****Just so you're aware before you dive into this post grab a diet coke because it is long!****
So like I had mentioned me and my fabulous sister in law Alisha decided one day we were just too flipping busy to cook EVERY night. Her having 3 kids under the age of 7 and me having my second baby we just couldn't keep up with everything. So we decided to wing our very first escapade doing Freezer meals. The first time was a little challenging because we literally were winging it. Now having done it several times we are freezer meal pros!
Ok when I say wing it I don't mean look at the random stack of ingredients you have in your house and decide to bust out a few meals. I mean wing it as in you have to be 100% prepared grocery and list wise or you will be making 5 million trips to the store which makes for a very long cooking day.
which leads me to step #1:
* A few days before you decide to do freezer meals you and whoever you decide to tackle it with, (The most we've ever had is 3 of us.) you could do it alone but believe me much easier with one other person. Anyway, get together a few days before and decide on your meals that you and your families will like. We picked several that we make a lot at home, and a lot from pinterest. This is where trial and error came in. Some worked fantastic and others were a complete fail. They don't have to be labeled as "freezer meals" to work.
so..
#1 Make a list of your meals ahead of time. We generally shoot for around 30 meals each time. (Yes I am going to list our meals and give you the RECIPES!)
#2 As you make your list of meals, with each meal have the recipes on hand so you can write out your grocery list as you go. This step saves a ton of time!
For Example: If my list were....
* Italian chicken
* Fajitas
I would write on my grocery list
*Chicken (for each meat category, chicken, pork, beef, make a tally then you wont be writing the same thing a million times.)
*Cream cheese
*Italian dressing
*Cream of Chicken
*Cream of Mushroom
*I would mark chicken again for fajitas
*Peppers
*Fajita season packet
*Red onion
Etc.. for each meal hopefully that makes sense.
#3 Tackle the shopping trip. My advice on this one go ALONE!! and do not forget your list! Go when the hubby is home and when you have about 2 hours to tackle this.
*Cross things off as you go so you don't miss anything. Having to go to the store is beyond annoying when you're in the middle of cooking. So triple check so you don't forget anything. When Alisha and I cook together we go separately to the store generally the day before.
*Keep things that need to refridgerated or frozen in the grocery bags and put them in the fridge/freezer that way if you're going to the other persons house you won't forget what you bought.
*I buy everything except my non frozen meat at walmart. All of my chicken I buy frozen in the 3lb bags at walmart. The rest of my meat I buy at Fresh Market or Ridley's. Alisha does all of her shopping at Smith's.
*If you have things at home already that you didn't have to buy (spices, oil, noodles, sauces etc.) make sure you get them out and put them where you will see them or believe me you will forget them!
#4 If you are planning to put them together at your house, get out all of your measuring cups, spoons, mixing bowls, cutting boards etc. and descent amount of counter space for each person.
*If you are going to the other persons house, put everything you need in a big laundry basket. Makes for less trips and something to put your meals in when you're finished.
*If you wanna save a little time on the day of, boil your chicken and cook your ground beef the night before for the meals that have it already cooked. (Enchiladas, Stroganoff, etc.) We have done it both ways and either is fine.
#5 Alisha and I always start with Enchiladas because it's one of the few that go in a disposable baking tin and it has cooked chicken in it. She does white enchiladas for both of us and I do Red enchiladas for both of us.
*Next I do all of our chicken meals and Alisha does all of our ground beef meal. This last time we had one more person with us so she did pork and the random ones like pizza and breakfast casserole.
****Ok I think that's all the prep, I'm going to list our meals first and extra thing you need besides ingredients. Then do the recipes.****
Ranch Pork Chops
Teriyaki Pork Chops
Cafe Rio Pork
Lemon Chicken
Kickin Chicken
Cilantro Lime Chicken
Honey Garlic Chicken
Creamy Italian Chicken
Teryiaki Chicken
Stupid Easy Chicken
Fajitas
White enchiladas
Red Enchiladas
Greek Chicken
Dr. Pepper BBQ Chicken
Sweet Garlic Chicken
Balsamic Chicken
Ranch Parmesan Crusted Chicken
Stroganoff
Tin Foil Dinners
Rice R Roni Meatballs
Taco Ring
Salsbury Steak
Meatloaf
Pizza
Breakfast Casserole
Cheesy Chicken Casserole
Sweet N Tangy Meatballs
Baked Ziti
Tator Tot Casserole
** That's Most of them I will be adding random ones here and there.**
Some other randoms you will need:
Gallon size FREEZER bags
Disposable baking tins (about 4 or 5)
Thick Tin foil
Paper Towel
Time for Recipes!
Ranch Pork Chops
4 Pork chops
1 Packet Dry Ranch
1 Can cream of chicken
Pour all ingredients into the bag. Freeze.
To prepare: Put in crock pot 4-5hrs on high (add a little bit of water) or defrost and cook on the grill. I've done both and the both were delicious!
Teryaki Pork Chops
4 pork chops
2 cloves minced garlic (I used dry or pre minced)
2 TB brown sugar
1/3 C chicken broth
1/4 C soy sauce
Pour all ingredients into bag. Freeze.
To Prepare: Crock pot 4-5hrs or defrost and cook on the grill.
Cafe Rio Pork
3-4lb pork roast
1/4 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 onion
2 cloves minced garlic (dry or pre minced is fine)
Pour into bag and freeze.
To prepare: place in crockpot cover with water and cook on high 5-6 hrs. Then drain juices and leftover onions. Shred Roast. (Step 1)
Sauce:
1 small can red enchilada sauce
20 oz dr pepper
2 C brown sugar
Pour into bag and freeze.
To Prepare: Defrost and pour over cooked shredded roast and simmer about one hour. (Step 2)
Lemon Chicken
3-4 chicken breasts
1 cube butter
1 packet dry italian dressing mix
1/4 C lemon juice
* I slice a lemon and put it in with it
Pour into bag and freeze.
To Prepare: 4-5 hrs in crockpot or defrost and grill.
Kickin' Chicken
3-4 chicken breasts
- 1 Cup Frank's RedHot Original
- 1/4 Cup Olive Oil
- 1/4 Cup Lime Juice (fresh is best, but bottle is good too)
- 2 Cloves of Garlic, minced or pressed
- Lime - cut into slices
Pour into bag and freeze.
To Prepare: defrost and grill.
Cilantro Lime Chicken
3-4 chicken breasts
3 TB olive oil
2 limes juiced
2 C cilantro
2 cans corn
4 cloves minced garlic
1/2 red onion
2 cans black beans (drained and rinsed)
2 tsp cumin
Pour into bag and freeze.
To Prepare: crockpot 4-5 hrs on high. I love getting cafe rio's creamy dressing and making either burritos or rice bowls with this with tortilla strips, cheese, salsa whatever you like.
Honey Garlic Chicken
3-4 chicken breasts
3 cloves garlic
1/3 C soy sauce
2/3 C ketchup
1/4 C honey
Pour into bag and freeze.
To prepare: crockpot 4-5 hrs on high. or defrost and grill.
Creamy Italian Chicken
3-4 chicken breasts
1/2 bottle Italian dressing
1 can cream chicken
1 can cream mushroom
1 package cream cheese
Pour into bag and freeze.
To Prepare: crockpot 4-5 hrs high. Pour over cooked rice.
Teryaki Chicken
3-4 Chicken breasts
1 bottle teryaki sauce
1 small can pineapple juice (about one cup)
2 TB brown sugar
2 cloves garlic
Pour into bag and freeze.
To Prepare: Crockpot 4-5hrs on high or defrost and grill. My husband prefers this one grilled.
Stupid Easy Chicken
3-4 Chicken breasts
2 cans Italian diced tomatoes
1 pckg. Lipton Savory herb&garlic
Cream Cheese (Optional, I prefer it with, Alisha prefers it without)
Pour into bag and freeze.
To Prepare: 4-5 hrs on high. Pour over cooked pasta of choice.
Fajitas (makes 2 meals)
3-4 Chicken breasts
4 bell peppers of choice
1 red onion
1 fajita seasoning packet
2 TB olive oil
Split and pour into TWO bags and freeze.
To Prepare: Defrost and cook on skillet. Serve in warm tortillas with toppings of choice. Salsa, cheese, sour cream, beans, guacamole, etc.
White Chicken Enchiladas
3 chicken breasts cooked and shredded
1 pckg cream cheese
1 can cream chicken
1 8oz sour cream
1 small can diced green chilies
6 tortillas
Shredded cheese
Mix everything except chicken into a bowl. Lay out tortillas. Fill each tortilla with sauce (use about half the sauce) then add chicken in each tortilla. Then spread the rest of the sauce over the top. Sprinkle cheese. Cover with 2 sheets of tin foil and freeze.
To Prepare: Defrost and bake at 350 degrees 30-35 min.
Red Chicken Enchiladas
3 chicken breasts cooked and shredded
1 can refried beans
1 can black beans (drained and rinsed)
1 small can green chilies
1 large can red enchilada sauce
Lay out tortillas and put refried beans, black beans, green chilies (I blend mine first so it makes a sauce), and chicken inside. Roll tortillas and pour enchilada sauce over it and top with cheese. Cover with 2 sheets of tin foil and freeze.
To prepare: Defrost and bake at 350 degrees 30-35 min
Greek Chicken
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ Tbsp dried oregano
- 1 medium lemon
- ½ tsp salt
- freshly cracked pepper
- ¼ bunch fresh parsley
- 3½ to 4 lbs chicken pieces
Pour into bag and freeze.
To prepare: crockpot 4-5 hrs on high.
Dr Pepper BBQ chicken
3-4 chicken breasts
1 bottle bbq sauce of choice
2 C dr pepper
Pour into bag and freeze.
To Prepare: Crockpot 4-5 hrs on high.
Sweet Garlic Chicken
- 2 Chicken Breasts
- 1/2 tsp each Salt & Pepper
- 2 TBSP Olive Oil + more for drizzling
- 3 Cloves Garlic, minced
- 2 TBSP Brown Sugar
Pour into bag and freeze.
To Prepare: Crockpot 4-5 hrs on high. or defrost bake at 450 degress 1hour
Balsamic Chicken
3-4 Chicken breasts
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 tsp dried minced onion
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 TB olive oil
1/2 C balsamic vinegar
Pour into bag and freeze.
To Prepare: 4-5 hrs on high crockpot. or defrost and grill
Ranch Parmesan Crusted Chicken
3-4 Chicken breasts
1 sleeve crushed ritz crackers
1/2 C shredded parmesan cheese
1 TB parsley flakes
2 TB Ranch dressing
2 tsp garlic salt
Pour into bag and freeze.
To Prepare: 4-5 hrs on high crockpot.
Stroganoff
1lb ground beef cooked
1 can french onion soup
1 8oz sour cream
1 C water
Pour into bag and freeze.
To Prepare: Heat on stovetop in sauce pan. Pour over cooked noodles of choice.
Tin Foil Dinners
4 beef patties
1 can cream mushroom
1 can cream celery
dollop of sour cream
1 pckg frozen veggies
1 pckg hashbrowns
Mix together soup and sour cream pour into 2 freezer bags and split other ingredients into 2.
To Prepare: defrost, place in tin foil and cook in fire or oven. or in a casserole dish and bake 400 degrees 45 min.
Rice R Roni Meatballs
1lb Ground beef
1 beef rice r roni
1 egg
Knead all ingredients together (except spice packet with rice save that for when you prepare) roll into meatballs and put in bag and freeze.
To prepare: Brown meatballs in skillet, Then pour 2 Cups water and beef rice r roni seasoning packet over it and simmer 20 min or until all water is gone.
Taco Ring
1lb ground beef (cooked)
1 can crescent rolls
1 taco seasoning packet
pour taco seasoning packet over ground beef and mix well. In a tin roll out the crescent rolls and place all the corners together in a circle. put the ground beef in the middle and put the opposite corners of the crescent roll dough into the middle. Cover with 2 layers of tin foil and freeze.
To Prepare: defrost and bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 min.
Salsbury Steak (makes 2 meals)
2lbs ground beef
1 packet lipton onion soup mix
1/2 C italian bread crumbs
1/4 C milk
Mix together everything above and form patties
1/4 C flour
2 TB olive oil
Dredge patties in flour and then brown in skillet with olive oil
2 Cans cream of chicken
1 packet dry au jus mix
3/4 C water
Mix together and then pour into bag then add browned patties. Freeze.
To Prepare: Crockpot 4-5hrs on high. Serve over cooked rice.
Meatloaf
1lb ground beef
1 1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 C chopped onion
1/2 C chopped bell pepper
1 egg
8oz canned diced tomatoes with juice
1/4 C quick cooking oats
Mix all together, put in bag and freeze.
Topping: (optional)
1/3 C ketchup
2TB brown sugar
1 TB prepared mustard
To Prepare: Defrost. push into loaf tin bake 350 degress 1 hour.
Pizza
1 can pizza dough
1 jar pizza sauce
Shredded cheese
toppings of choice.
Roll dough out into baking tin. Put sauce cheese and toppings on dough. Cover with 2 sheets of tin foil and freeze.
To Prepare: Bake 350 degrees 30-35 min
Breakfast Casserole
1 dozen eggs
1 bell pepper (chopped)
1 onion (chopped)
Shredded Cheese
Fully cooked bacon (diced)
1 pckg Hashbrowns
Combine and pour into bag and freeze.
To prepare: Defrost. pour into casserole dish bake at 400 degrees 1 hour.
Cheesy Chicken Casserole
1 large can chicken
2 cups cooked rice
16oz sour cream
2 cans cream chicken
8oz shredded cheese
8oz shredded mozzarella cheese
Mix together in a bowl and pour into casserole tin
1 sleeve ritz crackers crushed
1/4 C melted butter
2 TB poppy seeds
Mix together sprinkle over casserole. Cover with tin foil freeze.
To Prepare: Defrost bake 350 degrees 25-30 min.
Baked Ziti
1lb ground beef browned
1 dry spaghetti sauce packet
8oz shredded cheese
8oz shredded parmesan cheese
1 pckg. cooked ziti noodles
Combine all ingredients put in bag and freeze.
To Prepare: Defrost . Pour into casserole dish top with cheese and bake at 350 degrees 30-35 min
Sweet N Tangy Meatballs (makes 2 meals)
2lbs ground beef
16oz grape jelly
20oz bbq sauce
2 eggs
Combine beef and eggs roll into balls. Mix sauce in bag then add meatballs. Freeze.
To Prepare: Crockpot Low 2-4 hrs.
Tator Tot Casserole
1 pckg. frozen tator tots
1 can corn
1 can chicken
1 can cream mushroom
1 can cream chicken
dollop sour cream
Combine all ingredients. Put into bag. Freeze.
To Prepare: Defrost. Put into casserole dish, top with shredded cheese. Bake 400 degrees 45 min.
***** Ok if you made it to here that is it my friends!!*****
a few other random tips:
*If you work pull meal out before you leave. You can also adjust most of the crockpot times to 7-8 hrs on low.
*I generally try to pull things out around lunch time so they have enough time in the crockpot or to defrost. I do forget a lot though so another tip.... You can either defrost the bags in the microwave or submerge them in hot water for 15-20 min and that usually will loosen it up enough I can bake it or grill it.
* Don't forget to write on the bag or tin foil what the meal is and the instructions and THE DATE!
*Last but certainly not least the cost! The last grocery bill was $170 for EVERYTHING! Before I started this I went to the store every other week based on our paydays and spent easily that much EVERY time I went. These meals last us about 6-8 weeks with going on dates sometimes having dinner with family and making fresh meals sometimes so as you can see it saves us a ton of money! Now when I head to the store I only go for necessities and only have to go every couple weeks.
*I do need to give Alisha Shelby a huge shoutout too. She is my "Freezer Meal other half" I certainly couldn't do it without her she's the best!!
I hope this helps a lot of you in your endeavors to try and get dinner on the table every night. I know that it has helped me A TON! It's so nice knowing I always have something to eat for dinner that's delicious and looks like I put a lot of effort into it. I hope this post doesn't sound too overwhelming I promise it is worth it so give it a try. Alisha and I have done it with all of our kids there running around almost every time and now that we've worked out all the kinks we get it all done in about 4 hours. If you have any questions feel free to comment. It's super late so hopefully there aren't too many typos! Good Luck!
