Freezer Meals 101

Less time cooking, more time living

Sharla

Egg Roll in a Bowl (freezer meal)

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Egg rolls are delicious dinner option. But they’re also time-consuming to prepare. What if you could enjoy all the flavours of an egg roll without all that hard work? This egg roll in a bowl recipe has that egg roll flavour you’re craving without all the rolling.

And the best part about this simple dinner idea is that it’s perfect for freezing! Follow these easy instructions for making your own freezer meal to help speed up your dinner prep.bag filled with food and white bowl and chopsticks. Text reads "Egg Roll in a Bowl freezer meal"

Egg Roll in a Bowl Recipe:

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 lbs. ground pork or ground Italian sausage, browned
  • 1 cup onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 16 oz. bag coleslaw mix (I like the colourful one)
  • 1/2 cup shredded carrots
  • 1/2 tsp. onion powder
  • 1-2 tsp. ginger
  • 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 2 Tbsp. sesame oil
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil or vegetable oil

bowls of ingredients set out on a tableAssembly instructions:

  1. Add the browned ground pork, diced onion, minced garlic, coleslaw mix, and shredded carrots to a large freezer bag.
  2. Season with the onion powder, red pepper flakes, and ginger.
  3. Add the soy sauce, sesame oil, and olive oil.
  4. Remove excess air from the bag and seal it. Squeeze the bag a few times to mix the ingredients together, then place it flat in the freezer.

Cooking instructions:

  1. Allow the ingredients to thaw completely.
  2. Add the contents of the bag to a large skillet. Cook for 5-10 minutes over medium heat, stirring constantly.
  3. Serve with sliced green onions on the top, if desired.

egg roll in a bowl ingredients and cooking steps

Egg Roll Bowl Recipe Ideas

Once you have the basic egg roll bowl prepared, there are so many different ways you can enjoy it! Try one of these egg roll bowl recipe variations the next time you whip up this quick and easy freezer meal:

  • Serve over rice. Create even more servings for your dinner with the help of rice. Steam enough rice to make one serving for each member of your family, then top the rice with your egg roll bowl mixture.
  • Add more veggies. Another simple way to enhance your egg roll bowl is to add more vegetables the meal. Stir fry veggies, like broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, and zucchini all make great additions to your egg roll bowl.
  • Use different meat. You can easily swap out the ground pork for another meat depending on your family’s preferences. Ground meat, like beef or turkey, is a good choice because it’s quick and easy to cook in bulk. Or use shredded chicken in place of ground pork for a different variation on this easy dish.

Can You Freeze Egg Roll Filling?

You’ve probably seen egg rolls in the freezer section of your grocery store before, but have you ever wondered if you can freeze the filling of those egg rolls? All the ingredients inside your egg rolls are freezer-friendly, which means you can absolutely freeze egg roll filling! These simple tips will help you make your egg roll bowl ahead of time and store it in your freezer until you’re ready to enjoy it.plastic bag filled with egg roll in a bowl filling

Egg Roll in a Bowl Tips:

  1. Cook the meat before freezing. Adding raw meat to the veggies when you store your egg roll filling in the freezer will contaminate the other ingredients. That’s why it’s important to take the time to cook your meat before adding it to the rest of the ingredients. Brown your ground pork or sauté your chicken before freezing to ensure your egg roll filling is safe to eat when you take it out of the freezer.
  2. Allow the meat to cool completely before mixing with other ingredients. After cooking your meat, it’s a good idea to allow it to cool before adding the veggies to the bag. Placing tender vegetables, like the cabbage in the coleslaw mix, in a freezer bag with hot meat will cause the cabbage to wilt.
  3. Remove excess air to prevent freezer burn. Once you have all your ingredients added to your freezer bag, take a minute to press out as much extra air from the bag as possible. This will prevent freezer burn on the egg roll ingredients.
  4. Freeze until ready to eat. You can store your egg roll in a bowl in the freezer for up to three months before you need to reheat and eat it.
  5. Allow to thaw before cooking. For best results, it’s a good idea to let your egg roll filling thaw completely before cooking it. This will make it easier to cook the ingredients and ensure everything is cooked evenly. To thaw your egg roll filling, place it in the refrigerator 24 hours before you plan on cooking it.
  6. Store leftovers in the refrigerator. After cooking your egg roll filling, you should store your leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Leftover egg roll bowl ingredients can be kept up to four days when refrigerated.

white bowl with egg roll filling. Chopsticks rest on the side

Some of our easy other skillet freezer meals:

white bowl with egg roll filling. Chopsticks rest on the side
Print
Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 lbs. ground pork or ground Italian sausage browned
  • 1 cup onion diced
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 16 oz. bag coleslaw mix
  • 1/2 cup shredded carrots
  • 1/2 tsp. onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
  • 1-2 tsp. ginger
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 2 Tbsp. sesame oil
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil or vegetable oil
Instructions
Assembly instructions:

  1. Add all ingredients to a large freezer bag.

  2. Remove excess air. Seal and freeze.

Cooking instructions:
  1. Thaw.
  2. Add bag contents to a large skillet. Cook for 5-10 minutes over medium heat.
Recipe Notes

If desired, sprinkle with some sliced green onions before serving.

Cheesy Crock Pot Jalapeño Corn Casserole

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When planning your freezer meals for the month, you probably put a lot of focus on your main dishes. But adding a few freezer side dishes to your menu is a great way to include a flavourful addition to your meal. This cheesy jalapeño corn casserole can be reheated in the slow cooker, making it a great choice for your next make ahead meal.

Crock Pot Jalapeño Corn Casserole Recipe:

Ingredients:

  • 28 oz. frozen corn
  • 8 oz. cream cheese
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese, grated
  • 1 jalapeño, finely diced
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • salt, pepper

Freezing instructions:

  1. Add the frozen corn, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, jalapeño, butter, and heavy cream in a large freezer bag.
  2. Remove excess air from the bag. Seal and freeze.

Serving instructions:

  1. On day of cooking, dump all the ingredients in the slow cooker and cook on low for three to four hours, stirring partway through to combine all the ingredients.
  2. Serve.

How Do You Melt Cream Cheese in the Crock Pot?

You might be wondering how this freezer side dish will come together if all the ingredients are simply dumped into the crock pot to reheat. Since the slow cooker will melt the cream cheese as it warms, there’s no need to pre-mix your ingredients before adding them to your crock pot.

To be sure your corn casserole is thoroughly mixed before you serve it, you can remove the lid from the slow cooker to stir the ingredients together halfway through the cook time. Otherwise, just allow the casserole to cook for the time specified in the recipe, then stir the ingredients together until they’re smooth before you’re ready to serve your side.

How Do You Cut a Jalapeño?

Dicing a spicy pepper can be tricky! And since this recipe uses a finely diced jalapeño, it’s probably a good idea to learn the best way to cut your pepper. Follow these simple tips to learn the right way to dice a jalapeño:

  • Wear gloves if you have sensitive skin. Plastic gloves are the best way to keep the pepper’s juice from getting on your skin, which could cause a reaction if your skin is sensitive to the pepper’s capsaicin.
  • Cut off the stem to remove the seeds. The seeds of the jalapeño are what give it it’s spice. So, if you want your jalapeño corn to be spicy, you can leave some seeds intact. Otherwise, start by cutting off the stem of the pepper, then slice the pepper in half lengthwise. Use your finger or a small spoon to scrape the seeds off each side and discard.
  • Slice, then dice the pepper. Once the seeds are removed, slice the pepper into thin strips. Line up all the strips together into a bunch and dice them into small cubes to add to your casserole.

Check out some of our other make ahead side dishes:

Print
Crock Pot Jalapeño Corn Casserole
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: corn, corn casserole
Ingredients
  • 28 oz. frozen corn
  • 8 oz. cream cheese
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
  • 1 jalapeño finely diced
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Freezing instructions:

  1. Add the frozen corn, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, jalapeño, butter, and heavy cream to a large freezer bag.

  2. Remove excess air from the bag. Seal and freeze.
Cooking instructions:

  1. On day of cooking, dump all the ingredients in the slow cooker and cook on low for three to four hours, stirring partway through.

  2. Serve.

Ham and Cheese Sliders Make Ahead Sandwiches

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Ham and cheese sliders are a classic party snack that’s perfect for a variety of occasions. On top of being a delicious dinner idea, these mini sandwiches are perfect for youth group events, camping, and potlucks, too! But the best part about these delicious snacks is that you can make them ahead of time!buns covered in poppy seed dressing. Text reads "Make Ahead Ham and Cheese Sliders" These freezer-friendly sandwiches can be made up to six months in advance and stored in the freezer until you’re ready to enjoy them. We love bringing these bunwiches camping with us. In a pinch, you can even cook them on the grate on the fire.

In the video below, you can watch how these sliders are made as well as get other ideas for make ahead camping meals such as our individually wrapped hot beef sandwiches.

How to Make Ham and Cheese Sliders:

Ingredients:

  • dozen buns
  • 12 slices deli ham
  • 6 cheese slices (Swiss, cheddar, or marble)
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted
  • 1 Tbsp. mayonnaise
  • 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 Tbsp. Worcestershire
  • 1 Tbsp. poppy seeds
  • 1 Tbsp. honey
  • 1/2 Tbsp. dried onion

Assembly Instructions:

  1. Place the buns on a flat surface and slice the buns all together.
  2. Put the bottom part of the buns in a 9×13 aluminum baking tray.
  3. Layer ham and cheese on top of the buns, then place the top layer of buns over the cheese.
  4. Mix up the dressing by combining the melted butter, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, poppy seeds, honey, and dried onion in a small bowl. Spread the dressing mixture over the top of the buns.
  5. Cover the tray with two layers of aluminum foil and store in the freezer until you’re ready to eat.

collage of making ham and cheese sliders including the ingredients set out

Serving Instructions:

  1. Allow the sandwiches to thaw completely.
  2. Preheat the oven to 350° and place the covered baking dish directly in the oven.
  3. Bake the sandwiches for 20 minutes, until the buns are toasted and the cheese is melted.
  4. To enjoy, just pull the sandwiches apart out of the tray and serve them to your guests.

Can You Make Sandwiches Ahead of Time?

Sandwiches can easily be made ahead of time to help cut down on your prep work. It’s especially helpful to make sandwiches in advance if you’re preparing them for an event or party. There are two different ways you can store your pre-made sandwiches depending on how soon you plan on eating them. You can store your sandwiches or sliders in the:

  • Refrigerator. If you will be eating your sandwiches within the next day or two, storing them in the refrigerator is a good option. Sandwiches can be kept in the refrigerator for up to two days. Make sure to cover your sandwiches and keep them chilled until you’re ready to eat them. And if your sandwich will have condiments or fresh vegetables on them, it’s a good idea to leave those elements off until you’re ready to serve them to keep the bread and veggies from getting soggy in the fridge.
  • Freezer. For long-term storage, freezing your sandwiches is a good option. Frozen sandwiches can last up to six months. Like sandwiches stored in the refrigerator, it’s not a good idea to freeze fresh vegetables on your sandwich. But you can add sauce and condiments to your frozen sliders, if you want. Before reheating your sandwiches, make sure to allow them to thaw completely for even cooking.

buns covered in poppy seed dressing

What Cheese Goes Best with Ham?

There are a variety of delicious cheese options you can choose from when you’re preparing your own sliders at home. Swiss cheese seems to be a popular choice when pairing with ham, but there are a few other cheese varieties that work well on these mini sandwiches, including:

  • Mozzarella
  • Cheddar Jack
  • Colby Jack
  • Cheddar
  • Monterey Jack
  • Pepper Jack
  • American
  • Provolone

hands holding a bun sandwich over a paper plate

What Kind of Bread do You Use for Sliders?

While any type of mini bun works well for sliders, this recipe works best if you have a batch of buns that are connected inside the package. There are a few different options to choose from, depending on your flavour preferences, but the most popular option for making these ham and cheese sliders are:

  • Hawaiian rolls. These sweet rolls come in a pack of 12 mini rolls, which are all connected in one sheet. You can easily build and bake your sandwiches by simply slicing the entire loaf in half at once.
  • Dinner rolls. You can also find dinner rolls in the same type of package as Hawaiian rolls. If you don’t like the sweetness of traditional Hawaiian bread, dinner rolls are a great alternative for your sliders.
  • Slider buns. While traditional slider buns won’t have the same pull-apart effect that rolls have, they’re another option for making these sandwiches. To use slider buns, you’ll need to prepare each individual sandwich and place it in the tray. After that, you can spread the sauce over the top and prepare as stated in the recipe.

Can You Freeze Hawaiian roll sliders?

You can easily freeze sliders made with Hawaiian rolls and reheat them when you’re ready to enjoy them. Simply follow the instructions for freezing these delicious sandwiches. Make sure to give your sandwiches plenty of time to thaw in the refrigerator before you bake them. It usually takes several hours for the sliders to completely thaw.

Once the sandwiches are thawed, preheat your oven to 350° and bake until the buns are toasty and the cheese is melted.

buns covered in poppy seed dressing
Print
Ham and Cheese Sliders
Course: Sandwich
Cuisine: American
Keyword: sandwich
Servings: 12 buns
Ingredients
  • 12 buns
  • 12 slices deli ham
  • 6 cheese slices Swiss, cheddar, or marble
  • 1/2 cup butter melted
  • 1 Tbsp. mayonnaise
  • 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 Tbsp. poppy seeds
  • 1 Tbsp. honey
  • 1/2 Tbsp. dried onion
Instructions
Assembly Instructions:
  1. Place the buns on a flat surface and slice the buns all together.
  2. Put the bottom part of the buns in a 9x13 aluminum baking tray.
  3. Layer ham and cheese on top of the buns, then place the top layer of buns over the cheese.

  4. Mix the dressing by combining the melted butter, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, poppy seeds, honey, and dried onion in a small bowl.

  5. Spread the dressing mixture over the top of the buns.

  6. Cover the tray with two layers of aluminum foil and store in the freezer.

Serving Instructions:

  1. Thaw.

  2. Preheat the oven to 350° and place the covered baking dish directly in the oven.

  3. Bake for 20 minutes, until the buns are toasted and the cheese is melted.

  4. Pull the sandwiches apart out of the tray or slice and serve.

Check out these other meals that are great for making ahead to take camping or to potlucks:

Maple Cranberry Chicken Freezer Meal

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With just a handful of ingredients and just a few minutes of your time, you can prepare a delicious freezer chicken recipe that everyone in the family will love. The combination of sweet maple syrup and tangy cranberries creates a flavourful sauce that pairs perfectly with poultry. Once you try this simple one-pot maple cranberry chicken, you’ll be sure to make a double batch the next time you prepare it.

on top, chicken in a bag. On the bottom, chicken with cranberries on a plate with rice and peas

Maple Cranberry Chicken Recipe:

Ingredients:

  • 5 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 3 green onions, sliced
  • 5 large white mushrooms, sliced
  • ½ cup maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1/8 teaspoon rosemary
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

For day of cooking:

  • ¼ cup dried cranberries 

Assembly instructions:

  1. Place the green onions, white mushrooms, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, rosemary, and minced garlic in a large freezer bag. Pinch the top together and squish the bag to combine the ingredients.
  2. Put the chicken breasts in the bag and seal. Be sure to remove all excess air.
  3. Squeeze the bag again to coat the chicken in the sauce and seasonings. 
  4. Lay the bag flat and freeze.

Serving instructions:

  1. Thaw the frozen ingredients completely.
  2. Pour the chicken and sauce in a skillet and cook over medium heat until the chicken is cooked through.
  3. Halfway through the cook time, add the dried cranberries and stir to combine.

collage of chicken meal photos

How Do You Prepare Chicken for the Freezer?

Raw chicken is one of the easiest ingredients to prep for freezing! All you need to do is remove it from the package and transfer the chicken to a freezer bag. You can freeze your chicken plain or add a sauce or marinade to the bag to speed up prep time for dinner. Once you have the ingredients added to your freezer bag, make sure to squeeze out as much air as possible before sealing it. This will help prevent freezer burn while your chicken is in the freezer.

chicken topped with cranberries

How Long Can You Keep Chicken in the Freezer Before Cooking?

If your chicken is frozen properly, you can keep it stored for several months. To ensure your chicken stays safe in the freezer, make sure it stays continuously frozen. Once the chicken is frozen, it can be stored for up to nine months.

How Do You Keep Chicken from Getting Freezer Burn?

Once you have your maple cranberry chicken prepared, you don’t want to ruin it with freezer burn! The key to keeping your chicken from getting freezer burn is to remove as much air as possible from the bag or container first. Then, make sure you maintain your freezer while your food is stored. In addition to keeping the freezer set to the proper temperature, it’s also important to clean the freezer out regularly. An overfilled freezer could cause issues with freezer burn down the road.

white plate with chicken topped with cranberries next to rice and peas

What to serve with Maple Cranberry Chicken:

white plate with chicken topped with cranberries next to rice and peas
Print
Maple Cranberry Chicken
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chicken, chicken dump
Ingredients
  • 5 chicken breasts boneless, skinless
  • 3 green onions sliced
  • 5 large white mushrooms sliced
  • ½ cup maple syrup
  • 2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
  • 1/8 tsp. rosemary
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
For day of cooking:
  • ¼ cup dried cranberries
Instructions
Assembly instructions:

  1. Place the green onions, white mushrooms, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, rosemary, and minced garlic in a large freezer bag. Pinch the top together and squish the bag to combine the ingredients.

  2. Put the chicken breasts in the bag and seal. Be sure to remove all excess air.
  3. Squeeze the bag again to coat the chicken in the sauce and seasonings.
  4. Lay the bag flat and freeze.
Serving instructions:

  1. Thaw.

  2. Pour the chicken and sauce in a skillet and cook over medium heat until the chicken is cooked through.
  3. Halfway through the cook time, add the dried cranberries and stir to combine.

Cilantro Corn Make Ahead Side Dish

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When you’re looking for dinner ideas you can turn into freezer meals, finding make ahead side dish recipes is a good idea. Often, we focus so much on freezing our entrées that we forget about what we’ll eat along with the main dish. With the help of this simple cilantro corn recipe, you can create a quick and easy frozen side dish to go with any dinner.

bag with corn and small bits of purple onion and large bowl of corn salad. Text reads "Cilantro Corn freezer side dish"The beauty of this dish is that it can be served as a cold corn salad or a warm side. Simply thaw and serve or heat in a saucepan to prepare this delicious recipe two different ways.

This side dish goes so well with most of our Chicken Dump Recipes. Here, it’s pictured with our Citrus Chicken.

Can You Freeze Corn Salad?

This delicious make ahead side dish is a great option for freezer cooking! You can even use frozen corn to speed up the prepping process. Simply combine your frozen corn with seasoning, lime juice, onions, and fresh cilantro to turn this make ahead side into a delicious frozen corn salad.

This corn salad can be served cold or warm depending on your mood! When you’re ready to serve your frozen corn, all you have to do is thaw the ingredients and serve. Or heat the salad in a saucepan to create a warm side dish to go with your dinner.

white bowl filled with corn, purple onions

How to Make Cilantro Corn:

Ingredients:

  • 500 g frozen corn
  • ½ cup minced purple onion
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1 tsp. grated lime zest
  • 1/4 cup lime juice or juice from two limes
  • ½ tsp. melted honey
  • ¼ tsp. salt
  • ¼ tsp. black pepper

Assembly instructions:

  1. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl.
  2. Pour the mixture in a medium freezer bag. Remove excess air from the bag, seal, then place in the freezer.

Serving instructions:

  1. Thaw the frozen ingredients completely and serve cold.
  2. Or heat the ingredients in a pot on the stovetop until warm.

collage of photos of corn salad

Cilantro Corn Recipe Variations

This simple side dish can be adjusted in a variety of ways! Try these quick and easy variations to change up the recipe:

  • Spice it up. Add some spiciness to your cilantro corn with the help of diced jalapeño. Chop up some fresh peppers and add them to the mix to give the side a bit of kick.
  • Add some cheese. If you plan on serving this dish as a warm side, try mixing in some cheese to give it some creaminess. Cream cheese or Monterrey cheddar are both delicious options to add some cheesy flavour to your side.
  • Stir in bell peppers. Another simple addition to add to your cilantro corn salad is chopped bell pepper. The corn dish can be served cold or warm with the addition of chopped bell peppers.
white bowl filled with corn, purple onions
Print
Cilantro Corn
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: corn
Ingredients
  • 500 g corn frozen
  • ½ cup purple onion minced
  • ¼ cup fresh cilantro chopped
  • 1 tsp. lime zest grated
  • 1/4 cup lime juice or juice from two limes
  • ½ tsp. honey melted
  • ¼ tsp. salt
  • ¼ tsp. black pepper
Instructions
Assembly instructions:
  1. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl.
  2. Pour the mixture in a medium freezer bag. Remove excess air from the bag, seal, then place in the freezer.
Serving instructions:

  1. Thaw the frozen ingredients completely and serve cold or heat the ingredients in a pot on the stovetop until warm.