Freezer and Slow Cooker Recipes

Last week I bragged a bit on Facebook about the fact that I had just prepped four great, healthy meals for the slow cooker and put them in the freezer for later use, all for just a little bit of money.  Everybody instantly wanted the recipes.  I have to give my bestie Sarah all the credit for sharing these recipe ideas.  Here's the list she sent me a couple of weeks ago.  (Please note you may need to increase the recipe for a larger family.)

Freezer meals for the slow cooker:
2 - BBQ Chicken
2 - Teriyaki Chicken

Freezer Meal / SlowCooker Meal Ideas

*I consider one meal enough to feed 2 adults for dinner plus have some leftovers for lunch the next day!*

Italian Crockpot Chicken (1 Freezer Meal)

*Everything for this recipe goes into the bag raw*

4 Chicken Breast

16 oz Fat Free Italian Dressing

1 Packet Dry Italian Seasoning

½ C Parmesan Cheese

4-6 Red Potatoes

½ bag mini carrots

Close up the bag, mix and bit, and Voila!

Reheating: This can go in the Crockpot while still frozen. Add about ¾ C Water or Chicken Broth. Cook on low for 8 hours, or high for 4 hours.

Chicken Macaroni Bake (1 freezer meal)

¼ C Onions, chopped

2 Tablespoon butter

½ C Milk

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 ½ C Chicken (or turkey), cooked and cubed

4 oz shredded cheese

8 oz pasta (any kind)

½ C Bread Crumbs

Directions: Prepare pasta according to package direction. Brown onion in butter. Stir in Soup, chicken, milk and ¾ cup cheese; heat until cheese melts. Blend sauce with cooked noodles; pour into buttered 8x8baking dish (I use the throw-away aluminum ones you buy at the store). Mix the remaining cheese and bread crumbs and place on top. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until hot.

Freezing Instructions: Prepare up to the point of baking - DO NOT BAKE. Place foil on baking dish and write the following instructions: "Remove Foil. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes (if thawed) or 1 hour (if frozen) or until hot.

Chicken and Black Bean Chili (4 freezer meals)

4 Chicken Breast, Boiled and Shredded

56. oz tomato sauce

30 oz. Black Beans

30 oz Corn

2 Onion, Diced

4 stalks of celery

Garlic Powder

Directions: Chop everything up, put into a gallon sized freezer bag and put into freezer. When ready to cook, de-thaw and put into Crockpot on low. (Everything is already cooked; it will just need to be heated up)

BBQ Chicken (Crock Pot) (2 freezer meals)

*Everything for this recipe goes into the bag raw*

Chop the following ingredients and divide them between2 bags…

3 sweet potatoes (cubed)

1 Zucchini, chopped

1 onion, sliced

2 green bell peppers, sliced

1 red bell pepper, sliced

4-5 chicken breasts, diced

In each bag place…

8oz Tomato Paste

1 T Worcetshire

2 T Brown sugar

1 T Mustard Powder

1 Garlic Clove

½ t Salt

Close up the bag, mix and bit, and Voila! Reheating: This can go in the Crockpot while still frozen. Add about ¾ C Water or Chicken Broth. Cook on low for 8 hours, or high for 4 hours.

Layered Enchilada Casserole (1 freezer meal)

1 lbs of ground beef (or turkey), browned

1 can diced tomatoes, drained (15 oz)

1 can black beans, drained (15 oz)

1 10oz pkg Cream Cheese

1 Packets Taco Seasoning

3 flour tortillas (I used 6 inch)

Directions: Mix the ground beef, tomatoes, beans, and cream cheese in a bowl. Combine Well. Place a ½ C Mixture on bottom of an 8x8 pan (I use the throw-away aluminum ones you buy at the store). Top with 1 flour tortilla. Top tortilla with beef mixture and cheese .Repeat layers and end with beef mixture on top and top with last bit of cheese. Wrap in aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn. Label.

Cooking Instructions: Thaw and bake uncovered at 350 degrees 30 minutes or until heated through.

Teriyaki Chicken (2 freezer meals)

*Everything for this recipe goes into the bag raw*

Chop the following ingredients and divide them between 2 bags…

1 Large Bag of Baby Carrots1

1 Red Onion (cut into large chunks)

1 20z can pineapple (undrained)

2 Garlic Cloves

4 Chicken Breasts

In each bag place…

½ C Teriyaki Sauce in each bag

Directions: Unthaw Meal; add ½ cup teriyaki sauce to mixture. Cook on High for 4 hours or Low for 8 hours. Serve over Rice.

Tater Tot Casserole (1 freezer meal)

1lb ground beef, browned

1 can cream of mushroom soup

½ C Milk

1 small package of Tater Tots

3 C Shredded Cheese

Directions: In a small bowl mix 1 can of soup and fill the empty can 1/3 full of milk. Mix the milk, soup, and 2 handfuls of shredded cheese. Microwave about 2 min and stir in the browned beef. Put the beef mixture in a freezer bag. In a separate bag, put 1 C of Cheese. You will also have 1 bag of frozen tater tots.

Cooking Instructions: Remove the beef mixture and cheese from the freezer and let thaw. Pour into an 8x8 pan and then cover with frozen tater tots. Cook at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until hot in the center. Remove from oven and sprinkle the top with shredded cheese. Return to oven for about 5 min, or until cheese is melted.

Lazy Day Stew (4 freezer meals)

*Everything for this recipe goes into the bag raw*

Chop the following ingredients and divide them between 4 bags…

4lb cubed stewing beef

4 C Baby Carrots

4 C Baby Red Potatoes (Cut in ½)

2 Medium Onions, chopped

4 stalks of celery, chopped

4 tsp quick-cooking tapioca

2 tsp salt

2 15oz can tomato sauce (1/2 a can in each bag)

2 C water

2 Tbs brown sugar

Directions: Put everything into four one gallon freezer bags, shake it up, seal, label, and put into the freezer

Cooking Instructions: Thaw; cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours. Eat as a soup or serve over hot noodles or rice.