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 many freezer meals should you make? ›

If your maternity leave is short or you plan to eat out regularly, then 10-20 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.

Is freezer meals healthy? ›

With the correct guidance, however, frozen meals can be part of healthy eating plan! In general, look for frozen meals that include … Less than 7% of calories from saturated fat …the less saturated fat, the better!

Does making freezer meals save money? ›

I have found that eating home-cooked vegetable-filled meals is not only healthier for me and my family, but also cheaper. Having a well-stocked freezer saves even more money by removing the temptation of takeout. It also saves prep, cooking, and cleanup time during the week so you can enjoy time with your family.

What should you avoid in frozen meals? ›

Potentially harmful additives

Some frozen foods contain additives that can be harmful when consumed regularly. Try to avoid meals that list ingredients like butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and synthetic food dyes.

What foods cannot be frozen? ›

Here are 12 common ingredients that don't freeze well due to quality issues and safety concerns.
  • 01 of 12. Milk. ...
  • 02 of 12. Mayonnaise. ...
  • 03 of 12. Cream Cheese. ...
  • 04 of 12. Cucumbers. ...
  • 05 of 12. Zucchini. ...
  • 06 of 12. Lettuce and Cabbage. ...
  • 07 of 12. Tomatoes. ...
  • 08 of 12. Baked and Boiled Potatoes.
Oct 5, 2022

Is it cheaper to cook or eat frozen meals? ›

While some frozen meals can be very cost-effective, others may be more expensive than cooking the same meal from scratch. If you're cooking a meal for multiple people, you may find it's cheaper to buy the ingredients separately than to purchase enough frozen meals for everyone.

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

Are Marie Callender frozen dinners healthy? ›

Of those tested, the Marie Callender's meals were highest in calories and fat. Roasted garlic chicken weighs in with 17 grams of fat per serving! Product a lower-fat option is the garlic chicken from lean cuisine -- which stood out for its flavorful veggies and large white chicken pieces.

Are frozen dinners good for seniors? ›

Frozen Foods Are Just as Nutritious as Fresh Foods

That's important when what you want is to get as much nutrition into your senior's diet as you possibly can on a daily basis.

What are the cons of frozen meals? ›

The Hidden Dangers of Grocery Store Frozen Meals: What You Need to Know
  • Excessive Sodium, Sugar, and Saturated Fats. ...
  • Not as Healthy as They Seem. ...
  • Harmful Preservatives. ...
  • Impact on Blood Pressure. ...
  • Nutrient Loss. ...
  • Impact on Heart Health. ...
  • Mental Health Implications. ...
  • Unhealthy Cooking Methods.
Feb 19, 2024

What are the disadvantages of freezer? ›

There are advantages and disadvantages of owning a freezer. The main disadvantages are the initial cost of the freezer itself plus the additional cost of running the machine. On top of this, if there is a lack of space within the home, it may be difficult to find a place for it.

What is best to freeze meals in? ›

Zip-top bags are great for freezing food because it's easier to get all the air out of them than it is with rigid containers. And zip-top bags have an added space-saving benefit: You can stack them, if you lay them flat to freeze first.

What leftovers freeze the best? ›

Some of the best leftover foods to freeze include cooked chopped meats, casseroles, pizza, soup, tomato sauce, breads and baked goods. Leftovers that don't like the freezer include hard boiled eggs, stuffed and uncooked meats like chicken breast and pork chops, cold tuna and pasta salads.

What are the best selling frozen dinners? ›

Top 50 Scanned: Frozen Meal beta
Popularity
#1Meatloaf, with Mashed Potatoes Lean Cuisine250 Calories
#2Chicken Parmesan Lean Cuisine380 Calories
#3Sesame Chicken Lean Cuisine380 Calories
#4Creamy Rigatoni, with Broccoli & Chicken Smart Ones260 Calories
46 more rows

What makes a good frozen meal? ›

Emphasize quality

“The most important thing to look at is the ingredients list,” says Taylor. If you can find meals with fewer than seven ingredients, she says, you're more likely to be eating whole foods and less likely to be eating additives and preservatives.

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