Freezer Meal Packets

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I realized that I’ve never shared how I make my freezer meal packets! It’s one reason I started AMFT, to share with my friends how I make my freezer packets. They are always hounding me to share the details with them.

For under $200, I made 14 suppers, 20 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 20 smoothie packets. And it took under 3 hours.

I know this is all the rage now…freezer crockpot meals…but I don’t just put together the ingredients for what goes in the slow cooker or on the grill. I make complete meal packets. It really makes putting a weeknight supper on the table FAST! I know my family is so busy (with scouts, martial arts, piano, tutoring, and more) that having time to put together a meal can be challenging.

I love knowing that when I pull one of my packets out of the freezer that it has everything I need in it. Why go to all this effort? There have been too many times when I had a partial meal kit in the freezer and just needed to add a loaf of french bread, a head of broccoli, or whatever. Then life happens and I don’t get to the store…then I can’t make my meal so we end up eating sandwiches or going out.

Here are a few recipes that are perfect in the slow cooker (Note: these serve a family of 4…2 adults and 2 young kids):

Sweedish Meatballs
20-25 frozen meatballs (about 1 inch sized)
1 bottle chili sauce
2 tbls brown sugar
1 can cranberry sauce
prepared mashed potates (enough for 4 servings)

Place first 4 ingredients in a zip top bag. Place prepared mashed potatoes in a second bag. Put first bag inside the second. Label and freeze.

Day of: Dump meatball bag into slow cooker and cook on low for 3-4 hours. Reheat mashed potatoes.

 

BBQ Chicken Legs
16 chicken legs
1 white onion, sliced
1 bottle BBQ sauce
1 head broccoli

Divide equally into 2 bags the first 3 ingredients. Wash and cut broccoli off the stem. Place broccoli  equally into 2 smaller bags. Place small bags inside larger bags. Label and freeze.

Day of: Dump chicken into slow cooker and cook on high for 4-6 hours. Steam or roast broccoli.

 

Sausage & Peppers
8 Italian Sausages, cut in half
2 green bell peppers, chunked
1 red bell pepper, chunked
1 large red onion, chunked
4 cloves garlic, minced (about 2 tsps total)
2 cans diced tomatoes
2 tbls Italian seasoning
1 loaf french bread
2 cups mozzarella cheese

Split first 7 ingredients equally into 2 gallon freezer bags. Cut french bread in half and place into 2 smaller quart sized bags. Split cheese and place in two small bags as well. Put bread and cheese bags into the larger bag. Label and Freeze.

Day of: Cook sausage and pepper in slow cooker for 6 hours. Serve with warmed bread and cheese.

 

Savory Chicken
6 chicken breasts
2 cans stewed tomatoes
1 large white onion, sliced
4 cloves garlic, minced (about 2 tsps total)
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
2 bay leaves
1 tsp Italian seasoning
salt & pepper
3-4 cups broccoli, washed and cut
2 cups rice, uncooked

Split all ingredients equally (except broccoli and rice) into 2 gallon freezer bags. Place broccoli equally in 2 quart sized freezer bags. Divide rice equally into 2 quart bags. Place a broccoli and rice bag into each of the chicken bags. Label and freeze.

Day of: Cook chicken on low in slow cooker for 6-8 hours. Add broccoli during last 30 minutes. Cook rice. Remove bay leaf before serving.

 

Teriyaki Chicken
1 lb bag of baby carrots
1 red onion, chunked
2 cans of pineapple chunks, undrained
4 cloves garlic, minced (about 2 tsps total)
6 chicken breasts
1 cup Teriyaki sauce
2 cups rice, uncooked

Split ingredients into 2 gallon freezer bags (except rice). Split rice into 2 quart sized bags. Place one rice bag into each chicken bag. Label and freeze.

Day of: Cook chicken on low for 6-8 hours (additional liquid may be needed). Prepare rice.
Chicken Cacciatore
6 chicken breasts
1 large package sliced mushrooms
2-6 oz cans tomato paste
2 tbl Italian seasoning
4 cloves garlic, minced (about 2 tsps total)
2 cups chicken broth
egg noodles

Split ingredients (except noodles) into 2 gallon freezer bags. Freeze and label. (Note: I don’t add the egg noodles to this one, because they would get broken, but I do make sure to buy them when I am getting ready to make these).

Day of: Cook on low 6-8 hours (additional liquid may be needed). Cook noodles.