Preparing food and meal planning takes a lot of work. It takes even more work when you are trying to meal prep for yourself and your little ones. Who really wants to put in a ton of work just to have your kids not like the meal?
Even as a professional chef, it’s sometimes hard for me to find the energy at the end of the day to prepare my family a wholesome meal.
While I love to cook, sometimes I just don’t have the time. I’ve found that designating a fair amount of time a few days a month to prepare freezer meals really helps. Knowing that I have an inventory of healthy freezer meals stored away can make my day a lot easier.
Freezer meal prep basics
The preparation of these freezer meals does take a few things:
- Time
- Planning
- Extra kitchen tools and accessories (A crockpot or Instant Pot is a necessity! A 4-5 quart crockpot is a great size for the recipes below.)
Find the time
Set aside an afternoon for yourself and start with a clean kitchen. Don’t try to do too many meals at once. It will be overwhelming. This time is time well spent, believe me!
Pick the freezer meals you want to make and shop for ingredients
I like to start by selecting s few meals that I want to prepare for the freezer. I make a shopping list and gather all of my ingredients.
Most of these recipes are 10 ingredients or less. There is nothing more intimidating (or annoying) when you find a recipe you like and it has a long list of hard to find ingredients. These recipes have ingredients that should be easy to find, if you don’t already have them.
The cooking begins!
Pull out everything that you need first. It will make things move quickly. Once all of the bags are prepared and completed, clean up the kitchen and relax!
You should feel good knowing you have a few meals under your belt already and you’ve freed up some of your evening time in the future.
Once you get more comfortable, you can start doing multiple meals at a time. If you are lucky enough to have an extra freezer, you could do multiple batches of these recipes to really stock up.
A Few Tips When Preparing Easy Freezer Crockpot Meals
- Buy heavy duty freezer bags. The cheaper ones might rip or break. You can even buy reusable freezer bags like these.
- It’s very important to label and date all of your food before it goes into the freezer. Most meals will last between 3-6 months in the freezer. Using a permanent marker works great on disposable plastic bags. Sticker food labels are also a great option.
- Freezer bag holders are a great accessory to have while preparing frozen crockpot meals. While these little gadgets are not necessary, they do make things a lot easier.
- Keep an inventory of the freezer meals you have stored. A simple list on a magnetic dry erase sheet on the outside of the freezer is all that you need to keep track and make freezer meal planning a breeze. It’s easy for things to get lost in the freezer. If you keep a running list, it will help you plan for the week.
- Tape a copy of the cooking instructions to the outside of the freezer bag. If your labels are big enough, you can also write the instructions on that.
Recipes
Freezer dump meals
These meals can be prepped ahead, no cooking required (yet!), and then frozen until you are ready to put in your slow cooker. You just dump all the ingredients into a bag and freeze.
White chicken chili
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breast boneless, skinless
- 2 small cans green chiles (4 oz.) or 1 jar salsa verde (16 oz.)
- 2 cans white beans (Great Northern, cannellini, or navy beans)
- 6 cups chicken stock
- 2 tsps ground cumin
- salt
- pepper
Instructions
Preparation
- Combine all ingredients except the salt and pepper in a large plastic bag.
- Label and date the bag and put in the freezer.
Cooking
- When you’re ready to cook the meal, let thaw in the refrigerator overnight or in cool water in the sink.
- Place all ingredients in the crockpot except the salt and pepper.
- Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
- When the cooking is done, shred the chicken with two forks.
- Stir everything together and season with salt and pepper.
Vegan slow cooker chili
Ingredients
- 1 lb dried beans of choice black beans, pinto beans, Great Northern beans, kidney beans
- 1 yellow onion diced
- 1 medium bell pepper diced
- 2-3 cloves garlic minced
- 6 cups low-sodium vegetable stock
- 1 Tbsp chili powder
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
Preparation
- Combine all ingredients except the beans and broth into a freezer bag. Label and date the bag and place in the freezer.
Cooking
- Combine the dried beans, vegetable stock, and bag of frozen ingredients into a crockpot.
- Cook on low setting for 8-10 hours.
Notes
- avocado
- Greek yogurt
- sour cream
- fresh cilantro
Immune boosting chicken noodle soup
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breast boneless, skinless, cut into small pieces
- 1-2 cloves garlic minced
- 3 carrots peeled and diced
- 2 celery ribs diced
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp turmeric optional – this will increase the immune system boosting properties of this soup during cold and flu season!
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- ¼ low sodium chicken or vegetable broth
- 2 cups wide egg noodles or small noodle of choice
- 1 lemon juiced
Instructions
Preparation
- Combine all ingredients into a large, freezer-friendly bag except the broth, noodles, and lemon juice.
- Label and date the bag and place in the freezer.
Cooking
- Thaw the ingredients from the freezer bag either overnight in the fridge or in the sink in cool water.
- Pour the contents of the freezer bag into your crockpot.
- Add the broth and cook on low for 6-8 hours.
- Add the noodles during the final 15 minutes. Once the noodles are cooked, add the lemon juice. The soup is now ready to serve!
Freezer friendly crockpot pulled pork
Ingredients
- 6-7 lbs pork shoulder or (about 6-7 pounds bone-in, 5-6 boneless) or pork butt
- 2 yellow onions peeled and sliced, thin
- 3-4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 Tbsps brown sugar honey or maple syrup
- 2 Tbsps salt
- 1 tsp black pepper ground
- ½ cup chicken stock vegetable stock or water
Instructions
Preparation
- Season the pork with the salt, pepper, and brown sugar.
- Place the pork in a large freezer bag. If the pork is too big, it’s ok to cut it up into 2-3 smaller pieces.
- Pour the remaining ingredients into the bag.
- Label and date the bag and place in the freezer until ready to use.
Cooking
- Place all ingredients in the slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 8-10 hours.
- Shred the pork with 2 forks.
- Serve and enjoy! Reserve the cooking liquid for storing any leftovers. It will help keep the pork moist.
Notes
- Drizzle with BBQ sauce for pulled BBQ pork
- Make pulled pork tacos with tortillas, diced tomatoes, and salsa
- Sprinkle with Cajun seasoning and serve with rice and roasted vegetables (fried plantains are also very tasty!)
Kid friendly crockpot chicken curry
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken breast boneless, skinless, cut into small pieces
- 6 oz can tomato paste can
- 1-2 gloves garlic minced
- 1 small onion diced
- 2 cups frozen peas
- 1 can tomato sauce or 15 oz
- 1-2 Tbsps curry powder I recommend starting with less with little kids who haven’t tried curry yet
- 3 Tbsps honey agave or maple syrup
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 can coconut milk or 13.5 oz
Instructions
Preparation
- Combine all ingredients except the coconut milk into a large freezer-friendly bag.
- Label, date, and place in the freezer until you’re ready to cook.
Cooking
- Thaw the bag overnight in the fridge or in the sink with cool water prior to cooking.
- Place all ingredients into your crockpot.
- Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
- Add the coconut milk at the end of the cooking time.
- Serve with rice or your favorite dipping bread.
Crockpot honey glazed chicken
Ingredients
- 2 lbs 2 pounds chicken breasts skinless, boneless, cut into small pieces
- ¾ cup Dijon mustard
- ½ cup honey or maple syrup
- 2 Tbsps red wine vinegar
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
Instructions
Preparation
- Combine all ingredients into a large freezer-friendly bag.
- Label, date, and place in the freezer until you’re ready to cook.
Cooking
- Thaw the bag overnight in the fridge or in the sink with cool water prior to cooking.
- Place all ingredients into your crockpot.
- Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
- Serve with rice and steamed vegetables.
Freezer friendly orange cranberry chicken
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken breasts boneless, skinless
- ½ cup orange juice or juice from 2 fresh oranges
- ¼ cup cranberry sauce or 100% cranberry juice (not juice cocktail). You can also substitute apricot jam or nectar.
- 2 Tbsps butter
- 1 Tbsp honey
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce or balsamic vinegar
- pinch cinnamon
- ⅓ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
Preparation
- Combine all ingredients into a large freezer-friendly bag.
- Zest some of the peel into the bag too for extra flavor if you are using a fresh orange,.
- Label, date, and place in the freezer until you’re ready to cook.
Cooking
- Thaw the bag overnight in the fridge or in the sink with cool water prior to cooking.
- Place all ingredients into your crockpot.
- Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
- Shred the chicken after it’s done cooking with two forks.
Notes
- Serve with rice pilaf
- Serve as a topping for mashed potatoes
- Use as a salad topping or sandwich filling
Beef and peppers freezer meal
Ingredients
- 2 lbs beef round steak sliced thin against the grain
- 1 can crushed tomatoes 14.5 oz
- 1 green bell pepper sliced
- 1 yellow bell pepper sliced
- 1 small onion sliced
- ¼ cup soy sauce sugar or agave
- 1 tsp honey
- 1-2 cloves garlic minced
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
Preparation
- Combine all ingredients into a large freezer-friendly bag.
- Label, date, and place in the freezer until you’re ready to cook.
Cooking
- Thaw the bag overnight in the fridge or in the sink with cool water prior to cooking.
- Place all ingredients into your crockpot.
- Cook on low for 5-6 hours.
- Serve plain or on top of rice.
Beef ragu crockpot dump meal
Ingredients
- 1 lb beef chuck
- 1 large can diced tomatoes 28 oz
- 1 can tomato paste 6 0z
- 2 carrots peeled and diced
- 2 celery ribs diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 small onion diced
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- ½ tsp dried basil
- ½ tsp dried parsley
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- 1 cup beef stock or low sodium vegetable stock
- pasta of choice for serving
Instructions
Preparation
- Cut beef chuck into smaller pieces, if it's too large, to fit into the bag.
- Place all ingredients, except the stock and pasta, into a large freezer bag.
- Mix everything together in the bag so that the seasonings are evenly distributed.
- Label, date, and store in the freezer until you are ready to cook.
Cooking
- Thaw the bag overnight in the fridge or in the sink with cool water prior to cooking.
- Place all ingredients into your crockpot. Add the beef stock.
- Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
- Cook the pasta separately about 15 minutes prior to dinnertime.
- Serve the beef ragu on top of the pasta.
- Garnish with Parmesan cheese, if desired.
Notes
Easy Italian meatball freezer meal
Ingredients
- 1 bag 1 bag frozen Italian meatballs (beef or turkey)
- 1 large can crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce, 28 ounces
- 1 small onion diced
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- 1 cup stock beef or vegetable
Instructions
Preparation
- Combine all ingredients into a large freezer-friendly bag.
- Label, date, and place in the freezer until you’re ready to cook.
Cooking
- Thaw the bag overnight in the fridge or in the sink with cool water prior to cooking.
- Place all ingredients into your crockpot.
- Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
Notes
- Serve meatballs over pasta or polenta
- Make meatball subs
- Serve with veggie noodles
Recipes to make first, freeze later
These are a few reverse freezer meals. Instead of prepping and cooking, you will cook and then store the meals in small, easy to grab portions.
Crockpot overnight apple oats
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsps butter chopped into small pieces
- 4 apples peeled and diced into small pieces
- ½ cup maple syrup agave, or sugar
- 2 Tbsps cinnamon
- 2 cups old fashioned oats
- 4 cups water
Instructions
- Turn on the slow cooker to low and add the butter to the bottom of the crockpot.
- Swirl the butter around so that it covers the sides and bottom of the crockpot.
- Add the apples, cinnamon, and sugar.
- Pour the oatmeal over the apples, cinnamon, and sugar.
- Add the water on top of everything.
- Don’t stir the ingredients.
- Keep the slow cooker on low and cook overnight for 8-10 hours.
- Portion out into your small containers once the oatmeal is cooked. Make sure that you label them and date them.
- Freeze them. When you are ready to eat, either thaw in refrigerator overnight or microwave to re-heat.
Notes
Easy crockpot pulled chicken
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken
- 1 cup water or chicken broth
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Season the entire chicken with salt and pepper.
- Pour the chicken broth or water into the bottom of the crockpot.
- Place the chicken (breast side up) in the liquid.
- Cook on high for 4-5 hours or low for 6-8 hours.
- Let it cool for about 30 minutes so that it’s easier to handle.
- Pull the cooked meat off of the bones once the chicken is cooled down.
- Don’t throw out the liquid! Pour a little bit of the liquid into each of the portions so that the meat doesn’t dry out.
- Label the portions and freeze until you’re ready to use them. Portions can be thawed overnight in the fridge or heated again in the microwave or stovetop.
Bonus tip: Start a freezer meal swap
One of my favorite things about freezer meal prep is sharing the recipes and sharing the meals with other parents. One fun thing to consider is to start a freezer meal swap with some other local families. I started doing this a few years ago with some friends and it’s been really successful.
We make enough meals for each of the families involved. That’s a lot of food! But it’s worth it and you will be getting those meals back. Each family then swaps meals with the group. For example, if there are five people in the group, including myself, I will make five meals. I keep one for myself (because why do all of the work if you can’t keep one for yourself!) and then I will trade my other four meals for four new meals made by my friends.
It’s a really great way to mix things up. I love meals prepared by other people and seeing what kind of recipes they have. My kids also get a big kick out of eating food prepared by their friends’ parents.
Have fun with freezer meal planning
There are a lot of great resources on the internet for freezer meal ideas. I also love getting tips and recipes from my friends and family. It can seem a bit intimidating at first, but if you keep it simple with recipes like the ones above, it should become very easy and maybe even fun!
We would love to hear your favorite freezer meal recipes. You can share them in the comments below.
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