Some Japanese homemakers wake up early in the wee hours of the morning to pack beautiful bento lunch boxes for their spouses and children. The truth is, I can barely wake up at 6:30 am. So how do I make Japanese-style bento for my children? It’s about strategizing based on your lifestyle and routine. With better planning and practice, you’ll get into the groove and become a pro at bento-making. 💡I always make extra food for dinner and stock up in the freezer/fridge. In the morning, choose all the dishes you want to pack and reheat (or sometimes pack directly into the bento box). 🔖 Here, I’ve created a list of freezer-friendly dishes for you. They are family-friendly and kid-approved too. Bookmark this page for future reference!
Freezer-Friendly Main Dishes
⏲️ Under 30 Minutes
Beef
Beef and Green Pepper Stir Fry (Chinjao Rosu) Carrot Beef Rolls Gyudon Simmered Beef with Ginger (Shigureni) Teriyaki Steak Rolls
Chicken
Butter Shoyu Chicken Oyakodon (Chicken and Egg Rice Bowl) Mapo Eggplant (Mabo Nasu) Omurice (Omelette Rice) Soboro Don Teriyaki Chicken Meatballs
Pork
All-Purpose Miso Meat Sauce (Niku Miso) Baked Tonkatsu Chashu Fried Rice Easy Fried Rice Ginger Pork (Shogayaki) Ginger Pork Rolls with Eggplant Ham Katsu Kabocha Pork Stir Fry Katsudon (Pork Cutlet Rice Bowl) Miso Pork and Eggplant Stir Fry Miso Ginger Pork Okonomiyaki Teriyaki Pork Donburi Yakisoba Yaki Udon
Seafood
Eggplant Unagi Donburi Miso Butter Salmon Teriyaki Salmon Shrimp Fried Rice Unadon
Pasta
Ketchup Spaghetti (Napolitan) Japanese-style Tuna Mushroom Pasta Miso Butter Pasta with Tuna and Cabbage Japanese Pasta with Shrimp and Asparagus Japanese-style Pasta with Shrimp and Broccolini
Vegetarian
Japanese Fried Rice with Edamame, Tofu and Hijiki Seaweed (v) Kimchi Fried Rice (v) Niratama Donburi (v) Soy-Glazed Eggplant (v) Stir-Fry Miso Eggplant (v) Stir Fry Vegetables (v – please omit pork in the recipe) Teriyaki Tofu (v – please omit katsuobushi in the recipe)
⏲️ Under 60 Minutes
Beef
Baked Croquettes (Korokke) Menchi Katsu (Ground Meat Cutlet) Nikujaga (Japanese Meat and Potato Stew) Wafu Hambagu (Japanese Style Hamburger Steak)
Chicken
Baked Chicken Katsu Chicken Karaage Chicken Katsudon Chicken Cheese Katsu Chicken Katsu Chicken Teriyaki Garlic Miso Chicekn Wings Garlic Onion Chicken Gluten Free Baked Chicken Katsu Gluten Free Karaage Shio Koji Chicken Teriyaki Chicken Meatballs Yakitori Chicken Meatballs with Sweet and Sour Sauce
Pork
Teriyaki Pork Rolls Goya Champuru Gyoza Harumaki (Japanese Spring Rolls) Pressure Cooker Nikujaga
Seafood
Crispy Salmon Salmon Fried Rice
⏲️ Over 60 Minutes
Beef
Bulgogi (Korean Grilled Beef) Hambagu (Japanese Hamburger Steak) Instant Pot Short Ribs Japanese Croquettes (Korokke)
Chicken
Chikuzenni(Nishime) – Simmered Chicken and Vegetables Instant Pot Nishime Honey Soy Chicken Miso Chicken
Pork
Fried Lotus Root with Pork Mashed Potato Teriyaki Pork Rolls Pork Shumai (Steamed Pork Dumplings)
Seafood
Ebi Fry (Japanese Fried Shrimp) Japanese Salted Salmon (Shiojake/Shiozake) Miso Salmon Shio Koji Salmon
Vegetarian
Kabocha Croquettes (v – please omit bacon) Vegetable Gyoza (v)
Freezer-Friendly Side Dishes
⏲️ Under 30 Minutes
Bean Sprout Namul Broccoli Blanched with Sesame Oil 3-Ingredient Simple Tamagoyaki Tamagoyaki (Sweet Rolled Omelette) (pack frozen) Kinpira Gobo (v) (pack frozen) Kinpira Renkon (v) (can pack frozen) Chikuwa Isobeage Carrot Namul (v) (meal prepped) Green Bean Gomaae (v) (meal prepped) Green Bell Pepper with Okaka (meal prepped) Korean Pancake Namasu (Daikon and Carrot Salad) Pounded Burdock Root with Sesame Sauce (Tataki Gobo) Simmered Bamboo Shoots Simmered Sweet Potatoes with Lemon Spinach Namul and Bean Sprout Namul Spinach with Sesame Miso Sauce (Gomaae)
⏲️ Under 60 Minutes
Gluten Free Korean Pancake Hijiki Salad Simmered Kiriboshi Daikon (v) Simmered Taro (v) Steamed White Rice (v)
⏲️ Over 60 Minutes
Instant Pot Kuromame Japanese Turnips with Soboro Ankake Sauce Okra Ohitashi (Japanese Okra Salad) Ramen Egg (Ajitsuke Tamago) Simmered Fried Tofu and Greens Simmered Kabocha Spinach Ohitashi
Freezer-Friendly “Bento Fillers”
⏲️ Under 15 Minutes
Blanched broccoli Blanched asparagus Blanched green beans Blanched okra Blanched corn Chikuwa Okra (can’t freeze Chikuwa Cucumber) Ham Flower Octopus Sausage Quick and Easy Tamagoyaki
When you plan your weekly menu, include the freezer-friendly dishes from the list. Make sure you cook a big batch, portion, and freeze. Wish to learn more about Japanese cooking? Sign up for our free newsletter to receive cooking tips & recipe updates! And stay in touch with me on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram.
