Freezer Meal Recipes - Elizabeth Santelmann (2024)

I made these 25 freezer meal recipes in 3 hours. Some were for my family and some were for a friend who is about to have a baby! It’s super easy really and has saved me so so much cooking and prep time over the next 2 or 3 weeks.

Personally, I hate reading someone’s whole life story before I get to the recipe, so I recorded this 5-minute podcast episode talking through how I meal prep and what makes it easy! Hope by the time you’re done listening you feel like you can easily do it too!

I know some people are weird about crock pot meals. If you prefer to grill meat over the crockpot, I also have this full recipe list! Hum, maybe it’s just time to write a cookbook! Plus, this is the recipe I love to take to others when they need a yummy and warm meal!

Freezer Meal Recipes - Elizabeth Santelmann (1)

Easiest Method and GF/DF

These are all just chicken. The easiest way to start is to pick one meat so these first recipes are just that! If you want more variety keep scrolling! Those are coming next!

Italian Chicken

  • Chicken (I do 3 breasts for our family size)
  • 1 bag broccoli
  • 1/2 bag frozen carrots
  • 1/2 bottle Italian Dressing

I cook this for 6 hours. Then I take my electric egg beater and shred it! I serve over rice. I have my rice recipe and method next!

Day of Rice

  • 2 cups Rice
  • 4 cups broth (whole container the way it’s sold)
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 2 Tablespoons Butter

I put it all in my instant pot and push the rice button. It’s usually done in about 20 min!

Soy Garlic Chicken

  • 1/2 cup Soy Sauce
  • 1/2 cup Honey
  • 1/4 cup Ketchup
  • 1 tsp Oregano
  • 1 tsp Garlic
  • Red Pepper to Taste

I dump this sauce over two bags of chicken with three breasts each! In each bag, I also put some carrots and broccoli. I know Ketchup feels like an odd addition. It weirded out a little bit the first time I saw this recipe, but it’s really delicious and I’ve only adjusted it a little bit! I also serve this one with rice or quinoa.

Taco Chicken

  • 1 tsp Chili Powder
  • 1 tsp Paprika
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1 tsp Garlic (could do a half, but I love garlic)
  • 1 tsp Cumin
  • 1/2 tsp Black Pepper

Put one of each of these into each bag of chicken. I have the chicken in each bag with the mouth of the bag open and just go down the line. One tsp chili power in each bag, then one tsp of paprika, and so on. Saves you soooooo much time!

Pre-Mixed Seasonings

There’s no shame in the pre-mixed game! It still saves time! If you want to just buy a bottle of seasoning like McCormick’s and put a couple teaspoons in each bag it will still save you deciding power on the day of to just open a bag and dump it in the crock pot.

Other Meat Freezer Meal Recipes (not GF/DF)

Okay, so my favorite way to add pork is to buy a pork loin and then slice it into thirds for individual roasts, or into chops. It is cheaper than buying them in smaller containers.

Garlic Soy Pork Chop

You can use the recipe above or this one.

  • 1/2 cup Honey
  • 4 Cloves Garlic
  • 4 tablespoons Soy Sauce
  • 2 Tablespoon Dijon Mustard
  • 1/4 cup oil

Boil or heat in the microwave until everything mixes well. Split between two bags of pre-cut chops.

Crockpot Taco Chicken

In each bag put the following ingredients.

  • 1 cup salsa
  • 1 Tablespoon Cumin
  • 2 Green peppers (cut into strips

Ranch Chicken or Pork Chop

This is one of the easiest recipes to start with and a HUGE hit at my house. I put all these ingredients over 2/3 breasts!

  • 1/2 pack Hidden Valley Ranch
  • 1/2 cup milk or half and half
  • Broccoli and Carrots if you prefer

BBQ Pulled pork

My mom’s favorite grab at the deli meal was bbq pulled pork. So I cook a big one and divide it into meal-size portions. For some reason if I make it and expect people to eat leftovers it goes bad, so this works great!

  • 1 pork Loin
  • 2 cups BBQ
  • 2 Tablespoons of Dijon Mustard

When it’s cooked 4-6 hours I use the egg beater to shred the meat or I put it in the Kitchen Aid with the paddle attachment to shred it that way. Then I divide it into individual bags.

Meat Loaf

My husband loves it if I make a double batch of Pioneer Woman Meatloaf and freeze it. Each recipe is two meals for our family, so it works out great to do it this way! I’ll link her recipe since it’s the only “not gross” meatloaf! My hack for this is saving the heals off the loaf of bread and keeping it in a bag in the freezer for meatloaf!

Hope these freezer meal recipes have been helpful. I also wrote this post about how to cook and eat at home more often! It has so many methods that I use to help save our family money!

If you found this helpful check out the “Pantry Inventory”

Freezer Meal Recipes - Elizabeth Santelmann (2024)

FAQs

How to make freezer meals for seniors? ›

10 easy make-ahead freezer meals for elder family and friends
  1. Chicken and Vegetable Hand Pies. These pot pies filled with chicken and vegetables and whole-grain dough make for a hearty meal. ...
  2. Turkey Chili. ...
  3. Chicken Strips. ...
  4. Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup. ...
  5. Baked Oatmeal Cups. ...
  6. Ham & Bean Soup. ...
  7. Lasagna Cups. ...
  8. Vegetable Beef Soup.
Feb 7, 2019

How many freezer meals should you make? ›

If your maternity leave is short or you plan to eat out regularly, then 10-20 make-ahead freezer meals should do the trick. But if you have more time before the baby comes or if you plan on eating at home most of the time, then 30-50 freezer meals might be more suitable for your family.

How do you freeze single serving meals? ›

Individually-sized meals should be frozen in airtight lidded plastic containers to limit the amount of outside oxygen flowing into the dish. It's also wise to double-wrap your plastic containers in a layer of freezer-proof plastic wrap if you're planning on storing the dish for more than a week.

What is a freezer meal? ›

Freezer meals refers to preparing an entrée from fresh foods and then freezing it in family portions which can easily be pulled from the freezer and re-heated at a later date. The cost of meals prepared at home is generally less than the cost of prepared ready-to-eat frozen entrées, deli foods and eating out.

What are good frozen meals for seniors? ›

Easy freezer meals to help you eat at home
  • Chili: Recipe from The Wholesome Dish.
  • Chicken pot pie: Recipe from Pillsbury.
  • Meatloaf: Recipe from Natasha's Kitchen.
  • Vegetable soup: Recipe from Cooking Classy.
  • Beef and bean burritos: Recipe from Tasty.
  • Pot roast: Recipe from Food Network.
  • Fried rice: Recipe from Gimme Some Oven.

What are the easy meals for seniors? ›

Allman also has a few go-to meals that typically meet nutritional needs for seniors:
  • Citrus salmon with baked sweet potato and steamed broccoli.
  • Hummus veggie wrap.
  • Chicken and veggies with whole grain pasta and pesto. ...
  • Roasted Veggie Couscous.
  • Curry Egg Salad lettuce wraps.
May 25, 2022

Is it okay to eat frozen meals everyday? ›

On most days of the week, you'll want to rely on fresh meals — or tasty leftovers. “At the end of the day, I would limit frozen meals to no more than twice a week,” notes Taylor. But when you need the convenience of a frozen entrée, these tips can guide your choices.

How long do homemade frozen meals last in the freezer? ›

Cold Food Storage Chart
FoodTypeFreezer [0°F (-18°C) or below]
Soups and stewsVegetable or meat added2 to 3 months
LeftoversCooked meat or poultry2 to 6 months
Chicken nuggets or patties1 to 3 months
Pizza1 to 2 months
49 more rows
Sep 19, 2023

How long do homemade freezer meals last? ›

Great news, according to the USDA, frozen meals are safe to eat indefinitely. However, after about three months, the quality (i.e. flavor and texture) of food can degrade. Therefore, we recommend eating foods within three months of stashing them in the freezer.

Can I freeze mashed potatoes? ›

Just like with freezing stuffing or freezing pumpkin pie, knowing if you can freeze mashed potatoes might just help you out when planning your Thanksgiving cooking schedule. But can you really freeze mashed potatoes? The answer is simple: yes!

What meals can I batch cook and freeze? ›

Freezable family recipes
  • Sausage pasta bake. A star rating of 4.4 out of 5. ...
  • Meatballs in tomato, cardamom & lime sauce. A star rating of 3.8 out of 5. ...
  • Chicken & chorizo ragu. ...
  • Broccoli stem falafel bowl. ...
  • Creamy halloumi & tomato curry. ...
  • Chicken & bacon pie. ...
  • App onlyCheesy potato patchwork pie. ...
  • Peanut butter chicken.

What cooked foods freeze well? ›

Choose from dozens of delicious freezer meals including casseroles, baked pasta dishes, gumbo, pot roast, slow-cooker soups and stews, and more. You guests will never guess that you just popped that Turkey-Noodle-Poppy Seed Casserole out of the freezer.

Can you freeze macaroni and cheese? ›

Yes. Mac and cheese can be frozen for up to three months. The creamier the mac and cheese sauce is, the better it will be for freezing. Thaw in the refrigerator or microwave before baking.

How healthy are freezer meals? ›

While frozen meals are a convenient way to eat a balanced meal, it's easy to be led astray–they're also known for being packed with sodium, calories, and saturated fat, making moderation important.

Can I freeze potatoes? ›

You absolutely can freeze potatoes, and you should if you have an excess of spuds. But there's one important thing to remember: You should really only freeze cooked or partially cooked potatoes, as raw potatoes contain a lot of water. This water freezes and, when thawed, makes the potatoes mushy and grainy.

Are frozen meals healthy for seniors? ›

While frozen meals from the grocery store may seem like a convenient solution, it's important to be aware of the potential risks they pose to your health. Excessive sodium, sugar, and saturated fats, harmful preservatives, nutrient loss, and unhealthy cooking methods are among the hidden dangers of frozen meals.

What are good make ahead meals for elderly? ›

Hearty Potato & Bacon Soup (Inexpensive and easy to make!) Lasagne (For best results freeze Lasagna after it has been assembled, but before it's been baked). Macaroni Cheese. (Another recipe you can freeze after it's baked or prepare but freeze before baking).

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