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Homemade freezer meals your whole family will love! Make these TEN freezer meals in two hours to make your busy weeknights easier!
There is nothing I love more than a freezer stocked full of easy homemade freezer meals! As a busy mom of four young kids, make ahead freezer meals can be a serious life changer.
I originally got into bulk freezer meal cooking with my neighbor and good friend, Pam, from Over the Big Moonyears ago when we were both freezer cooking (and blogging) newbies! We made this first original batch together and I'll tell you what- they are delicious!
We did five different recipes and made two of each recipe, ending up with 10 delicious freezer meals in under two hours!It went so fast and I loved knowing I have some meals in my freezer that are not only quick, but delicious!
Make Ahead Freezer Meal Recipes
One of the reasons we grouped these recipes together is that they are all pretty different from each other. This way you will have a variety of yummy options in your freezer! Here is a little video sneak peak of the five different recipes you'll be seeing in this post, and a little of the freezer meal assembly process.
Freezer Meal FAQ's
Before we get down to our delicious recipes I thought I would answer a few quick FAQ's.
How do you reheat frozen meals?
For the meals in this post, we put re-heating instructions in each recipe card. That being said, I typically prefer freezer meals that can go straight into the crockpot. If a meal needs to be baked (like the beef enchiladas in this post, casseroles, etc.) then I usually let them sit on the counter for a few hours or in the fridge overnight before baking as the recipe directs.
What meals can I make to freeze?
In addition to the meals in this post here are a few of our other favorite things to freeze!
Green Muffins |Cinnamon Rolls | Chocolate Chip Cookies | Pancakes | Perfectly Seasoned Ground Beef | Cafe Rio Chicken | Cafe Rio Pork | Taco Soup | Crock-Pot Beef Stew
Which foods do not freeze well?
Foods that are not ideal to freeze in my experience are: fried foods, foods that are cream based, desserts with meringues, recipes with raw egg whites, cucumbers, lettuce and uncooked celery, hard boiled eggs and mayo or sour cream based meals.
*This post contains affiliate links.
What do I need to assemble freezer meals?
The essentials are:gallon sized freezer ziplocs, aluminum foil and disposable pans with lids!
Cilantro Lime Chicken Recipe
Cilantro lime chicken is a delicious fresh and healthy freezer meal option! Serve with avocado and some soft yummy tortillas and you're in business!
Cilantro Lime Chicken Freezer Meal
Easy and delicious cilantro lime chicken freezer meal! Make this ahead of time and dump it in the crockpot to have for dinner!
5 from 25 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours hours
Total Time: 4 hours hours 5 minutes minutes
Servings: 12
Calories: 341kcal
Author: Pretty Providence
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6-8 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 4 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 limes juiced
- 2 bags frozen corn
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 red onion finely chopped
- 2 cans black beans drained and rinsed
- 2 teaspoon cumin
- salt and pepper to taste
- cilantro for serving
Instructions
Meal Preparation
Split all ingredients evenly between two containers.
Mix bag by shaking.
Seal, label and freeze the meal flat in the freezer.
Slow Cooker Instructions
Cook in Crockpot on Low for 6-8 hours or High for 3-4 hours.
Serve with hot tortillas and dress with sour cream, guacamole, cilantro, and/or cheese.
Notes
This recipe is meant to make 2 freezer meals. If you only want one, cut ingredients in half!
Here are the gallon bags I use for freezer meals, and we love them!
Nutrition
Calories: 341kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 134mg | Potassium: 783mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 55IU | Vitamin C: 9.8mg | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 2.9mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @prettyprovidenceblog or tag #prettyprovidence!
The assembly on the cilantro lime chicken is a breeze as well!
Pineapple Chicken Recipe
If you like sweet meats then you will love this recipe! The yummy pineapple sauce gets even my pickiest eaters excited!
Pineapple Chicken Freezer Meal
Easy and delicious pineapple chicken freezer/crockpot meal!
5 from 25 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours hours
Servings: 12
Calories: 532kcal
Author: Pretty Providence
Video
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups sugar
- ½ cup soy sauce
- 1 cup pineapple juice (use the juice you will drain from crushed pineapple)
- 1 cup ketchup
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- 6-8 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 16 oz. cans of crushed pineapple drained
Instructions
Meal Preparation
Clean and trim chicken and split between two Gallon Ziplock bags.
In a sauce pan, over medium-high heat, combine sugar, soy sauce, pineapple juice, ketchup, vinegar, and mustard. Bring to a boil and cook until ingredients are well combined, about 3-4 minutes. Then put in the fridge or freezer to cool some before pouring over the chicken in the Gallon Ziplock.
Bring to a boil and cook until ingredients are well combined, about 3-4 minutes. Then put in the fridge or freezer to cool some before pouring over the chicken in the Gallon Ziplock.
Once cooked, divide the sauce evenly between two bags. Then seal, label and freeze flat.
Slow Cooker Instructions
Cook in Crockpot on Low for 6-8 hours or High for 3 hours. Serve over rice.
Notes
This recipe is meant to make two meals, so if you only want one, cut ingredients in half!
Here are the gallon bags I use for freezer meals.
It's easiest to drain the pineapple juice with a mesh strainer over a bowl, this way you can easily collect the juice to use separately in the recipe.
Nutrition
Calories: 532kcal | Carbohydrates: 100g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 1604mg | Potassium: 636mg | Sugar: 96g | Vitamin A: 240IU | Vitamin C: 6.9mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 1.3mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @prettyprovidenceblog or tag #prettyprovidence!
I love to serve pineapple chicken over rice and with fresh fruits and veggies!
Best Beef Enchilada Recipe
My all time favorite beef enchiladas freeze like a dream! Can I get a hallelujah?!
Beef Enchiladas
Easy freezable creamy beef enchiladas!
5 from 25 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes
Crock Pot Time: 8 hours hours
Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
Servings: 20
Calories: 569kcal
Author: Pretty Providence
Video
Ingredients
To Prepare your Beef
- 3 lb chuck roast cooked and shredded
- 2 cans beef broth
- 1 can water
- 1 fajita packet
- 1 Au Jus Packet
For the Sauce
- 2 Packets McCormick Enchilada Sauce (prepared)
- tomato sauce
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
Instructions
To prepare the Chuck Roast cook your roast on low overnight in your Crockpot with your beef broth, water, fajita and au jus packets. I also chop an onion and put in the crockpot with the Chuck Roast.
In the morning shred roast, and add the can of diced green chilis.
Prepare Sauce in a large pot on the stove by following the directions on the McCormick Enchilada Sauce packet. Once prepared add heavy whipping cream.
Assemble Enchiladas to preference. Lay out a tortilla, put the meat in the middle, sprinkle some cheese and approximately 1 tablespoon of the sauce. Then roll them up. For freezer meals, I use disposable pans. But, you can use your glass pans if you want. I always coat the pan with some cooking spray and like ½ cup+ of sauce and then lay them in the pan. After the pan is full I cover all the Enchiladas with plenty (approx 2 cups) of sauce and sprinkle the cheese all over them!
After I'm finished I cover the enchiladas with tin foil and then I put the lid on to the disposable pan.
Reheating Instructions: If reheating from a frozen state, preheat the oven to 350 and cook for 45 minutes. If reheating from a thawed state, preheat the oven to 350 and cook for 20 minutes.
Notes
Remember this recipe card is meant to make 2 freezer meals, so if you only want one you need to cut ingredients in half!
These are our favorite disposable pans with lids!
Nutrition
Calories: 569kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Cholesterol: 147mg | Sodium: 934mg | Potassium: 702mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 565IU | Vitamin C: 4.8mg | Calcium: 258mg | Iron: 5.1mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @prettyprovidenceblog or tag #prettyprovidence!
Pulling these beef enchiladas out of my freezer has saved me on busy days when we are having company, or I need to bring a dinner to someone in need. No one would ever know they weren't made that day. Talk about winning!
Maple Dijon Chicken
The flavor of this maple dijon chicken is to-die-for good! Everyone I make it for asks for the recipe!
Easy Maple Dijon Chicken Freezer Meal
Super yummy and delicious dinner straight from the freezer to the crockpot to your plate!
5 from 25 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours hours
Servings: 12
Calories: 216kcal
Author: Pretty Providence
Video
Ingredients
- 8-10 chicken thighs trim excess fat
- 1 cup dijon mustard
- ½ cup maple syrup
- 2 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoon rosemary
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Trim excess fat off of the chicken thighs. Don't worry about getting it all, just minimize it.
Split all ingredients between your two freezer bags and stick in the freezer. When ready to use, thaw the bag just enough to dump into the crock-pot. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Serve over rice.
Notes
Chicken thighs are perfect for the crock-pot because the fat melts off of them and by the time they are done they fall right off the bone.
You can substitute for chicken breasts if you prefer, but I have made them both ways and thighs always taste better than breasts when prepared in the slow cooker.
Remember this recipe is meant to make 2 freezer meals. If you only want one, cut ingredients in half!
Here are the gallon bags I use for freezer meals.
Nutrition
Calories: 216kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 295mg | Potassium: 213mg | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 80IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 0.9mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @prettyprovidenceblog or tag #prettyprovidence!
I like to serve the maple dijon chicken over rice with fresh veggies, like broccoli with my go-to seasoning!
Garlic Lime Chicken
Garlic lime is one of my kids favorites. It's so simple to throw together and delicious to eat.
Garlic Lime Chicken
Easy and delicious garlic lime chicken freezer meal!
5 from 25 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours hours
Servings: 10
Calories: 227kcal
Author: Pretty Providence
Ingredients
- 8-10 chicken thighs
- 1 cup soy sauce
- ½ cup lime juice
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoon quick cooking tapioca
Instructions
Meal Preparation
Divide all ingredients evenly into two freezer bags and mix well. Place flat in the freezer.
Slow Cooker Instructions
Place contents of bag in slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW 4-6 hours.
Notes
This recipe is meant to make two freezer meals. If you only want one, cut ingredients in half.
Here are the gallon bags I use for freezer meals.
Nutrition
Calories: 227kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 88mg | Sodium: 1382mg | Potassium: 267mg | Vitamin A: 75IU | Vitamin C: 4.2mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1.3mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @prettyprovidenceblog or tag #prettyprovidence!
We like to throw these garlic lime chicken thighs on the barbecue during the summer months as well! Just thaw out the bag and bbq instead of slow cooking -- they are delicious both ways!
Voila! So, to wrap up, we made 10 freezer meals (5 different meals, 2 of each) in about two hours! Awesome, right? I hope making these make ahead freezer meal recipes will give you some peace of mind and help ease the stress of your next crazy day!
Good luck with your freezer meal assembling!
xo,
This post was originally published on August 6th, 2012 and has been updated!
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Reader Interactions
Comments
Sarah
How is there NO cilantro in the Cilantro Lime Chicken??
Reply
Sarah
That's a fair question! We usually add the cilantro when we serve it, and it looks like we forgot to add that to the recipe. So sorry! We will fix it.
Reply
Alli
We love freezer meals, these are simple the best ones!Reply
Billy
You literally just planned out my whole week, thank you so much for the wonderful ideas!Reply
Aimee Shugarman
Great list! Just started a freezer meal group with some friends, this will come in handy!Reply
Jessica
Oh yay! This will be perfect!
Reply
Beth Pierce
This is a great post; I could definitely save on time if I planned meals ahead of time! I'll give this a try for next week!Reply
Jessica
Yay so glad you like it! Thanks so much Beth!
Reply
Toni
These are really awesome suggestions! Would love to try all these!Reply
Jessica
Thank you Toni! I hope you love them!
Reply
Kim
Thank you for these great ideas! Im all for make ahead.
Reply
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