Freezer Meals 101

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Freezer to Crock Pot

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.

Homemade Freezer Sloppy Joes

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Sloppy Joes are always a family favorite. On top of being quick and easy to make, everyone in the family loves them! And while this homemade sandwich recipe is pretty simple to make, did you know you can reduce your prep work even more by freezing it? This simple recipe for freezer sloppy Joes is a quick and easy dinner idea for a busy weeknight. bun filled with meat sauce on a plate next to carrots. Text reads "freezer meal Sloppy Joes" #freezermeals101 #sloppyjoes #makeahead #freezersloppyjoesUsing a pre-made sauce is a great way to cut down on your prep work when you’re making sloppy Joe’s for dinner. But if you have a batch of meat and sauce already prepared, there’s no need to use the pre-made stuff! And since the homemade sauce in this simple recipe tastes so much better than the canned version, you’ll never go back to the store-bought sloppy Joe sauce again.

How do you make Sloppy Joe sauce from scratch?

Making your own sauce from scratch may seem intimidating – especially if you’ve always used the store-bought sauce for your sandwiches. But creating your own sauce at home is pretty simple. And the best part is that you can use items you probably already have in your kitchen right now.

Sloppy joe sauce is made by combining a few fresh vegetables, like onions, garlic, and green pepper, with a variety of seasonings. After that, you’ll stir in chili sauce, tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and lemon juice.

How many pounds of meat do you need to make Sloppy Joes?

The amount of meat you need to make your sandwiches will depend on the number of people you’ll be serving. My recipe uses one and a half pounds of ground beef and feeds six people. If you’ll be feeding a crowd or want to make extra, it’s a good idea to double the recipe to ensure you have enough sauce to cover all the extra meat.

It’s just as fast to double or triple or quadruple the recipe and you can then have many of them in the freezer ready to go.

Can you freeze Sloppy Joes?

Of course! This simple recipe is so easy to freeze. Simply brown the ground beef, add the sauce, allow the meat to cool, then pour it into a freezer bag. Don’t forget to label your bag before you put it in the freezer so you know what’s inside! Flatten the bag for easy storage in your freezer and allow the meat to freeze. Sloppy Joe meat can be frozen for up to six months.

When you’re ready to reheat your meat, remove it from the freezer and place it in the refrigerator to thaw for at least 24 hours. After the meat has thawed, you can reheat it on the stovetop or in your slow cooker.freezer bag full of Sloppy Joes sauceIf you have leftovers after reheating your sloppy joes, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.

You can also find freezer-friendly recipes for variations such as this Instant Pot Turkey Sloppy Joes or this Taco Sloppy Joes or Tater Tot Sloppy Joes Casserole. 

How to Make Homemade Sloppy Joes:

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
  • 1 cup onion, chopped finely
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/4 cup green pepper, chopped finely
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. pepper
  • 1 tsp. dry mustard powder
  • 1/2 cup chili sauce
  • 14 oz. can tomato sauce
  • 2 Tbsp. ketchup
  • 1 Tbsp. brown sugar
  • 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tsp. lemon juice

For the day of serving:

  • buns

Assembly instructions:

  1. Brown the ground beef.
  2. Put the ground beef in a large resealable freezer bag.
  3. Dump in all the other ingredients.
  4. Squish to combine.
  5. Remove the excess air and seal. Lay flat and freeze.

collage of photos of the process of making sloppy joes as a freezer mealSlow Cooker Cooking Instructions:

  1. Thaw.
  2. Cook in a crockpot for 2-3 hours on low or cook in a pot on the stovetop until heated through.
    Serve on regular or gluten-free sliced buns.

Stovetop Cooking Instructions:

  1. Thaw.
  2. Cook in a stovetop pot over medium-low until heated through.
  3. Serve on regular or gluten-free sliced buns.

bun filled with sloppy joes mixture on a plate next to carrotsTo make this recipe gluten-free, use gluten-free Worcestershire sauce and serve on gluten-free buns or baked potato.

How to Serve Sloppy Joe Meat

Once you have your sloppy joe meat prepared, you might be wondering what to do with it. There are a variety of ways you can use your meat, giving you a few different options for dinner. That means you can freeze up a few batches and make a new meal every time you reheat it!

  • On a bun. The traditional way to enjoy a sloppy joe is on a bun. Use a regular hamburger bun or grab your favorite gluten-free bun to keep this recipe gluten-free. Try toasting the bun before adding the meat to keep the bread from becoming soggy.
  • Over fries. Bake some crispy French fries, then top them with sloppy joe meat and shredded cheese to enjoy a messy dinner the kids will love.
  • On nachos. Make sloppy joe nachos by spreading the sloppy joe meat over the top of tortilla chips. Top the chips with lots of cheese and enjoy them as a snack or appetizer.
  • In a baked potato. Create a stuffed baked potato with your meat for a quick and filling dinner. Bake your potatoes as usual, then cut a slit in the potato. Add some butter to the potato and loosen the filling. Then, top your potato with cooked sloppy joe meat and cheese.
bun filled with sloppy joes mixture on a plate next to carrots
Print
Sloppy Joes
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
 
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: sloppy Joes
Servings: 6
Calories: 284 kcal
Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
  • 1 cup onion chopped finely
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1/4 cup green pepper chopped finely
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. pepper
  • 1 tsp. dry mustard powder
  • 1/2 cup chili sauce
  • 14 oz. can tomato sauce
  • 2 Tbsp. ketchup
  • 1 Tbsp. brown sugar
  • 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tsp. lemon juice
For the day of serving:
  • buns
Instructions
Assembly instructions:
  1. Brown the ground beef.

  2. Place the ground beef in a large resealable freezer bag.

  3. Dump in all the other ingredients.

  4. Squish to combine.

  5. Remove the excess air and seal. Lay flat and freeze.

Slow Cooker Cooking Instructions:
  1. Thaw.

  2. Cook in a crockpot for 2-3 hours on low or cook in a pot on the stovetop until heated through.

  3. Serve on regular or gluten-free sliced buns.

Stovetop Cooking Instructions:
  1. Thaw.

  2. Cook in a stovetop pot over medium-low until heated through.

  3. Serve on regular or gluten-free sliced buns.

You may also enjoy these other recipes:

Taco Sloppy Joes

Turkey Sloppy JoesTurkey Sloppy Joes with sides

Homemade Spaghetti Sauceclose up of noodles topped with red sauce and Parmesan cheese

Crock-Pot Jambalaya Soup (freezer meal)

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Experience the Creole flavors of Jambalaya in a bowl with this Crock Pot Jambalaya soup. This recipe is on the spicy side, but not in an overpowering way. It can be adjusted for those who like things extra spicy by adding extra cayenne in the recipe or by adding hot sauce when it’s served. black bowl with shrimp, sausage, vegetables, liquid with a spoon. Text reads "Jambalaya Inspired Soup" #freezermeals101 #jambalayasoup #makeahead Growing up in a meat and potatoes type of family, I had never heard of Jambalaya, but in my teen years, I would sometimes go to a restaurant where if any person ordered Jambalaya, the entire wait staff and kitchen would all shout out “Jambalaya” at the top of their lungs. Naturally, this made me curious. What could this mysterious dish be and what would it taste like?

Also, I liked hearing this cheerful chorus ring out through the restaurant and wanted to hear it again. So I ordered it for myself and got to taste a new blend of flavors. I was an immediate fan. Since then, I’ve tried many variations on the classic cajun dish including this soup.

Jambalaya Soup Recipe:

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 lb. hot breakfast sausage slices, cooked and quartered
  • 1/2 lb. cajun spiced smoked sausage, sliced
  • 1/2 lb. precooked shrimp, frozen, tails removed
  • 3 medium stalks celery, coarsely sliced
  • 3 medium carrots, coarsely sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 15 oz. can diced tomatoes
  • 8 oz. tomato sauce
  • 1/2 small head of cabbage, sliced and coarsely chopped
  • 4 oz. jar sliced pimentos
  • 1 cup Burgundy wine
  • 1 1/4 tsp. paprika
  • 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
  • 3/4 tsp. coarse salt
  • 1/2 tsp. oregano or Mexican oregano
  • 1/2 tsp. basil 
  • 1/2 tsp. black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp. thyme 
  • 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

For cooking day:

  • 2 cups water
  • 2 Tbsp. cornstarch

Assembly instructions:

  1. Chop the vegetables and cook and cut the meats.
  2. Place the prepared meat, vegetables, and all other ingredients and seasonings (except for the water and cornstarch) in a large resealable bag. 
  3. Remove the excess air from the bag, seal, and freeze. 

Crockpot cooking instructions:

  1. Thaw.
  2. Dump all the ingredients from the bag into a slow cooker.
  3. Mix the cornstarch and water and pour over the ingredients in the Crock-Pot.
  4. Cook on high for four hours.
  5. Serve warm with Louisiana hot sauce your favorite hot sauce on the side for the spice lovers. 

collage of jambalaya soup in the crock pot and in a bowlStovetop cooking instructions:

  1. Thaw.
  2. Just simmer the soup in a large pot on the stovetop over medium-high heat, stirring periodically until the vegetables have softened to your liking.
  3. Serve warm with hot sauce on the side.

Note that traditionally, Jambalaya has rice. If you want to add rice to this recipe, it’s a nice addition and it stretches out the meal to make it more filling and more economical as it feeds more people that way. Just be sure to add more liquid to compensate. jambalaya in a crock pot and in a bowl with rice crackers in a bowl on the side

Is Jambalaya Cajun or Creole?

Well, this question is a tricky one because the answer is, it’s both. The general rule of thumb is that if the dish is reddish or orange in color, it’s Creole. If it’s brown, it’s Cajun. This is because of the blend of spices used. Either way, it’s always delicious!

What do I serve with Jambalaya soup?

This soup is hearty enough to be served on its own as a meal, but if you want to add aside, here are some simple suggestions:

Print
Jambalaya Soup
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Cajun
Keyword: jambalaya, soup
Servings: 6
Calories: 440 kcal
Ingredients
  • 1/2 lb. hot breakfast sausage slices cooked and quartered
  • 1/2 lb. cajun spiced smoked sausage sliced
  • 1/2 lb. precooked shrimp frozen, tails removed
  • 3 medium stalks celery coarsely sliced
  • 3 medium carrots coarsely sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 15 oz. can diced tomatoes
  • 8 oz. tomato sauce
  • 1/2 small head of cabbage sliced and coarsely chopped
  • 4 oz. jar sliced pimentos
  • 1 cup Burgundy wine
  • 1 1/4 tsp. paprika
  • 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
  • 3/4 tsp. coarse salt
  • 1/2 tsp. oregano or Mexican oregano
  • 1/2 tsp. basil
  • 1/2 tsp. black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp. thyme
  • 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
For cooking day:
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 Tbsp. cornstarch
Instructions
Assembly instructions:

  1. Chop the vegetables and cook and cut the meats.

  2. Place the prepared meat, vegetables, and all other ingredients and seasonings (except for the water and cornstarch) in a large resealable bag.

  3. Remove the excess air from the bag, seal, and freeze.

Crockpot cooking instructions:

  1. Thaw.

  2. Dump all the ingredients from the bag into a slow cooker.

  3. Mix the cornstarch and water and pour over the ingredients in the Crock Pot.

  4. Cook on high for four hours.

  5. Serve warm with Louisiana hot sauce your favourite hot sauce on the side for the spice lovers.

Stovetop cooking instructions:
  1. Thaw.

  2. Just simmer the soup in a large pot on the stovetop over medium high heat, stirring periodically until the vegetables have softened to your liking.

  3. Serve warm with hot sauce on the side.

Recipe Notes

Note: Traditionally, Jambalaya has rice in it so feel free to add rice to the recipe, but be sure to add more liquid to compensate. 

Check out some of our other hearty make-ahead soups:

Chunky Cream of Chicken Soupclose up of chunky cream of chicken soup with celery and carrotsHearty Hamburger Soupclose up of a bowl with hearty hamburger soup with carrots, peas, and tomatoes

Stuffed Pepper Soupbowl of stuffed pepper soup garnished with parsley

Pizza Casserole Crock Pot Freezer Meal

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If you’re looking for an easy weeknight meal that kids will actually eat, this is it. Pizza casserole can be made ahead and then cooked in the slow cooker that day. red sauce and pasta being scooped out of slow cooker. Text reads "Pizza Casserole freezer to slow cooker" #freezermeals101 #pizzacasserole #crockpotdinner #slowcooker #makeaheadCrockpot pizza casserole is an extremely family-friendly freezer meal. It has the flavors of pizza in a pasta dish. So if your family likes pizza and likes pasta, it’s guaranteed they will be fans of this dish. 

I find that with my kids, pretty much anything with “pizza” in the name or that has those flavors is sure to be a hit. That’s why our regular recipes include things like Tater Tot Pizza Casserole, Pizza Stuffed Chicken, Instant Pot Pizza Casserole, and of course this Crockpot Pizza Casserole.

Pizza Casserole Recipe:

  • 2 cups ham, cubed
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 cup Mozza cheese, shredded 
  • 1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup chopped green pepper
  • 28 oz. tomato sauce
  • 2 tsp. Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
  • 2 cups small pasta

Assembly instructions:

  1. Cube ham, shred cheese and chop vegetables.
  2. Place the pasta in a medium-sized resealable bag and seal.
  3. Put ham and cheeses into a large resealable freezer bag.
  4. Mix together the other ingredients in a bowl and pour over the ham and cheese.
  5. Seal the bag and staple the pasta bag to it above the seal.
  6. Freeze.

collage of pizza casserole in the freezer bag, being scooped out of the crock pot and on a plateCooking instructions:

  1. Thaw.
  2. Put the ingredients in the slow cooker and cook for 4 hours on low.
  3. Cook the pasta on the stovetop according to the package direction.
  4. Drain pasta and stir into the casserole before serving. 

a scoop is getting lots of noodles from the pizza casserole to servePizza casserole variations:

You can add a can of sliced mushrooms if you like mushrooms.

If your family isn’t a fan of ham, you can substitute sliced pizza pepperoni for the cubed ham. 

Try this recipe using different shapes of pasta. We often use small shells, but sometimes serve it with rotini, penne, or macaroni noodles.close up of pizza casserole with lots of noodles and topped lightly with cheese

What to serve with pizza casserole:

  • tossed green salad and breadsticks or garlic bread
  • raw vegetables

This recipe as well as others are featured in our Kid-Friendly Freezer Meal Plan which also includes shopping lists, prep lists, and printable labels. These plans make getting dinner on the table so easy.

Print
Pizza Casserole
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Instant Pot Pizza Casserole, pasta, pizza
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 283 kcal
Ingredients
  • 2 cups ham cubed
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese grated
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
  • 1/2 cup onion finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup green pepper chopped
  • 28 oz. tomato sauce
  • 2 tsp. Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
  • 2 cups small pasta
Instructions
Assembly instructions:

  1. Cube ham, grate cheeses, chop vegetables.

  2. Put the pasta in a medium-sized resealable bag.

  3. Put ham and cheeses into a large resealable freezer bag.

  4. Mix together the other ingredients and pour over the ham and cheese.

  5. Seal the bag and staple the pasta bag to it.

  6. Freeze.
Cooking instructions:
  1. Thaw.

  2. Put the ingredients in the slow cooker and cook for 4 hours on low.

  3. Cook the pasta on the stovetop according to the package direction.

  4. Drain pasta and stir into the casserole before serving.

Check out these other kid-friendly freezer meals:

Tater Tot Crockpot Casserole with Beef and Veggiescrockpot of tater tot casserole with beef and veggies

Taco Sloppy Joesdishes with ingredients to make taco sloppy Joe'sMini Meatloavesplate with a meatloaf muffin whole, drizzled in BBQ sauce and one cut up, with orange pepper strips on the side

 

Family-Friendly Beef Hash (freezer meal)

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Looking for a family-friendly easy recipe? This Beef Hash is so easy to make and a big hit with kids. It uses frozen hash browns, so it saves a step on prepping the potatoes and is so fast to throw together.

pot with ground beef and hash browns. Text reads Beef Hash freezer meal casserole" #freezermeals101 #beefhashcasserole #freezercasserole #makeaheadI know this recipe is super simple, but the best-tasting recipes usually are. I think that’s what makes this such a big hit with kids.

Beef Hash Recipe:

  • 1 1/2 lbs. browned ground beef
  • 500 grams frozen hash browns*
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 3 Tbsp. dry onion soup mix
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • dash pepper
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese

*This amount is the equivalent of half of a 1 kg bag, so if you are making two of these recipes at once, just buy one large bag and split it between the two bags.collage of beef hash casserole in a freezer bag, in the skillet with a spoon lifting some out and on a plate with cheese and ketchup on top

Assembly instructions:
  1. Brown beef.
  2. Place cooked beef in a large resealable freezer bag. Add the frozen hash browns, minced onions, dry onion soup mix, beef broth, and pepper.
  3. Squish to combine. Remove excess air and seal.
  4. Put the shredded cheese in a medium freezer bag. Seal. Staple the bags together above the seal and freeze.
Oven Cooking Instructions:
  1. Thaw.
  2. Bake at 350° for one hour, topping with grated cheese for the last 10 minutes.

Crock Pot Cooking Instructions:

  1. Thaw.
  2. Cook in the slow cooker on low for 2-4 hours, topping with cheese in the last 20 minutes.

beef hash casserole close up with cheese and ketchup on it

Most of my kids like to top their beef hash with ketchup. I prefer hot sauce or salsa. Either way, this is sure to be a family-friendly meal everyone will enjoy.

This recipe is included in our More Family Favourites Freezer Meal Plan along with other recipes, prep lists, and printable shopping lists and labels.

Print
Beef Hash
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: beef, casserole
Servings: 6
Calories: 368 kcal
Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 lbs. browned ground beef
  • 500 grams frozen hash browns
  • 1 onion finely chopped
  • 3 Tbsp. dry onion soup mix
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • dash pepper
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese
Instructions
Assembly instructions:
  1. Brown beef.

  2. Place cooked beef in a large resealable freezer bag. Add the frozen hash browns, minced onions, dry onion soup mix, beef broth, and pepper.

  3. Squish to combine. Remove excess air and seal.

  4. Put the shredded cheese in a medium freezer bag. Seal. Staple the bags together above the seal and freeze.

Oven Cooking Instructions:
  1. Thaw.

  2. Bake at 350° for one hour, topping with grated cheese for the last 10 minutes.

Crock Pot Cooking Instructions:
  1. Thaw.

  2. Cook in the slow cooker on low for 2-4 hours, topping with cheese for the last 20 minutes.

You may be interested in these other family-friendly freezer to crockpot meals:

Tater Tot Casserole with Beef and Veggiesclose up of tater tot casserole with beef and veggies, topped with cheese

Easy Cheesy Tater Tot Chicken Casseroleclose up of cheesy tater tot chicken casserole being scooped from a dish

Taco Sloppy Joesplate of taco sloppy Joe's with side dishes of salsa and sour cream