My newest obsession is cooking in my crockpot! I do not mean "cooking" as much as thawing out!!! I have virtually become obsessed with prepping freezer meals! It's pretty much all I am making for dinners around here lately! I thought I would give a quick run down of my process, and a few tips, as well as share some of my favorite recipes!!! So here we go...Step 1 - Meal Plan! It is key to know what to purchase before you come home. The day I come home from the grocery store, I put everything away except what I will use to prep freezer food with!
Step 2 - Clean your area, and organize your supplies. I get out the box of gallon bags, a sharpie, and I lay my ingredients out in their meals!
Step 3 - Label Your Ziplocks. I write the meal name, the date I prepped it, and any additional cooking instructions on the bag. If you need to add 1 Cup of chicken stock on the day you make the meal, I write that on the bag! Most all recipes will call for some liquid to be added to the pot, so it is vital! I have asked my husband to throw a meal in the crockpot while I was running errands. He didn't know it needed chicken stock, and I didnt think to tell him! OOPS!
Step 4 - Start with the meat. Raw meat pretty much grosses out everyone! So, get it out of the way. Plus putting the meat in first allows the bags to prop up, and better mixing at the end! Work on each recipe until all meat is prepped. Then wash cutting boards, knives, and surfaces, so you are basically starting over with a clean area!
Step 5 - Veggies and any additional ingredients. Focus on each recipe, one at a time. Add all needed ingredients. BE SURE TO DOUBLE CHECK THE RECIPE. Most recipes are to be split between 2 bags. You will want to cut all ingredients in half for each bag if that is the case!
Step 6 - Zip bag shut, but push all air out. Mix up the ingredients with your hands, and lay the bag flat!
Step 7 - Lay in the freezer! Be sure that all bags are on the bottom shelf of your freezer. If a bag leaks... the raw meat will contaminate anything it is on top of!
Step 8 - Follow recipe instructions on cooking day! ENJOY!
It's really a pretty simple process. It can be time consuming, but it takes the hassle out of dinner time. I love that I can grab a bag, run a little water over the outside, break the contents into several pieces, and toss it into the crockpot! NO WORRIES... dinner will be ready in 4-6 hours! I haven't taken any pictures while doing this process because I am usually home alone. However, if I get the chance to borrow a photographer, I will add pictures later.
RECIPE TIME...
here are some of my no fail recipes that I go to for freezer meals!
Ingredients -
Medium - Large bag of carrots
Red Onion cut into large chunks
2 large cans of pineapple (undrained)
4 Garlic Cloves
4 Chicken Breasts
2 Cups Teriyaki Sauce
Split between 2 bags, seal mix, lay flat, and freeze.
Cooking Day Directions - add addt'l 1/4 cup teriyaki sauce. Cook low 6-7 hours, Serve over hot rice.
Sausage & Peppers
Ingredients -
6 Italian Sausage or Chicken Sausage
2 Green Peppers
1 Red Pepper
1 large red onion
4 cloves of garlic, minced
2 cans Italian diced tomatoes
2 Tbs Italian Seasoning
Split between 2 bags, seal, mix, lay flat, and freeze.
Cooking Day Directions - Add drizzle of olive oil, cook on low 6 hours, sever over hot noodles or fresh french bread with mozzarella cheese!
Savory Chicken
Ingredients -
4-6 chicken breasts
2 cans of stewed tomatoes
4 Tbs white wine or extra broth
1 large onion
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 Cup chicken broth
Salt and Pepper to taste
2 Bay leaves
4 Cups of broccoli (added while cooking)
Split all ingredients (leaving out the broccoli) between 2 bags, seal, mix, lay flat, and freeze.
Cooking Day Directions - Cook on low for 6-7 hours. Add broccoli during the last 30 mins, remove bay leaves before serving.
Honey Garlic Chicken
Ingredients -
4 Chicken Breasts
3 Garlic Cloves, minced
1 Tspn Dried Basil
1/2 Cup Soy Sauce
1/2 Cup Ketchup
1/3 Cup Honey
DO NO SPLIT RECIPE! Seal, mix, lay flat, and freeze.
Cooking Day Instructions - Cook on high 3-4 hours.
Newlywed Beef Tips
Ingredients -
2 lb beef stew meat
4 cans of Campbells French Onion Soup (found in the Cream of Soup section)
1 large package of frozen broccoli (added while cooking)
Split between 2 bags, seal, mix, lay flat, and freeze.
Cooking Day Instructions - Add 2 cups of water, cook low 6-7 hours. Add broccoli 30 mins before serving. Serve over hot egg noodles or rice. Top with parmesan.
Chicken Caccitore
Ingredients -
2-4 Chicken Breasts
1 large pkg button mushrooms, sliced (I leave this out)
2 6oz cans tomato paste
2 Tbs Italian Seasoning
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 Cups chicken broth
2 Yellow Squash
2 Zucchini
Split between 2 bags, seal, mix, lay flat, and freeze.
Cooking Day Instructions - Add 1 Cup Chicken broth, cook on low 6-7 hours. Sever over hot noodles or rice. Top with parmesan.
Chicken Broccoli Alfredo
Ingredients -
2-4 Chicken Breasts
2 16oz Jars of Light Alfredo Sauce
1 large green pepper chopped
1 16oz bag broccoli florets (add while cooking)
DO NOT SPLIT RECIPE. Seal, mix, lay flat, and freeze.
Cooking Day Instructions - Cook on low for 6 hours, add broccoli 30 mins before eating. Serve over fettuccine noodles with salad!
Cilantro Lime Chicken
Ingredients -
2-4 Chicken Breasts
Juice from 2 Limes
1 bunch fresh cilantro chopped
16oz bag frozen corn
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 red onion chopped
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 Tspn Cumin
Salt & Pepper to taste
DO NOT SPLIT RECIPE. Seal, mix, lay flat, and freeze.
Cooking Day Instructions - Cook on low for 8 hours, serve with tortillas and your choice of "taco toppings".
Happy Cooking!
- Jessica
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