Freezer to Crock Pot

Hamburger Goulash (Freezer Friendly)

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.

Make Ahead Beef and Barley Stew

By Sharla

Soups and stews are always a popular dinner choice in our house. That’s because they’re quick and easy to prepare and to cook. With the help of this make ahead beef and barley stew, you can prepare and freeze a full meal for your family with just a few minutes of prep work. And when you’re ready to serve your stew, just thaw the ingredients and dump them in the slow cooker to get dinner started in a flash!I find that soups and stews are comforting, especially in the winter. Some of our favourites are Corn Chowder, Chicken Paprikash Stew, Hamburger Soup, and Rustic Beef Stew.

Beef and Barley Stew Recipe

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pounds round steak, cubed
4 carrots, peeled and sliced
1 onion
1 green pepper, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 pound fresh mushrooms, quartered
3/4 cup pearl barley
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon thyme
½ teaspoon basil
1 bay leaf
4 cups beef broth

Freezing instructions:

Place all the ingredients in a large resealable freezer bag.
Remove excess air from the bag, then seal and place in the freezer.

Serving instructions:

Transfer the stew ingredients to the refrigerator to thaw.
Pour the ingredients into the bowl of a slow cooker and cook on low for 5 to 7 hours.
To cook on the stovetop, pour the ingredients into a large stockpot or Dutch oven and cook over medium heat for one hour. If the soup begins to boil, reduce the heat to low to simmer until the cook time is up.

Can I Make Beef Stew and Freeze It?

While precooking your meals and freezing them is a great way to speed up the cooking process of many make ahead meals, precooking beef stew before freezing it isn’t a good idea. But that doesn’t mean you can’t prepare make ahead beef stew!

In fact, the prep work for putting together freezer-friendly stew is quick and easy. That’s because you don’t need to cook any of the stew ingredients before freezing them. Simply chop the meat and veggies into bite-sized pieces and transfer everything to a freezer bag.

Store the bag flat in the freezer until you’re ready to heat up your beef stew. After that, all you have to do is allow the ingredients to thaw, then heat them in up in the slow cooker or on the stovetop.

Do I Need to Cook Pearl Barley Before Adding it to Stew?

Using barley in your stew recipe is a great way to create a thick and hearty stew. But whether or not to cook the barley before mixing it with other soup ingredients is a question many cooks have as they’re preparing classic beef and barley stew.

The answer to this question really depends on preference. If you enjoy a thick stew, add the barley at the beginning of the cook time. Using this method, there’s no need to precook the barley before mixing it into the soup. The barley will cook along with the rest of the ingredients, causing the broth in the soup to thicken as the barley cooks.

But if you would rather not have the barley thicken your stew, you can prepare the barley separate from the rest of the stew ingredients. Just boil the barley separately in a pot of water for 20 to 30 minutes. After that, rinse the barley and add it to the stew just before you’re ready to serve it.

Beef and Barley Stew

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

1 hr

Course: Main Course

Keyword: beef

Servings: 6

Ingredients

1 1/2 lbs. round steak cubed
4 carrots peeled and sliced
1 onion chopped
1 green pepper diced
2 cloves garlic minced
1/2 lb. fresh mushrooms quartered
3/4 cup pearl barley
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp. thyme
½ tsp. basil
1 bay leaf
4 cups beef broth

Instructions

Assembly Instructions:

Place all the ingredients in a large resealable freezer bag.
Remove excess air from the bag, seal and freeze.

Slow Cooker Instructions:

Thaw.
Pour the ingredients into the slow cooker and cook on low for 5 to 7 hours.

Stovetop Cooking Instructions:

Thaw.
To cook on the stovetop, pour the ingredients into a large stockpot or Dutch oven and cook over medium heat for one hour. If the soup begins to boil, reduce the heat to low to simmer until the cook time is up.

Freezer Friendly Pierogi Casserole

By Sharla

Finding simple dinner ideas for meal prepping isn’t always easy. But when it comes to freezer cooking, you can’t go wrong with a casserole! And when you combine pre-made ingredients with flavorful additions, like cheese and bacon, you can whip up a delicious and hearty dinner with just a few minutes of prep work! This freezer friendly pierogi casserole is one of those simple dinner ideas that’s perfect for meal prep because you can put it together in under 10 minutes.Pierogies have been part of my life since I was a little girl. My mom grew up in a predominantly Ukrainian community here in Canada and my brother married a girl of Ukrainian decent, so the cuisine from that region has always been common for us. Whether it was perogies, nalyshnyky (Ukrainian crepes – yum!), or cabbage rolls, these foods are a regular occurrence in our home.

While I don’t plan to stop making regular perogies anytime soon, it’s nice to change things up once in awhile too. That’s what first intrigued me when I heard people talking about pierogy casserole. We tried it and liked it, so I found a way to make the recipe freezer friendly.

Pierogi Casserole Recipe

Ingredients:

16-20 frozen pierogies
1 onion, chopped
1 red pepper, chopped
1/2 cup cooked bacon, chopped
1/4 cup evaporated milk
1 can condensed mushroom soup
salt, pepper
1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese

*Note that you can make this a meatless casserole if you omit the bacon or substitute imitation bacon bits.

Freezing Instructions:

Place pierogies, onion, red pepper, bacon, salt and pepper in large freezer bag.
Add the cream of mushroom soup and evaporated milk to a bowl. Whisk together the two ingredients until well combined.
Pour the sauce over the other ingredients in the freezer bag. Squish the bag with your hands to combine the sauce and other ingredients. Remove excess air from the bag and seal it.
Put the shredded cheese in medium freezer bag and seal.
Staple the bag of cheese to large bag above the seal and place in the freezer.

Oven Cooking Instructions:

Thaw the ingredients in the refrigerator.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
Dump the ingredients in the larger freezer bag into the casserole dish. Top with the shredded cheese.
Bake the casserole for 45 minutes, until the sauce is bubbly and the cheese on top is melted.

What are Pierogies Made of?

If you’ve never tried pierogies before, you may be wondering what the fuss is all about! Pierogies are dumplings filled with different filling ingredients. You can find perogies with both savory and sweet fillings, which means you can use them in a variety of recipes.

That might make you wonder, what kind of perogy is best for this recipe? Since this casserole is made with other savory ingredients, it’s important to pick a filling option that isn’t sweet. But you still have a variety of filling flavors to choose from. You could try adding these different frozen pierogi flavors to your casserole:

classic cheddar
4 cheese medley
classic onion
loaded baked potato
cheddar and bacon

Can You Cook Pierogi Casserole in the Slow Cooker?

Baking this lazy casserole in the oven is a great way to prepare your freezer meal. But it’s not the only method of cooking you can use to heat up your dinner. After allowing your perogy casserole ingredients to thaw, place the contents of the large bag in the bowl of your slow cooker. Top the ingredients with the cheese and place the lid on top of the crockpot.

Allow the ingredients to cook on low for 4 hours or high for 3 hours. You’ll know your casserole is finished cooking with the sauce is hot, the perogies are cooked through, and the cheese on top is melted.

Is It Better to Freeze a Casserole Cooked or Uncooked?

Figuring out the best way to store your freezer meals is one of the biggest problems new cooks face. So, if you’re wonder whether you should cook your casserole before you freeze it, you’re not alone. The good news is that you can freeze your casserole cooked or uncooked.

For faster prep work, freezing the casserole ingredients before the dish is cooked is my favorite preparation method. You can simply combine all the ingredients into a freezer bag, freeze it, and transfer everything to a baking dish when you’re ready to start cooking.

You can also cook your casserole before it goes into the freezer for quicker preparation on cooking day. If your casserole is already cooked before it’s placed in the freezer, all you have to do is reheat the meal when you’re ready to enjoy it.

Can You Put a Casserole Dish in the Freezer?

Although I love storing my freezer meals in large freezer bags because they’re great for conserving space in the freezer, it may be easier for you to store your meal right in the dish you plan on using for baking.

Whether you’re using a metal or glass baking dish, you can most likely store your dish in the freezer. Both materials are freezer-safe, making them great for freezer cooking.

But it’s important to keep in mind that you should never put a glass dish into the oven directly from the freezer. The drastic change in temperature will cause the glass to break! If you store your casserole in the freezer in a glass dish, always allow the dish to thaw before you start cooking.

How Do You Store Cooked Pierogies?

After you cook your perogie casserole, I’d be surprised if you have any leftovers! But if you do have some extra servings left after dinner is over, you can store your cooked pierogies in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They’ll stay good for up to four days. When you’re ready to reheat the casserole, simply place it in the microwave until it’s heated through.

Pierogi Casserole

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

45 mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Ukrainian

Keyword: casserole

Ingredients

16-20 pierogies frozen
1 onion chopped
1 red pepper chopped
1/2 cup bacon cooked and chopped
1/4 cup evaporated milk
1 can condensed mushroom soup
dash salt
dash pepper
1/3 cup cheddar cheese shredded

Instructions

Assembly Instructions:

Place pierogies, onion, red pepper, bacon, salt and pepper in large freezer bag.
Add the cream of mushroom soup and evaporated milk to a bowl. Whisk together the two ingredients until well combined.
Pour the sauce over the other ingredients in the freezer bag. Squish the bag with your hands to combine the sauce and other ingredients. Remove excess air from the bag and seal it.
Put the shredded cheese in medium freezer bag and seal.
Staple the bag of cheese to large bag above the seal and place in the freezer.

Cooking Instructions:

Thaw.
Preheat the oven to 350° and grease a casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
Dump the ingredients in the larger freezer bag into the casserole dish. Top with the shredded cheese.
Bake the casserole for 45 minutes, until the sauce is bubbly and the cheese on top is melted.

Slow Cooker Instructions:

Thaw.
Dump the large bag contents into a Crock Pot and top with cheese.
Cook on low for 4 hours or on high for 3 hours.

Recipe Notes

You can make this casserole vegetarian by using imitation bacon bits or omitting the bacon from the recipe.

Spicy Chipotle Chicken Recipe (Freezer Friendly)

By Sharla

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:

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

Skillet Cooking Instructions:

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

Slow Cooker Instructions:

Thaw the chicken in the refrigerator.
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

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:

Add the chicken to a large freezer bag.
Add the other ingredients to the bag.
Close the bag, squish to combine.
Open the corner of the bag and remove excess air, then seal and freeze.

Skillet Cooking Instructions:

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

Slow Cooker Instructions:

Thaw the chicken in the refrigerator.
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

By Sharla

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.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:

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

Serving instructions:

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

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.

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.

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…

Mashed potatoes
Egg noodles
White rice
Roasted vegetables

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:

Transfer the frozen meatballs to a gallon size freezer bag.
Add the cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, soy sauce, parsley, nutmeg, and pepper to the bag.
Seal the bag and squish to combine the ingredients.
Slightly open the bag and press out any excess air, then seal the bag again.
Freeze.

Serving instructions:

Thaw.
Preheat the oven to 350°.
Transfer the thawed meatballs to a greased baking dish and cover the pan with foil.
Bake for 20 minutes, until the sauce is hot and bubbling.
Serve over rice, pasta, or potatoes.