Have you gotten on the freezer-meal trend yet? They are a great way to plan and prepare delicious home cooked meals for the whole family. Prep and put all ingredients into a gallon-sized freezer bag. Label the bag with a date and cooking instructions, then put them in the freezer for up to 3 months. Then when you are ready to use them, thaw it in the refrigerator and simply pour the contents of the bag into the slow cooker, set it and get on with the rest of your day. It couldn't get easier.
We are delighted to bring you another set of freezer versions of classic meals (and a few new twists just for fun). Happy eating!
1. Pepper beefThin slices of tender beef with bell peppers, mmm ... it's hard to go wrong with this one. There was a restaurant I loved going to when I was in college. Just this little hole in the wall, but their pepper and beef was out of this world. It was a normal thing for me to order food from them multiple times a week. In the recipe below, I make my own version of the dish, which can be easily frozen and popped into a slow cooker with almost as much ease as ordering takeout.
2. Ginger garlic chickenDon't want to order takeout this week? Looking for an affordable and easy alternative? This ginger garlic chicken is the way to go. Savory garlic, aromatic ginger and sweet soy sauce make this recipe a winner for dinner! Pair this Asian-inspired dish with garlic rice for a wonderful complete meal that your family will love.
3. Shredded chipotle chicken tacos A chipotle is a dried and smoked jalapeno pepper. The drying and smoking process gives it that dark color. Chipotle comes from the Nahuatl word chilpoctli, which means smoked chili. Its distinct flavor adds so much depth to any dish. In the recipe below, we use chipotle in adobo sauce to make the perfect shredded chicken tacos.
4. Sausage and bean stewWhat better way to warm you up than a slow-cooked sausage and bean stew. Perfect for those snowy or rainy days, this hearty stew will win over your family with the first spoonful. Made with spicy andouille sausage and three types of beans, this stew is sure to fill up those hungry bellies. Cajun seasoning adds even more spiciness to this dish, while tomato paste rounds out the flavors of this exceptional hearty soup.
5. Cranberry pork chopsThe combination of sweet and savory is something I absolutely love. Salted caramel, peanut sauce — both great examples of when sweet and savory combine in just the right way to create a match made in heaven. In the recipe below, we make delicious pork chops with sweet cranberries paired with fresh herbs for the perfect meal.
6. Chicken with sun-dried tomatoesThis chicken and sun-dried tomato dish is the perfect summer meal. The sun-dried tomatoes add a slight sweet and tangy flavor to the dish, while the artichokes bring a bit of an earthiness that I absolutely love. Garlic and rosemary add intense aromatics that will fill your kitchen with the most amazing aromas! Just the thought of the smells alone makes my mouth water. And finally pasta, cooked according to directions, and Parmesan cheese (optional) add a wonderful heartiness that will have your family reaching for a second helping.
7. Seco de carneOne of my favorite Peruvian dishes to make for my family and friends is seco de carne. The origins of this classic cilantro beef stew go way back as it has both Arab and Spanish influences. This dish is hearty and filling and has a wonderful herbaceous flavor. It's perfect for a cold rainy-day lunch, or serve it as Sunday dinner.
8. Brown sugar chickenSimple and delicious. That's the name of the game when it comes to this brown sugar chicken dish. This is a great anytime dish that your family and friends will be dying for after you make it the first time. With Asian flavors and ingredients, you can serve this up instead of ordering takeout, and no one will know the difference!
9. Honey sesame beefSweet and salty — the perfect combination to hit any palate. What a beautiful thing it is, truly. Add the roasted flavor of sesame oil, and you take that sweet and salty to a whole new world. In the recipe below, we make a simple honey sesame beef right in the slow cooker, easy peasy.
10. Chicken TeriyakiChicken teriyaki was my go-to dish as a child when my family went out for Japanese food. In the recipe below, we make a super-tasty and simple chicken teriyaki dish with broccoli. We add the broccoli during the last 40 minutes of cooking so that it holds its texture and doesn't get all mushy.
11. Honey rosemary pork chopsThis recipe is super simple! We start by seasoning all sides of the pork chop; I like to do so generously. Then into the slow cooker go the pork chops, smeared with finely minced garlic and drizzled with honey. Sprinkle finely chopped fresh rosemary on top, and three hours later you'll have your new favorite slow cooker pork chop recipe.
12. Hawaiian chicken tacosThese amazing Hawaiian chicken tacos are a cinch to make and can go directly into your slow cooker for a same-day meal, or you can combine everything into a large zip-lock bag and store in the freezer for two to three weeks. All you have to do is thaw the contents of the bag when you are ready and throw it all into your slow cooker.
13. Shredded chipotle beefIf it has chipotle in it, I'm all for it. That spicy, smoky flavor gets me every single time. In the recipe below, we make a super-easy shredded chipotle beef recipe that can be used for tacos, burritos or the main dish alongside rice or vegetables. I even like to put this in my salad. It cooks nice and slow for hours, until the beef is perfectly tender and falling apart.
14. Ginger peach chickenFreeze in a bag:
2-lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
12-ounce bag of frozen peach slices
1 red onion, sliced
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
2 teaspoons ground coriander
Cook on high for 4-5 hours.
Serve with rice.
15. Beef fajitasFreeze in a bag:
2-lb boneless beef chuck shoulder roast
2 bell peppers, sliced
1 small onion, sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon honey
Juice from 1 lime
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Cook on low for 8 hours. Shred beef with two forks.
Serve with warm tortillas, fresh sour cream and guacamole.
16. Potato and corn chowderFreeze in a bag:
24-ounces red potato, diced
16-ounce package frozen corn
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
salt and pepper to taste
You also need:
6 cups chicken stock
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup heavy cream
Pour in chicken stock and mix. Cook on low for 8 hours. Stir in butter and heavy cream.
Serve with warm bread.
17. Beef stroganoffFreeze in a bag:
1-lb stew meat
1-lb sliced baby bella mushrooms
1 onion, diced
½ cup apple juice
1 tablespoon beef stock base
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
Add 1 cup of water to ingredients, and cook on low for 8 hours. Stir in 1 cup of sour cream.
Serve with egg noodles or rice.
18. Chicken with apple and sweet potato Freeze in a bag:
1-lb boneless chicken, cubed
2 sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
1 cup unsweetened Apple Sauce
1/2 cup onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp Curry Powder
1/2 tsp ground ginger
salt and pepper to taste
Cook on low for 8 hours.
Serve with rice.
19. Chicken alfredoFreeze in a bag:
3-lb Chicken Breasts
2 cans Cream of Chicken Soup
1 Italian Dressing Mix
8 oz Cream Cheese
Add 2 cups water to the ingredients and cook on low 6-8 hours.
Serve with fettuccini noodles.
20. Split pea soup Freeze in a bag:
1 lb dry split peas
2 cups of diced bacon
1 large yellow onion, diced
1 cup celery, chopped
2 cups carrots, chopped
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon thyme
2 bay leaves
You also need:
32-oz of chicken broth
Add 2 cups water and chicken broth to ingredients and cook on low for 7-8 hours.
21. Meatballs and tomato sauce Freeze in a bag:
One bag frozen or homemade meatballs
28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
2 tsp dried Italian seasoning
Cook on high 3-4 hours
Serve with spaghetti noodles.
