14 Freezer Meals in a Snap

As a teacher, I'll be going back to work next week. Where did summer vacation go?? I knew I needed to get organized so weeknights won't be too crazy for us. So, I took some of my favorite recipes and make them freezer-ready. It will be a snap to sit them out the night before to thaw, and then either throw them in the crockpot for the day or into the oven when I get home. Yippee for easy!

Since it's just the three of us- my hubby, my one-year old, and myself- I was able to split many of the casserole-style meals into two or even three meals. Dollar Tree has these great 5x7 foil pans that come with lids- 3 for $1! So the cheesy ham and potato casserole and pizza pie I split into three pans. Also, the scalloped potatoes with ham and broccoli, rice, and chicken casserole were split into 8x8 pans instead of a 9x13. For the sake of simplicity in the recipes, I'll let you divide them if you want to and not include that in the directions. Of course the crockpot meals are just in a gallon freezer bag until it's time to thaw and cook.

I'll list all the meals, then give directions for each. These are simple meals with everyday items, and I tried to include many meats instead of just chicken. I hope they make your life easier! 

1. Broccoli, rice, and chicken casserole
2. Scalloped potatoes with ham casserole
3. Pizza pie 
4. Lasagna
5. Cheesy ham and potato casserole
6. Sloppy joes- ground turkey
7. Tacos- ground turkey
8. Sweet n sour turkey meatballs 
9. Shredded beef sandwiches
10. Veggie beef stew 
11. Chicken teriyaki 
12. Pineapple salsa chicken
13. Pork stew with veggies
14. BBQ pulled pork

Before you begin, be sure to check all your ingredients and have disposable pans or freezer bags ready. To save time in assembly, think about what needs to pre-cook (like potatoes in the scalloped potatoes, spaghetti noodles, rice, and ground turkey) and start those going while you chop away at everything else. Another thing, not all these recipes include the vegetable for the meal, so be sure to keep veggies handy to serve with the meal. For me, this means pulling a can of green beans from my home-canned stash or thawing some frozen veggies from my garden. 

1. Broccoli, rice, and chicken casserole

4 cups cooked rice (prepare 2 cups dry according to package directions)

2 cans cream of chicken soup 

2 cups milk

1/4 cup melted butter 

1 tsp celery salt 

2 cans canned chicken (or cook and shred 2 chicken breasts)

1 bag frozen broccoli

salt and pepper to taste

Cook rice according to package directions to yield 4 cups cook rice. Meanwhile, combine soup, milk, butter, and spices. Mix cooked rice, broccoli, and chicken in disposable 9x13 pan and pour sauce over top of  rice layer. Cover with foil and label. Thaw the night before and cook at 350 until warm in center, about 45 minutes. 

2. Scalloped potatoes with ham casserole

2 cans cream of mushroom soup 

2 cups milk

1/4 cup melted butter 

2 cups chopped ham (or turkey ham, or sausage) 

8-10 potatoes, cut into slices

salt, pepper, and minced onion to taste

Wash potatoes and cut into 1/2 inch slices. Boil in large saucepan until nearly tender and drain. Meanwhile, combine soup, milk, butter, and spices. Arrange potatoes and ham in disposable 9x13 pan and cover with foil. Label. Thaw the night before and cook at 350 until browned and warm in center, about 45 minutes. 

3. Pizza pie 

2 eggs 

2 cups mozzarella cheese 

1 cup parmesan cheese

1 cup cottage cheese 

1 cup melted butter 

1 package pepperoni

1 lb spaghetti noodles, cooked

2 jars pizza sauce 

Combine eggs, butter, parmesan, and 1 cup mozzarella in large bowl. Add noodle carefully. Layer noodle mixture into 9x13 disposable pan. Layer pepperoni pieces on top of noodles. Cover pepperoni layer with pizza sauce and top with 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Cover with foil, label, and freeze. Thaw overnight and cook at 350 until warm in center, about 45 minutes. 

4. Lasagna- follow your favorite recipe- or- 

1 package whole wheat lasagna noodles, uncooked 

2 large cans spaghetti sauce

2 cups water 

3 cups cottage cheese

2 cups parmesan cheese

1 cup mozzarella cheese 

2 eggs 

1 teaspoon garlic

1 teaspoon parsley 

Mix water and spaghetti sauce (water will absorb so you don't need to cook the noodles). Mix cheeses, eggs, and spices. Alternate layers of noodles, sauce, and cheese three times. Top with additional mozzarella cheese. Cover with foil and freeze. Thaw overnight and cook at 350 until done in center, about 45-60 minutes. 

5. Cheesy ham and potato casserole

2 cans cheddar soup 

2 cups milk

1/4 cup melted butter 

2 cups chopped ham (or turkey ham) 

1 bag tater tots

salt, pepper, and parsley to taste

Mix soup, milk, butter, and spices in large bowl. Add tater tots and ham. Place in disposable 9x13 pan and cover with foil. Label. Thaw the night before and cook at 350 until browned and warm in center, about 45 minutes. 

6. Sloppy joes- ground turkey

1 lb ground turkey

1 cup ketchup

3/4 cup brown sugar

red pepper flakes (optional)

Brown ground turkey. Drain if needed. Add ketchup and brown sugar to ground turkey in pan and stir until dissolved. Taste test for the right amount of sweet or tartness that you desire, adding red pepper flakes for a kick if you like. Cool enough to handle and seal in quart size freezer bag. Label. Thaw and serve on buns or with tortilla chips and cheddar cheese. 

7. Tacos- ground turkey

1 lb ground turkey

1 package taco seasoning 

Brown ground turkey. Drain if needed. Make taco sauce according to package directions. Cool enough to handle and seal in quart size freezer bag. Label. Thaw and serve with tacos or tortilla chips and your favorite toppings. 

8. Sweet n sour turkey meatballs 

30-40 pre-cooked meatballs (I get the turkey meatballs from Aldi)

1 cup Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce 

1 can chunk pineapple, drained (save juice for chicken teriyaki recipe later) 

1 cup ketchup or 1 can tomato sauce 

Combine BBQ sauce, ketchup, and chunk pineapple in gallon freezer bag. Add meatballs. Label. Thaw and heat in microwave or in a pot and serve over rice. 

9. Shredded beef sandwiches1-2 lbs beef stew meat 

1 cup Italian salad dressing

1 package dry onion soup mix (or 1 tablespoon minced onion) 

2 tablespoons yellow mustard

1 beef bullion cube

garlic, salt, pepper to taste 

Combine all ingredients in a gallon freezer bag and mix. Label and freeze. Thaw the night before and cook on low in crock pot 6-8 hours. Shred beef for sandwiches and serve on onion buns (or whatever buns or bread you have). 

10. Veggie beef stew 1-2 lbs stew meat

3-4 chopped, cubed potatoes

1/2 bag baby carrots

1 cup (or can) green beans 

1 cup (or can) corn 

2 pints tomato juice or stewed tomatoes (I used my home-canned juice)

1 beef bullion cube 

2 bay leaves

1 tablespoon minced onion

salt and pepper 

Chop stew meat if needed. Combine all ingredients in gallon freezer bag, seal, and label. Thaw the night before and cook on low in crock pot 6-8 hours. Serve with bread or biscuits. 

11. Chicken teriyaki 2-4 chicken breasts

6 oz pineapple juice

1/4 cup soy sauce

2 tablespoons honey

1 tablespoon ginger

1 tablespoon garlic

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Combine all but chicken in a gallon freezer bag and mix. Add chicken. Label and freeze. Thaw overnight and cook on low in crock pot 6-8 hours. Serve over rice. 

12. Pineapple salsa chicken

2-4 chicken breasts

1 can pineapple salsa

Combine salsa and chicken in a gallon freezer bag. Label and freeze. Thaw overnight and cook in crock pot on low 6-8 hours. Serve over rice. 

13. Pork stew with veggies

1-2 lbs pork stew meat or country style boneless ribs, cut into cubes

1 chicken bullion cube

1 cup water 

1 teaspoon marjoram

1 teaspoon parsley

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

5-6 potatoes, cubed

1/2 bag baby carrots

Combine water, bullion, and spices in a gallon freezer bag. Add pork, potatoes, and carrots. Seal, label, and freeze. Thaw overnight and cook in crock pot on low 6-8 hours. Serve with cornbread or biscuits. 

14. BBQ pulled pork

1-2 lbs pork stew meat or country style boneless ribs

1 cup Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce (or your favorite sauce)

Combine pork and BBQ sauce in a gallon freezer bag. Label and freeze. Thaw the night before and cook in crock pot on low 6-8 hours. Serve on buns. 

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There you go!! Let me know what you think, and if you have questions leave them below!