Freezer Meal Dump Recipes

Chicken is one of our favourite main courses. But it can be difficult to find quick and easy chicken recipes for meal prepping. With the help of this four ingredient Russian chicken recipe, you can whip up a delicious chicken dinner for your family with just a few minutes of prep work! This recipe has long been a family favourite of ours. In fact, all I need to do to ensure all my teen and young adult kids will come home is tell them that this is what’s for dinner. 

Some of our other easy chicken dump recipes include:

• Lemon Pepper Chicken
• Curried Chicken
• Jamaican Jerk Chicken
• Citrus Chicken
• Gingery Salsa Chicken

That Lady’s Chicken Recipe

Ingredients:

• 3-5 boneless, skinless chicken breasts or 8-10 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 1 bottle of Russian dressing
• 1 1/4 cups apricot jam
• 3 tablespoons dry onion soup mix

Freezing instructions:

1. Place the chicken and other ingredients in a large resealable freezer bag. Add the Russian dressing, apricot jam, and dry onion soup mix.
2. Seal the bag and squish the ingredients together to combine and coat the chicken in sauce. 
3. Open the corner of the bag to remove excess air, then reseal and freeze.

Cooking Instructions:

1. Transfer the frozen Russian chicken to the refrigerator to thaw. 
2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Pour the contents of the freezer bag to a large baking dish. Cover the dish and bake for one hour 
3. To cook the chicken in the crockpot, pour the contents of the bag into the pot and cook on low for 4-6 hours.

You can find this recipe as well as other easy recipes in our Chicken Dump Recipes cookbook. 

What is Russian Dressing?

With so many different salad dressings to choose from, you might not be sure which dressing is considered Russian dressing. Traditional Russian dressing is a tangy sauce typically made with tomatoes, vinegar, and a mix of spices. That’s why Russian dressing is usually red in color.

If you can’t find red Russian dressing in your store, the sauce can be replaced with other tomato-based dressings like Catalina.

What Does That Lady’s Chicken Taste Like?

The unique combination of Russian dressing, apricot jam, and onion soup seasoning give this delicious chicken recipe a sweet and sour taste. The sweetness comes from the addition of the jam. And the chicken gets its sour flavors from the vinegar and tomatoes found in the Russian dressing.

That Lady’s Chicken Recipe Tips

This four ingredient chicken recipe couldn’t be easier to prep and freeze! And with these preparation and cooking tips, you’ll be well on your way to a delicious chicken dinner for your family.

• Avoid creamy Russian dressing. The key to getting the best flavor in your Russian chicken is to pick the right dressing. Avoid using creamy Russian dressing to make this dish. If you can’t find traditional dressing, you can use Catalina dressing as a substitute.
• Use peach jam instead of apricot. If you don’t have any apricot jam on hand or can’t find any at your store, peach jam can be used as a substitute. This forgiving recipe can also be made with apricot or peach preserves.
• Serve over rice. Once your Russian chicken is baked, you’re going to need some sides to go with it! Add some white, brown, or jasmine rice to the plate to go with your sweet and sour chicken.
• Finish the chicken under the broiler. To get a nice glaze on the outside of your chicken, try placing it under the broiler for around two minutes. The heat from the broiler will help thicken the sauce, turning it into a delicious glaze over the top of each chicken breast.

Can You Freeze Russian Chicken?

Prepping the ingredients for your Russian chicken ahead of time is a simple way to get dinner ready fast. That’s because you can easily add all the ingredients you need for your Russian chicken to a freezer bag and store it until you’re ready to start cooking.

But even after thawing your chicken in the fridge, you’ll still need at least an hour to cook the Russian chicken before it’s ready to eat. If you want to speed up the prep time on dinner night, you can also cook the Russian chicken before freezing it.

To freeze your cooked Russian chicken, start by cooking the chicken as outlined in the recipe. The chicken can be prepared in either the oven or slow cooker. Once the chicken is cooked, allow it to cool completely.

Transfer the cooled chicken to a freezer-safe dish or freezer bag. Label the bag with the name of the recipe, date of freezing, and expected expiration date. Cooked chicken will stay good in the freezer for up to four months.

When you’re ready to reheat your Russian chicken, transfer it to the refrigerator to thaw. The chicken can be reheated in the oven at 350 degrees for around 20 minutes, until the meat and sauce are heated through. You can also reheat the chicken in a skillet over medium heat.

How Long is this Chicken Good For?

You can store your Russian chicken ingredients in the freezer for up to nine months before they need to be cooked. If you cook the chicken before freezing it, it will be safe to eat up to four months after freezing.

Once the chicken has been prepared, leftovers should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Make sure to eat your chicken within four days to enjoy it before it goes bad!

What to serve with Russian Chicken:

• mashed potatoes
• white or brown rice
• wild rice mushroom pilaf
• Caesar salad
• Brussels sprouts salad
• cucumber salad

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That Lady's Chicken

Prep Time

5 mins

Cook Time

1 hr

 

Course: Main Course

Keyword: chicken, chicken dump

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 3-5 chicken breasts boneless, skinless or 8-10 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 1 bottle Russian dressing
• 1 1/4 cups apricot jam
• 3 Tbsp. dry onion soup mix

Instructions

Assembly instructions:

1. Place the chicken and other ingredients in a large resealable freezer bag. Add the Russian dressing, apricot jam, and dry onion soup mix.

2. Seal the bag and squish to combine.

3. Open the corner of the bag to remove excess air, then reseal and freeze.

Oven Cooking Instructions:

1. Thaw.

2. Preheat the oven to 350°. Pour the contents of the freezer bag to a large baking dish. Cover and bake for one hour.

Crock Pot Cooking Instructions:

1. Thaw.

2. Pour the contents of the bag into the slow cooker and cook on low for 4-6 hours.

Finding simple ways to spice up plain chicken isn’t always easy – especially when you’re meal prepping. But with this simple lemon pepper chicken recipe, you can put together a quick and easy main course with just a few minutes of prep work. After seasoning your chicken, store it in the freezer until you’re ready to enjoy it. Then, prepare it one of three ways – in the oven, on the stovetop, or on the grill.

This simple recipe came about because our oldest daughter is picky, picky, picky, but loves lemon pepper. If we put lemon pepper on something, there’s a good chance she will eat it. 

Chicken dump recipes are so fast to put together. Some of our favourites include:

• Chili Glazed Chicken Dump Recipe
• Citrus Chicken
• Gingery Salsa Chicken
• Honey Sesame Chicken
• Jamaican Jerk Chicken

Lemon Pepper Chicken Recipe

Ingredients:

• 3-5 boneless, skinless chicken breasts or 8-10 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

Freezing instructions:

1. Add the chicken to a large freezer bag and top with the lemon juice, garlic, lemon pepper seasoning, and cayenne pepper.
2. Squeeze the bag together to mix the sauce into the chicken, remove the excess air from the bag and seal. Place it in the freezer until you’re ready to prepare it.

Serving instructions:

1. Thaw the chicken in the refrigerator.
2. When ready to cook in the oven, preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a large casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
3. Transfer the chicken and sauce to the baking dish and cover the pan. Cook for one hour, removing the cover for the last 10 minutes of baking.
4. To cook the chicken on the stovetop, pour the chicken and sauce into a large skillet. Cook over medium heat until the chicken is cooked through.
5. To grill the chicken, remove the meat from the bag and cook over medium high heat on the BBQ. Continue cooking until the center of the chicken reaches 165 degrees.

What is Lemon Pepper Seasoning Made of?

The delicious combination of lemon and pepper in this classic chicken seasoning is the perfect way to top your poultry. But if you’re wondering what lemon pepper seasoning is made of, you’ll be happy to know that the recipe is pretty simple. This delicious seasoning blend is made by combining dried lemon zest, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt.

This simple recipe uses premade lemon pepper seasoning for faster prep work. But if you don’t have any on hand or prefer to make your own seasoning blends, whipping up this classic combination of seasonings is pretty simple.

To make your own lemon pepper seasoning at home, combine:

• ¼ cup dried lemon peel
• 1 Tbsp. coarse ground black pepper
• 1 Tbsp. salt
• 1 tsp. onion powder
• 1 tsp. garlic powder

Stir the ingredients together and use what you need for your recipe. Then, store the rest of the seasoning in an airtight container until you’re ready to use it again.

Does Lemon Pepper Chicken Freeze Well?

Most chicken recipes are perfect for freezer cooking, which means this lemon pepper chicken is a great option for meal prepping. That’s because it’s so simple to prepare! Just combine all the ingredients in the freezer bag, then store them flat in the freezer until you’re ready to cook them.

To ensure you prepare you chicken before it goes bad, make sure to write the name of the recipe, the date it was frozen, and the expected expiration date on the outside of the bag before you place it in the freezer. When stored properly, this lemon pepper chicken will stay good in the freezer for up to three months.

When you’re ready to cook your chicken, make sure to transfer it to the refrigerator to thaw the night before you plan to cook it. That will give the meat plenty of time to unfreeze safely.

Is it Better to Freeze Raw or Frozen Chicken?

Figuring out the best way to make use of your freezer is one of the biggest problems many cooks face while meal prepping. So, if you’re wondering whether it’s better to freeze raw chicken or frozen chicken, you’ll be happy to know that you’ll have best results when freezing your chicken raw. That’s because moisture is lost when cooking your chicken, which means it may become dry after it’s stored in the freezer for an extended period of time.

When using chicken for freezer cooking, it’s also important to remember that frozen chicken should not be refrozen after it’s been thawed. That means you’ll need to make sure to cook the chicken after removing it from the freezer to avoid wasting your poultry.

How Do You Properly Freeze Chicken?

The key to making your frozen chicken last as long as possible is to properly store it in the freezer. With these freezing tips, you can ensure your chicken tastes amazing no matter how long it’s been stored.

• Choose the proper container. Airtight containers and freezer bags are the best option when storing chicken in the freezer.
• Remove all the air. To keep the chicken from getting freezer burn, removing excess air from the container is essential. Make sure to squeeze out as much air as possible before storing for the best results.
• Label the container. To keep track of the recipes inside your freezer, it’s always a good idea to label your containers. Write the name of the recipe, date of freezing, and expected expiration date clearly on each container. I also like to include the cooking instructions.

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Lemon Pepper Chicken

Prep Time

3 mins

Cook Time

20 mins

 

Course: Main Course

Keyword: chicken, chicken dump

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 3-5 chicken breasts boneless, skinless chicken breasts or 8-10 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1 tsp lemon pepper seasoning
• ¼ tsp cayenne pepper

Instructions

Assembly instructions:

1. Add the chicken to a large resealable freezer bag and top with the lemon juice, garlic, lemon pepper seasoning, and cayenne pepper.

2. Squish to combine, remove excess air, and seal. Freeze.

Oven cooking instructions:

1. Thaw.

2. Preheat the oven to 350° and grease a large casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.

3. Transfer the chicken and sauce to the baking dish and cover the pan. Cook for one hour, removing the cover for the last 10 minutes of baking.

Stovetop cooking instructions:

1. Thaw.

2. To cook the chicken on the stovetop, pour the chicken and sauce into a large skillet. Cook over medium heat until the chicken is cooked through.

BBQ cooking instructions:

1. Thaw.

2. To grill the chicken, remove the meat from the bag and cook over medium high heat on the BBQ. Continue cooking until the center of the chicken reaches 165 degrees.

When it comes to freezer cooking, you often find a variety of one pot casseroles and basic pasta dinners. And while those menu options are usually great for simple weeknight dinners, sometimes you need something with a kick!

This spicy chipotle chicken recipe is perfect for those days when you need a little bit more flavour in your meal. The delicious combination of adobe sauce and chili peppers makes this flavourful make ahead chicken the perfect option for your meal prep menu.Since this is a chicken dump recipe (meaning you just “dump” all the ingredients into a bag and freeze), it is so fast to make. Then on the day of serving, you can choose if it works best to cook it up quickly in a skillet or have it in the slow cooker while you get other things done. 

Spicy Chipotle Chicken Recipe

Ingredients:

• 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 teaspoons adobe sauce (from can of adobo chili peppers)
• 1-2 adobo chili peppers, (from can) sliced
• ½ teaspoon paprika or smoked paprika
• 3 teaspoons brown sugar
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 tablespoons lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Freezing instructions:

1. Add the chicken to a large freezer bag.
2. Add the other ingredients to the bag.
3. Close the bag, then use your hands to squish the ingredients to combine and coat the chicken breasts.
4. Open the corner of the bag and remove excess air, then seal and freeze.

Skillet Cooking Instructions:

1. Thaw the chicken in the refrigerator.
2. Heat a skillet over medium heat.
3. Add the chicken and cook until the inside of chicken is no longer pink and cooked through.

Slow Cooker Instructions:

1. Thaw the chicken in the refrigerator.
2. Place the thawed chicken in the slow cooker and cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. 

Can You Use Frozen Chicken for Freezer Meals?

Using frozen chicken for your freezer meals may seem like a quick way to prep dinner. So, if you’re wondering whether you can use frozen chicken breasts for this recipe, the answer is – it depends.

It’s never a good idea to refreeze previously frozen meat. So, if your frozen chicken breasts have been thawed, don’t use them in your freezer cooking.

But if your frozen chicken breasts are still frozen, they’re fair game! If you plan on using frozen chicken for this chipotle chicken recipe, start by combining all the sauce ingredients in your freezer bag first. Then, add the frozen chicken the bag and return the chicken to the freezer immediately to keep it from thawing.

While using frozen chicken in your freezer meal is acceptable, keep in mind that it might not be as flavourful as it would be if you use fresh chicken breasts. That’s because frozen chicken doesn’t soak up the marinade or sauce as freely as thawed chicken would, but as it thaws, the chicken will begin to marinate.

What Do You Serve with Spicy Chipotle Chicken?

Once you have your chipotle chicken recipe ready to go, you’re going to need some side dishes to go with it! Luckily, there are a few delicious sides you can whip up to go along with your spicy chicken, so your family has a yummy meal to enjoy when you’re ready to cook this frozen chicken dinner. Add these easy sides to your meal plan:

• Cilantro corn
• Jalapeño corn bake
• Cornbread
• Rice – any kind will do, but I especially like saffron rice with this meal
• Peas

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Spicy Chipotle Chicken

Prep Time

7 mins

Cook Time

25 mins

 

Course: Main Course

Keyword: chicken, chicken dump

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 3 chicken breasts boneless, skinless
• 2 Tbsp. olive oil
• 3 tsp. adobe sauce from can of adobo chili peppers
• 1-2 adobo chili peppers (from can) sliced
• ½ tsp. paprika or smoked paprika
• 3 tsp. brown sugar
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 3 Tbsp. lime juice
• 1/2 tsp. salt

Instructions

Assembly instructions:

1. Add the chicken to a large freezer bag.
2. Add the other ingredients to the bag.

3. Close the bag, squish to combine.

4. Open the corner of the bag and remove excess air, then seal and freeze.

Skillet Cooking Instructions:

1. Thaw the chicken in the refrigerator.
2. Heat a skillet over medium heat.
3. Add the chicken and cook until the inside of chicken is no longer pink and cooked through.

Slow Cooker Instructions:

1. Thaw the chicken in the refrigerator.
2. Place the thawed chicken in the slow cooker and cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.