Freezer Meals 101

Sriracha Fried Rice

It doesn’t have to be difficult to prepare a flavourful freezer meal for your family. With the help of a spicy sauce, you can turn a bland recipe into a delicious dish in an instant. That’s why this recipe for sriracha fried rice is always a hit. The combination of fluffy rice, delicious veggies, and spicy sauce come together to create an amazing dinner. And since you can put this easy recipe together ahead of time and store it in the freezer, it’s perfect for meal prepping, too!

I’m a fan of freezer meal rice dishes where everything in them is already cooked so that on the day of serving, all you need to do is reheat them. Some of our other preferred meals like this are our Spanish Rice Casserole, Chicken Fried Rice, and Chicken Asparagus Bake.

Sriracha Fried Rice Recipe

Ingredients:

4 cups cooked rice, chilled
3 cups chicken, cooked and shredded
2 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons oyster sauce
1 tablespoons sesame oil
2 tablespoons sriracha or more if you like spicy
3 eggs, beaten
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/4 cups peas, frozen

For day of serving:

green onion for garnish (optional)
extra Sriracha sauce for serving (optional)

Assembly instructions:

Cook the rice according to the package instructions, then place it in the refrigerator to chill.
Prepare the chicken and shred it, then set the meat aside.
Heat the butter in a nonstick pan over medium heat. Add the eggs and scramble until cooked through.
Combine the rice, chicken, and eggs in a large, resealable freezer bag. Then, add the soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, sriracha sauce, salt, onion, garlic, and peas to the bag.
Shake the bag to mix all the ingredients together, then seal the bag. Leaving a small opening at the end of the bag, remove excess air, then reseal. Store the bag flat in the freezer until ready to reheat.

Serving instructions:

Thaw the frozen rice in the refrigerator, then pour the contents of the bag into a large skillet.
Cook over medium low heat until warmed, stirring occasionally.
Garnish with sliced green onion before serving.
If desired, you can also top with additional sriracha.

Notes for this recipe:

To save time, you can use rotisserie chicken and shred it.
If you like spicy food, you can top this dish with extra sriracha sauce as you serve it.
This is a great all-in-one meal and works really well to take to potlucks.

Can You Make Fried Rice a Day Ahead?

Fried rice is one of my favourite freezer-friendly dinners because it can easily be made ahead and reheated. In fact, fried rice often tastes better after it’s had a chance to rest in the fridge or freezer!

If you make your fried rice a day ahead, it can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator until you’re ready to reheat it. Or you can store your cooked rice in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Can Fried Rice be Frozen and Reheated?

Preparing your sriracha fried rice ahead of time couldn’t be easier! That’s because all you have to do is pre-cook three of the ingredients – the rice, chicken, and eggs. Everything else can be tossed into the freezer bag and prepared the day of cooking.

The key to preparing freezer-friendly fried rice is making sure that the rice is cooked before storing it in the freezer. Freezing uncooked rice isn’t recommended, mainly because it doesn’t speed up the cooking process at all. Instead, make sure to prepare your rice according to the package instructions. You can use long grain rice, instant rice, or even brown rice for your recipe.

Can You Freeze Fried Rice with Egg and Chicken?

While preparing plain fried rice is a great way to whip up a make-ahead side dish for dinner, there’s no reason to skimp on the ingredients just because you’re making a freezer meal. Instead of just freezing your rice, you can prepare an entire meal all in one batch by adding some chicken, eggs, and vegetables.

To freeze your fried rice with chicken and eggs, it’s important that you take the time to cook the poultry and eggs before adding them to the bag with the rest of the ingredients. In addition to helping you speed up your preparation process at dinner time, cooking the chicken and eggs before freezing your rice will also prevent bacteria from growing on your ingredients.

How Do You Reheat Fried Rice?

Reheating your frozen fried rice couldn’t be simpler! Before you can cook the frozen rice, you need to make sure to give it plenty of time to thaw. The safest way to thaw the sriracha fried rice is to transfer it to the refrigerator the day before you plan to reheat it.

When the rice is thawed, pour the contents of your freezer bag into a large skillet. Sauté the rice in the skillet until the ingredients are cooked through, making sure to stir the rice occasionally to keep it from sticking. If you notice the rice sticking to the pan, simply add a small amount of oil to the skillet as you cook.

Is Frozen Rice Good for Fried Rice?

The beauty of this simple sriracha fried rice recipe is that you can use any type of rice you want. In addition to traditional long-grain rice, you can also speed up your prep work by using instant rice or frozen rice in this recipe. Just make sure to prepare the rice according to the instructions on the package, then transfer the cooked rice to the refrigerator to chill before you mix all your ingredients together.

Sriracha Fried Rice

Prep Time

35 mins

Cook Time

12 mins

Course: Main Course

Keyword: chicken, rice

Servings: 6

Ingredients

4 cups rice cooked and chilled
3 cups chicken cooked and shredded
1 1/4 cups peas frozen
1 onion diced
2 cloves garlic minced
2 1/2 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 1/2 Tbsp. oyster sauce
1 Tbsp. sesame oil
2 Tbsp. sriracha more if you like spicy food
3 eggs beaten
1 Tbsp. butter
1/2 tsp. salt divided

For day of serving:

sliced green onion for garnish optional
additional Sriracha sauce for serving optional

Instructions

Assembly instructions:

Cook the rice according to the package instructions, then place it in the refrigerator to chill.
Cook the chicken and shred it. (Using rotisserie chicken is a great time saver for this recipe if you prefer)
Heat the butter in a nonstick pan over medium heat. Add the eggs and scramble until cooked through.
Add the rice, chicken, eggs, soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, sriracha sauce, salt, onion, garlic, and peas to a large resealable freezer bag.
Shake the bag to combine, then seal. Remove excess air, then seal. Freeze.

Cooking instructions:

Thaw.
Pour the contents of the bag into a large skillet.
Cook over medium low heat until warmed, stirring occasionally.
Garnish with sliced green onion before serving if desired.

Hamburger Goulash (Freezer Friendly)

By Sharla

Finding hearty meals to fill up your family is a must – even on a busy weeknight. That’s why I love incorporating some easy pasta dinners into my weekly meal plan. With this simple make ahead hamburger goulash recipe, you can prepare a delicious one-pot meal for your family to enjoy, no matter how hectic your schedule is.

When you’re planning your dinner recipes, know that comfort food always hits the spot. Some of our other comfort food recipes include Chicken Noodle Soup Casserole, One Pot Taco Spaghetti, and good ole Macaroni and Cheese.

Hamburger Goulash Recipe

Ingredients:

8 ounces macaroni pasta
1 ½ pounds ground beef, browned
1 onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 green pepper, cubed
14 ounces diced tomatoes
2 bay leaves
3 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
16 ounces tomato sauce
3 teaspoon Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

Freezing instructions:

Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook the macaroni one to two minutes less than the package directions. Drain the water from the pasta and rinse it under cold water. Set the bowl aside.
Place the shredded cheese in a medium sized freezer bag and seal.
Add the browned beef and cooked macaroni to a large resealable freezer bag, along with the onion, green pepper, garlic, diced tomatoes, bay leaves, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
Seal the bag, leaving a small opening at the end. Remove excess air from the bag and seal completely. Staple the medium size bag of cheese to the large bag above the seal.
Place both bags flat in the freezer until you’re ready to cook the goulash.

Serving instructions:

Transfer the goulash ingredients to the refrigerator to thaw.
Place the contents of the freezer bag in a large skillet and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally. When the ingredients are heated through, top with the shredded cheese and serve.

Note that you’re slightly undercooking the pasta so that it doesn’t get mushy when it’s reheated. If you’re not planning to make this as a freezer meal and are serving it right away, then cook the macaroni according to the package directions.

Can You Freeze Hamburger Goulash?

Since all the ingredients in this hamburger goulash recipe are freezer friendly, it’s perfect for meal planning. And preparing all the ingredients for your dinner ahead of time makes cooking dinner so easy.

To freeze your hamburger goulash, start by cooking the pasta and ground beef. After that, all that’s left to do is combine all the ingredients together in a freezer-safe container. Goulash can be frozen in a larger freezer bag or in an airtight container until you’re ready to cook it.

When you’re ready to enjoy your goulash, start by thawing the ingredients in the refrigerator. Then, the recipe can be reheated on the stovetop.

What is the Difference Between Hungarian Goulash and American Goulash?

While both recipes feature the name “goulash,” the Hungarian and American versions of goulash are actually very different. Hungarian goulash is a thick stew made of a combination of meat and vegetables seasoned with spices. American goulash is typically made by combining ground beef and pasta with a tomato-based sauce.

How Long is American Goulash Good for in the Freezer?

Once you combine the ingredients for your goulash, it’s best to reheat your dinner within three months after freezing it. To ensure your recipe stays fresh in the freezer, make sure to store it in a freezer-safe container and remove as much excess air from the container to avoid freezer burn.

Before placing the goulash in the freezer, take the time to write the name of the recipe on the container, along with the date of freezing and the expected expiration date.

Can I Make Hamburger Goulash in the Crock Pot?

In addition to reheating your goulash on the stovetop, you can also reheat the frozen meal in the slow cooker. Just pour the contents of the freezer bag into the pot of your slow cooker and set the crockpot to cook on low for 3 to 4 hours.

Before serving, add the cheese to the slow cooker and stir to mix it in. Replace the lid on the top of the crockpot and continue cooking for five to 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted.

How Do You Store Leftover Goulash?

After enjoying your dinner, you may have a few leftovers. To store leftover goulash, transfer the pasta to an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator. The pasta will stay good for up to three days. The goulash can be reheated in the microwave or on the stovetop.

Hamburger Goulash Recipe Variations

Since this one pot recipe is quick and easy to prepare, it’s also easy to adjust. With the help of these recipe variations, you can change up the ingredients to suit your family’s preferences.

Use ground turkey. Try replacing the ground beef with ground turkey to reduce the fat content in your goulash. The same amount of ground turkey can be used in place of ground beef.
Try different types of pasta. Macaroni noodles are the classic option when making goulash, but you can use any type of pasta you have on hand. Penne, rigatoni, and small shells are all great options for this simple recipe.
Add some vegetables. Make your American goulash more like Hungarian goulash with the addition of some veggies. You can add diced carrots, peas, green beans, corn, or spinach to the pot with the hamburger and pasta to give your goulash a more authentic flavour.

Hamburger Goulash

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

15 mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: pasta, stew

Servings: 6

Ingredients

8 oz. macaroni pasta
1 ½ lbs. ground beef browned
1 onion finely chopped
2 cloves garlic minced
1 green pepper cubed
14 oz. diced tomatoes
2 bay leaves
3 Tbsp. ketchup
1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
16 oz. tomato sauce
3 tsp. Italian seasoning
½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. pepper
1 cup cheddar cheese shredded

Instructions

Assembly instructions:

Bring water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook the macaroni one to two minutes less than the package directions. Drain the water from the pasta and rinse it under cold water. Set the bowl aside.
Place the shredded cheese in a medium sized freezer bag and seal.
Add the browned beef and cooked macaroni to a large resealable freezer bag, along with the onion, green pepper, garlic, diced tomatoes, bay leaves, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
Seal, remove excess air, and seal. Staple the medium size bag of cheese to the large bag above the seal.
Freeze.

Cooking instructions:

Thaw.
Place the contents of the freezer bag in a large skillet and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally. When the ingredients are heated through, top with the shredded cheese and serve.

One Pot Taco Spaghetti

By Sharla

The flavours in this one pot taco spaghetti are incredible! What could be better than a freezer meal that’s also a one pot recipe?!

Pasta is always a great option when you’re looking for a quick and easy dinner idea to serve your family. But serving plain spaghetti week after week can get boring fast! With the help of this easy one pot taco spaghetti recipe, your family can enjoy a flavourful pasta dinner with just a few minutes of prep work. But the best part about this simple recipe is that you can make it ahead of time to speed up the cooking process even more.

Make ahead pasta recipes are total comfort food for me. I often make our classic spaghetti sauce when I make freezer meals, but I also like to infuse Mexican flavours into our pastas like our Mexican Manicotti Bake, so I’ve been wanting to try a taco spaghetti of some kind for awhile. This recipe did not disappoint. It will be one that we make again and again!

One Pot Taco Spaghetti Recipe

Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef, browned
1/2 cup onion, finely minced
4 tablespoons taco seasoning
10 ounces Rotel
1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

For day of cooking:

8 ounces spaghetti noodles, uncooked
3 cups water

Freezing Instructions:

Add the browned ground beef, chopped onions, taco seasoning, and can of Rotel to a large resealable freezer bag. Seal the bag, leaving a small opening in the corner. Remove excess air from the bag and seal it completely.
Put the shredded cheese in a medium freezer bag and seal the bag. Staple the two bags together above the seal.
Place the bags flat in the freezer and store until you’re ready to eat.

Serving Instructions:

Transfer the taco meat mixture to the refrigerator to thaw overnight.
When you’re ready to start cooking, place the contents of the bag, water, and uncooked spaghetti noodles into a very large flat-bottomed skillet. Cook over high heat until the mixture comes to a boil.
Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, and cover the pan. Allow the ingredients to simmer for 15 minutes, until the pasta is tender and the liquid has reduced.
When the pasta is cooked through, remove the lid from the pan and sprinkle with cheese. Stir to melt the cheese into the pasta and serve immediately.

Can You Freeze Taco Spaghetti?

This one pot recipe is perfect for freezer cooking! That’s because you can prepare most of the recipe ahead of time and heat it up when you’re ready to serve your dinner.

The best way to freeze taco spaghetti is to compile all the ingredients in the recipe, leaving the pasta and water out. Add the sauce and meat ingredients to a freezer-friendly bag or container and store the mixture in the freezer until you’re ready to prepare it.

On cooking day, combine the sauce ingredients with the pasta and water in a pot and cook everything together.

While most of the ingredients in this taco spaghetti recipe are freezer friendly, it’s best to cook the pasta on the day you plan on serving your dinner. That’s because spaghetti noodles can become mushy and get stuck together when they’re stored in the freezer. Plus, adding them on the day of cooking adds to the one-pot fun!

How Long is Taco Spaghetti Good for in the Freezer?

After freezing your taco spaghetti ingredients, the mixture will stay good in the freezer for up to four months. Make sure to store your ingredients in an air-tight container or freezer bag and remove as much excess air from the bag as possible.

Before placing the container in the freezer, take the time to write the name of the recipe on the bag, along with the date you freeze it and the expected expiration date.

To safely thaw your frozen taco ingredients, transfer the container to the refrigerator the day before you plan to cook it. This will give the ingredients time to unfreeze at a safe temperature.

One Pot Taco Spaghetti Recipe Variations

Since this freezer friendly recipe is so easy to make, it’s also simple to customize! Try these recipe substitution ideas to create a delicious dinner that’s perfect for your family.

Use ground turkey or chicken instead of ground beef. To reduce the fat content in your taco spaghetti, try replacing the ground beef with ground turkey or chicken instead. You can use the same amount of ground turkey or chicken in place of ground beef and prepare the recipe as written.
Add some peppers. Do you prefer to eat spicy tacos? Try mixing some peppers into your ground beef as you’re cooking it to take the spice level up a notch. You can mix in some chopped jalapeños, poblano peppers, or diced chilies to the meat to increase the spiciness in your taco spaghetti. Alternately, you can sprinkle it with red chili flakes before serving.
Mix in more cheese. Add more flavour and creaminess to your spaghetti with the help of more cheese. Mixing in some cream cheese or Velveeta after the pasta is cooked is a great way to make your taco sauce thicker and creamier.
Add some toppings. Another simple way to enhance the flavour of your taco spaghetti is with a few toppings. Sprinkling some chopped green onion or fresh cilantro over the top of your pasta will add to the Mexican flavours. Or add some creaminess with a dollop of sour cream over the top of your dinner.

One Pot Taco Spaghetti

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

25 mins

Course: Main Course

Keyword: one pot, pasta

Servings: 4

Ingredients

1 lb. ground beef browned
1/2 cup onion finely minced
4 Tbsp. taco seasoning
10 oz. Rotel
1/2 cup cheddar cheese shredded

For day of cooking:

8 ounces spaghetti noodles uncooked
3 cups water

Instructions

Assembly Instructions:

Add the browned ground beef, chopped onions, taco seasoning, and can of Rotel to a large resealable freezer bag. Seal and remove excess air.
Put the shredded cheese in a medium freezer bag and seal the bag. Staple the two bags together above the seal.
Freeze.

Cooking Instructions:

Thaw.
When you’re ready to start cooking, place the contents of the large bag, water, and uncooked spaghetti noodles into a very large flat-bottomed skillet. Cook over high heat until the mixture comes to a boil.
Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, and cover the pan. Allow the ingredients to simmer for 15 minutes, until the pasta is tender and the liquid has reduced.
When the pasta is cooked through, remove the lid and sprinkle with cheese. Stir to melt the cheese into the pasta and serve immediately.

Jamaican Jerk Chicken Recipe (Freezer Friendly)

By Sharla

Cooking meat on the grill is a great way to enjoy the warm summer months. That means you’re going to need to add some grill recipes to your meal plan rotation! Luckily, it’s easy to prepare your grilling recipes ahead of time with the help of your freezer! With this freezer friendly Jamaican jerk chicken recipe, you can enjoy tons of island flavour from the comfort of your home using your grill, slow cooker, or your oven.

This recipe has long been one of our go-tos. The flavours are insanely good and it’s so fast to assemble. Whenever we do one of our big marathon freezer meal sessions, we like to choose several chicken dump style recipes such as this one because they are done in no time at all.

Other chicken dump style recipes we love:

Jamaican Jerk Chicken Recipe

Ingredients:

8-10 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1/3 cup chopped green onion
1/4 cup lime juice
2 Tablespoons olive oil
2 Tablespoons soya sauce
2 Tablespoons liquid honey
2 Tablespoons Jamaican Jerk Spice

Freezing instructions:

Add the chicken thighs to a large resealable bag, then top the chicken with the green onion, lime juice, olive oil, soya sauce, honey, and Jamaican jerk spice.
Squish the ingredients together inside the bag to mix the sauce ingredients and coat the chicken.
Remove excess air from the bag and seal. Place the bag flat in the freezer until you’re ready to start cooking.

Serving instructions:

These Jamaican jerk chicken thighs can be baked, cooked in the slow cooker, or grilled. No matter which method you use, start by thawing the chicken in the refrigerator until the thighs are no longer frozen.
To prepare the jerk chicken on the grill, start by preheating the BBQ to medium. Remove the chicken from the bag and discard the remaining marinade. Oil the grill and place the chicken on the BBQ to cook for 15 minutes, flipping every 5 minutes until no longer pink in center.
To bake the jerk chicken thighs, preheat the oven to 350. Place the chicken thighs in a baking dish and discard the remaining marinade. Cook for one hour.
To prepare the chicken in the crock pot, place the thighs in the slow cooker and discard the leftover marinade. Cook the chicken on low for 3-5 hours.

What is in Jamaican Jerk Seasoning?

Making your own Jamaican jerk seasoning is quick and easy when you know what ingredients are used to prepare it! If you’re hoping to whip up your own jerk seasoning for this quick freezer recipe, you’ll need:

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon allspice
½ teaspoon pepper
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon thyme
½ teaspoon nutmeg

Combine all the spices in a small bowl and stir until they’re well combined. Then, add the mixture to your chicken to create a delicious homemade jerk chicken recipe.

Can You Marinate Chicken and Then Freeze It?

Adding marinade to your chicken is a great way to enhance the flavour of the meat. But keeping the chicken in a marinade too long can break down the meat. That might make you wonder whether it’s a good idea to store your frozen chicken in a marinade.

The good news is that it’s totally safe to marinate your chicken before freezing it. Once the marinade and chicken are frozen, the marinating process stops. That means your chicken will be safe until it’s ready to be cooked.

In fact, adding sauce, seasoning, and marinade to your chicken before freezing it is one of the best ways to speed up dinner time prep work! Simply add the marinade to the bag with your chicken and place it in the freezer. When you’re ready to cook, remove the bag from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge. While the chicken is thawing, it will begin to soak up the marinade flavours, ensuring your jerk chicken is packed with Jamaican flavour when you’re ready to start cooking.

How Long Can You Keep Marinated Chicken in the Freezer?

Since the marinade will freeze around your chicken, it’s safe to store the poultry in the freezer for an extended period of time. Chicken is typically safe to freeze for up to eight weeks before it needs to be cooked. Make sure to note the date you place the chicken in the freezer and the approximate expiration date on the bag before you freeze it so you’ll know when you should cook the chicken before it goes bad.

Can You Freeze Cooked Jerk Chicken?

The beauty of freezer cooking with chicken is that you can store your chicken in the freezer raw or cooked! Combining the raw chicken with the marinade in the freezer is a quick way to meal prep. But if you’re looking to speed up your prep work at dinner time, freezing cooked jerk chicken is a great idea.

After the chicken is prepared, allow it to cool to room temperature. After that, you can transfer it to a freezer bag or freezer safe container. When you’re ready to eat your frozen jerk chicken, allow it to thaw in the refrigerator. Then, you can reheat the chicken in the oven or microwave.

Jamaican Jerk Chicken

Prep Time

5 mins

Cook Time

17 mins

Course: Main Course

Keyword: chicken dump

Servings: 6

Ingredients

8-10 chicken thighs boneless, skinless
1/3 cup green onion chopped
1/4 cup lime juice
2 Tbsp. olive oil
2 Tbsp. soya sauce
2 Tbsp. liquid honey
2 Tbsp. Jamaican Jerk Spice

Instructions

Assembly instructions:

Add the chicken thighs to a large resealable freezer bag, then add the green onion, lime juice, olive oil, soya sauce, honey, and Jamaican jerk spice.
Squish the ingredients together inside the bag to mix the sauce ingredients and coat the chicken.
Remove excess air and seal. Freeze.

BBQ Cooking instructions:

Thaw.
Preheat the BBQ to medium. Remove the chicken from the bag and discard the remaining marinade. Oil the grill and place the chicken on the BBQ to cook for 15 minutes, flipping every 5 minutes until no longer pink in center.

Oven Cooking Instructions:

Thaw.
To bake the jerk chicken thighs, preheat the oven to 350. Place the chicken thighs in a baking dish. Cook for one hour.

Slow Cooker Instructions:

Thaw.
Place the thighs in the slow cooker. Cook the chicken on low for 3-5 hours.

Thai Chili Chicken Lettuce Wraps (Freezer Friendly)

By Sharla

Freezer cooking is a great way to save time cooking on a busy weeknight. But it isn’t always easy to find healthy freezer meals. That’s why we love this recipe for Thai chicken lettuce wraps! Made with a low-carb filling and served in a healthy lettuce boat, this delicious dinner is sure to be a hit. The filling is freezer-friendly, making them a quick and easy way to serve a healthy meal for your family.

There was a restaurant where I would often order lettuce wraps. Last year, they drastically changed their recipe and I don’t enjoy them anymore. So I set about trying to figure out a way to make them at home. And of course, I had to make a freezer meal version of the filling so that I could always have them on hand when the craving strikes.

Thai Chili Chicken Lettuce Wraps Recipe

Ingredients:

10 ounces ground chicken, cooked
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 onion, diced
1/2 cup roasted cashew nuts
1/4 cup carrots, peeled and sliced or in matchsticks
1/2 cup red pepper, diced
1 1/2 tablespoons fish sauce
1 ½ tablespoons soy sauce

For the Sauce:

1/3 cup Thai sweet chili sauce
1 Tbsp. lime juice
1 tsp. sesame seeds

For serving:

Lettuce leaves (Romaine or butter)
Steam Fried Noodles (uncooked)
Cilantro (optional)

Freezing instructions:

Add the cooked ground chicken, garlic, onion, cashews, carrots, red pepper, soy sauce, and fish sauce to a large resealable freezer bag. Remove the excess air from the bag and seal.
In a separate medium freezer bag, add the sauce ingredients to a medium size freezer bag.
Staple the medium bag to the large bag above the seal. Place both bags in the freezer.

Serving instructions:

When ready to serve, thaw both the chicken and sauce in the refrigerator until no longer frozen.
Pour the ingredients in the large bag into a skillet and cook over medium heat until heated through.
Spoon the mixture onto a lettuce leaf.
Top with crunchy noodles, sauce and if desired, cilantro.

Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps Recipe Tips & Tricks

Since this quick and easy freezer recipe is so simple to prepare, you can adjust the ingredients to add even more flavour to your healthy dinner. Try these recipe ideas as you’re meal prepping to create a delicious dinner for your family:

Add more veggies. There are a variety of different vegetables you can mix into your Thai chicken filling before freezing it. In addition to the veggies listed in the recipe, try mixing in some cabbage, onions, celery, bok choy, bean sprouts, zucchini, broccoli, or cabbage.
Try different cuts of meat. Ground chicken is a quick and easy option for this flavourful recipe, but it’s not the only choice. Ground turkey or pork can also be used. Or finely chopped chicken breast can be substituted for the ground chicken.
Serve the chicken over rice. If you’re not concerned about the carb count in your dinner, this Thai chicken recipe can also be served over rice. While the chicken is cooking, prepare the rice according to the package instructions. Then, serve the chicken over the top of the rice and topped with sauce.
Make it a salad. Lettuce wraps are perfect for grabbing a quick bite, but you can also turn your Thai chicken lettuce boats into a delicious salad. Instead of serving the chicken on top of full lettuce leaves, simply chop the lettuce and add the chicken on top.

What is the Best Lettuce for Lettuce Wraps?

There are no rules to follow when it comes to making lettuce wraps. That means you can use any type of lettuce you like to make this low carb dinner!

While any type of lettuce will taste delicious with the Thai chicken filling, there are a few lettuce varieties that work better than others for creating a “boat” for your filling. Large leaf varieties, like bib lettuce or romaine hearts, are the best option for easy eating.

How Do You Cut Lettuce for a Lettuce Wrap?

Turning your head of lettuce into lettuce boats is so easy! If you’re using a large-leaf variety, like bib or romaine, simply cut off the end of the lettuce. After that, you can peel the leaves off and use them as cups to hold your Thai chicken. Just make sure to rinse and dry the lettuce leaves before serving them.

Can You Freeze Lettuce?

There are so many delicious vegetables that are perfect for freezer cooking, but lettuce isn’t one of them. Since lettuce is made of mostly water, freezing the leaves will cause the lettuce to wilt as it thaws.

So, while the majority of this Thai chicken lettuce wrap recipe is freezer friendly, you’ll need to make sure to have fresh lettuce on hand when you’re ready to serve your dinner.

How Do You Store Thai Chicken?

After following the cooking instructions, you may have some leftover lettuce wrap filling. While I wouldn’t recommend refreezing the leftovers, you can store them in the refrigerator to enjoy later. Just place the leftover meat and sauce in airtight containers and place them in the fridge. They’ll stay good for up to three days when stored properly.

When you’re ready to eat the leftovers, they can be reheated in a skillet on the stovetop or in the microwave.

Some of our other low carb freezer meals:

Thai Chili Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

15 mins

Course: Main Course

Keyword: ground chicken

Servings: 4

Ingredients

10 oz. ground chicken cooked
2 cloves garlic minced
1/4 onion diced
1/2 cup roasted cashew nuts
1/4 cup carrots peeled and sliced or in matchsticks
1/2 cup red pepper diced
1 1/2 Tbsp. fish sauce
1 ½ Tbsp. soy sauce

For the Sauce:

1/3 cup Thai sweet chili sauce
1 Tbsp. lime juice
1 tsp. sesame seeds

For the day of serving:

Lettuce leaves Romaine or butter
Steam Fried Noodles uncooked
Cilantro optional

Instructions

Assembly instructions:

Add the cooked ground chicken, garlic, onion, cashews, carrots, red pepper, soy sauce, and fish sauce to a large resealable freezer bag. Remove the excess air and seal.
In a separate medium freezer bag, add the sauce ingredients.
Staple the medium bag to the large bag above the seal. Freeze.

Cooking instructions:

Thaw.
Pour the ingredients in the large bag into a skillet and cook over medium heat until heated through.
Spoon the mixture onto a lettuce leaf.
Top with crunchy noodles, sauce and if desired, cilantro.