Yep, it’s that time again! I’m getting ready to leave for Vegas next week, so of course I want everything at home taken care of while I’m gone! Andrew’s dad is still here, so he will be watching Elizabeth while Andrew’s at work. We’re so blessed he’s still able to come out for a few months every year, he’s such a huge help! Elizabeth just loves Grandpa Geepaw! And I love it because he knows her routine and is awesome with her!
If you’re new here: here is Part One, Part Two, Part Three, and Part Four! I never dreamed my first post would turn in to such a hit, but I am so thankful it has helped so many of you! The emails you guys send literally bring me to tears! My passion is definitely in empowering and helping other women, so thank YOU!
Without further ado: Part Five:
This time I’m going to try to do things a little different in an effort to provide you with printable versions of these! And hopefully I will get the first 4 done the same way, so bear with me, while I work on some changes around here!
GET THE PRINTABLE RECIPES HERE
General Freezer Cooking Directions:
1) make a list of recipes 2) make an ingredient list and go shopping (don’t forget your freezer bags). 3) gather all of the ingredients 4) Chop all of the veggies first. Dice all of your onions, carrots, peppers, and mince your garlic. 5) Label your bags with the directions and 6) THEN add your veggies 7) Add your meat 8) Add your other ingredients. 9) Let out air, seal bag, mix around, and lay flat! 10) Freeze and Rejoice!
I have tried using glass or plastic freezer containers, but still find the freezer bags to work out the best. You can always wash and reuse them if you would like to keep your thumb print green!
Each freezer dinner recipe makes TWO bags which will each make 1 dinner plus leftovers for my family of 3!
You can find my see my faq responses here!
Toddler Meals
Mini Omelet Cups
Mini Spaghetti Cups
Tropical Freezer Smoothies
Banana Nut Muffins
Freezer Dinner Meals
Chicken Cacciatore
Pepper Steak
Taco Soup
Baked Green Chile Enchiladas
Baked Goulash
Roast (recipe in part 3)
GET THE PRINTABLE RECIPES HERE
I hope you love these as much as I love helping other busy mom (and women in general) find simple solutions that allow them to spend more time with their families or doing other things they love!
Thank you SOOOO much for these recipes!! I can’t wait to start prepping & have a stockpile of meals for when school goes back in a week (I’m a teacher with 2 little kids). Love your site!!
Question – on most of the meals you have cook on low for X # of hours — I’m assuming that you thaw the 2 bags and then cook on low in a crock pot for the # of hours indicated? Is this correct?
I only thaw 1 bag at a time. Each recipe makes TWO bags, which makes TWO meals
I am getting a start on all these meals plus some of my favorites from your past posts, this weekend (before school starts). My oldest will be in kindergarten and my middle child in preschool, which results in me and my youngest being in the car most of the day dropping off and picking up his sisters from school. I am so glad I won’t have to worry about what to fix for dinner once we all get home! Thank you so much for these recipes!!!
On the Chicken Cacciatore, you include a cup of broth in each bag, plus another cup when putting it in the crockpot?
Thanks for these posts! It’s difficult to find crockpot recipes without cream soups or packets of soup mix. I can’t have any MSG, and it’s difficult to avoid.
I was wondering the same thing about the Chicken Cacciatore…Did you put in the 2 cups of chicken broth, freeze and then add a cup of broth when cooking?
I add the chicken broth at the end, takes up less room in freezer.
Oops, I didn’t understand that each recipe made 2 meals, I thought you were putting in two bags so as not to overload one bag. I wondered why you did two 2# roasts on the one recipe
Now I know LOL!
I live by freezer meals because I love knowing what is in my family’s food, it saves money, and time! My only struggle is finding freezer recipes my husband will eat. My 1 year old no problem the husband is the difficult one. Thankfully he will eat every one of these recipes except the taco soup which i one of my go to foods. I love the individual cups of spaghetti for the little one. Thank you for family friendly recipes.
I am so happy that I stumbled across your blog while surfing Pinterest. As a nurse, I work long hours, and finding solutions like these terrific freezer meals will help me feed my family healthy meals with just a little pre-planning. Thank you for being such a blessing to moms like me!
Thanks for the great recipes! Making these bags for my son in college…it will be so easy for him to have healthy meals at school!
Love these recipes! Thanks for all the great ideas! Do you typically thaw these overnight? Thanks.
You are very welcome, and yes!
Thanks so much for the recipes! They look wait and I am preparing many of them today! One question, I see in many of your recipes you use the foil cupcake liners, is there a reason for using these over the paper ones? I was thinking if I did some in paper I could microwave like the spaghetti cups for my 3 year old. Thanks again!
There was a reason, but I don’t remember it at this moment… Paper ones sometimes stick, but I know there was a better reason…
Found some wonderful new parchment cupcake liners at Kroger this past weekend and they are awesome; they work better than foil or paper and nothing sticks! They are microwave, oven and freezer safe – http://www.paperchef.com/en/products/baking_cups
awesome! I will have to check those out!
I’m a busy mom and volunteer for my local MOPS group and I love to cook, finding your recipes has helped me do what I love and still have time to cook for my family. Thanks again!
Do you mind adding how long you need to cook the banana nut muffins? Thanks!! Love your site!!
I guess that would help
I usually bake them 18-20 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean!
I just wanted to tell you that this is amazing. I have downloaded and printed all of your recipes and trying this out today. I’ve been stalking your blog for a little while, and I’m ready to bring some time saving to my life. I personally feel that your recipes are also more versatile than Stephanie’s ecookbook. I have a fiance who hates chicken and eats like a toddler, so the red meat based items on your list and toddler meals will be great for his picky mouth. Thanks so much!
You are very welcome!!! So glad you’re here!
Thanks so much for posting all of your recipes! One of my girlfriends and I picked out 6 that we liked, I did the shopping earlier in the week and tomorrow we are spending the day together making lots of freezer crockpot meals! And the best part? I shopped the sales and it’s only costing us each $55 for about 14 meals! (plus leftovers!)
Your site is great, thank you for sharing! For the taco soup, do you drain (and rinse?) the beans first or add them with the liquid?
I normally drain and rinse all beans, but not when I’m throwing them in soup or chilli. Hope that helps
Where did you find the little cups you freeze smoothies in with the lid and straw? That’s exactly what I have been looking for to use for my two year old o drink smoothies out of. Thanks for all this amazing, USEFUL information!!!!
Thanks for the recipes. I’ll have to give freezer cooking a try again. I tried once a few years ago, spent most of the day doing it, and decided I’d rather cook every evening than spend an entire day making 10 or so meals.
Does your 2 YO really only eat one of those cups per meal?? I have a 22 MO who would easily eat 3-4 of them per meal! I can’t wait to see how much he’s going to eat as a teenager.
Thanks so much for the recipes I stumbled over them while on pinterest! They have been great since I started working 10 hours a day at a private preschool the last thing I want to do is cook when I get home. They are quick and easy to put together and so very tasty!!My favorite so far has been the taco soup but I used boneless skinless chicken tenderloins. My husbands has been the Chicken Cacciatore. Thanks again for taking your time to make things easier for working women everywhere!
I just came across your blog – thank you so much! I love the little toddler ones too as my dd is in Kindy and would love little cups of stuff. I can easily make her lunches in advance with some of these. I printed out all your recipes from parts 1-5 and plan to order the cookbook in a moment! Thanks again.
Hi, Jaima! I found your site about two months ago and used it with a few other sites to create the most awesome menu plan ever!! Thank you.
I’ve had a lot of trouble with potatoes being black and tough – no matter what the cooking time – and with carrots being tough. Some research I’ve now done says you need to blanch veggies before freezing and one extension office guide said most home cooks shouldn’t bother freezing whole or chopped potatoes, as it isn’t cost effective and fresh potatoes are available year-round. I’m wondering if you’ve had these problems? It sure saved time and hassle to throw those in the freezer bags, but all of my potatoes have been inedible. I’ve never had this problem before, so I’m sure it’s the freezing causing it.
Jaima, it may sound silly, but it is true…my first week back as a school teacher, was sooo great. I was not tired, and we ate nutritious meals from the crock pot~ so easy, and so glad I found your site ! So thank you from the bottom of my heart….because now I have time and energy to devote to my family, instead of cooking and cleaning each night after work, or running out to eat junk and spending a lot of money. Why work if all you are going to do is eat out??? Right? Now, each time I go to the grocery store, I assemble one or two meals when I get home to keep it going. By the way, a girl at work was asking me about my lunch, she could not believe I made it in the crock pot. I sent her your site right away!
Great site! Thanks for sharing the recipes. I have a question about the Taco Soup. What size cans of crushed tomatoes do you use? Thanks!
15oz
Do you cook the bacon before putting it in the omelet cups or just put it in raw?
yes!
Question on the chicken cacciatore. I know the list of ingredients is split in half and frozen. The chicken broth is where I’m stuck. Are the bags frozen with 1 cup of chicken broth each and then another cup of chicken broth added when cooking? Or do you freeze veggies/meat only and then add the chicken broth when tossing in the Crock-pot? Thanks for your help!
I add the chicken broth at time of cooking! Hope that helps!
So glad to have found your site. The recipes all look delicious and I am planning on putting some of these together this weekend. My biggest question is – I am trying to gauge how many servings are in the bags. You say one bag will make enough for dinner and lunch left-overs. My household is 4 adults (the youngest is a 17yo boy)Are the lunch left-overs full size servings or would I be better off basically doing both bags as 1 dinner?
I would double, which should still give you plenty of leftovers!
Thank you for sharing these wonderful recipes. Since I’ve gone to work full time, cooking has been something I don’t enjoy as much. These are great and great tasting. My husband and teenage son have loved them.
Hi Jaima, just want to say I love all of your freezer meals!! I have a question about the chicken cacciatore…in the recipe it states 2 6oz cans tomato paste, isn’t tomato paste thick? In your picture it looks like tomato sauce or something a bit thinner. I am missing something? Thank you!!
Meant: Am I missing something…totally typed it backwards, lol:)
How long are the bags good for once u put them in the freezer? I made the teriyaki Chicken a few months ago, made one and totally forgot about the other. Just trying to figure out if its still good
it should be! I would say up to 6 months!
I, too, would like to know where you came across the matching cups/lids/straws for the toddler smoothies? I WANT some! Oh…and, I didn’t see any answer about the potatoes/carrots coming out not cooked all the way and inedible that someone brought up earlier in the comments.
Loveeee these recipes! I was wondering exactly how long can these bags stay in the freezer??
4-6 months!
I know you’ve answered this question a few times, but I’m STILL confused about the chicken broth for the chicken cacciatore. On the recipe you say to add 2 cups of broth total, which is 16 oz. But on the bag you say add 14 oz broth which is more than the one cup the directions call for! So is it just 8oz of broth per bag at the time of cooking or is it 14 oz? Help! Thank you and I am so appreciative for these recipes!
14 oz broth per bag would be 28 oz total for both bags and 12 oz more than two cups! You see why I am so confused? Haha.
Its soup, it doesnt really matter if it has more (or less) broth.
Question – I realized you are splitting them into two bags to make 2 dinners but if I went ahead and thawed both the bags the same day can I throw them in the crock pot all together (both bags)? Do I have to increase cooking time or something? Or will I have to cook them separately? For example the chicken cacciatore.
I love these ideas for quick meals, especially for Sunday dinner and it be ready when we walk through the door after church. Its so satisfying to know you fixed a meal on your own and don’t have to fuss and prepare for hours in the kitchen just to get a meal going. This all can be done when one has some free time or just in the mood to prepare all these things in advance. It’s so much easier these days for me with all the kids grown and out of the house.
Yet again, THANK YOU SO MUCH! I’m working on stocking my freezer full of your yummy recipes right now! Now I just need a bigger freezer!!
Also, I wanted to let you know I posted a link to your site on my blog. http://meandmysistersclosets.blogspot.com/2012/10/28-days-of-gf-freezer-meals.html
Great recipes. I decided to go back to college this year, so time is something I don’t have a lot of. With 2 teenage boys and a husband at home, I try to have foods that they can just throw in the crock pot or oven at their fingertips. I am hoping that this will encourage them to contine eating healthy.
The taco soup is delicious!! I shared with my sister and her family (picky eaters) and they LOVED it! That is definitely “a keeper”.
What cups do you use for the smoothies? They look great!
Your awesome! I have a question for you about the eggs that you made. How do you keep your reheated veggies in the eggs from becoming watery? Thanks
I am starting this this week! I have been trying to find a way to make dinner time easier and I think this is it. I love that you have toddler meals as well as Family dinner. My lil girl eats earlier than we do right now during the week so these will be perfect!