Freezer Meals 101

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Freezer Meal Recipes

Spicy Chipotle Chicken Recipe (Freezer Friendly)

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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.chipotle chicken on rice next to green peas 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.

collage of photos of chicken, rice, and peas

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.

chicken, rice, and peas sit on a grey plate

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:

chicken, rice, and peas sit on a grey plate
Print
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.

Freezer Friendly Easy Swedish Meatballs

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Meatballs are always a great choice when it comes to freezer cooking. On top of being a quick dinner option for a busy weeknight, meatballs can be cooked a variety of ways. That means you can turn frozen meatballs into several different delicious dinners without much time or effort!

With this easy Swedish meatball recipe, you can whip up a classic main course, pop it in the freezer, and reheat it when you’re ready to enjoy a hearty meal for dinner.meatballs in white sauce in a blue bowl with carrots and potatoes. text reads "Swedish Meatballs"If you choose to use homemade meatballs as the base for this, you can use our Italian Meatballs recipe. 

Easy Swedish Meatball Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 2 pounds frozen meatballs, pre-cooked (store bought is fine!)
  • 2x 10 oz. cans cream of mushroom soup
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 teaspoon soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon parsley
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Freezing instructions:

  1. Transfer the frozen meatballs to a gallon size freezer bag.
  2. Add the cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, soy sauce, parsley, nutmeg, and pepper to the bag with the meatballs.
  3. Seal the bag and work the meatballs into the sauce to mix all the ingredients together.
  4. Slightly open the bag and press out any excess air, then seal the bag again.
  5. Place the freezer bag in the freezer and store until you’re ready to eat.

meatballs in a white sauce in a freezer bag

Serving instructions:

  1. Thaw the meatballs in the refrigerator.
  2. When ready to cook, preheat the oven to 350°.
  3. Transfer the thawed meatballs to a greased baking dish and cover the pan with foil.
  4. Bake for 20 minutes, until the sauce is hot and bubbling.

collage of photos of meatballs served next to vegetables

Can You Cook Swedish Meatballs in the Crock Pot?

Reheating your frozen Swedish meatballs in the slow cooker is a quick and easy way to cook your dinner! That’s because all you have to do is dump the thawed meatballs into the slow cooker and set it t cook. To cook your meatballs, set the Crockpot to low and heat the meal for 3 to 4 hours, until the meatballs are warm and the sauce is hot. When ready to serve, stir the pot to mix the sauce and thoroughly coat your Swedish meatballs.blue bowl with meatballs in white sauce next to vegetables

What is Swedish Meatball Sauce Made of?

Traditionally, the sauce served over Swedish meatballs is made by combining beef broth with heavy cream, flour, and sour cream to create a gravy-like topping. But that cooking method takes a lot of time and effort!

To make this recipe a little easier, just add some cream of mushroom soup to the sour cream! You’ll get a delicious sauce that tastes just like the traditional Swedish meatball topping. And the best part is that there’s no cooking involved! All you have to do is combine the sauce ingredients in a bag and toss the bag in the freezer until you’re ready to start cooking.

close up of meatballs next to vegetables

What Do You Serve with Swedish Meatballs?

Once you have your meatballs read to go, you’ll need a few easy side dishes to serve along with your main course! As you’re making your meal plan, try serving your meatballs with one of these easy sides…

blue bowl with meatballs in white sauce next to vegetables
Print
Swedish Meatballs
Course: Main Course
Keyword: meatballs
Servings: 6
Ingredients
  • 2 lbs. meatballs frozen, pre-cooked
  • 2 10 oz. cream of mushroom soup
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 tsp. soy sauce
  • 1 tsp. parsley
  • 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
  • 1/2 tsp. pepper
Instructions
Freezing instructions:
  1. Transfer the frozen meatballs to a gallon size freezer bag.

  2. Add the cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, soy sauce, parsley, nutmeg, and pepper to the bag.

  3. Seal the bag and squish to combine the ingredients.

  4. Slightly open the bag and press out any excess air, then seal the bag again.

  5. Freeze.

Serving instructions:

  1. Thaw.

  2. Preheat the oven to 350°.

  3. Transfer the thawed meatballs to a greased baking dish and cover the pan with foil.
  4. Bake for 20 minutes, until the sauce is hot and bubbling.

  5. Serve over rice, pasta, or potatoes.

Easy Freezer Breakfast Sandwiches

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Breakfast sandwiches are a great option for make-ahead breakfasts. They’re simple to make and only take a few minutes to reheat. That means they’re a filling grab and go breakfast for those busy weekday mornings! And once you make a batch of these easy freezer breakfast sandwiches, you can enjoy them every day of the week without all the prep work. freezer bag open with some breakfast sandwiches in the bag and one out

How to Make Breakfast Sandwiches

Ingredients:

  • 12 English muffins
  • 12 sausage patties
  • 12 eggs
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 12 slices of cheese
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Assembly instructions:

  1. Fry the breakfast sausage patties in a skillet until cooked through. Set aside.
  2. Preheat the oven to 325° and grease a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
  3. Whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, and pepper until well combined. Pour the mixture into the baking dish and bake for 24 minutes or until set.
  4. Cut the eggs into 12 squares.
  5. Layer a sausage patty, egg square, and one slice of cheese between two English muffin slices*. Wrap each sandwich in plastic wrap and place them in a resealable freezer bag.
  6. Store the sandwiches in the freezer.

*If you prefer, you can toast the English muffins first.

process of assembling breakfast sandwiches

Serving instructions:

  1. When ready to serve, remove the sandwich from the plastic wrap and place it on a paper towel. Heat in the microwave until warmed through.

How Do You Reheat Frozen Breakfast Sandwiches?

Once your breakfast sandwiches are frozen, they can easily be heated and eaten using your microwave. To reheat your breakfast sandwich straight from the freezer, start by removing the plastic wrap. Place the sandwich on a paper towel and microwave it on defrost or 50 percent power for one minute. Then, flip the sandwich over and heat again on full power for 30 seconds. If the sandwich is still cold in the middle, heat it again for 30 more seconds. breakfast sandwiches wrapped in plastic wrap

Freezer Breakfast Sandwich Recipe Ideas

One of my favorite parts about this recipe is that you can adapt it to suit your family’s preferences! Try these recipe ideas to change up your freezer sandwiches every time you make your family a grab and go breakfast.

  • Use different meat. There are a variety of different meat options you can use to create your breakfast sandwiches. Instead of sausage patties, try slices of bacon, ham, or Canadian bacon.
  • Add veggies. Give your eggs a boost of flavor with the help of some added vegetables. Mix in spinach, peppers, or onions before cooking your eggs to create a flavorful addition to your sandwiches.
  • Use different bread. Instead of English muffins, why not try building your sandwich with a different bread? Biscuits and croissants make great bread options for your homemade breakfasts sandwiches.

two breakfast sandwiches on a plate next to a bowl of yogurt

Check out some of our other make ahead breakfast ideas:

two breakfast sandwiches on a plate next to a bowl of yogurt
Print
Breakfast Sandwiches
Prep Time
27 mins
Cook Time
2 mins
 
Course: Breakfast
Servings: 12 sandwiches
Ingredients
  • 12 English muffins
  • 12 sausage patties
  • 12 eggs
  • 2 Tbsp. milk or heavy cream
  • 12 slices cheese
  • salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Assembly instructions:
  1. Fry the breakfast sausage patties in a skillet until cooked through. Set aside.
  2. Preheat the oven to 325° and grease a 9x13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
  3. Whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, and pepper until well combined. Pour the mixture into the baking dish and bake for 24 minutes or until set.
  4. Cut the eggs into 12 squares.
  5. Layer a sausage patty, egg square, and one slice of cheese between two English muffin slices. Wrap each sandwich in plastic wrap and place them in a resealable freezer bag.
  6. Store the sandwiches in the freezer.
Serving instructions:
  1. When ready to serve, remove the sandwich from the plastic wrap and place it on a paper towel. Heat in the microwave until warmed through.

Honey Garlic Meatballs (Make Ahead)

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When it comes to finding quick and easy freezer meals for dinner, it doesn’t get much better than meatballs. That’s because you can easily dress up frozen meatballs with a little bit of sauce to create a variety of new dishes. This recipe for honey garlic meatballs transforms plain freezer meatballs into a sweet and salty dish that everyone in the family will love. slow cooker with meatballs on top. Meatballs on rice on a plate with text "Honey Garlic Meatballs"

Meatballs are a kid friendly meal in our house. One of our favourites is our easy Asian meatballs. We also enjoy these homemade Italian meatballs.

Honey Garlic Meatballs Recipe:

Ingredients:

  • 3-4 cups store-bought or homemade frozen meatballs
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 2 Tbsp. soy sauce
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/3 cup water

Assembly Instructions:

  1. Transfer the frozen meatballs to a large resealable freezer bag.
  2. Pour in the olive oil, soy sauce, honey, garlic, and water. Squish the bag to combine the ingredients and coat the meatballs in sauce.
  3. Remove excess air from the bag and seal. Freeze until ready to eat.

Cooking Instructions:

  1. Thaw or cook from frozen in stovetop pot until heated through.

meatballs on rice on a plateSlow Cooker Cooking Instructions:

  1. Thaw.
  2. Cook on low for 3-4 hours.

Is It Better to Freeze Meatballs Cooked or Uncooked?

Using premade frozen meatballs is a quick and easy way to prepare this simple freezer meal. But if you plan on using homemade meatballs, it’s a good idea to cook the meatballs before freezing them. Prepare the meatball recipe as usual and bake the meatballs until they’re cooked through.  The internal temperature of cooked meatballs should be 160 degrees. After that, allow the meatballs to cool completely. You can then transfer the cooled meatballs to a freezer bag and coat them in sauce.

Cooking the meatballs before freezing them will help prevent bacteria from forming in your honey garlic sauce as the ingredients freeze. That way, all you have to do is transfer the meatballs and sauce to your slow cooker or pan and cook!

How Long Are Meatballs Good in the Freezer?

When your frozen meatballs are stored properly, you can keep them in the freezer for up to four months. When preparing your honey garlic meatballs for freezing, follow these quick tips to ensure you properly store your freezer meal:

  • Remove the excess air. Allowing extra air inside your bag could cause freezer burn down the road, so it’s important to remove as much air as possible from the bag before sealing it. A vacuum sealer is a great way to help remove air from your freezer meals. But if you don’t have one at home, start by sealing the bag until there’s a one-inch opening on the end of the zipper. Squeeze the bag, pressing the air out of the opening. When it appears that the majority of the air has been removed, seal the bag the rest of the way closed.
  • Store the meatballs flat. After removing the air from the bag, place it flat on the countertop. Slide your hand along the top of the bag to flatten the ingredients out as much as possible, then transfer the flattened bag to the freezer. Freezing your meatballs flat will help save space in your freezer and cut down on the amount of time your ingredients need to thaw.

meatballs on rice on a pretty plate

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Meatballs

Cooking these simple meatballs in your Crock Pot is a great way to reheat your freezer meal. That’s because all you have to do is dump the ingredients into the pot and let it do all the hard work for you!

Start by spraying your slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray to keep the sauce from sticking. After that, you can transfer your frozen honey garlic meatballs directly to the slow cooker and reheat them on low for six hours or high for four hours.

How to Thaw Frozen Meatballs

While cooking your meatballs straight from the freezer using your slow cooker is a quick and easy way to prepare them, there are a couple of other cooking methods you can use. If you plan to cook your honey garlic meatballs on the stovetop or in the oven, it might be a good idea to thaw them first.

The best way to thaw your frozen meatballs is to transfer them to the refrigerator 24 hours before you plan to cook them. This will give the meat plenty of time to safely thaw out, ensuring that the beef stays chilled as it thaws.

After the meatballs are thawed, you can heat them in a saucepan over medium heat until the meatballs and sauce are heated through. Or place them in a casserole dish and bake them in the oven at 350 degrees for 20 minutes, until the sauce is warm and the meatballs have reached an internal temperature of 160 degrees.

What to Serve with Honey Garlic Meatballs?

Honey garlic meatballs are a delicious main dish that pairs well with a variety of sides! We love eating these sweet and salty meatballs over a bed of white rice, but you can also serve them with some steamed vegetables, a side salad, or with pasta.

meatballs on rice on a pretty plate
Print
Honey Garlic Meatballs
Cook Time
15 mins
 
Course: Main Course
Ingredients
  • 3-4 cups store-bought or homemade frozen meatballs
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 2 Tbsp. soy sauce
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/3 cup water
Instructions
Assembly Instructions:
  1. Transfer the frozen meatballs to a large resealable freezer bag.
  2. Pour in the olive oil, soy sauce, honey, garlic, and water. Squish the bag to combine the ingredients and coat the meatballs in sauce.
  3. Remove excess air from the bag and seal. Freeze until ready to eat.
Cooking Instructions:
  1. Thaw or cook from frozen in stovetop pot until heated through.
Slow Cooker Cooking Instructions:
  1. Thaw.
  2. Cook on low for 3-4 hours.

Baked Caesar Chicken Freezer Recipe

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With just five ingredients, this baked Caesar chicken recipe is the perfect freezer dinner! You can prepare this quick and easy meal in a matter of minutes, then pop it in the freezer for a rainy day. And when you’re ready to reheat this delicious and flavourful chicken, simply thaw and bake for a main dish that’s ready in no time.chicken in a white sauce in a casserole dish

Baked Caesar Chicken Recipe:

Ingredients:

  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • pepper to taste
  • 1 cup creamy Caesar dressing*
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 1/2 cups Parmesan cheese, grated

*I prefer to use the Caesar dressing in a jar rather than a bottle. These can usually be found in the produce aisle of the grocery store.

Assembly Instructions:

  1. Place the chicken breasts on the bottom of a casserole dish or foil baking tray and sprinkle with pepper.
  2. Mix together the Caesar dressing, sour cream, and 1/2 cup of the Parmesan in a bowl until well combined.
  3. Spread the dressing mixture on top of the chicken, then sprinkle with the remaining parmesan cheese.
  4. Cover the pan with foil and freeze until ready to eat.

Cooking Instructions:

  1. Thaw the chicken, then preheat the oven to 375°.
  2. Bake in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes.
  3. If desired, broil for 3 minutes at the end until the sauce and cheese on top is golden brown. Watch carefully so that it doesn’t burn.

collage of photos of chicken in a white cream sauce on spaghetti noodles

How to Freeze Chicken

Properly storing your chicken in the freezer is essential to ensure your dinner tastes amazing and to keep your family safe from food poisoning. Luckily, it’s pretty easy to safely freeze your chicken if you follow these simple tips:

  • Try a vacuum sealer. The best way to store frozen chicken and prevent freezer burn is with a vacuum sealer. Simply place your chicken and sauce in your vacuum bag and seal.
  • Store the chicken in the pan. For a recipe like this, you can freeze chicken directly in the pan you’ll be baking it in. That makes it quick and easy to transfer the dish from the freezer to the oven without any extra steps. To store your chicken in the pan, start by making sure your dish is freezer safe. Glass or aluminum pans are perfect for freezer cooking. After that, prepare your chicken according to the recipe, then wrap the pan in foil. For an added layer of protection, wrap the entire dish in plastic wrap before placing it in the freezer.

white casserole dish with chicken in a white cream sauce

How Long Can You Keep Chicken in the Freezer Before it Goes Bad?

Freezing your chicken is a great way to extend its life. But even frozen chicken has an expiration date, so it’s important to know how long you can keep your chicken in the freezer before it goes bad. Raw chicken can be kept in the freezer for up to nine months before it should be cooked.

To ensure you use your chicken before it goes bad, it’s a good idea to write down the date you freeze it on the top of the casserole dish. That way, you know exactly when you need to take it out of the freezer and cook it for dinner. colourful plate with spaghetti noodles covered in chicken in a white sauce

What is the Proper Way to Thaw Frozen Chicken?

Once your chicken is frozen, it will need to be thawed before you can cook it. That’s because your chicken won’t cook evenly if you place it directly into the oven from the freezer. On top of running the risk of burning your sauce, your chicken will probably still be raw in the middle when the cook time is up.

That means you’ll need to reserve a little bit of extra time before you plan to cook your dinner to allow for the chicken to thaw. Follow these simple steps for safely thawing your frozen chicken:

  • Thaw the chicken in the refrigerator. The safest way to thaw your frozen chicken is in the refrigerator. Since thawing the poultry in the fridge takes some time, you’ll need to transfer the chicken to the refrigerator at least 24 hours before you plan to cook it.
  • Place the frozen chicken at the bottom of the fridge. To prevent cross-contamination between the chicken and the other ingredients, it’s a good idea to thaw your chicken on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator.
  • Use the chicken within three days. After the chicken has been thoroughly thawed, it should be cooked within three days. If you wait any longer than that, you run the risk of bacteria forming on the meat, making it unusable.
  • Is it OK to defrost chicken on the counter? It’s not a good idea to place your frozen meat on the counter to thaw. When chicken and other poultry products get warmer than 40 degrees or are at room temperature for more than two hours, bacteria quickly begins to form. Allowing the chicken to thaw on the counter gives that bacteria plenty of opportunity to start building up, potentially making the chicken unsafe to eat.

What to Serve with Caesar Chicken:

This delicious main dish is so versatile! That means you can easily pair your chicken dinner with a variety of side dishes. Try these serving ideas if you’re wondering what to serve with your Caesar chicken:

colourful plate with spaghetti noodles covered in chicken in a white sauce
Print
Baked Caesar Chicken
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
50 mins
 
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: baked chicken, chicken
Servings: 4
Ingredients
  • 4 chicken breasts boneless, skinless
  • pepper to taste
  • 1 cup creamy Caesar dressing*
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 1/2 cups Parmesan cheese grated
Instructions
Assembly Instructions:
  1. Place the chicken breasts on the bottom of a casserole dish or foil baking tray and sprinkle with pepper.

  2. Mix the Caesar dressing, sour cream, and 1/2 cup of the Parmesan together until well combined.

  3. Spread the dressing mixture on top of the chicken, then sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan cheese.

  4. Cover the pan with foil and freeze.

Cooking Instructions:

  1. Thaw.

  2. Preheat the oven to 375°.

  3. Bake for 45-50 minutes.

  4. If desired, broil for 3 minutes at the end until the sauce and cheese on top is golden brown. Watch carefully to prevent burning.

Recipe Notes

*I prefer to use the Caesar dressing in a jar rather than a bottle. These can usually be found in the produce aisle of the grocery store.