Freezer Meals 101 // 10 freezer meals

 Cheeseburger Sliders

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
 
Course: Appetizer
Servings: 6
Calories: 612 kcal
Ingredients
  • 12 buns
  • 1 1/2 lb. lean ground beef browned and cooled
  • 2 clove garlic minced
  • 1/4 onion minced
  • 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • salt
  • pepper
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 Tbsp. ketchup
  • 1 Tbsp. mustard
  • 1 cup Tex Mex or cheddar cheese shredded
  • 1/2 cup dill pickle slices
  • 1/4 cup butter melted
  • 1 Tbsp. Everything Bagel seasoning
Instructions
Assembly instructions:
  1. In a medium bowl, stir together the ground beef, garlic, minced onion, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper.
  2. Mix mayo, ketchup, and mustard together in a small bowl.
  3. Slice buns lengthwise and open.
  4. Set bottom of buns down in foil tray.
  5. Spread both sides with the mayo mixture.
  6. Sprinkle the bottom buns with half of the cheese.
  7. Spoon the meat mixture evenly on top of the cheese. Lay out sliced pickles.
  8. Sprinkle with the rest of the cheese and replace the top “lid” of the buns.
  9. Brush the tops of the rolls with melted butter and sprinkle with Everything Bagel seasoning.
  10. Top with foil, freeze.
Cooking instructions:
  1. Thaw.
  2. Bake, covered, at 375° for 10-15 minutes until cheese is melty and ooey-gooey.
  3. Remove cover and return to oven for 5 more minutes to allow bits to crisp up.

Crockpot Pierogi and Garlic Sausage Casserole
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
3 hrs
Total Time
3 hrs 5 mins
 
Servings: 6
Calories: 816 kcal
Ingredients
Ingredients for the Freezer Bag
  • 3 cup low sodium chicken broth
  • 32 oz. pierogies, frozen
  • 3/4 cup cheddar cheese shredded
  • 1 lb. garlic sausage ring sliced
  • 1/2 tsp. pepper
Ingredients for the Day of Cooking
  • 1 cup low sodium chicken broth 
  • 8 oz. cream cheese softened
  • 3/4 cup cheddar cheese shredded
  • green onions sliced
Instructions
Assembly Instructions

  1. Place all of the ingredients in the first section in a freezer quality bag.

  2. Remove excess air, seal, and freeze.

Cooking Instructions

  1. Can cook basically from frozen.

  2. Place the ingredients of the bag in a slow cooker on high 3-4 hours or 5 hours on low.

  3. 30 minutes before serving, warm chicken broth and cream cheese in a bowl in the microwave or on the stovetop and whisk together.

  4. Pour over pierogies mixture.

  5. Top with shredded cheese.

  6. Cover and cook another 1/2 hour.

  7. Top with green onions when serving.


Sloppy Joes Casserole
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
 
Course: Main Course
Servings: 6
Calories: 407 kcal
Ingredients
  • 8 oz. rotini pasta
  • 1 lb. lean ground beef browned and cooled
  • 1 onion diced
  • 2 clove garlic minced
  • 1 green bell pepper diced
  • 15 oz. tomato sauce
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 Tbsp. chili sauce
  • 1 tsp. chili powder
  • salt to taste
  • pepper to taste
  • 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese shredded
Instructions
Assembly instructions:
  1. Undercook pasta by 2 minutes and drain.
  2. Put cheese in medium bag.
  3. Put cooked, cooled pasta and other ingredients in large resealable freezer bag.
  4. Staple together above the seal.
  5. Freeze.
Cooking instructions:
  1. Thaw.
  2. Put large bag contents in a greased casserole dish.
  3. Top with cheese.
  4. Bake uncovered at 375° for 20-25 minutes.

Lazy Shepherd’s Pie
Prep Time
25 mins
Cook Time
1 hr
Total Time
1 hr 25 mins
 
Course: Main Course
Servings: 6
Calories: 317 kcal
Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef browned and cooled
  • 1 onion diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 cup peas frozen
  • 1 cup kernel corn frozen
  • 2 Tbsp salsa
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
For the Day of Cooking
  • mashed potatoes
Instructions
Assembly Instructions

  1. Place all ingredients in freezer bag.

  2. Remove excess air, seal and freeze.

Baking Instructions

  1. Thaw overnight in the fridge.

  2. Put in casserole dish and top with mashed potatoes.

  3. Bake at 350°F for one hour.


Mexican Pork Carnitas
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
7 hrs
Total Time
7 hrs 15 mins
 
Servings: 4
Calories: 324 kcal
Ingredients
  • 4 lbs pork shoulder or butt, trim fat
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp pepper
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 1 tsp coriander
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 12 oz beer
  • 1/2 cup orange juice
  • 1 Tbsp chipotle hot sauce
  • 1 tsp cayenne pepper, optional
Instructions
Assembly Instructions

  1. Put all ingredients in a large resealable freezer bag.

  2. Remove excess air, seal, and freeze.

Slow Cooker Instructions

  1. Thaw in the fridge overnight.

  2. Cook in slow cooker on low for 7 hours.

  3. Shred. Put the meat on a foil lined tray.

  4. Spoon some of the juices over top.

  5. Broil 5-10 minutes until the edges of the meat start to brown.

Instant Pot Instructions

  1. Thaw in the fridge overnight.

  2. Remove roast from bag and cut into 3 or 4 even sized chunks.

  3. Add bag contents and roast into the instant pot.

  4. Lock cover and seal steam nozzle.

  5. Choose the meat setting for 50 minutes.

  6. When pressure releases, shred pork.

  7. Broil for 5-10 minutes until the edges crisp up and start to brown.

Serving Instructions

  1. Serve in flour tortillas.

  2. Topping suggestions include guacamole, salsa, tomatoes, cilantro, avocados, cabbage slaw.


Creamy Sundried Tomato Gnocchi
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
12 mins
Total Time
15 mins
 
Servings: 4
Calories: 562 kcal
Ingredients
  • 1 lb potato gnocchi, fresh
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 1/2 cup vegetable broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes  sliced
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese  shredded
  • 1/2 tsp basil
  • red pepper flakes
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese  shredded
Instructions
Assembly Instructions

  1. Put the mozzarella cheese in a medium bag.

  2. Remove air and seal.

  3. Place all other ingredients in a large freezer bag.

  4. Remove excess air, seal, staple bags together above the seam, and freeze.

Cooking Instructions

  1. Thaw overnight in the fridge.

  2. Heat large bag ingredients in a large skillet over medium-high heat and bring to a low boil.

  3. Turn heat down and simmer for 7 minutes.

  4. Sprinkle with the mozzarella cheese, cover so the cheese can melt and turn heat off.

  5. Serve.

Recipe Notes

If using sun dried tomatoes packed in oil, consider dabbing with a paper towel when slicing them to remove excess oil.


BBQ Beer Meatballs
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
3 hrs
 
Course: Appetizer
Servings: 6
Calories: 433 kcal
Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 lb. meatballs frozen, pre-cooked
  • 1 1/2 cup BBQ sauce
  • 2/3 cup beer
  • 1 jalapeño pepper thinly sliced, optional
Instructions
Assembly instructions:
  1. Place all ingredients in a large resealable freezer bag.
  2. Squish to combine, remove excess air, seal, and freeze.
Cooking instructions:
  1. Thaw or cook from frozen.
  2. Cook in a slow cooker on low for 3-4 hours.

Black Bean and Corn Quesadillas
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
 
Course: Lunch
Servings: 6
Calories: 422 kcal
Ingredients
  • 15 oz. can black beans rinsed and drained
  • 1 cup kernel corn frozen
  • 1 half purple onion diced
  • 1 clove of garlic minced
  • 1/2 cup cilantro chopped
  • 2 cups Tex Mex cheese shredded
  • 2 tbsp. taco seasoning
  • 12 large flour tortillas
Instructions
Assembly instructions:
  1. Mix everything except the flour tortillas together in a bowl.
  2. Spread on half of each of the flour tortillas and fold over the other half.
  3. Lay flat in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze.
  4. When fully frozen, transfer to a freezer bag.
  5. Remove excess air, seal, and freeze.
Skillet cooking instructions:
  1. Cook from frozen.
  2. Remove one or more quesadillas from the bag.
  3. Cook in skillet, covered on medium heat, flipping partway through.
  4. The Quesadilla is done when the cheese is melted and tortilla is golden brown.
Oven cooking instructions:
  1. Cook from frozen.
  2. Remove one or more quesadillas from the bag.
  3. Place on baking sheet and cook in 350° oven for 7 minutes, and then check for doneness.
  4. Quesadillas should have melted cheese and be golden brown when done.
Air fryer cooking instructions:
  1. Cook from frozen.
  2. Preheat air fryer to 350°.
  3. Place quesadilla in air fryer and cook for 8 minutes, flipping half way.
  4. The Quesadillas should have melted cheese and be golden brown when done.

Homemade Hamburger Helper
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
 
Course: Main Course
Servings: 4
Calories: 681 kcal
Ingredients
  • 1 lb. lean ground beef browned and cooled
  • 1 onion diced
  • 1 green bell pepper diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp. paprika
  • 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
  • 12 fl. oz. evaporated milk
  • 1 3/4 cups beef broth
  • 14 fl. oz. tomato sauce
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
Day of Cooking
  • 2 3/4 cup macaroni noodles
Instructions
Assembly instructions:
  1. Place shredded cheese in a quart-sized freezer bag.
  2. Place all other ingredients in a large freezer bag.
  3. Remove excess air and seal.
  4. Staple together above the seal.
  5. Freeze.
Cooking instructions:
  1. Thaw.
  2. Bring large bag contents to a boil in a large stovetop pot or skillet.
  3. Add macaroni.
  4. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover.
  5. Cook 12-16 minutes, stirring often until noodles are al dente.
  6. Stir in 1/2 cup of the cheese. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top.
  7. Cover to melt.
  8. Serve.

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