Freezer Meals

cmac827

Anyone plan on making and stocking up on freezer meals before the baby comes? I've already started and would love some new recipes. Please share your favorite freezer recipe. This is what I'm making for tonight:

Cheesy Tortellini with Ground Beef

Yields: 4 servings

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound lean ground beef

• 1 small yellow onion, diced (one cup)

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes

• 1 (10-ounce) can diced tomatoes and green chiles, undrained

• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

• 1 (19-ounce) package frozen cheese tortellini

• 4 oz mozzarella cheese, shredded (one cup) *not needed until day of cooking

• 2 oz cheddar cheese, shredded (1/2 cup) *not needed until day of cooking

  MATERIALS

• 1 gallon-sized plastic freezer bag

PREP

1. Label your freezer bag with the name of the meal, cooking instructions, and “use by date”. (For standard fridge/freezer combos, this will be three months from the prep day.)

2. Add all ingredients except tortellini and cheeses.

3. Remove as much air from bag as possible, seal, and lay flat in your freezer.

COOK 

1.The night before cooking, move to refrigerator to thaw.

2.In morning, add to crockpot and cook on “low” setting for 8 hours or until beef is cooked through.

3. Break apart beef and stir.

1. Add tortellini and top with cheeses. Cover and cook on low heat for an additional 15-30 minutes, or until pasta is tender.

Note: you can also freeze shredded cheese in a separate freezer bag. Thaw it overnight and store in the refrigerator until it’s time to add it to the crockpot.

Trinirican3ondway

I would love to do this. I'm not really a meal planner but I'll be checking this thread for ideas.

likeabel

Yes! When I was pregnant with DS I kept meaning to make some freezer meals but by the time I really got around to wanting to plan it I barely had energy to make dinner, let alone plan for the future. I also figured we'd have a bunch of dinners brought to us (we both have big local families). I thought wrong. We had dinner brought to us twice. 

At any rate, I started doing some freezer prep last week! This way I can make 1-2 things a week and will hopefully have a months worth of food ready to go in June. 

My plan is to make crock pot meals, chili, etc. for dinner and then freeze half of it for a later dinner or make a lasagna or crock pot "dump" dish. 

I'm not going to post any recipes here but I have a Freezer Meal board on Pinterest and would love to follow anyone else's freezer meal board! 

https://pin.it/-qiYvo6

MamaNicoleof3

I'm totally planning on this! I have a pinboard ready and am in the process of cleaning out our freezer to make room. I'm hoping to make all-out meals, grilled pizza dough, marinated chicken breasts, taco meat and some other random things we eat a lot of. 

CourtJack

I totally want to do this and so while I have no recipes to share, I would love to hear all yours. Will look at your Pinterest boards too! can you guys share your board URLs here?

alitria

My standards I keep on rotation through my freezer are:
Lasagna
Enchiladas (rolled or stacked, they're both good)
Shredded chicken and pork shoulder that I can turn into different fillings
Spaghetti sauce 
Broccoli, chicken, cheese rice (there are a bunch of recipes on Pintrest)
Green chile pork I freeze in a bag and then dump in my crock pot
Minestrone or other soups minus the noodles, then I just add the noodles when I reheat
Beef stew
If I buy a big pack of chicken breasts when they're on sale, I'll toss them in ziplocks with different marinades
I tend to do chile sauce for any sort of Mexican dishes, Yoshida or teriyaki with onion, green bell pepper and a can of pineapple I can dump in the crockpot and then put over rice and some sort of lemon pepper type marinade.  Then we can pull stuff out to grill or crockpot.

My husband has many fine qualities but cooking is NOT one of them and after about the first year we were married I decided it was best he not cook anything other than eggs or frozen pizza.  That means I try to keep stuff around in case I'm late or sick so we don't have take out every time and that's going to be even more important with our daycare bill about to go up $1,000 a month.  

MamaNicoleof3

Here's my pinboard- I haven't looked through it in awhile, though: https://www.pinterest.com/coliolio/freezer-cooking/

CourtJack

MamaNicoleof3 said:

Here's my pinboard- I haven't looked through it in awhile, though: https://www.pinterest.com/coliolio/freezer-cooking/

Off to Pinterest-stalk you now. Muuuuuuahhhhhh

cmac827

I'm stalking you ladies. 
https://www.pinterest.com/clmcalpine/freezer-meals/

Tawny87

We make cheeseburger pie a lot at our house. What I use is 2 frozen pie crust circles,1 lb ground beef, pickles, onion and 2 cups cheese.

Step 1: cook meat with desired amount of chopped onion in the meat, drain grease and put in a bowl. 

Step 2: add desired amount of chopped pickle to meat as well as one cup of shredded cheese and mix up.

Step 3: divide mixture between the 2 pie crusts. If baking that day put the remaining cup of cheese on top of pies.
If freezing I would add cheese before you bake. 

I find 350 degrees for about 30 min works well.

DeePaddy24

I'm so glad you started this thread! H is so picky, so I've been struggling to find freezer meal ideas that sound good, that he'll actually eat, & that aren't just lasagna (& he's not even a fan of that, tbh). The tortellini recipe sounds like a hit! 

I'm excited to check back here as I get closer to June...by then I'll hopefully have some to share, too!

Sydvicious08

White chicken enchiladas on my food board are yummy and freeze well! So do the stuffed broccoli shells (freeze filling only)

https://pinterest.com/sdnybrk

Trinirican3ondway

@sdnybrk I saw some yummy recipes but I didn't see the white chicken enchiladas on your board? is it under Yummy Food or the Paleo board?

I am now following all the freezer boards you ladies posted! Thank you!

VikingGirl12

I kind of did with DS. About a month before his due date I just made double of whatever we were having that night and froze it in ziplock bags. It was super handy and I didn't have to plan anything!

lm45678

Definitely want to do this!!

Sydvicious08

Yummy food...I actually think it was removed. Here it is. I use bigger tortillas and usually the 1/3 c. and if I freeze, just make the sauce when you are ready to cook them. Oh and season it however you want. I use a little bit of Italian and garlic, but they are good with just salt and pepper mixed in the chicken.

MamaNicoleof3

sdnybrk said:

Yummy food...I actually think it was removed. Here it is. I use bigger tortillas and usually the 1/3 c. and if I freeze, just make the sauce when you are ready to cook them. Oh and season it however you want. I use a little bit of Italian and garlic, but they are good with just salt and pepper mixed in the chicken.

I make sour cream enchiladas all the time- definitely a fave at our house!!

candicek15

Oooohhh I have a bunch of favourites! I'll post tomorrow and then continue to stalk the rest of your pins!

alohasoprano

I wish I had something to contribute, but I'll be following! I need to get started on some freezer meals and I'll need ideas. Great thread! 

splsmama2016

I make a GIANT pot of meat sauce, divide it and freeze it for when we get a hankering (in other words, once a week). 
1lb each ground beef and country style pork (or whatever pork you like)
1 medium yellow onion, SMALL dice
3-5 cloves of garlic, pressed
1 can plain old tomato sauce
2 cans petite diced tomatoes with garlic & olive oil (Del Monte I think?)

Brown meat, garlic and onions, drain. Return to pot and add sauce and tomatoes. Bring to a simmer, season with salt & pepper. Let simmer for 30-45 minutes. If using right away, serve over whatever you want. If freezing, transfer to freezer containers OR let cool to room temp within 3 hours (food safety!!) by stirring often, then portion into ziplock freezer bags.

Edit to add: this is for one single batch, about 6-8 servings of sauce, depending on your size bowl of pasta or how much protein you want. DH would eat this by itself if he could. 

candicek15

Madras Lentils

 

Ingredients:

2 cups of cooked lentils

2 cups of canned tomato sauce/puree

1/2 a large onion, finely diced

1 large potato, peeled and cubed [russet or yukon gold]

1/2 cup of unsweetened coconut milk

3 tbsp butter

3 cloves of garlic, minced

1/2 tsp kosher salt

1/2 tsp dried oregano

1/2 tsp cumin

freshly ground black pepper, to taste

red pepper flakes, to taste

 

Instructions:

1.     Dump everything into your crockpot. Set to HIGH for 3.5-4 hours. Once time is up, taste and add any additional seasonings your tastebuds prefer. I added an extra pinch of red pepper flakes and was good to go! In a rush? This dish can be whipped up on the stove-top in under 30 minutes!

2.     Much like my crockpot black beans, I cook up a big batch of lentils, portion them into 1-2 cup servings and then pop them in the freezer to enjoy all month long! They're ridiculously simple to cook. The instructions on the bag should tell you sort and rinse the lentils while you bring 6 cups of water to a boil in a pot. Once the water is boiling, add the lentils and reduce to simmer, in about 15-25 minutes you'll have a pot of lentils to play with! Drain the water from the pot, portion them out and make this recipe! Then make lentil-veggie tacos with the rest! 

3.     Garnish with a sprinkle of parsley and serve over a bed of fluffy rice, quinoa, or alongside a big green salad! This dish will also pair marvelously with lamb/beef/poultry if you're into that sort of thing.

candicek15

Slow Cooker TexMex Chicken

 

Ingredients:

1 lb. (450 g) boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch-wide strips

2 Tbsp. (1/2 of 35-g pkg.) taco seasoning mix

2 Tbsp. flour

1 each green and red pepper, cut into 1-inch-wide strips

1-1/2 cups chunky salsa

1 cup frozen corn

1 cup Kraft Tex Mex Shredded Cheese

 

Instructions:

1.     Toss chicken with seasoning and flour in slow cooker. Stir in all remaining ingredients except cheese; cover with lid.

2.     Cook on LOW 6 to 8 hours (or on HIGH 3 to 4 hours).

3.     Stir before serving. Top with cheese.

4.     Serve spooned over hot cooked rice. Garnish with sliced green onions and chopped fresh cilantro.

candicek15

Teriyaki Chicken

 

Ingredients:

4 pieces boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or chicken thighs)

1/2 of a red pepper, chopped

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup water

2 tsp ground ginger

2 tsp minced garlic

 

Instructions:

1.     Put all ingredients into freezer bag.

2.     Thaw. Bake at 350ºF covered 20-30 minutes. Uncover and bake 20-30 minutes longer, or until juices run clear.

3.     Serve with rice and vegetables.

candicek15

Crockpot Applesauce BBQ Chicken

 

Ingredients:

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts

1/2 tsp ground pepper

2/3 cup chunky applesauce

2/3 cup BBQ sauce (I used Brown Sugar/Hickory)

2 tbsp brown sugar

1 tsp chili powder

 

Instructions:

1.     Spray Crockpot with non-stick cooking spray, or use a Crockpot liner for easy cleanup.

2.     Place chicken breasts on bottom.

3.     Mix all remaining ingredients together, and pour over chicken.

4.     Cook 6-8 hours on low setting. Serves 4.

Goocran17

I definitely want to do this, but we'll see if it actually happens. Here's my go to freezer meal that's super easy and so tasty!!

Chicken Ranch Tacos

4-5 frozen chicken breasts
1 can chicken broth
1 pkg taco seasoning
1 pkg ranch seasoning

You can freeze it all in a Ziploc and thaw when ready, or just throw in the ingredients as is. Cook in a crock pot on low 4-6 hours. Shred the chicken, and let it sit another 20-30 minutes. Stick it in a taco shell, tortilla, in a salad, enchilada, burrito, etc. The possibilities are endless and it tastes so good!

amangels2

@Goocran17 question about this....do you put the chicken in the crock pot uncooked?  And it cooks through?  I have a crock pot, but I don't use it very often. 

Goocran17

amangels2 said:

@Goocran17 question about this....do you put the chicken in the crock pot uncooked?  And it cooks through?  I have a crock pot, but I don't use it very often. 

Yes, you can put it in either frozen or thawed, it cooks really fast either way. Because of the broth, it stays very moist and it makes its own sauce.

MamaNicoleof3

I just went on Pinterest and saw I had a bunch of new ladies following my freezer cooking board. I was like, "hey! Bumpies! Cool!"

^ a testimony to how sad my day has been. 

Sydvicious08

MamaNicoleof3 said:

I just went on Pinterest and saw I had a bunch of new ladies following my freezer cooking board. I was like, "hey! Bumpies! Cool!"

^ a testimony to how sad my day has been. 

I'm actually contemplating making a new board for recipes I've actually used because of new follows lol. Im feeling organization pressure haha

amangels2

I love this idea...especially the ones that can go right in the crockpot.  I really don't like cooking so anything that makes it easier, I'm all for it.  I can't wait to try one!

annaf2011

I'm bringing this thread back because I tried out a couple of the recipes I found on your Pinterest boards over the weekend and I thought I'd share.  I like to cook, but I've never done much planning ahead or freezing, and these two recipes were suuuuuper easy to plan and prepare.

Bean, cheese, and chicken burritos:
https://moneysavingmom.com/2012/09/lunchbox-freezer-cooking-bean-cheese-burritos-day-1.html#_a5y_p=730410

The recipe is for bean and cheese burritos, and I added some shredded chicken that I had cooked in the crockpot the day before.

Baked ravioli:
https://tastykitchen.com/recipes/main-courses/baked-ravioli/

This took me all of about 10 minutes to put together.  If you buy the 8x8 foil pans, you can get two layers of ravioli and it fits perfectly in a gallon-sized ziploc bag for storing in the freezer.  Just put everything in the pan and then freeze instead of cooking immediately.

newbabymakes4

I'm going to totally check out your pins, I need some inspiration.  I bought a new freezer, and it's empty and waiting for me to cook something... anything...

BlueJuice

I don't have a ton of freezer space, and most of what there is is filled up with frozen chicken parts.  I do like to make meatballs and freeze them in individual packages - they're quick to heat up with sauce and pasta for a really filling dinner. I make Italian-style ones to eat with pasta and Indian-style ones to eat with naan and plain yogurt.

meggyme

I'm working on emptying out my freezer to make room for freezer meals right now. My friends are really good about organizing meal trains, so I want to make sure I have a place to put them. I may also stock up on Costco lasagnas and other easy to cook dinners.

RMLandy

We eat a lot of fresh veggies (which makes freezer meal planning difficult) but I found these recipes for different types of chicken and can just roast some veggies or make a salad to go with it! 

https://newleafwellness.biz/2016/01/24/10-easy-and-healthy-crockpot-chicken-freezer-recipes/

bstretch23

I love all these recipes. I'm also trying to do some prep ahead of time. Majority of our family lives a couple hours away so all the meal planning will likely be up to ourselves. The problem is I have a tiny freezer, so we are thinking about investing in a small chest freezer to keep things in (and helpful to freeze breastmilk). Here are some of the recipes I found:

https://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2016/03/20-minute-tuscan-pasta-freezer-meal.html#_a5y_p=5124450

https://happymoneysaver.com/breakfast-bowl-recipe/

https://www.bombshellbling.com/meaty-spaghetti-sauce-recipe/

https://moneysavingmom.com/2012/05/4-weeks-to-fill-your-freezer-barbecued-meatballs-day-11.html

violetmarie61516

@sdnybrk1  I love your nails!

cmac827

@bstretch23 I bought a small chest freezer for around $150. Best investment ever.

LDSJM123

Lurking from July.

I was on the hunt for a freezer plan that utilized the grill, felt fresh, and had lots of veggies. I came across "I am that lady" blog and she has an entire grill friendly, freezer meal plan. I bought the plan for $2.99 and I am so impressed by it. Step by step instructions, grocery lists, recipe cards, printables etc.  I'll be able to stock the freezer with 20 dinners with sides (10 meals doubled) for under $150 by shopping at Aldi. I love that when our moms are visiting, I can have all the meals in a binder and they can grab the bags from the freezer and know exactly what to do with them. 

Here are the dishes:

• Greek Marinaded Chicken with Greek Salad
• Grilled Tilapia with Lemon with Red Potato Salad
• Pineapple Turkey Burgers with Grilled Corn on the Cob
• Marinated Chicken Legs and Thighs with Caprisi Salad
• Grilled Chicken Fajitas with Summer Bean Salad
• Honey Mustard Grilled Pork Loin with Grilled Sweet Potatoes
• Teriyaki Steak with Grilled Pineapple with Grilled Green Beans
• Marinated Beef Kabobs with Grilled Red Potatoes
• Grilled Salmon with Grilled Summer Squash
• Marinated London Broil with Grilled Potatoes with Peppers/Onion

annaf2011

In case anyone is looking for some healthy snack type foods for the freezer, I made a double batch of these granola bars over the weekend to have on hand. They only require 5 ingredients. I ate one of them, and they are quite good (not too sweet) and pretty filling.

https://minimalistbaker.com/healthy-5-ingredient-granola-bars/

jschlaud

You guys are impressive.  I have given no thought to freezing meals beforehand.  I didn't do it with my first either, but it would have been nice.  Problem is that our freezer isn't very big and I know I'll need room for breastmilk.  I am a big fan of simple crockpot meals though, especially if there's leftovers to use for other recipes for during the week.