Freezer Meals!

So last week I posted this post on my game plan for how I was going to execute my freezer meals. Then last night I actually did it. My plan, and what I actually did came out to be 2 different scenarios. I decided after last weeks post that it would probably be a lot easier if I didn't do any recipes that involved cooking ground beef to make the process go easier. That saved a lot of time! Then I also decided to just do recipes that involved dumping and mixing everything right in the bag to save more time. Also, all these are crock pot recipes! It took me forever to find all my recipes that met those three requirements. But I did find 15 good ones that I thought my family would actually enjoy. But then when I was at the store I somehow bought 2 less pounds of chicken than what I thought I needed, so I actually only wound up with 13 meals. Which will last my family about 1 month and half a week. We usually make 3 meals each week, have leftovers 3 nights, and then eat out 1 night. So that's how I figured out that math. A lot of people like to chop all their ingredients and do everything all at once for all the recipes, but I thought that was going to be disastrous if I did that so instead I just did each recipe one by one and it came out to be good! 

So here are my steps to doing it that I felt worked well for me:

1. Write the cook time on the bag

2. Write day of instructions on bag (Serve on buns, over rice, cook pasta... etc...) 

3. Do each recipe one by one 

4. Put each bag into the freezer as you go so you don't get confused and your kitchen all crowded... I almost gave myself an aneurysm  at first when I wasn't doing that. 

Also, here are my no cook, dump in a bag and mix, freezer crock pot meals! Also as a side note, these are all recipes that I have found online and cannot personally vouch for any of them because I haven't tried them yet. So sorry if that takes a lot of credibility out of this entire post. But I found most of these on Six Sisters Stuff, and then by Googling Crock Pot Freezer Meals it took me to a lot of other reputable food bloggers sites that seemed pretty legit!

Chicken Broccoli Alfredo

Ingredients:

1 ½ pounds chicken breasts

1 (16 oz) bag frozen broccoli florets

2 (16 oz) jars Alfredo sauce (I use light)

1 large green pepper, chopped

1 (4 oz) can sliced mushrooms, drained

Directions:

Place all ingredients in a resealable gallon-sized freezer bag and mix together.

When ready to eat, remove from freezer and thaw in fridge for 24 hours. Cook on LOW for 4-6 hours. 

Hearty Beef Stew

Ingredients:

1 pound beef stew cubes

4 carrots, sliced

4 red potatoes, cut into large cubes

1 package dry onion soup mix

2 cans 98% fat-free cream of mushroom soup

1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce

1 (10 oz) package frozen green peas

Directions:

Place all ingredients in a resealable gallon-sized freezer bag. Mix together and zip bag closed. When ready to eat, remove from freezer and thaw in fridge for 24 hours. Cook on LOW for 7-10 hours (or HIGH for 5-6 hours).

Maple Dijon Glazed Chicken

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pounds chicken breasts

1 cup Dijon mustard

1/2 cup maple syrup 

2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar

salt and pepper to taste

Directions: 

Place all ingredients in a resealable gallon-sized freezer bag. Mix together and zip bag closed.

When ready to eat, remove from freezer and thaw in fridge for 24 hours. Cook on LOW for 8 hours (or HIGH for 4 hours). Sprinkle with fresh or dried rosemary for serving.

Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup

Ingredients:

5 cups chicken broth 

1 (10.75 oz) can 98% fat free cream of chicken soup

1/2 of an onion, finely chopped

2-3 celery stalks, finely chopped

4 large carrots, finely chopped

1/2 cup green onions, sliced

1 (15 oz) can corn, drained

1/2 tsp garlic powder

Salt and Pepper to taste

1 1/2 cups egg noodles, uncooked

1lb chicken, chopped or shredded (or 2 cans canned cooked chicken)

Directions:

Put everything in freezer bag minus pasta and freeze. Thaw 1 day ahead of time. cook on low heat for 6 hours. Add the uncooked noodles turn heat to high, and cook for one more hour. Serve and enjoy!

Crock Pot Cheesy Ravioli Casserole Recipe:

(Makes 10 1 1/2 cup servings)

Ingredients: 

1 tablespoon olive oil 

1 garlic clove, minced 

2 (26 ounce) jars four cheese pasta sauce 

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning 

2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded 

1/2 cup onion, chopped 

1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce 

2 (25 ounce) packages frozen beef ravioli 

Directions: 

Divide everything into 2 freezer bags and freeze. Spray crock pot with pam and dump contents into crockpot. Cook low for 4-6 hours.

Slow Cooker Pineapple Glazed Ham Recipe:

Ingredients: 

4 thick slices of boneless ham, fully cooked (I cut mine about 3/4" thick)

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 (20 oz) can crushed pineapple (do not drain)

2 Tbsp Dijon mustard (optional)

Directions:

Throw all ingredient into freezer bag. Freeze. Thaw 1 day in advance. Throw in crock pot. Cook on low for 5-6 hours or on high for 3 hours.

Slow Cooker Sweet and Tangy Meatballs

1 12 oz jar chili sauce

1 jar grape jelly

1 pkg. frozen meatballs (or 2-3 packages of Little Smokies)

Directions

Throw everything into freezer bag. Throw everything into crockpot the day of still frozen and cook on low for 5-6 hours, serve over rice.

Beef Stroganoff

1/2 cup minced onion

1/4 cup butter

1 lb. stew beef

1/8 t paprika

2 cups chopped mushrooms

3/4 cup sour cream

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1/2 cup cream cheese

1 t. salt

1 t. pepper

Directions

Mix sour cream, cream cheese and mushroom soup in small bowl.  Add all ingredients to a large freezer bag, toss well to coat and freeze.  When ready place ingredients in crockpot and cook on low for 6-8 hours.  Serve over hot noodles or cooked white rice.  

Thai Chicken Wings with Peanut Sauce

Ingredients:

2 lbs. chicken drumsticks or wings

1/2 cup bottled salsa

1/4 cup Peanut Butter

3 T lime juice

3 T soy sauce

3 T water

2 T freshed chopped ginger

1/4 cup sugar

2 cloves garlic chopped

Directions: Place all ingredients in bag and freeze until ready to cook.  Thaw slightly and place in slow cooker.  Cook on low for 6-8 hours. 

Italian Sausage and Peppers

Ingredients:

1lb. Italian Sausage Links

1 large pepper

1 medium onion

2 cups diced tomatoes

2t. onion powder

2t. garlic powder

Directions:

Mix all ingredients in freezer bag and freeze. When ready to cook, place all ingredients in a crockpot and cook on low for 6 hours or high for 4 hours. Serve on warm hotdog buns!

Slow Cooker BBQ Spareribs

Ingredients:

1-2 lbs of country-style pork ribs

1 1/2 cups ketchup

1 1/2 Tablespoons seasoned salt

1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup white vinegar

Directions:

Place pork in resealable gallon-sized freezer bag. Mix remaining ingredients together in a bowl and pour over pork. Mix together in bag and zip closed.

When ready to eat, remove from freezer and thaw in fridge for 24 hours. Cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours or LOW for 6-7 hours. 

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

(adapted from Emeril Lagasse)

3 teaspoons sweet paprika (use half smoked if desired)

2 teaspoons dry mustard

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1 + 1/2 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional

1 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste

1 + 1/2 cups beef broth

1/2 cup cider or white wine vinegar

6 tablespoons dark brown sugar

1 + 1/2 cups sliced onions

6 cloves garlic, finely chopped3 pound boneless pork loin roast, trimmed of visible fat

1. In a large crock pot whisk everything except the onion, garlic and pork together until well combined. Stir in onion and garlic add the pork roast (cut the pork roast in half first for a shorter cooking time).

2. Cook on high 4-6 hours or until you can shred the pork easily with two forks. Remove to a dish for easier shredding. Mix well to coat thoroughly with sauce. Serve on rolls with coleslaw or pickles, or use as a filling for tacos, burritos or in chili.

Chicken & Rice Casserole

1 c. long grain rice

3 c. water

2 t. bouillon granules

1 can cr of chicken soup

1 16 oz bag broccoli

2-3 chicken breasts, frozen

¼ t garlic powder

1 c. grated cheddar cheese

Combine all ingredients in freezer bag, label and freeze.

On cooking day, cook on high 3-4 hours.  Once cooked, chop up chicken breasts.  If too runny, remove lid from slow cooker for 15 minutes while cooking on high