Bowl from Minimalist Baker
You can steam the veggies in this or leave them raw. I would leave the quinoa, veggies, and dressing separate and then let everyone assemble their own combination on Shabbat.

Roasted Asparagus Wheat Berry Salad with Pesto from A Beautiful Plate
This recipe can be completely finished a few days before Shabbat. Just pull it out of the fridge when you're ready for lunch or dinner.

Sweet Potato Quinoa Salad from Well Plated
Sweet potatoes, black beans, and quinoa makes for a very filling salad. I like to set this out on the counter in the morning so it's at room temperature for lunch.

Everything But the Kitchen Sink Pasta Salad from Half Baked Harvest
Make this delicious pasta salad when your fridge is full of odds and ends that need used up. Tieghan says this salad is actually best made a few days ahead of time making it perfect for a Shabbat meal.

Chickpea Salad Stuffed Avocado from Making Thyme for Health
In lieu of stuffing avocados you could serve this salad in sandwich form.

Roasted Beet Lentil Salad from Oh My Veggies
I would combine all the ingredients the day before eating. Lentils and beets are a great combination. A little goat cheese in here would be good too.

California Chicken, Avocado, and Goat Cheese Salad from Half Baked Harvest
Prepare your ingredients ahead of time but don't combine them until you're ready to eat to keep your lettuce nice and crisp.

Black Bean Sweet Potato Salad with Jalapeno Lime Vinaigrette from Vanilla and Bean
Mix everything including that tasty vinaigrette the day before then add the spinach at meal time.

Summer Abundance Bowls from Half Baked Harvest
How fresh do these look? Use any type of grain to go with whatever fruit is in season, veggies, greens, a sprinkle of nuts or seeds, and cheese if you like.

Grilled Corn and Zucchini Salad with Sundried Tomato Vinaigrette from Minimalist Baker
This salad is one of my favorites! When I have fresh tomatoes I roast them and use instead of the sundried tomatoes and water. So good!

Want more recipes? 
Get familiar with what Scripture says about what we should eat.
Here are slow cooker meal ideas you can make for the Sabbath. Plus, more here.
Summer salads more your pace? Here are more great ones!
Here are casseroles to make ahead for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert.
And make your life easier with the No Stress Guide to Sabbath Day Meal Prep!

Easy On Hand Shabbat Meal

Observing the Sabbath day means preparing ahead of time for meals. Easier said than done, I know. Try as we might sometimes plans fall through and the week gets away from us. Sabbath can be fast approaching with no leftovers in the fridge and nothing in the oven. What do you do then? I present a simple meal.

You may already know this as a crudité platter or cheese tray or perhaps simply an appetizer board. It's also perfect picnic food. You may come to know this as the meal that saves the day. The only prep time is opening jars and slicing a few things, which is strictly optional. Essentially going through the cupboards and serving up what is on hand. Or if you're pressed for time after work on Friday, swinging into the grocery store and grabbing a few things that don't need to be sliced and sauted.

What you will need:

Pickles
Olives - I used kalamata and garlic stuffed
Veggies - fresh or pickled
Grape leafs
Almonds and other nuts
Crackers
Cheese
Dried fruit

Have you noticed a pattern here? All of these things have a very long shelf life, so you can keep them on hand thus always having a backup plan for a Shabbat meal. Since none of these things requires cooking you could use this as a Saturday lunch if leftovers weren't plentiful from the night before. This meal is also the best go-to for power outages and emergency type situations. 

Keeping the core of this meal on hand in the cupboard at all times is such a time saver and stress reliever. And you can supplement it with any fresh vegetables or leftovers you have. Apples and carrots can both stay good for months in the fridge so I usually have those too. Cheese also has a surprisingly long shelf-life when it is sealed in the package. Kosher certified goat cheese is easy to find and typically good for at least a couple of months. The same for cheddar which can also be kept frozen.

This tray includes:

Hummus (they sell canned hummus, but I haven't tried it.)

Goat cheese

Roasted red peppers

Crackers

Stuffed grape leaves (try a squeeze of lemon to liven up canned ones)

Carrot sticks

Cherry tomatoes

Pickles

Olives

Almonds

Apple slices

Dried cranberries

Dried figs

Fresh plumbs

Dried pineapple

Brazil nuts

This can obviously be adjusted to suit your tastes or whatever you have at the time. Since there's so many options everyone will like at least a few things.

Other ideas would be:

Sliced cheddar cheese

Canned artichokes

Tapenade

Pesto

Rustic bread or a baguette

Escabeche or pickled vegetables

Pita or pita chips

Brie cheese

Sliced pears

Broccoli or cauliflower florets

Baby carrots

Lunchbox peppers

Chutney

Salsa

Cashews

Nut butters

Snap peas

Grapes

Stock up on a few of these non perishables the next time you're grocery shopping so that you and your family can have a delicious Shabbat meal no matter how crazy the week gets.

More on this topic:
The No Stress Guide to Sabbath Meal Prep
Sabbath Friendly Oatmeal Recipe
Biblically Clean Make Ahead Salads