10 Freezer Crock-Pot Meals
About a month ago I decided to really start getting serious about what I was eating. I’ve been working twice a week with a trainer and running regularly, but we all know by now that you can’t out run a bad diet.
One of my girl friends and I had just started attending a workout boot camp together, and we were discussing our desires to change the way we eat. We both decided that a big problem we had was preparing ahead. It felt like every day dinner time would roll around and I would stare in to the pantry trying to decide what to make. Later that night she sent me a pin for some make ahead meal ideas, and we decided to come up with this list of 10 Freezer Crock-Pot Meals!
- Taco Chili
- Chicken Chili
- Cheeseburger Soup
- Sausage, Peppers, & Onions
- Southwest Chicken
- Beef Stew
- Honey Sesame Chicken
- Cilantro Lime Chicken
- Chicken Fajitas
- Southwest Flank Steak
I do all of my grocery shopping at Kroger and was able to get everything I needed for right at $100. She shops at Target and Sprouts, and spent a little more. Keep that in mind when you look at the grocery list and map out which items you want to get where. We purchased all organic produce, meats, and most canned goods. You can save even more by shopping sales and buying bulk. Also, read over the recipes and make sure you have the spices and pantry staples on hand before heading out to the store.
She and I spent one afternoon prepping all of the meals. We split it up to make it easier- she chopped veggies, while I trimmed the chicken breasts. She assembled the bags, while I browned the meat. In just a few hours we each had 10 meals ready to go. I definitely recommend doing this with a friend! (Remember to bring a large cooler to take all of your meals home!) Also: write on the bags with permanent maker before you get started and keep the trashcan nearby. It was a lot easier to clean as we went and reset between each bag.
We also found it a lot easier to do it in groups- raw chicken, raw beef, cooked beef. We used disposable gloves and got a new pair each time we switched between different meats.
Download the Recipes and Grocery List.
I’m super excited about the fact that I have TEN days worth of dinners sitting in my freezer RIGHT NOW.
Taco Chili and Cheeseburger soup sound delicious. I’m always looking for new freezer meals. They really help!
I realize that the majority of the world loves onions and tomatoes but I am one who doesn’t. It would be great to see some recipes not using these two items.
I hear you! I’m not a huge fan of either, but my family likes them. The trick to the onions is to use half of what the recipe calls for. Sometimes I chop them really TINY so I won’t notice them, OR I leave them in really big chunks so that I still get the flavor, but can easily remove them after cooking.
How long can these meals be stored in the freezer before cooking them?
I LOVE crockpot cooking! It makes my life a million times easier. I was sick all this week and unable to get my crockpot meal prep done. we paid for it BIG time by having the hubs stop for meals on his way home from work. Hopefully this will get us back into routine!
I have to do this soon! Thanks for the recipes!
What a fabulous idea – I really need to get together with some friends and do this! There are many days I’m scrambling around trying to figure out what we should eat that day, and then I usually make a poor choice about it 🙂 This would alleviate that problem for sure!
Thanks for sharing these recipes! I make freezer meals once a month, but this last month has been crazy busy, so I am making your list on New Year’s Day. Big plans for organized 2015!
Just finished making these. It took 2.5 hours from start to finish, including all chopping and clean up. We did go ahead and used diced cubed hashbrowns for the potatoes so we could freeze them in the bags. We are excited to try some of these new recipes.
Do you have any other downloads like this available? We are learning how to eat healthier as well as how to cook on a budget. Thanks in advance.
why can i not open the last 4 recipes
Hi Ruth Ann, I haven’t posted the last four recipes separately. They are included in the printable recipes and grocery list document though (located at the end of this post)
Hi! Can you freeze any already cook leftovers?
This is amazing! Thank you! The link at the bottom with the condensed shopping list is great! You’re my new, unofficial best friend!
I’m a working mom with a toddler (and plans to expand our family) and I’ve never used the crockpot, but have always wanted to. These meals seem so easy and a great place to start! Thanks again!!
Thank you! This is awesome! I am a single mom with two high school daughters. I work two jobs, and I use the crock pot often. These recipes and the shopping list helps me with my budget AND cooking! Thank you thank you thank you!
Peggy
hi i am trying make chicken fajits it says 3 bell peppers is tthat the green ones and it says shred juice what does that mean
Hi Susan- you can use whatever variety of bell peppers you prefer (yellow, green, red). Shred in the juice just means don’t drain the juice before shredding the chicken, shred it all up together in the crockpot. Hope this helps!
thinks your advice does help and i will let you know how it comes out do you have any desserts you can cook in crock pot my oven is not working thank you for your help and recipes.
These meals all look great! I have a question about the fajitas, do I need to put any sort of liquid in the crock pot with all the stuff? Thanks!
Hi Casey- no I don’t add any liquid. The chicken will create it’s own juices.
Do you have more meals like this? It was so easy and my picky family ate them. If you have another group like this I would make them both for the whole month or to switch off.
Thank You
Thanks, just found the link, it was an up scroll for me!
I am so excited to make these!! For the beef stew, are the garlic cloves left whole or minced? Also, I count 6 whole onions plus 1/2 cup, which makes close to 7 for the list. Thanks so much for sharing this!