Tips for Prepping Crock Pot Freezer Meals + Recipe List (2024)

Crockpot Recipe Round Up

Stock your freezer with a month of family meals. Check out our tips to help you stay on budget and stock your freezer full of make ahead meals. You never have to wonder what to make for dinner, just reach into your freezer and thaw out a meal.

Tips for Prepping Crock Pot Freezer Meals + Recipe List (1)

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Tips for Prepping a Month of Freezer Meals:

  1. Shop sales & stock up on meat.
  2. Search & print out recipes.
  3. Check your pantry and fridge – make a grocery shopping list of the ingredients needed.
  4. Take gallon zip lock bags and write the names of each meal, date and directions on each one in permanent marker.
  5. Lay everything out on the counter
    • Wash/cut/slice up all the veggies.
    • Cut the fat off the chicken breasts & thighs.
    • Cook any meat that needs to be precooked – (ground beef ect)
  6. Start filling the ziplock bags with ingredients. I usually do one at a time, but you can start with putting veggies in all the bags, then the meats, then the spices & sauces.
    • A second set of hands always makes the process go smoother, if not these handy bag holders help to free up your hands and hold the bag open.
  7. Zip close. Place in freezer.
    • I try to freeze the bags as flat as I can to make the storing neater. I usually put a small cutting boards or a piece of a cardboard box in between until they start to freeze and then remove the boards. This is not necessary but will make storage neater.
  8. When ready to use, thaw in the fridge over night. Empty contents out of the Ziploc bag and into the crockpot.

What kind of crockpot do I use?

I have this programmable crockpot that I purchased on Amazon a couple years go.


Make crockpot freezer meals on a budget.

Chicken Recipes:

Black Bean and Corn Salsa Chicken

  • boneless chicken breasts, black beans, corn, taco seasoning, salsa, water

Hawaiian Chicken

  • boneless chicken breasts, crushed pineapple, BBQ sauce

Creamy Italian Chicken

  • boneless chicken breasts, cream cheese, cream of chicken, packet of Italian seasoning

Asian Chicken Wraps

  • ground chicken, garlic cloves, red bell pepper, yellow onion, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, salt, pepper, sliced water chestnuts, brown rice, green onions, rice vinegar, sesame oil, romaine lettuce

Garlic LimeChicken

  • skinless chicken thighs, lime juice, chicken broth, garlic cloves, thyme, unsalted butter

  • boneless skinless chicken thighs, salt, cayenne pepper, paprika, curry powder, ground ginger, sweet potatoes, onion, peach (or apricot) preserves, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, chicken broth, cornstarch

Honey Sesame Chicken

  • chicken thighs, honey, soy sauce, sesame oil, olive oil, minced garlic, minced onion, crushed red pepper, cornstarch, water, sesame seeds, green onions

Cashew Chicken

  • boneless chicken breasts, flour, pepper, canola oil, honey, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, brown sugar, garlic clove, ginger, red pepper flakes, cashews

Chicken Broccoli Alfredo

  • boneless chicken breasts, frozen broccoli florets, Alfredo sauce, green pepper, sliced mushrooms

Tex-Mex Chicken

  • boneless chicken breast, corn, black beans, Rotel, taco seasoning

Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti

  • cooked chicken breasts, spaghetti, Velveeta, cream of mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup, petite diced tomatoes, mild green chilies, mushrooms, water, onion

Maple Dijon Glazed Chicken

  • boneless chicken breasts, Dijon mustard, maple syrup, red wine vinegar

  • boneless chicken breasts, green pepper, broccoli, red potatoes, paprika, condense cream of chicken soup, Velveeta, Worcestershire sauce, fresh parsley

BBQ Cranberry Chicken

  • boneless chicken breast, dried minced onion, whole cranberry sauce, BBQ sauce

Chicken Teriyaki

  • boneless chicken breasts, baby carrots, red onion, crushed pineapple, garlic cloves, teriyaki sauce

Honey Garlic Chicken

  • boneless chicken breasts, garlic cloves, basil, soy sauce, ketchup, honey, carrots

Honey Bourbon Chicken

  • boneless chicken thighs, salt & pepper, onion, honey, soy sauce, ketchup, canola oil, garlic cloves, red pepper flakes, cornstarch, sesame seeds, Bourbon (optional)

Orange Chicken

  • boneless chicken breasts, carrots, bell pepper, garlic cloves, salt, pepper, orange juice concentrate

Thai Peanut Chicken

  • boneless chicken breast, red pepper, onion, peanut butter, lime, vegetable broth, soy sauce, cumin, crushed peanuts, scallions, cilantro

Nacho Chicken

  • boneless chicken breast, Rotel, taco seasoning

Pineapple Chicken Burritos

  • boneless chicken breast, crushed pineapple, black beans, salsa, flour tortillas, green enchilada sauce, shredded cheddar, rice

Looking for more meals that you can freeze? Check out our list of 45 Slow Cooker Chicken Meals.

Tips for Prepping Crock Pot Freezer Meals + Recipe List (2)Pork:

Pulled Pork

  • pork butt/shoulder, pepper, cayenne pepper, chili powder, cumin, brown sugar, oregano, paprika, salt, sugar, onion, BBQ sauce

Pork and Sweet Potato Stew

  • pork loin, green chilies, chicken broth, sweet potatoes, red onion, diced tomatoes -fire roasted, cumin, salt, pepper, lime juice

Pork Carnitas

  • pork tenderloin roast, onion, cumin, salsa, Ro-Tel, tortillas

Teriyaki Pork Chops

  • pork chops, garlic cloves, brown sugar, soy sauce, chicken broth

BBQ Spareribs

  • pork ribs, ketchup, seasoned salt, brown sugar, white vinegar

Apple BBQ Pork Tenderloin

  • pork tenderloin, chunky applesauce, BBQ sauce, minced dried onion

  • sausage, green pepper, red pepper, onion, garlic cloves, Italian diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning

BBQ Ribs

  • baby back ribs, BBQ sauce, paprika, brown sugar, cayenne pepper, salt, pepper,

Tips for Prepping Crock Pot Freezer Meals + Recipe List (3)

Beef:

  • red bell pepper, green bell pepper, onion, sweet & sour sauce, pineapple tidbits, frozen fully cooked meatballs

Chili

  • ground beef (or ground turkey), onion, diced tomatoes, ketchup, water, dark red kidney beans, chili seasoning, celery, Worcestershire sauce, sugar.

Savory Pepper Steak

  • round steak, flour, salt, pepper, onion, garlic cloves, green pepper, red pepper, Italian style tomatoes, beef bouillon, Worcestershire sauce, steak seasoning, steak sauce

Mongolian Beef

  • flank steak (or skirt steak), cornstarch, olive oil, mince garlic, soy sauce, water, brown sugar, carrots, red pepper,

Beef Stroganoff

  • cubed beef stew meat or ground beef, cream of mushroom soup, onion, Worcestershire sauce, water, sour cream, garlic cloves, onion soup mix packet, chopped mushrooms, egg noodles

Beef Stew

  • beef stew meat, salt, pepper, onion, celery, baby carrots, red potatoes, tomato paste, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, garlic clove, dried parsley, oregano, flour, water, peas, corn

Vegetarian Recipes:

Sweet Potato Basil Soup

  • sweet potatoes, yellow onion, coconut milk, vegetable broth, garlic cloves, dried basil

Tips for Prepping Crock Pot Freezer Meals + Recipe List (4)

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Tips for Prepping Crock Pot Freezer Meals + Recipe List (2024)

FAQs

When should I start prepping freezer meals? ›

Some moms choose to begin freezing meals at 20 weeks. This is a great strategy if you prefer to cook incrementally (like cooking double batches of dinner here and there and freezing half rather than doing fuller meal prep days).

How do you batch cook and freeze meals? ›

If you're going to be embarking on a batch cook-athon, then you'll want to become good friends with your freezer.
  1. Make sure your freezer's set to the right temperature. ...
  2. Cool foods before you freeze them. ...
  3. Freeze fresh. ...
  4. Don't freeze and forget! ...
  5. Keep your freezer full. ...
  6. Wrap up. ...
  7. Space to grow. ...
  8. Keep it clean.

Can you freeze raw chicken and vegetables together? ›

Q4: Is it safe to freeze raw meat with veggies? Yes. If you're nervous about combining raw meat with other ingredients, let me assure you that it's perfectly safe. (Remember, people cook raw meat and vegetables together in their slow cookers and ovens all the time!)

How many freezer meals should I make? ›

Start Small and Choose A Manageable Amount of Meals

Instead, start small and choose 4-6 recipes to start. It is better to spend a couple of hours every few weeks prepping freezer meals than trying to do too much, getting overwhelmed, and wasting time, food, and money on unused ingredients.

Do you fully cook meals before freezing? ›

Either cook it and then freeze it or freeze it raw. It doesn't matter which. I prefer to freeze raw, that way I'm not stuck with a specific meal when I thaw it out, and can choose what to cook when I thaw it out.

Can you freeze chicken and rice meal prep? ›

Can you freeze chicken and rice? Yes, you can freeze it. Put it in a freezer-safe container or a heavy-duty freezer bag, label it with the date, and it'll keep well for up to 2 months. Thaw it in the fridge overnight, and reheat it using any of the methods above once you want to enjoy it again.

What foods Cannot be frozen? ›

Foods That Do Not Freeze Well
FoodsUsual UseCondition After Thawing
Cream or custard fillingsPies, baked goodsSeparates, watery, lumpy
Milk saucesFor casseroles or graviesMay curdle or separate
Sour creamAs topping, in saladsSeparates, watery
Cheese or crumb toppingsOn casserolesSoggy
11 more rows

Which food is not okay to freeze? ›

These include anything with both a high water content and a cell structure that will burst from the expansion of the freezing water. Examples include cucumbers, grapes, and all but the firmest vegetables. Some cheeses freeze well but others like ricotta or even sour cream tend to get gritty.

What is the best container to freeze food in? ›

Rigid containers made of plastic or glass are suitable for all packs and are especially good for liquid packs. Straight sides on rigid containers make the frozen food much easier to remove.

How should foods be packed for the freezer? ›

Proper packaging helps maintain quality and prevent freezer burn. Aluminum foil, freezer paper, plastic containers, and plastic freezer bags will help food maintain optimum quality in the freezer. Plastic wrap alone will not provide enough protection by itself, but can be used to separate foods within another package.

Can you freeze chicken and rice? ›

Yes, you can freeze chicken and rice to reheat and eat later, saving you valuable time in the kitchen! So whether you're prepping for a busy week or just want to stock up on cheap and healthy freezer meals, read on for all the details! Thankfully, yes, you can certainly freeze chicken and rice.

Is it better to freeze meals cooked or uncooked? ›

Unfortunately food that is cooked already loses some quality and flavor in the freezing. No matter how you have packaged it. Your best bet is to seal the meat raw and airtight.

What are the best containers to freeze food in? ›

Rigid containers and flexible bags or wrapping are two general types of packaging materials that are safe for freezing. Rigid containers made of plastic or glass are suitable for all packs and are especially good for liquid packs. Straight sides on rigid containers make the frozen food much easier to remove.

Is it better to freeze meals raw or cooked? ›

Foods you might overcook: Foods that cook quickly like homemade burgers or marinated chicken stir-fry should be frozen raw so that reheating doesn't overcook them.

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