Freezer Meals

CatLadyTX · September 2014

I found out the other day that DH is going to evening shift on 1/1. I know I won't have the energy to cook dinner for me and DS every night, so I'm thinking about starting early on making freezer meals. I had already planned on having my mom help me make some freezer meals when she comes out for DD's birth, because I remember struggling to find time or motivation to cook after DS was born, but haven't really thought about a menu. Who is a freezer meal cook? What are your favorite recipes? Bonus CatLadyTX interwebz points for links and easy prep.

CatLadyTX · September 2014

Tonight I'm trying Balsamic Roasted Chicken. The recipe calls for thighs, but I'm using breasts. https://www.food.com/recipe/balsamic-roasted-chicken-thighs-429085

jennypolkadots · September 2014

We don't currently because we have plenty of time, but I have already asked my MIL, SIL, and GMIL over for a girls day of cooking freezer meals when I get about 8-9 months along. It is more tricky with us though because DH is lactose intolerant and gluten sensitive. We also don't eat red meat and make everything from scratch - no boxed mashed potatoes or canned tomatoes. Typical casserole dishes are mostly out because of bread/cheese or just being low in nutrition. A few things I plan to make in advance:

Turkey spaghetti sauce

Chili

Chicken noodle soup

Lots of grilled chicken all different ways - chunks, strips, and full breasts

Mashed potatoes

Glazed carrots

We shop mostly at Costco so just keeping organic frozen veggies on hand and pre-packaged freezer meals I think will help a lot. We also love this microwavable whole grain rice from Seeds of Change that only takes 90 seconds. I am also going to go buy a new pack of microwave safe Tupperware for all this stuff. I want it to be as easy as possible for us because I know it will be a big transition.

jennypolkadots · September 2014

Oh and if you don't have a deep freezer I really recommend it. We bought a really nice one at Costco last year for about $189 I think and I have no idea how we ever did without it.

mishka29 · September 2014

I did a cooking day before DD was born, in fact, all that hustle and bustle may have started labour...who knows!

We made:
Shep pie
Chilli
Baked pastas
Enchiladas
Butter chicken - just the sauce with the chicken cooked and included

[Deleted User] · September 2014

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hden15 · September 2014

I just gave this my first test run the other night. I have about eight meals out of several hours of cooking but again I'm new at this. I remembered DS being a newborn and I was in tears because cooking had suddenly become complicated.

AnotherSun · September 2014

Dh and I both work nights so freezer meals and the crockpot are a life saver. Check out Pinterest, they have a ton of sites, every eating preference possible. I don't have a deep freeze, but we make it work in a regular freezer

MrsRoy07 · September 2014

I heart freezer meals in a BIG way, pregnant or not.

Here are some of my faves from Pintrest:

https://www.ringaroundtherosies.net/2012/08/freezer-cooking-part-5.html

https://www.ringaroundtherosies.net/2012/04/more-freezer-cooking-meals-part-3.html

That blog has a TON of freezer meal recipes, those two links just contain my favorites.

https://pregnant.livejournal.com/17071127.html

Also, if you know/can find a Pampered Chef or Tastefully Simple rep in your area, both of those companies do workshops that are SUPER fun. I did a Pampered Chef one with a few girlfriends and in two hours I had like 15 meals done, and it was all at the reps house so I didn't have to clean up!

CatLadyTX · September 2014

@AnotherSun‌ I have a board for freezer meals

@jennypolkadots‌ I don't know what I'd do without my deep freezer!

maryxc1 · September 2014

My go to options include:
Spaghetti sauce
Lasagna
Chili
Pasta e fagioli (soup)
Vegetable soup
Quinoa bake
Meatloaf

I am definitely looking for more freezer options, though.

maryxc1 · September 2014

jennypolkadots said:
We don't currently because we have plenty of time, but I have already asked my MIL, SIL, and GMIL over for a girls day of cooking freezer meals when I get about 8-9 months along. It is more tricky with us though because DH is lactose intolerant and gluten sensitive. We also don't eat red meat and make everything from scratch - no boxed mashed potatoes or canned tomatoes. Typical casserole dishes are mostly out because of bread/cheese or just being low in nutrition. A few things I plan to make in advance:

Turkey spaghetti sauce
Chili
Chicken noodle soup
Lots of grilled chicken all different ways - chunks, strips, and full breasts
Mashed potatoes
Glazed carrots

We shop mostly at Costco so just keeping organic frozen veggies on hand and pre-packaged freezer meals I think will help a lot. We also love this microwavable whole grain rice from Seeds of Change that only takes 90 seconds. I am also going to go buy a new pack of microwave safe Tupperware for all this stuff. I want it to be as easy as possible for us because I know it will be a big transition.

Can you really freeze homemade mashed potatoes? I have never tried it, but when I freeze my vegetable soup, if I use potatoes they come out with a funny texture. I LOVE mashed potatoes and would be thrilled if they freeze well.

[Deleted User] · September 2014

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krispy83 · September 2014

I'm planning a couple of major freezer cooking days after Christmas (or really once my freezer is cleared out after Thanksgiving.. a 25lb turkey will take up a lot of space!). So far, this is what I'm planning on making:

Chicken and Artichoke Penne (https://onceamonthmeals.com/baked-chicken-and-artichoke-penne-with-sundried-tomatoes/)

Crock Pot Salsa Verde Chicken (https://www.skinnytaste.com/2013/04/easiest-crock-pot-salsa-verde-chicken.html)

Crock Pot Fiesta Chicken Soup (https://whoneedsacape.com/2013/09/slow-cooker-fiesta-chicken-soup/)

Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole (https://moneysavingmom.com/2012/05/4-weeks-to-fill-your-freezer-chicken-broccoli-rice-casserole-day-14.html#_a5y_p=710632)

Tortellini Spinach Casserole (https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/tortellini-spinach-casserole)

Chili

Tomato Sauce

Plus I will cook, shred and freeze a bunch of chicken to have on hand that we can pull out to use for whatever.

I've found that a lot of crock pot recipes freeze really well so I can prepare in advance and put everything in a freezer bag, then just pull the bag out, dump everything in and turn it on.

firelizard83 · September 2014

I found a magazine (taste of home) dedicated to freezer meals at the check out stand, so I am experimenting a lot right now

brij2006 · September 2014

I have done the ones from Tastefully Simple quite a few times, and plan to do them again before baby is born. I just split the meals in half since they're mostly for 4-6 adults, and it's just the 2 of us.

This is the one they have for this season, but we have yet to find a meal we don't like. I also really like that it gives you a very detailed grocery list and the sticky labels to put on your freezer bags.

https://www.tastefullysimple.com/shop-our-products/tastefully-simple-tonight-collection-fall-winter-2014-100829

*Disclaimer: I do sell Tastefully Simple myself, but this does not link you to my website at all and I do not benefit from giving you this information. It is just purely out of the laziness in me that I find these easier than searching Pinterest for meals that end up disgusting when you get around to making them.

AshleySparkle720 · September 2014

I go on pinterest and look up about 10 crock pot freezer meals at a time

then I plan out my shopping trips with as many coupons as humanly possible. Typically with meat included for 10 meals feeding 4-6 people I spend about $60. It takes me about a hour to prep all of the meals in freezer bags. I always write how many hours at what level on the bag so DH or I could easily throw it in the crock pot. Also, the liners are 100% worth buying!

mali3 · September 2014

I am new to making freezer meals, but i found a site for healthy ones! I have made two so far and they are delicious! (Chicken and Black Bean enchiladas and good ol lasagna)

https://thrivinghomeblog.com/healthy-recipes-index/healthy-freezer-meals-recipes/

HerHighness · September 2014

I do this frequently even when not pregnant. I had 6 weeks worth of stuff when dd was born. It was awesome!

Which reminds me... I was gonna make a group for it.

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